CHAPTER 7

I wanted someone to wake me up from my nightmare.

This nightmare.

The more I breathed, the more I realized how real this was. How I was going to get married to this man. This man whom I barely even knew.

Don't get me wrong, Alexander Mckenzie was gorgeous. He was absolutely breathtaking. And ridiculously, even. So far, he seemed to have a well mannered behavior too. I liked the air around him, how sophisticated and chill, nearly mysterious it was. I liked how he seemed to listen more and talk less, while Idid the reverse.

That was even a shock to me because I was extremely nervous the entire time. I was awkward too. I wasn't sure what to say or how to act, so I spoke out the first thoughts that came into my head and blabbed it without a filter.

And maybe, he also had a good sense of humour. Because once in a while, he seemed to chuckle slightly at my stutters.

Alexander seemed like a great man. However, I barely knew him. And one thing was certain; amidst all that silk hair, pretty almond eyes and mysterious demeanor, I did not want to get married to this man.

"If it makes you feel better. I don't want to get married either."

Those words threw me off guard for a moment.

"Huh?" I asked him, urging him to repeat himself.

Alexander had taken my hand and pulled me out of the crowd of his family and my father, after announcing that his stop was the Love Garden — his favourite place in Ecstasy Park. He said he loved the view because it was filled with the greenest plants and the prettiest flowers, and there was a pretty path where we walked though. Like whoever grew this garden planned it so, the path was right at a spot where the early morning sun could cast a shade upon our skins, glowing beautifully.

And, maybe I was mistaken. Because with the way that he had smiled at me in the bakery, looked at me like I was gold, and even taken my hand in his' so sweetly, I thought the man was full in on this forced marriage thing.

"My father put me to this," He told me, easily. He said it without stress, walked casually on the tall green grass as he told me the truth.

I was quiet, sinking that in slowly.

Apparently, Alexander was trying to tell me that I wasn't the one forced into this. He was, too.

"My old man insisted I come to see you today," He said to me. "So, he finalized the agreement with the whole family to come and meet you in your father's bakery."

I wondered why he was telling me all of this. Was it for me to just know? Or did he have another motive?

"I feel the same way you feel, Darlene; Stuck," He said to me. "I asked for him to give some time before the wedding. Give yousome time. That was the most I could get from him. Even if the time wasn't even that much anyway."

"But…"

"You don't want to get married to me, Darlene."

The ease at which he already knew what was up and how best to show me that he most definitely knew.

"To be honest, I'm beyond surprised. Pleasantly though," He said to me, my legs moved at his place. He was the one talking now and I was listening. "No woman in this country has ever rejected a man like me."

The urge to scoff…

"I guess there is a first time for everything," He said to himself with a little laugh.

The awkwardness pushed me to laugh with him. Although my laugh was a cringe worthy version of his'.

Suddenly, we stopped walking. Or rather he stopped walking. Furthermore, he took one bold step and got ahead of me with a door or two, cornering me, yet gently.

"I have an idea."

I stared up at his face, my eyes marking his almond orbs in a waiting gaze. I wanted to bear what he had to say.

"Why don't you just run away?"

I still stared at him.

Because, I hoped he would break out laughing soon, screaming 'It's a prank!'.

But, no. His eyes were dead with seriousness. In all genuinity, the man couldn't be more serious.

"You want me to run away," I repeated what I heard him say, looking at him like he had grown two to seven extra heads.

"You don't want this right?" He gestured between him and me, indicating the 'marriage' and all I could do was nod. "So, do what you have to do — run away. If they can't find you, there will be no marriage. That is the only way out!"

"I do want to get out of this…" My voice was low as all he said was a considered thought in my head. Honestly, I was surprised. Surprised that he could understand this too. That he even wanted the same thing. "But, n-no…"

As much as I would have loved to get myself out of this, I had never been one to make decisions on impulse. Running away would mean I was backing out of this, but truthfully, it also had its repercussions.

"Your father made a deal with my father," I told Alexander. "Having my dad be out in a position to pay for the consequences of my running away isn't very ideal."

He stared at me as I talked. He didn't say anything, even if it looked like words were at the tip of his tongue. I talked, he listened.

"Your father is one of the most influential men in the world," I reminded him. "And he doesn't look like the kind of man to take things like this lightly — people bailing on him on a deal that was signed and sealed."

The man did not even argue. Which meant I was right.

"I don't know if I am willing to put my Dad through all of that," I said.

Alexander looked at me, a look of understanding lingered in those almond orbs.

"Even after what he's put you through,"  He said to me, his tone was questioning.

"My father can be a pain the arse," I said without a filter, a tired sigh escaped my lips there after. "But, he is still my father."

The dead end I was in hurt like a bitch.

I could not run away and have my Dad get into trouble with Mr Mckenzie and be stuck a lifetime of unpayable wedges of debts.

"I can't do such a thing that would cost him like that…" I said.

And at the same time, I hated that getting married to Alexander, a man whom I barely even knew, was the only option.

So many thoughts ran through my mind and my gaze steadied at the ground, eyes downcast.

Warm hands latched onto my shoulders, bringing me back to the present and the reminder that I was standing before Alexander. I looked up, reflexively, and my eyes met with his soft ones, a quietness lingered on between us for a moment.

"Want to walk a bit?" He asked me.

Well…

"I'm suggesting because sometimes when I felt overwhelmed, I walk to clear my head…" He said to me. "You don't need to talk to me, while at it."

So… thoughtful…

I couldn't help the smile that grew onto my face, a soft sweet smile of appreciation for such a sweet gesture.

"Sure."

He didn't even hold my hand, as though he mad it a top priority of his' to not do anything to make me uncomfortable.

Although…

A part of me wished that he did.