His Perfect Mistake

"I can't marry her." Ethan Anderson's voice sliced through the room."That won't happen."

The dining room fell silent.

His father, Richard Anderson slowly lowered the glass in his hand. "Ethan!" 

"No, dad." Ethan shook his head once. "Whatever this is, stop it now."

Bianca looked from one face to another. The smiles that had filled the room only seconds ago were gone.

Bianca's father, Charles Ellington cleared his throat. "Ethan, at least let us explain."

"I don't think you need to." Ethan fired back disrespectfully. 

Richard stood. "You've just returned from Boston. Sit down."

"I'm standing," His jaw tightened."You told me to come because there was an important business decision to discuss. You never mentioned marriage."

Marriage? Bianca stared at her father. "Dad..."

Charles looked at her, then away. "We think this is the right choice Bianca." 

Her smile faded. Elena reached for her daughter's hand. "Bianca."

"No." Bianca gently pulled away. "Someone should tell me what's going on."

Charles let out a slow breath. "The Andersons and the Ellingtons have been discussing an alliance."

Richard nodded. "The two companies are stronger together than apart."

Bianca frowned. "What does that have to do with me?"

Richard answered before Charles could. "We believe the best way to secure that future is through marriage."

Bianca blinked, "I'm sorry..." She laughed softly. "I don't understand."

Charles said quietly "We want you and Ethan to get married."

The words hung in the air. Bianca looked at Ethan, he looked just as surprised.

So he hadn't known. For one brief second, relief settled inside her. At least neither of them had agreed to this.

Then Ethan spoke. "I'm sorry." His voice was calm. "But the answer is still no."

Richard folded his arms. "You rejected it before hearing the main reasons and what's at stake right now."

"I don't need reasons."

Richard's face hardened. "Ethan!"

"I already love someone."

Victoria, his mother sighed quietly. "Son!"

"I've spent three years building a life with Daisy." He looked at his father. "I'm not throwing that away because you've decided to plan my future without asking me."

Charles nodded."We understand that."

"Do you?" Ethan asked. "Because none of this says you do."

Bianca stayed there quietly. She still hadn't said a word, she wasn't even sure what she was supposed to say.

Her parents wanted her to marry a man she'd barely spoken to.

A man who clearly wanted someone else.

Charles tried again. "No one is asking you to marry Bianca tomorrow."

"I'm not marrying her next year either."

Richard rubbed a hand across his jaw. "There are better ways to handle this."

"I'm handling it."

"No." Richard's voice sharpened. "You're embarrassing everyone."

"I'd rather embarrass people now than disappoint them later."

He finally looked at Bianca. She met his eyes.

Victoria immediately turned toward her son."Ethan."

He ignored her. "She's not even my type, she's.... she's so fat." 

The room froze. "I can't imagine spending my life with someone like her when the woman I love is completely different."

Victoria covered her mouth. "Ethan..."

He looked at his mother."What?"

Richard slowly lowered his fork. "Ethan." He said quietly, giving him a look to watch his mouth. 

But he continued, "Daisy is beautiful."His voice stayed calm, making every word hurt more.

"She takes care of herself. "He shrugged. "I'm not going to pretend otherwise because our parents suddenly came up with a marriage plan."

Bianca sat perfectly still, she could hear the soft music playing somewhere outside the private room.

She could hear glasses clinking from another table.

Slowly...She reached for her glass of water. She stood up and walked around the table. Stopped beside Ethan.

He looked up. "What?"

Without saying a word...She poured the entire glass over his head.

Cold water soaked his hair, face and expensive suit.

Their parents gasped. 

Ethan shot to his feet. "What the hell, Bianca?"

She placed the empty glass neatly on the table.

"Trust me," she said, her voice surprisingly calm, "the feeling is mutual."

His jaw clenched.

"I have someone too." She smiled, "Someone handsome"

A pause."And well mannered..." She tilted her head. "Unlike youuu."

Nobody dared interrupt.

She picked up her handbag. "You know what disappoints me the most?"

Ethan didn't answer.

"You just ruined the whole vibe of my graduation dinner, Mr. Man."

She looked at both families."I'm sorry you all had to witness that."

Then she turned and slipped the strap of her handbag over her shoulder. "And one more thing."

She waited until Ethan looked at her. "I hope the woman you call beautiful never has to hear someone speak to her the way you spoke to me tonight."

She turned and walked towards the door. Her heels echoed across the polished floor.

The door closed quietly behind her.

Inside the dining room, nobody spoke.

Victoria, Ethan's mother was the first to stand. "I'm going after her." Elena nodded quickly and followed.

Charles, Bianca's father looked at Ethan, there was disappointment in his eyes. He shook his head once before leaving the room.

Only Ethan and his father remained. Ethan grabbed his car keys from the table. "I'm leaving."

"Sit down." His father commanded. 

"I'm not in the mood."

Richard didn't raise his voice. "I wasn't asking."

Ethan looked at him for a long moment. Then he dropped back into his chair.

Richard walked to the window. "You think tonight was about controlling your life."

"What else would it be?"

Richard turned. "The Anderson Group has problems."

Ethan frowned. "What problems?"

"The kind you don't know about because you've been in Boston."

"Even if the Anderson Group has problems, I'm still not marrying her!" Ethan stated. 

Richard walked back to the table. "You owe Bianca Ellington an apology."

Ethan looked down at the keys in his hand. "No, she poured water all over my body. Didn't you see it?" 

His father didn't answer him, he angrily reached for the door.

"By tomorrow morning..." Richard's calm voice stopped him.

"...every company account, card, and privilege under your name will be gone."

Ethan slowly turned. "What?"

"You heard me." Richard held his son's gaze. "If you want the freedom to make your own choices, you'll also carry the weight of those choices."

Ethan stared at him. "You'd cut me off over this?"

"This isn't only about tonight." Richard's face was unreadable. "It's about whether you're ready to stand on your own without the Anderson name opening every door for you."

A long silence settled between them.

Then Richard said quietly, "Let's see how long your pride can pay your bills."