ONCE UPON AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE

 The maids dabbed Camila's face one last time with a light brown powder, as she stared calmly at the mirror in front of her. The mirror was super long that it was almost the same height as her. Marveled at how she looked because of the sophisticated makeup applied on her face, Camila couldn't help but wonder what the occasion was really about.

 Her parents went as far as sending some maids to the back house where she was made to stay to doll her up. Not to mention that she was also invited to the main building where all their classy maids stayed with her parents and elder sister. She had long wondered why even the maids get to live in the main building while she has to be locked up in the back house where the sun hardly shines on. Now out of the blue, her cruel parents sent her an invite to visit the main building and even went through the trouble of assigning their most experienced maids to dress her up. By merely considering all these Camilla couldn't help but feel  something huge was about to happen and it most definitely involved her.

 "Stand up, let's get you dressed". The assistant head maid Sonia who had always been rude and mean to her uttered sternly. It seems she was annoyed at the sudden change of atmosphere towards Camila, after all she had always been loyal to her elder sister Olivia and no one else. Nonetheless Camila stood up as instructed and immediately a red flare gown was worn on her. It was a beautiful V necked floral gown which had white diamond encrusted stones sprawled all over.

 Camila couldn't help but gasp when she noticed how expensive the dress would cost and the fact that she is the one putting it on was a thing to die for.After putting on expensive silver shoes and jewelry and her long brown hair cautioned with a red bow, she was directed out the room. All through her journey to the main building Camila couldn't help but feel anxious and uncomfortable. Anxious because she didn't know what her parents had installed for her knowing fully well that they never meant anything good for her, and uncomfortable because this was the first time she would be wearing something so expensive from her head to her toe. She wasn't used to this kind of dressing aside from her baggy oversized clothes and huge long skirts like that of an innocent reverend sister, she would rather go naked than dress any other way, but now she has broken that rule because of her parents whom she always tries so hard to please.

 "We're here. Go in". The assistant head maid said before walking away to the other side of the mansion with the other maids who had dolled Camila up. Camila stood by the entrance gulping down nothing, she took a step in and before she could take another step forward her mom who was the first to notice her presence immediately stood up from where she sat with her husband and the guests.

  "Oh here she is!" Her mom smiled widely, grabbing Camila by the arm and pulling her towards their guests, while Camila just stared at her and everyone else with a confused look on her face.  "Smile, you don't want to scare our guests away do you?". Her mom uttered in a whisper beside her making it sound more of a threat than a suggestion.Camila had no choice than to smile lightly as she approached their august visitors, or more like her August visitors cause she was the only one who never expected to meet them.

 "Meet my second daughter Camila, the one we've been talking about''. Camila's dad Mr Edward introduced the moment she walked into their midst and only one of the visitors glanced at her with a wide smile on his face, while the other one who looked cold was busy on his phone ignoring her presence.  The one who smiled at her looked like a man in his late fifties but he looked younger than his age as he still had a childish dimple which Camila noticed when he had earlier smiled at her. He looked too young and handsome for his age.Beside this older man sat a younger and annoying version of him. Also immensely good looking to a fault. Camila hadn't seen his whole face since it was stuck to his phone but she recognizes beauty even without seeing the whole package yet.

The one thing she noticed was his long deep brown silky hair which she thought would make a good fur coat for her during the winter since the one she had has already worn out. The guy looked arrogant with the way he crossed his long muscular legs on each other and his stern gaze and long fingers worked majestically on his exotic screen.

  After inspecting and taking note of all these things, Camila began wondering what was going on, and why her dad mentioned she was the one they have been talking about. Like what could possibly be her business with these strange looking men.

Then her Dad glared at her indicating she was to greet their visitors. and she instantly obeyed bowing slightly she muttered.

 "Good day Sirs". Her tiny innocent voice let out and the old man immediately let out another wide smile while the cold one who had been busy on his phone looked up from it glaring deeply at the babyish girl before him. And that was when Camila knew she had guessed right about his great not good, but great looks! The guy before her was a demi god with light sparkling emerald eye balls that were currently glaring at her and she flinched in fright, but decided to keep it in.

                          Leonardo Vincento.

"You never mentioned you were pairing me up with a little kid". Leonardo muttered but it seems everyone else heard him but decided to hide it, while his father glared at him to keep shut and he rolled eyes in annoyance.Leonardo noticed the surprised look on the girl's face and scoffed. It seems she never knew she was summoned by her parents to get matched up with a guy twice her age.

  He thought, thinking she was still a little teenager because of how cute and innocent she looked which annoyed him more. If there's one thing he hates in a woman is that word innocent because he believes women to be a very vile creature, so to him they're not permitted to be innocent and the girl standing before him had everything in a woman he hated. He couldn't help but never imagine getting married to her. She had very tiny b**bs and tiny curves with no buttocks at all?!!

 "Diane can do better than that!". Leonardo scoffed under his breath, referring to his side chick and mistress Diane.

"Your name's Camila right?". Leonardo's Dad Mr Lucas said and Camila nodded softly. "Yes I am". Camila muttered.

  "Your dad over here mentioned you hardly relate with anyone, that's why you locked yourself up in the back house where no one could disturb your peace?". Mr Lucas continued and in shock Camila glanced at her father who just stared casually at her with no secret hint at all, but Camila knew better than to deny the allegation and render her father as a liar.

 "My son here needs someone quiet for a wife and I think you're the best choice for him right now". Mr Lucas dropped the bomb suddenly and Leonardo scoffed at his statement 'best choice' while Camila's eyes widened in shock.

 "Wi…Wife?". Camila let out, turning her gaze to her parents who nodded in approval ignoring the surprised look on her face.

 "We signed a deal with the diamond group of companies, their own group of companies and it can only be sealed with marriage between you and their son Leonardo over here" Camila's dad finally said and Mr Lucas threw him a glare.

 "Don't tell me you're just informing her about the marriage we've been planning between her and my son for two weeks now?". Mr Lucas questioned and Camila's dad Mr Edward laughed out jokingly.

 "Of course not, she has long been informed. I just said it to remind her, that's if she has probably forgotten because my daughter over here can be forgetful at times". Mr Edward replied and his wife smiled at his smartness while Camila couldn't help but bite her lower lip, as she couldn't imagine getting married at such a young age.

 She wasn't surprised at all that her parents pushed the blame on her, after all this wasn't their first time and she was already used to it.

 'These devils in parents' clothing told me nothing about an arranged marriage! If he's so rich and the most sought after eligible bachelor why didn't they match her up with their favorite daughter instead, does that mean that there's something about him that's not good enough for my parents to want to pair him up with Olivia?' Camila thought within herself as she forced back the tears threatening to drop from her twinkling eyes.

 "The wedding date is still Saturday right?". Mr Lucas suddenly asked and Camila faced him with widened eyes.

 "Saturday? Isn't that next tomorrow?". Camila thought in fright as she fearfully balled her fist trying to feel the warmth of her own palms.

 Leonardo, who noticed the look on her face, couldn't help but glare deeply at her.

'Can't believe I'll be marrying such a baby! It's obvious her parents are selling her out and she still looks surprised? Such a dumb @ss!'. Leonardo spat in rage, as he immediately stood up from the couch indicating he was done enduring the annoying atmosphere.

 "I'll be waiting for you in the car". Leonardo said and with that he was gone, but on his way outside the main door, Olivia who was coming in almost bumped into him, as her face and attention were fixed on her phone, but Leonardo was fast to prevent it.

  "I'm so sorry….

Olivia was cut short when Leonardo ignored her apology and walked out the door. It's obvious he was very angry with the way he entered the car and slammed the door shut loudly.

                         Camila Russell.

 "Come over here Olivia, come greet our guest". Olivia's mom called out to Olivia who was fantasizing about how it would feel if she had actually fell and Leonardo had caught her. She would so much love his long protective arms sprawled around her.

 But it wasn't possible, since he was now meant for her younger sister. Camila is the one that's going to enjoy the luxury of being with a rich demi god like him and it pissed her off so much.

 "Olivia, come greet Mr Lucas…

Mrs Delmour, Olivia's mother, was interrupted when Olivia angrily stormed up the stairs in complete outrage, shocking their visitor and her dad altogether.

 Camila didn't look so shocked knowing the kind of temper her sister has.

 "She's not actually like that. She must have gone through a rough day. I'll go check up on her". Mrs Delmour said covering up for her before walking away up the stairs to Olivia's room.

"I'll be taking my leave now. Take care of yourself Camila". Mr Lucas smiled before walking out in the company of Mr Edward who faked a smile all through his leave.

 "Go back to where you came from, we'll summon you when you're needed". Camila's dad said sternly when he walked back in to meet his youngest daughter still standing waiting patiently for him.

 He settled on a couch opposite where Camila stood, then wore his reading glasses and picked up his magazine and began reading from it.

 "Do you want me to call some guards to throw you out?". Mr Edward uttered his gaze fixed on his magazine and Camila's tears finally fell off her eyes.

''Why do you and mom hate me so much? You both went as far as planning and fixing my wedding date and still told me nothing about it. As if locking me up at the back house my entire life wasn't enough now you both went as far as pairing me up for marriage without my consent?!" Camila cried out in frustration.

 "You should be happy we clothed and fed for those years you were locked up ungrateful soul! And what makes you feel you have the right to know when you're paired up with someone so rich for marriage! You should be lucky we didn't pair you up with a poor @sshole that can fit your taste so perfectly!!". Mr Edward yelled in rage and innocent Camila flinched in fear at his immense anger.

 'If he's so rich then why didn't you get him married to Olivia instead'. Camila couldn't help but wonder within herself but she didn't have the mind to say it out as she ran out of the mansion to the main building with loads and loads of tears streaming down her pretty eyes.