Terms and Conditions

“What?! That’s preposterous!” I exclaimed stepping

away from Victor, you’d think he was the one that

just asked me to marry him. “Why? I don’t know his

son. I don’t even know him!”

“Aria…”

“No” I said shaking my head. “Marriage is a big

deal for me. I can’t marry someone I don’t love; I

refuse to do that Victor.”

Victor looked like he wanted to be everywhere but

here, I mean, he’s the one telling me to marry

someone I’ve never met!

“Aria, listen, you are the CEO now. You have to

make sacrifices; the marriage doesn’t have to last

forever.

We can draft up a contract, it will only last for two

years, and then you can go ahead and divorce

him. The company should have fully stabilized by then.”

I didn’t say anything, hell, I couldn’t say anything.

What am I supposed to say to that?

Victor held my hand, “Aria, I know this is hard for

you, but think about it. Micah is a good guy, I’ve ran

a background check on him and he is a walking

unicorn.” He said softly.

I sighed and nodded, too exhausted to form any

word. I was walking down the stairs with Victor,

when I saw a figure lurking around my Dad’s door. I

said goodbye to Victor and wobbled to the door,

where the figure was staying, only to find out it’s

none other than my ex boyfriend; Finn.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” I whispered

yelled at him, trying not to draw attention to us. I

pulled him from the door to a more secluded place.

“You have the nerve to show up here. What are you

even thinking Finn? What do you want?” My

patience was running so thin right now.

“I only came to see how he is doing?” Finn’s head

was down. Now that I really looked at him, he

looks like shit and that made me feel a little better

about the whole situation. What? I never claimed to

be a saint.

“Go away Finn. I really do not have time for your

crap today or any day. I never want to see you

again.” I said dismissing him. I was about to turn

back to my Dad’s room when he spoke again.

“We tried to fight it, you know. Hell, I knew it was

wrong but I couldn’t stop myself. I…I love him, Aria

and I’m sorry for what I did to you. I really am.” His

voice cracked a little bit at the end like he was

trying to contain his emotions but I don’t really care

about his feelings, neither do I give two bulls about

his apology. He had several chances to come clean

to me about his sexuality but he chose to hide it

from me.

I turned back to look at him, “Fuck you, Finn. Stay

the fuck away from me and my Dad.”

I didn’t wait for his response as I made my way

back to my Dad. I got his room and walked to his

side, reaching out for his hand. His hand was warm,

proof that he still had life flowing inside him. I don’t

know how to hate my Dad, even after everything he

has done, he is my father after all; the only family I

have. I looked at my Dad again and pondered over

what I’d discussed earlier with Victor. I don’t know if

I’m ready to give up modeling or even take over as

the CEO, I knew that day was going to come; I just

didn’t think it would be this soon.

Later that day, I picked my phone and called Victor.

“Set up a meeting with him tomorrow. If I’m going to

marry him, it would be on my terms.”

Victor couldn’t be more ecstatic, he called me ten

minutes later and told me the time and the place

I’ll be meeting my future husband. Yay, I guess.

I resumed at the office the next day and called for

a meeting with the shareholders, rumors about our

partnership with the Blackwood has circulated the

market and the stock has stopped plummeting. I

was in the office when Stella walked in to remind

me of my date with Micah Blackwood, trust me not

waste time in correcting her that it was more of a

meeting than a date. She giggled sashaying back

to her desk.

I soon arrived at the location Victor had chosen

and rolled my eyes. Typical Victor to pick the most

romantic restaurant in the city. Soft violin music

floated through the air while couples sat around a

candlelit tables looking disgustingly happy.

A hostess led me towards a private section of the

restaurant. “Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you.”

The moment I entered the private room, I stopped

dead in my track. Wow! Micah Blackwood is one

fine man! He was tall, way taller than I am and I am

not a short woman. Dark hair, sharp jaw line, and

piercing grey eyes that immediately settled on me.

He looks familiar but I can’t figure exactly where I

knew him from.

“Aria Valen?” He asked as he stood.

“Micah Blackwood, I assume.”

He smiled and offered his hand. “Good. I was quite

surprised when Victor called to set up this date. I

didn’t think you’d agree to marry me.”

I shrugged at him, “It’s not like I have much of a

choice anyway.”

“There’s always a choice, Aria.” He is looking at me

now, his grey eyes piercing through my soul. “If it will

make you feel better, I have no interest in forcing

this arrangement on you.”

That caught me off guard. “What?”

“The marriage proposal was my father’s idea.”

“So we are both corporate scapegoats.”

He lets out a throaty laugh. “That, we are.” He said,

while trying to contain his laughter, “You are a funny

one. I think we’ll get along just fine.” He is staring at

me with a look I don’t quite recognize.

Micah Blackwood wasn’t what I thought he would

be like. I was expecting a stuck up, rude Daddy’s

boy, definitely not a charming handsome man, and

for the first time all day, I felt some of the tension

leave my shoulders.

“Speaking of getting along,” I paused, gauging his

reaction, “If we are going through with this, we are

doing it properly; I have terms.”

“Interesting. Do indulge me, Miss Valen.” He smirked

at me.

Rolling my eyes, I brought out a stack of papers and

handed it to him, “This is a contract stating that our

marriage will only last for two years. I don’t want a

loud wedding; we can go and register our marriage

at the town hall. Although we will be staying

together, this marriage is only on paper and I

understand that you may have needs, you can get

that from whomever you want but it shouldn’t make

headlines. And most importantly, no kids. Let me

know what you’d like me to add.” I said, stealing a

peek at him, expecting some sort of reaction but

his smirk only got wider, as if he is amused by what

he is reading and what I just said.

“You are one interesting lady, Aria.” He finally said,

“Very well then. Try not to fall in love with me.”

“You wish.” I tell him rolling my eyes, “When should

we get married? I would suggest as soon as we

can but I want to hear your thoughts about it.”

He chuckled at this, “Whenever you want. You call

the shots, Aria.”

The rest of the dinner went really well and I found

myself agreeing with Victor, Micah Blackwood is not

so bad after all.