CHAPTER THREE

Karin walks towards the elevator, dressed in a mini flowing paisley green dress, dark brown belt around her tiny waist, a matching tote bag and a matching pair of low boots. She wore her hair loose for the first time since college, parted at the centre, combed neatly and tucked behind both ears. A big circle earrings and a sweetheart necklace.

Feeling a little strange, she didn't bother to look around to say hello to anyone, not ready to answer anyone's questioning look at the way she's dressed.

She enters the elevator and press her floor button.

***

Johan drops his large size onto a comfy sofa in his studio, wondering about his decision regarding his lunch date with Karin. She seem nice, original and grounded. He is not sure about her looks because of the ambiance of the environment on their first meeting but she has a nice physique; a little hippie, long limbs and he especially loved the way she walks. Does she know she naturally catwalks? She doesn't seem like someone who pays attention to herself because he sorta like being around her, she's unique, a rare gem.

He decides to go early so he'd pick her up. He wants their pretend relationship to seem real to the people around her and he wants to see how she'd react, look into her eyes to know if she's not ashamed to be around him because of his mixed race. He snaps out of his reverie, sits up and picks his car keys from the coffee table. He stands up and walks towards the door, exiting the studio.

***

The intercom light in Karin's office starts blinking, she answers it and freezes when her secretary informs her about Johan's presence.

She jerks back to reality when her secretary asks her for the third time if she should let him in.

"Yes Linda, please let him in. Thank you!" She disconnects, lost in thought. "What the heck is he doing here?" She mutters to herself.

She raises her head when the door opens and sees him dressed casual in grey khaki pants, white t-shirt and a simple black jacket over the t-shirt, with a pair of white snickers.

A flicker of frown crosses her features. "Hi Johan, please come in." She stands up. "What a surprise, is everything alright?" Hoping he didn't come to tell her he wasn't going through with their agreement.

Johan smiles. "Hi Karin! I wanted to surprise you, I'm here to pick you for our lunch date. I didn't want you driving to and from the venue, so I thought since it was my idea, I better behaved like a gentleman. So what do you say?" His gaze holding hers.

Karin now smiles, relived he was here to pick her. "Oh! that's nice and thoughtful of you but I wouldn't have minded, thanks all the same. Please sit." She gestures toward the chairs opposite hers.

Johan makes himself comfortable and looks around the office briefly. "Your office is cute and warm. You did a good job fixing it this way, am I right?" Taking note of the lilac walls, coral reef paintings at strategic places, two colourful flower pots, dark wood furnishings and lastly pictures of her father, mother and sister on her table. "Your mother is beautiful, lovely genes, and she passed them on to you and your sister."

Karin smiles, looking at him as though studying him. "Thank you, that means a lot!"

Johan returns her smile. "Don't think your dad isn't handsome, he is and really tall. I know I am tall but I won't be surprised if he's taller." Answering her questioning look. He sighs and looks at his watch. "You have twenty minutes to clear your table or perhaps finish what you were going through before my arrival, so I'll allow you to do just that before we head out." He relaxes into the chair and closes his eyes. "Just pretend I'm not here."

Karin chuckles. "As if that is possible. Just look at your size Johan, you command attention without doing anything and it's so hard to ignore you but I'm going to try and finish this proposal before we leave." She picks up the proposal and continues from where she left off.

***

Going down in the elevator, Karin tries not look at him too much, so she stares at the door of the elevator and could still see him clear enough, at least she can't be accused of staring right? She drifts off with her thoughts.

Johan clears his throat to break the silence. "So what about the other guy you're planning to use me to discipline? What went down between you two?"

Karin jerks back to the present and looks up at him. "What guy?"

Johan shrugs, retuning her gaze "I suppose that is why you want to marry me right? You caught him cheating or something worse? I mean for you to make such decision."

Karin stammers. "Th... there's no other guy, I'll explain..."

The door of the elevator opens at the ground floor, cutting her off.

They step out of the elevator, Johan then reached down to hold her by the hand and gently pulls her so they could walk side by side, to make the relationship believable.

Karin felt a little awkward but allow herself to be held as they walk towards the entrance. She could see and feel pairs of eyes watching them, especially the ladies. She smiles inwardly, "Yeah ladies, I have what it takes to date a guy as handsome, and yes, he's going to be my husband in few days time." She says to herself.

As they approach the entrance door, he loosen his grip and holds her by the shoulder, ushering her out. She looks up and smiles her thank you to him. "This guy is an incredulous actor, now all the ladies will be wishing to be me." She thinks to herself."

***

Forty five minutes later, they were seated by the window at Winlux restaurant, talking over their second cup of lemon tea.

Karin's hands are wrapped around her tea cup and Johan's left hand is flat on the table. His gaze on his tea, he asks her "Tell me a little about you."

Karin nods and gives a self deprecating smile. "There is just a little about me."

Johan looks at her, a little frown disrupting his features. "Why is there a little to say about you?" Using his left hand to hold and release the tea cup handle rhythmically, waiting for her response.

Karin avert her gaze, looking into her tea, her hands still wrapped around her tea cup. "It's just that I haven't been a social individual since I was little. My mum said I was peculiar, always waiting to be told to socialize before I joined the other kids, I usually played by myself. " She didn't bother to look up, not ready to see his reactions. "And when she left us, I became responsible for my three year old sister because my Dad was devastated and I haven't had time for me ever since."

Johan cuts her off. "Time as in?"

Karin smiles, still not looking at him. "I didn't stay on campus while in college and during prom, I was barely there, I just wanted to be with my Dad and sister; my whole life revolved around them. Now she's getting married and I don't know what my father will be thinking about, we barely spoke these past few days but I can see the concern in his eyes." She breathes out through her mouth as though letting off some steam. "I'm sorry about my boring story..."

Johan cuts her off again "What do you mean by 'boring'? I'm listening and interested to know about you, can you stop thinking the worst about your self?" He reaches out and lifts her chin so she could look into his eyes. "I have no doubt that you're an amazing person, Karin and I'm glad you met me, I'm not saying I'm the best out there but I'll do my best to show you how amazing a person that you are!"

Karin's eyes tear up, she quickly blink the tears away and free her chin from his loose grip. "Thank you Johan! Her wedding is twelve days away and I want to get married before her. I really don't know why but that's what I want, hence my proposal to you."

Johan holds her gaze. "About your Mom, what exactly do mean by when she left us?"

Karin looks away. "She died. My parents were involved in a freak accident on their way home from her school reunion dinner, and she never recovered from the shock. No sign of change from the induced comma, few days later, she died. My father found it hard to move on and it took a while, though he never remarried."

Johan places his hand over hers around the tea cup. "I'm sorry, I just needed to be sure, I didn't want to assume things. By the way, you are brave and the best big sister in the world!" He smiles at her, hoping to cheer her up.

Karin looks at his hand over hers and back at him returning his smile. "Thanks Johan. It's weird that I don't feel at odds discussing about myself with you. What kind of spell are you wielding?"

Johan laughs out. "Spell? And why should you feel at odds when I'm your future husband in few days!"

Karin cocks her head, looking at him through sleeted eyes.

Johan mocks her in a funny way. "And what's that look for Karin Kurt?"

Karin maintains her stance. "Just making sure you won't chicken out now that you know so much about me."

Johan becomes serious. "I won't do that, besides, I keep my word most times. I also want to say that your reason to marry before her could be for her, to stop her from worrying about you." He takes his hand away.

Karin shrugs. "I don't know Johan, I guess it's for her and me in a way. To prove some thoughts about me wrong, that was why I was surprised when you accepted." She lifts her tea cup to her lips and drinks half of what is left. "I should be heading back Johan, thanks for lunch." She gently places the tea cup on the table.

Johan looks at his wrist-watch, and his eyes widen in disbelief. "Sure, let's take you back, and I'm glad you came."

Karin smiles. "Perhaps, you will tell me why you agreed to marry me and a little about yourself some other time. "She pushes back her chair and starts to get up.

Johan quickly drinks up his tea, he pushes his chair back and gets up before Karin. He walks round to help her out. "Dinner at my place on Friday, let me cook for you. What do you say?"

Karin steps out holding his hand. "I don't know, are you sure you want to that?"

Johan smiles. "This coming from the lady that proposed to me, I'll be damned! Shouldn't you be utilizing every opportunity to know your future husband?"

Karin chuckles. "I just don't want to be a bother, but I don't mind since I don't have any plans yet."

Johan smiles more. "Good, I'll come pick you seven thirty, and we can discuss the date for the civil wedding and perhaps go shopping for what to wear on the agreed date." He places his hand at the small of her back and nudges her a little. "Let's get you back to the office, I don't like unpleasant surprises."

Karin chuckles. "Are you for real?"

Johan smiles. "I'm all flesh and blood darling, except for my secret powers, but that'll be for another day."

Karin laughs, oh how she loves his smile.

They walk towards the exit.

***

Karin sips her hot cocoa drink, lost in thought while replaying the incident of the day oblivious of the other occupants at the table.

Ella clears her throat, trying to gain her sister's attention to no avail. She looks towards her Dad and smiles at him. "It seems the rumour is true Dad, someone is about to take your daughter, my sister away from us, what are we going to do about it?"

Kurt smirks "Is it true Karin, are you seeing someone?"

Ella giggles "It is what it is Dad, what else can it be, or have you ever seen her this way in a while?"

Kurt frowns, wanting to confirm what Ella is hinting at. "Karin! Is what your sister saying true?"

Karin is still lost in thought, an awful frown crosses her features and she unconsciously swallows a gulp of hot cocoa. She quickly drops the mug on the table and brings out her tongue and starts fanning it with her hand.

Ella sees she's back to the present and gains her attention. "Dad asked you a question Karin, please answer him so his food won't get cold."

Karin looks in her father's direction. "Dad, what did you want to know?" Looking at her Dad carefully to see if anything is off about him.

Kurt's frown deepens. "Are you seeing someone?"

Karin returns his frown with her's. "Where did you hear that Dad?" She looks in her sister's direction. "Don't tell me you've been snooping around Ella?"

Ella raises her hands in surrender. "I noticed some changes in you after our last serious conversation and had ask my sources what was happening with you. Did I do wrong since I couldn't bring myself to ask you anything?"

Karin eyes her and return her gaze on her Dad. "Yes Dad, there's someone I'm seeing at the moment."

Kurt's eyes brighten up. "That's great! When am I going to meet the individual?"

Karin chuckles. "Not anytime soon, and I'm sorry it as to be that way because I have to be really sure I know what I'm getting myself into."

Kurt smiles. "Are you happy about whole thing so far?"

Karin smiles, her eyes twinkle. "Yes Dad, he's surprised me a lot, pleasant surprises and yes, I am happy."

Kurt's smile deepens. "That's good, as long as you're happy, that's what counts for me!"

Ella raises her glass cup of water. "A toast to Karin's happiness!"

Kurt laughs a little and raises his glass cup of water, while Karin obliges them with her mug of hot cocoa.

Kurt tries to find a way to trap his daughter on securing a meeting with the individual she's seeing earlier than she's planned. "Don't you think it'll be better I meet him sooner, I mean I have to let him know that you are not to be taken for granted in any way."

Karin laughs. "Yeah dad, I get your trick but you have understand that I'm not a baby and I can handle myself. Besides, I might change my mind if you meet him sooner than I planned and that won't be fair. You just have to be patient ok!"

Kurt resigns from his attempt in trapping her. "Fine, we'll have it your way." He continues eating his dinner.

Ella smiles at her sister. "I believe the same rule applies to me as well right?"

Karin returns her smile. "Yeah baby girl!"

Ella continues. "You might need my opinion about his personality.

Karin's smile disappears. "Trust me, I don't."

Ella frowns at her. "I thought since I'll be getting married in few days, you'd let me meet him because of my schedule.

Karin chuckles. "You don't any special treatment miss bride to be, you'll have to wait just like Dad."

Ella pouts. "Am I not your baby sister anymore?"

Karin mimics her pout. "Of course you still are and I won't replace you anytime soon or ever but you'll have to wait dear."

Ella becomes serious, seeing her attempts falling on deaf ears. "Are you that serious about us not meeting him sooner?"

Karin smiles. "Yes, I am. You know I don't joke around Ella, quit trying to change my mind please."

Ella remains undaunted. "What if he's not right for you? What if we don't like him for you? Don't you think all these are important?"

Karin smiles on. "Believe me when I say I won't change my mind and you both have to wait. Thank you for understanding."

Ella sighs. "Have it your way then!" She continues eating her dinner.

Karin blows a kiss to her. "Thank you sweetie!!"