THE ENGAGEMENT

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The Dickens black Range Rover pulled into the giant gates of the Wellington Estate in Knightsbridge.

The mansion was the family house ,it was too big. Too quiet. White marble everywhere and maids lined up like soldiers. It smelled like money and something else powerful_"aura".

 Israel came out of the car and opened the door for Grandpa Dickens and kira.They stepped out and moved towards the entrance ,The maids heads fell as they went by.

The wellington's butler took them from the door and led them passed a long passge filled with gigantic arts on the wall,and finally into a lounge room,where Mr wellington sat,a pipe on his mouth.

"Oh Good old Dickens.. wellington said immediately he saw them.

Wellington...Grandpa Dickens said as the duo hugged.I heard you were at the hospital yesterday.When did you get discharged..

"Only this morning,as soon as I heard what was on ground my friend". Wellington heaved.

  Kira moved slowly towards Mr wellington and bowed slightly.

"It's been long I saw you uncle,I hope you have been well".

"Oh kira darling you came,look how grown you are now,into such a fine young lady.please sit...sit.wellington said as he waved them to sit.He then waved for the butler to get them whiskey,and juice for the lady.

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Only the two men sat by the fireplace — her Grandfather, Mr. Dickens, and Edwards Grandfather his old friend, Mr. Wellington, with two glasses of whiskey.

Kira sat at the edge of the chair, uncomfortable, her knees together.She hadn't drank a drop of the juice she was offered.She remained tense as she heard the men voicing out the damage the scandal had done.

For the first few minutes, the two old friends talked about the scandal — the reporters, the Daily Mail, the shares falling. Their voices were low, tired.

Then Mr. Wellington chuckled and leaned back in his chair, swirling his whiskey.

“You know, old friend, I saw that photo of them in the hotel. On page one of The Sun this morning. Entangled in that situation...” He shook his head, but he was smiling. “God forgive me, they looked good together. Really good.”

Mr. Dickens sighed. “Wellington, please. Not now.”

“I’m serious,” Mr. Wellington continued, his eyes glinting. “Do you remember? Five years ago at the charity ball in Mayfair, we joked about it. We said — wouldn’t it be wonderful if our families became one? We even joked about an engagement between our grandchildren .”

Grandpa Dickens snapped his neck as if going back to memory lane.

Mr. Wellington wasn’t looking as if he was joking anymore. He set his glass down on the table.

"What about we become in laws old friend?Mr wellington asked.

---

Silence fell in the big sitting room.

Mr. Dickens stared at his old friend, his whisky frozen halfway to his mouth.

“Wellington... what are you saying?”

Mr. Wellington didn’t blink. That sly smile on his face was no longer there,instead it was replaced by seriousness.

“I’m saying we fix this mess. Tonight.”

He stood up slowly and walked to the fireplace, his hands behind his back — like a general about to announce war.

“The whole of London thinks your grand daughter and my grandson has an illicit affair.My board thinks my grandson is loose. My shares dropped 20 million pounds before lunch. Yours did too, Dickens. Don’t pretend they didn’t.”

Mr. Dickens swallowed. “They did.”

“So we give them a better story. A cleaner story.”

Mr. Wellington turned around.

“We tell the press that Edward and Kira did not have a one-night scandal. No. We tell them that Edward and Kira have been secretly engaged for the past six months.”

Kira’s mouth dropped open. “WHAT?”

Mr. Dickens choked. “Secretly engaged?!”

“Yes,” Mr. Wellington continued, his voice getting faster, more excited — as if he smelled a good deal. “Edward proposed to her in secret — in Paris. In January. They were keeping it private because Kira did not want the attention. That’s why they were in that hotel room last night — not for... nonsense. But for a private romantic getaway. Two lovers celebrating.”

“That is not true uncle,we...we were not having a romantic getaway.Kira protested..

“Keep it down kira,” her Grandfather snapped quietly, but his eyes were still on Wellington. He was thinking. Calculating.

Mr. Wellington smiled at her — cold.

“Darling, it’s just a small lie to save two big families. Is that too much to ask?”Mr wellington said.

Then he dropped the bomb.

“And to make the world believe it — their wedding will be in two days. Saturday. Right here, at the Wellington Estate. A small, private, but very publicized wedding for close friends and press, especially the press.”

The room went dead silent.

Kira felt the floor move under her feet.

“Two days?” she whispered. “I’m supposed to marry Edward Wellington in TWO DAYS?”

Mr. Dickens looked at his daughter, then at his old friend. 

“Wellington, this is madness. Two days? My Grand daughter —”

“Two days is enough to stop the bleeding,” Mr. Wellington cut him off, his voice suddenly hard. “In two days, we turn a hotel scandal on The Sun into a fairy-tale wedding on BBC. Your family name is saved. Mine is saved. The contracts that are pulling out will come back.”

He walked up to Mr. Dickens and put a hand on his shoulder, leaning in close.

“You mind being in-laws, old friend? Because in two days, you will be.”

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*INT. THE WELLINGTON & CO.HOLDINGS- 4 PM. PRESS CONFERENCE*

The hall was full. Every camera in London — BBC, ITV, Daily Mail, The Sun — was pointed at the small stage.Location was at the wellington company.News had gone out that the wellingtons had decided to give a public conference regarding the scandal.

The truth was that not long after Mr wellington suggested the idea to kira and her Grandfather did he immediately called the company to release a story.

Mr. Davis walked out first into the stage,he was Mr wellington 's PA.He was the one that Mr wellington had assigned to give the information at the public conference.

Flashes. Hundreds of flashes.

Mr Davis tapped the microphone. He smiled — that calm, smile that could lie and make the world believe it.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I will be brief.”He started.Mr wellington had specifically asked him to be very brief.

The room went silent.

“Yesterday, photos of the Director, Edward Wellington, and Miss Kira Dickens in a hotel were published. The story was presented as a... scandal. That is false.”

There was suddenly murmurs in the crowd.

“The truth is that the director of The wellington co &holdings Mr Edward wellington and Miss kira Dickens have been secretly engaged since January, after he proposed to her privately in Paris. They chose to keep it private for personal reasons. Their meeting last night at The Corinthia was not a scandal — it was a private celebration of their love.”

The room was suddenly filled with gasps. Pens were scribbling intensely around the room.

“And to put an end to these disgusting rumours once and for all, I am pleased to announce on behalf of the Wellingtons and Dickens  that their wedding will be held here in London, at the Wellington Estate, in TWO DAYS — this Saturday. It will be private, for family only.”

“Thank you. No more questions.”He said and immediately went off the stage.The reporters protested, wanting more answers they shouted out questions after him.

*IMMEDIATELY - LONDON.*

The news exploded.

#WellingtonDickensWedding was NUMBER 1 trending on X in five minutes.

Comments started  flooded in everywhere:

OMG secret engagement! They look so good!_

From scandal to fairy-tale!_

Two days?! I need to see that dress!_

On the streets, on phones, on TVs in shops — it was everywhere.

*EDWARD'S CAR - BLACK ASTON MARTIN - A40 ROAD - SAME TIME*

Edward was driving fast,he had gone out of town hours ago to take care of an official meeting, and he was just retuning.The car radio BBC Radio 4 was on low.

_“...and in breaking business news, billionaire families Wellington and Dickens have just announced in an emergency press conference that Edward Wellington and Kira Dickens have been secretly engaged since January, with a wedding scheduled in just two days at the Wellington Estate...”_

The presenter’s voice continued, cheerful.

But Edward....He froze.

Engaged? Wedding? TWO DAYS?

His foot slammed harshly on the brake.

SCREECHHH!

The Aston Martin came to a violent stop in the middle of the road. Cars behind him honked loudly.

Edward didn’t move. His hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

His eyes were dark and furious.