LOVE and LIES

"Are you excited about settling down?" his sister, Ashley, asked while he was busy arranging the papers in his hands.

"Next question," he replied without looking at her.

"Are you excited about settling down?" she asked again. This time, he stared at her intently.

"Isn't there any other question?" he said with a frown.

"Brother, it's written in the questionnaire," she explained, showing him the folder she was holding.

So persistent, sister.

He was busy checking and reviewing pending paperwork, yet his sister insisted on talking about settling down—something he had no interest in.

Deciding to ignore her, he sighed. His head ached at the mere thought of the marriage agreement. Who wouldn’t get a headache from being forced into a marriage they didn’t want?

Ashley waited for his response, but he simply smiled and leaned back in his swivel chair. After a while, she grew impatient. Crossing her arms, she raised an eyebrow at him, staring directly into his eyes.

"It's a simple question. Why can't you answer it? We're still on the first question, and it's the most exciting part," she said with a bittersweet smile.

He remained reserved, keeping his deep gaze fixed on the paperwork. Ignoring her unnecessary question was far better than treating it as an essential matter.

"Brother, you're not helping me. I'm serious, and I'm not asking as a joke," she said, her tone more serious now.

"You went to the wrong person, Ashley. Just find someone else to talk to because I won’t answer anything written there," he said, pointing at the questionnaire.

What else could he expect from his sister’s persistence? He knew what was in the questionnaire—just a mix of pointless questions.

"You're the one my instructor recommended. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here asking you for help," she retorted.

"So, it's my fault your instructor chose me? Or did you recommend me to your instructor?" he countered.

"Don't be so melodramatic, brother. Why do you always get triggered when the question is about love? It's funny—everyone wants to be happy, to have a life partner. But you? You seem so bitter about settling down," she remarked.

He chuckled.

"I feel happy every day, Ashley. My first love is my work. People fall in love in different ways—some choose a person, others choose success. I don’t need a woman to complete my happiness. I’ve been happy for a long time, and I don’t need love—romantic love to change that," he emphasized.

Irritated, Ashley pulled the questionnaire from the folder, crumpled it, and tossed it into the trash. It was clear that she had lost interest in talking to him.

"Fine! If asking you for help is this difficult, then don't worry—I won't ask you again. And don't talk to me until I find someone else who can help me pass my project," she mumbled, picking up her bag. She was about to leave the office when he called out to her.

"Send me another copy," he said.

Ashley stopped, stunned, and a mischievous smile formed on her lips. She pretended to be surprised so her older brother wouldn’t notice.

He really couldn't win against her.

"Okay. I’ll send it tomorrow. But it’s better if you write your answers down so I have proof that they came from you. I need your name and signature for credibility," she said with a radiant smile before leaving.

"Make sure you answer all the questions in my questionnaire!" she reminded him before disappearing from sight.

Suddenly, his phone rang. It was their mother.

"Hello, Mom?"

[ Flord, don’t be late. Don’t disappoint your fiancée again,] his mother, Diana, reminded him. He let out a deep sigh.

[ I’m warning you, darling. You need to meet her. Your wedding is coming up soon,] she added.

He tried to stay calm.

"Yeah, I’ll be there. What time is the meetup?"

[ 7:00 PM at Jacinth Building. Just ask the receptionist—someone will guide you.]

"Okay," he answered before hanging up.

He glanced at his wristwatch. It was almost lunchtime, but the thought of meeting his supposed fiancée wouldn’t leave his mind. He wanted to cancel, but he knew that if he did, his father would probably get angry and punch him in the face.

He was being forced to marry a woman he didn’t even know. He had no interest in meeting her, even if she was as beautiful as a goddess. He had already promised himself that he would never fall for a woman again.

Why?

Because once, back in college, he had been in love. His ex was a popular student—a talented beauty with brains. She had won numerous beauty contests. But there was something about her that he couldn’t stand. She was a party animal, constantly skipping class, and in the end, she dropped most of her subjects.

He had tried to advise her, but she never listened. He wasn’t the type of guy who liked spoiled women.

What if his fiancée was even worse than his ex?

Oh, shit if it's a yes, it could be another headache.

After their breakup, his ex moved on quickly, finding a replacement in no time. Then rumors started spreading that he was gay. Of course, he denied them. He didn’t want to disappoint his parents—especially his father, who firmly believed he was straight.

He had become a professional pretender.

Marriage didn’t interest him, but what could he do when his parents had already decided? It was all about business again. The same, unbreakable cycle. Arranged marriages were part of the business world.

He had no idea about his fiancée’s background, but he hoped she would at least be kind.

Still, he couldn’t stop overthinking. What if his life became miserable with her? More than that, he couldn’t even imagine sharing a bed with a woman. The thought alone made him feel awkward and uneasy.

---

EVENING

He looked at himself in the mirror, making sure he looked presentable. He had to gather his courage several times, trying to shake off his nervousness.

For the past three years, he had been living alone. Occasionally, Ashley would visit just to mess with his peaceful life. That was why he preferred isolation.

A quiet place.

Good ambiance.

Fresh air.

After 15 minutes of the trip. He parked his car in front of the Jacinth Building—one of the tallest and most luxurious buildings owned by the Sytone family. They were immensely wealthy, with powerful connections in foreign countries.

To his knowledge, he and Garnet Sytone had never crossed paths before. Jacinth was known for its strict security and exclusivity. Without high-level permission, entry was impossible.

The security guards let him in and directed him where to park. Two men in black suits approached his car, and one of them knocked on the windshield. He rolled down the window.

"Sir, may we check your car?"

He nodded and stepped out.

A bald man thoroughly searched him, even asking him to remove his suit for inspection.

Goodness. Why are they so strict?

Once they confirmed he posed no threat, they allowed him to park near a sleek gray car. Maybe it belonged to Garnet.

At the front desk, the receptionist greeted him with a warm smile.

"May I know your name, sir?"

"John Flord Congreene," he replied. She looked at him in slight surprise.

"Please follow me, sir," she said.

They entered the elevator, which took them to the top floor where Garnet had arranged their meeting.

"This is her room, sir. Just speak to the door—it will respond," she said with a polite bow before leaving.

He stared at the sleek metal door. A small camera was positioned at the top. Instead of speaking, he knocked three times.

Suddenly, a soft, sweet voice came from the door.

"Miss Garnet is outside. She’s on the rooftop, sir."

Did the door just talk?

"I don’t know which way to go. Right or left?" he asked.

"Turn left, walk straight, then turn right. You'll find a white staircase leading to the rooftop. There is an elevator, but unfortunately, it's under maintenance," the door informed him.

He chuckled. This was weird—but amusing.

"Thank you for the recommendation. Do you have a name?"

"I am Stone Perk, sir," it answered.

"Nice to meet you, Stone," he said before heading to the stairs.

He was seven minutes late.

The rooftop was breathtaking. Blue ambient lighting surrounded the area, and in the center stood a table set for a romantic dinner, adorned with blue-scented candles.

What a useless setup.

He didn’t come for romance—only to discuss the terms of their marriage.

"Hey!"

He stiffened at the sound of a woman’s voice.