Fairy-tales are fiction

4

Fairy-tales are fiction. A well-told story with the sole purpose of soothing the heart desires of girls like Rose that had no one to save them. It was a very popular genre in the world of romance for good enough reasons.

Many girls need saving.

Rose had thought herself the luckiest girl in the entire world when she had met her prince. It didn’t matter that it was in the most unconventional manner.

What made her heart flutter was how he looked at her with those sinful eyes of his. The way he touched her skin like he was afraid it would bruise, and the whispers of sweet promises against her temple.

He had warned her that he would be hers only for the night, but that didn’t matter. Not when he would have her heart for the rest of eternity.

The universe must have left a glass slipper on her behalf because here he was, in her home. To save her from her future groom, she hoped.

Three long strides and she was standing in front of him, shaken and afraid that he might only be a figment of her imagination.

With her index finger she poked his chest, her eyes widening when a frown formed on his straight face. “You are real.”

Rose was glad he was here, he could potentially save her from the marriage that had been thrust upon her.

“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but why are you here?” she asked him in a hushed whisper for fear that her father would be down and she would like to keep her rendezvous a secret.

“I don’t believe we’ve met before,” he answered and stretched out his arm in greeting. “I’m Wade.”

Stunned into silence she stared at her arm before moving back up to meet his eyes. “What do you mean?” she asked, then leaned into his ear. “We’ve met before, at the club.”

Wade adjusted the collar of his shirt before leveling his gaze to her. “Miss, I think you have me mistaken for another man. If you’ll direct me to the table, I’m here to dine with Mr. Peter and his daughter.”

It struck her deep in the gut. “And you are?” she asked with a gulp. If he were to reveal that he was her intended groom, she might explode into a thousand pieces.

Gritting his teeth he repeated. “Bryson Wade Wu.” She might be the beauty he had spent the last couple days dreaming about but she was getting on his every nerve. He pushed the flowers he was holding into her hands and went in.

“I didn’t invite you in,” she protested, hot on his heels.

“I’ll be a member of the family come morning,” he said, stopping without notice which made Rose bump into his back. He turned to see her rubbing her nose.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” she asked, her hand muffling her voice.

“That I don’t need to be invited in. It’s not like the security here is the best, the door was literally left open this afternoon.”

“We don’t lock the door when it’s only Papa in the house. It’s a lot of trouble making him come down to open it.”

“Papa?”

She nodded. “Mr. Peter is my father,”

“That will make you-”

“Rose. Rose Beluchi Carmen.”

The surprise was evident on his face but was gone the instant Rose looked at him. The name was perfect for her, he thought as he watched the pink that appeared on either side of her cheeks.

Damnation would be a good word to describe the situation at hand. He had no one to blame but himself for not doing a proper background check. He had been so focused on Peter that it never occurred to him to at least find out about his daughter whom he was getting married to.

“Nice. Please inform your father of my arrival, we need to wrap things up quickly for the wedding tomorrow.”

Looking at him in suspicion she asked, “You’re the one I’m getting married to?” she needed the confirmation from him before she could decide if luck was on her side or not.

“Precisely.”

Rose squealed, her voice so loud it had Mary rushing out of the kitchen in panic.

“What happened?” Mary asked, coming to a stop beside Rose. “Who is this?” she asked, looking between the both of them.

“Wade. Is it normal to greet guests so poorly in your home?” he asked.

Mary’s face took on a horrified look. “Oh my- please come on in Mr. Wade, I’ll have Peter down shortly. She led him to the table and offered a chair. “Rose, come over and entertain our guest a bit before your Papa comes down. Remember you don’t want to leave a bad impression on your future husband.”

Mary whispered the last bit in Rose’s ears as she forced her to take a seat across Wade.

“Are you a stalker?” Rose asked him. “I know I’m pretty but isn’t it too much to buy Papa’s company off and demand to marry me just because we spent a night together?” she brushed a stray strand from her face. “Ms. Mary did say my beauty will cause me a lot of problems.”

Suddenly a cold breeze whipped past Rose making her shiver. She looked to the door but it wasn’t open. It wasn’t until she looked up that she saw the source of it. Wade’s icy gaze.

“Don’t you think she’s exaggerating?”

“What?”

“I don’t deny that you’re beautiful but it’s not enough reason for a man of sound mind to blow up millions of dollars buying off a dying company. It’s way too much loss to a business man.”  

Rose was instantly horrified. She had said it in a bid to understand what his intentions were but now he was being right down ridiculous. “Then why else will you follow me home and demand my hand in marriage? No sane person does that after meeting once.”

The visible on his face had Rose pulling back. Without a word to her, he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and readjusted his tie.

Rose followed every movement, her eyes glued to the way it made his veins pop and she remembered how it felt when those hands were wrapped around her neck.

“Why are you looking at me in that manner?” his hoarse voice felt scratched.

“How am I looking at you?” She rasped.

“Like you want to fuck me.”

Rose choked on her own saliva, hitting her chest lightly to make room for some air. How could he say that to her face? The embarrassment she felt was greater than her need to caution him about his use of a vulgar word.

“You’re mistaken.”

A low chuckle rose from him, spreading goosebumps along her arms. “The easiest thing for me to recognize is a desire in a woman’s eyes.”

Closing her eyes, Rose hoped to restrain her memories of that night, but it was difficult. It didn’t help that he was sitting in front of her, those brown eyes peering into hers. She wouldn’t be considered a woman if she had no desire for him.

Propping his elbows on the table, he tilted his head to get a better view of her. “It’s not something to be ashamed of,” he said to her. “All humans have desires, some more selfish than others.”

Rose cleared her throat. “Are you really not the man I met a couple days ago? I can swear-”

“There’s no need to swear,” he said, cutting her off with a wave of his head. “While a face like mine is rear to find in this part of the world, it’s also possible that there’s someone out there that share the same features as me.”

Rose wasn’t buying it. If only she had been sober enough that night to have identified a birthmark or scar that she could use to confirm his identity.

“Let’s say that is the case,” she mirrored his movement. “Why do you want to marry me still? Why do you want to help Papa?”

“It would be virtuous to say am trying to help a man in need, but that’s not the case.” His expression took on a blank look, and the politeness was gone from his voice. “Marrying you is merely to satisfy my ego, nothing else.”

How a man could say all that to the face of his intended bride baffled Rose. Obviously the arrangement had not come from love, but she would have felt better if he had at least pretended to care for her, or want her.

“I’m happy that I am something to soothe your manly needed,” she said and pushed her chair back. “Wait a minute while I go get Papa.”

Forcing the tears back she started up the stairs. A scream tears from her lips when a shard of glass pierces under her foot. She had forgotten to clean out the broken vase.

“Are you alright?” Wade’s worried voice annoyed her.

“There’s no reason to act like you care.” She raised her leg lightly in a bid to pull out the glass, only to loose her balance and fall backward. It was too late to grab onto the railing, closing her eyes she waited for the worse.

Maybe if she broke her spine, this man would have no use for her. In place of the hard ground she expected to collide with, she fell on something warm and cushioned.

A strong arm circled around her waist and lifted her up. She felt the moment he started to walk up the steps and pressed her head to his chest in fear of being dropped.

“Where’s the bathroom?” he asked.

His voice vibrated through her, waking up feelings that she was trying to suppress. Getting married to this stranger was going to be difficult, especially with how he reminded her of another man.

“Bathroom?” he asked again, growing impatient.

Her eyes snapped open, the were on the first floor. She pointed to the last door at the end of the hall. “There.”

He dropped her on the sink when they got to the bathroom. She waited for him to leave so she could fix herself up only to be surprised when he reached for the top shelf and brought out a first-aid box.

“I can clean myself up.”

“No shit.”

Putting one knee on the floor he grabbed her foot and examined the wound. With care he picked up the tweezers and pulled out the glass. “Take better care of your body, if not it will suffer each time from your careless.”

Why did it feel like she was being scolded by Papa. She kept watching him with a pout, biting down on her down lip when he cleaned the surface.

Without thinking he brought her foot close and blew a gentle breeze on it. “Better?”

An answer was far from her. Instead all her thoughts had gone blank as the tingling feeling from his lips being so close to her spread from her leg all the warm to her chest. It made her lightheaded.

He put on the band-aid before standing up. “Don’t put all your weight on it, it’ll heal faster that way.”

He turned to leave when Rose suddenly grabbed his hand.

“What?” he asked, his body turned slightly towards her.

The words died on her lips. “Nothing.”

A nod. “I’ll be at the table.”

She released a breath she hadn’t been aware she was holding in. She wanted to beg him to be the man she has become all too aware of. Her body responded to him the same, every touch, ever air. For the sake of her sanity, they had to be the same man.

After making sure that her pounding heart has slowed down to an even rhythm, she made her way downstairs. Even if had forgotten, she was going to remind him of the magic they had shared.

Mary had outdone herself once again with the food. The scent of pepper-stew lingered in the air long after they were done with dinner. It was her special dish, and she had made it for Wade, with hope that he would treat her pumpkin like the princess she was.

That was far from the case. The dinner had turned out to be an impromptu wedding ceremony which was a blow to the face.

Rose had always dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding. The perfect white gown, lots of lowers in the garden. All she needed was her father walking her down the aisle and Ms. Mary always being by her side.

In reality she had to settle for flowers that had been picked up along the road in a hurry, and an old gown she had worn thinking it was just dinner.

It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life but she couldn’t even bring herself to cry. Not when there were tears streaming down Papa’s face. She had to be strong for both of them.

“Not even a clergy man in sight, you’re as good as a spinster,” Mary exclaimed when they were alone in the kitchen waiting for the men to finish their drink.

Rose nodded along with the word spinster. It felt too dirty to describe her. She should be a bride in love yet here she was, a bride without a proper wedding.

“I’d rather you don’t go with that man,” she continued. “I’m sure the situation at the company is not that bad. Come with me, we’ll beg your Papa.” She started to drag Rose out with her.

“There’s no point,” Rose said, pulling her arm out of her grip. “They already have an agreement.” she let herself slide to the floor, her gown pooling at her sides. “maybe this is for the best.”

“What?” Mary exclaimed. “I know this is not how you envisioned your marriage. You're still so young, there’s no need to rush it.”

Rose offered her a tight smile. “It would be selfish of me not to marry him.”

“Selfish to whom?”

“Papa.” Feeling helpless she pulled her knees to her chest and let her head drop on them. “He dedicated his entire life to taking care of me while ignoring everything else including the company he started with Mama. If it wasn’t for he would’ve never gone bankrupt.”

“Pumpkin, none of this is your fault. She sat down beside Rose and pulled her to her bosom. “Life happens.”

At this point Rose was far too gone in her head. Her dream of meeting her prince charming again had turned into a nightmare so quickly she didn’t have the time to process it all.

She didn’t only get married with a total stranger, but one that had an uncanny resemble to the man that haunted her dreams and dirtiest thoughts. All she wanted was love and happiness, but what she had was uncertainty and fear for the future.

“Sometimes I wonder if Papa would have been happy if I had died instead of Mama.” She whispered the thought that she was so ashamed of expressing. “I know it’s silly but, he was better off not tied to a child. At the very least there would’ve been time to mourn his wife properly and take care of the company.”

“Hush child,” Mary chastised her, pulling slightly away so she could look her in the face. “Your Papa has never once regretted having you in his life. You were the best thing to happen to him.”

She disagreed. “I’ll follow Mr. Wade home.”

“I thought we were going to talk to your mama, he will understand.”

Rose shook her head and put her head back on Mary’s bosom. “Marrying him is the only way I can save the company Papa and Mama started together. He promised to leave it under my name.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, but I’m really grateful. Besides Papa can use the money he’s paying to renovate the house, I worry that it will cave in one of these days.”

Mary rubbed her shoulder, offering comfort that only a mother could give. “This house is as strong as your father’s love for you.”

“I can take you both on a vacation after I settle down. I know you’ve always wanted to visit home, you can go back if you want.” Rose blinked away softly. It was selfish of her to want Mary by her side, but she couldn’t also let go.

“My home is with you child.” She kissed the side of Rose’s head and watched her sigh softly in contentment.

“But I have to do this,” Rose said and got up slowly. “I’ll be going back with my husband.” The word had a bad taste in her mouth.

“You don’t have to leave with him, we can ask your Papa to renegotiate.”

With a sad smile Rose shook her head. “I must do this,” she said, more to herself so she wouldn’t chicken out. “The least I can do is give Papa a happy ending.”