CHAPTER 2

JENNIFER.

I blinked multiple times, trying to hold back tears from falling, lastly, the tears seemed to have won the fight, Mary was the first person I got in contact with after my big altercation with my father.

she is always my go-to person, in similar situations like this, because this particular situation right now is far too beyond me.

Mary was as heartbroken as I was upon hearing the sad news of my engagement, I watched her listen to my complaints with kin interests and a sense of self-pity. I know she felt the way I feel, only that I was the one who was getting married to an arrogant, son of a billionaire whose in-depth personal details I couldn't find online.

" Is Brian aware? She sniped at me, obviously annoyed "No, Not yet, I snapped back.

Mary has always got Brian back, first for the fact I met Brian through Mary and second, they are cousins." this is not good" she mutters. as she sips through her chilled pina colada.

"We are not in the stone age, he can't just ship you off into marriage like an unwanted crate of rotten egg," she said."He can, Mr. Davidson might have given him an offer he can't refuse, you know how selfish my father is" I added.

He can do anything to keep his business business afloat. That is the only thing that matters to him.

"What could be the reason for his stupid marriage" Mary questioned "I don't know, I was too angry to ask I don't want to see my dad, right now " I answered with a lazy tune.

It's been weeks since the last altercation with my dad. I got a call from him demanding my presence, as I trudged past the hallway leading to his apartment. Images of our last meeting creep through my mind. there I then I knew this particular one wouldn't be a happy ending as well.

I knocked on the door, and a familiar voice ushered me in" I have arranged a meeting for you and sir Davidson's son, his limo will pick you up in an hour" he blurted out with an air of finality and he delved back to his paperwork.

Larry was not the antagonist I envisioned him to be, he was a six-foot-tall man in his mid-thirties, and his bony frame carried on a broad shoulder. my feet felt edgy as I examined him trouting into the restaurant I earlier picked for our meeting, I picked it here because of its familiar scenery, and the girls usually hang out here just after a busy week.

I raised signaling him in my direction, he wore a fake smile, the moment he saw me at the far left side of the restaurant, how sweet of him to even bring himself to smile. I thought.

As I watched the figure beelined to position, I observed how unimpressed he was meeting me for the first time, despite his fake smile, more like his demeanor was trying to betray the horrible smirk on his face.

"Hello," I extend my hand to him for a handshake, how awkward, that was the only thing that popped into my head,

"Goddammit" " For a moment I think we are on the same page, Mary always grunts that I always judge a book by its cover, but my interests are never wrong, by the time I finish my lonely thought Mr. Fancy Pants has already occupied the other end of the chair which was empty few seconds ago.

Seeing Larry up close tingled my senses, I wasn't prepared for what was coming next," hello" he muttered with a disgusted tint in his. "Look as much as I hate this arrangement, it will be courteous of you to accord me politely" I replied feeling belittled "Hey, I didn't plan for this okay, I don't know the plans you, your dad and my father had, I'm no part of it, so don't expect politeness from me, okay"? Larry came prepared, likewise myself, I blinked twice trying to savor the taste of the words this imbecile just spat out. " Look here, dimwit, do I look like someone interested in your sorry ass" This is your father's undoing, and I won't sit here and condole such insolence from your gutter hole you call a mouth, I lambasted.

For a moment I felt my stomach churning, the DKNY golden delicious the jackass was had on is the culprit, or was the sudden tension that was enveloping slowing within our two? I can't seem bro pinpoint the origin of the sudden tender-headedness. I excused myself, and with a look of confusion and disdain on my supposed fiance's face, I ran to the bathroom and retched down the whole meshed potatoes Mum prepared on the restroom's sink.

I hurriedly freshened up, mopping up my now pale-looking face with a little shawl that is always present in my handbag, it's meant for little emergencies like this, I patted my face with the cloth as my mind drifted back to the stranger waiting for me back their, this stranger will soon be my husband.

I tried to wipe the stupid-looking expression off my face while I contemplated going back to my already impatient fiancee, he had messaged me twice already. I reapply my makeup and dap a little red lipstick on my lip to my already fading shade, this makes my plumpy lip pop.

I dropped myself on my chair, which startled him a little, "sorry I took quite some time in there" I sighed, this was the most boring date ever, I ransacked my brain about a thousand and one ideas to kick start this obnoxious idea of a date, my God! this is a disaster." so how was your childhood like" I managed to drag the words out of my mouth, looks like Mister Fancy Pants here is not the only one who feels uncomfortable," you sound like someone who is drowning" he murmured, nonchalantly, that is it, I have had it " let's cut to the chase"

I managed to forge a smile, but all this while he was so fixated on his phone, as I took a glimpse of this stranger, I couldn't help but notice his gleaming eyes, the way he squinted them made him look super hot.

"I guess we all came here to waste our time, I faced him, but his eyes were all deep in his phone, I watched in disbelief as he punched his keyboard away.

Feeling the warm water underneath my skin, brought life to my seemingly condemned existence, the water only calmed my nerves but it failed to quench the furnace of anger burning within me." "Who did he think he is", I said to myself.

"You look Lost" Mary questioned, as soon I stepped out of the bathroom."I'm not feeling quite alright, I feel light-headed" Mary stood akimbo as she scrutinized me, she went to her wardrobe and brought out a pregnancy test kid "Don't go there Mary, I am not pregnant", I quizzed as she tried to hand me the kit," I'm not saying you are pregnant, but what do you have to lose, just to satisfy my curiosity" "okay," I said, taking the kit from her hand.

I gaze at the two tiny red strips on the kit, "and?" Mary peeped through the bathroom door as she rushed herself in, She took the test kit from me and Exclaimed with her mouth agape." this is not good" she said with a condensed tone.