Arranged marriage

The room was as hushed as a grave. Gwendolyn kept checking her watch impatiently, however, she failed to notice that someone had been staring at her for so long. When Lilith glanced around the room, her eyes caught the person. She thought he was just passing by but seeing that he was staring at Gwendolyn through the transparent office glass, she decided to call for her attention.

“Gwendolyn, did you notice a young man out there has been secretly checking you out?” She whispered into her ear as she gestured in the direction of the man standing near the glass.

Gwendolyn barely heard everything she said. She had been in the room for thirty minutes, waiting to be summoned by the president. She had made up her mind to leave once the certain time she intended to spend at the company elapsed as she had an important business to handle.

Being a prominent artiste, she had to manage her schedule and she wouldn't let one affect the other. However, an interview with the president was never part of her schedule. Yesterday she received an email from her manager that the president of the company wanted to meet her in person after she was assigned to model for their company. She had heard a lot about him and couldn't wait to meet him before signing a contract with them.

Her jade-green eyes scanned everywhere, searching for the person her manager was talking about. “I don't see anyone.” She replied nonchalantly.

Lilith had to check to confirm if she was pretending not to see the handsome man she sighted a few seconds ago but he was gone. “He was there five seconds ago.”

Her eyes flickered with curiosity. “I didn't see anyone.”

By the way, she was responding, Lilith knew she wasn't in the mood to have a long talk at the moment. She wanted to ask her what was wrong with her, but because she thought Gwendolyn might be worried about another thing. They would have the conversation later.

Unknown to Lilith, lately her father had been pestering her to accept a marriage arrangement. Gwendolyn was the first child, ever since she was a child, she chose her path. She thought being independent meant being free. However, freedom was something she never had ever since her mother died of heart disease when her younger sister was ten years old.

“I guess the person was just passing by,” Lilith concluded in her thought.

While Gwendolyn was preparing herself to ask a question, the door was opened and a young beautiful lady stepped in. “The board meeting has ended. You may come with me to his office, the president is waiting for you.” She purred her words slowly while smiling brightly at her.

With a sigh of relief, she mumbled underneath as she rose. “Finally, I'm getting my butt out of this god-damned hell,”

“This way, ma'am.” The lady led her to the president's office. They took the elevator to the eleventh floor. When they reached his door, she halted and gestured to her . She was ordered to bring Gwendolyn to his office and she was strictly told to restrict anyone from coming to his office.

Gwendolyn didn't spare her another glance as she made her way into his office. As she had predicted, his office was well-preserved and organized. While strutting in, an earthy scent swirled around her like the wind. However, she was caused to halt when she saw the name tag on his desk. She read out, ‘AUSTIN WHITLOCK’ Her worst nightmare!

Sitting on the swivel chair, his back was facing her. He had sensed her presence but he hadn't turned to check out.

“Mr. Brook told me you want to meet me.” The chair swiveled to face her, and now both of them were staring at each other. When a pair of familiar gray eyes locked with hers, she frowned. “Long time no see, Gwen. I'm sorry I'll have made a romantic advance but I don't know what you are like now after five years. Maybe next time. Have a seat, princess.” He had a deep voice, yet pleasing to hear. His appearance had a rippling quality, his eyes darted constantly while checking out her body.

For the first time, Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. Firstly, the man wasn't just anybody but a man that once humiliated her in the past. She parted her plump lips to say something then closed them back. Everything became clear to her. The man sitting right in front of her shared the same name as the person her father told her she had to marry. Two days ago, Mr. Brook informed her there was a marriage arrangement between her and Austin, she thought it could be another man who shared the same name with her ex-boyfriend.

She had heard her father praising him for saving his business from the brink of bankruptcy. She hadn't given her reply yet but now that she knew it was her ex-boyfriend, nothing in the whole world would make her accept the arranged marriage.

“You are the person my father was talking about? I should have figured it out that it's the same jerk.” She mumbled the last statement underneath.

Then he rose, each step he took toward her seemed to cause her body to heat up with anger. She noticed his height, he was five inches taller than her. Each time she remembered what he did to her back then. He didn't only humiliate her by cheating on her, he also told the whole world he wouldn't marry a woman who wasn't in the same class as him. What has changed now?

Five years ago she was still a struggling artiste, fighting her way in the industry. She could have it all but she didn't want to use her family's influence to get what she wanted, she wanted to be like everyone else. She started at the bottom and now she was a prominent artiste and model. Austin Whitlock never desired something which was of no use to him, definitely he needed Gwendolyn for a reason.

“I thought you'll be glad to see me again.” He said sagely.

Somehow she was nervous by how close they were now, just a step between them. Austin didn't only possess an intimidating ambiance, despite the friendly smile on his face, his eyes were as cold as ice.

She tightened her fists, mustering the courage to maintain eye contact with him. She didn't want to appear weak before him again like the other time when he ended things with her. After all, it wasn't a meeting with a client anymore, he was someone she had to marry someday.

“More like I was disappointed. I'm pretty sure my father has told you that I'm not going to marry you.”

Austin maintained a friendly smile on his face as he wondered the kind of person she had become, brave and adamant. No woman ever said ‘ NO’ to him, mostly they crawled to him and begged him to look at them. He didn't only support her family's business without a reason, he surely knew once they were in debt to him, they would have to pay him back one day. He had planned everything thoroughly to get back to her.

Hell no! Not Gwendolyn. Whatever business Austin had with her father was their business.

She finally realized why she refused the arranged marriage thing from the beginning. She could know little about people by a look. Now she couldn't picture Austin less than the same arrogant fool and a coward who couldn't lower his pride and apologize for his mistake.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets pompously. “You don't have a say in this. Think about it, princess. Your family has something worth saving. Take your time, you know my arms are ready to welcome you anytime you make up your mind.” He said with a mischievous grin. He leaned forward, pecked her on the left cheek before pulling back.

Feeling a tinge of irritation by what he did, she huffed surly. “Even if you stop supporting his business, my answer will remain the same. I'd rather marry my dog than accept to marry an arrogant brat like you.” She spat at his face infuriatingly, leveling him a killer look. With that, she stomped out of his office but accidentally bumped into the same lady earlier.

“Be careful.” The lady cautioned, crouching to pick up the file that had fallen from her hand.

“Watch where you're going!” She said hostilely before she could refrain herself. She walked away without turning back.

The lady wondered why Gwendolyn was so angry after meeting the president. She remembered their company recently offered her a contract but seeing how pissed off she was, she knew something was off.

Gwendolyn called on her manager and both of them left the company immediately.

During the ride, she had her face wrinkled with irritation, her lips contracted into a frown and she wouldn't stop cursing while gazing at the road like she was the one driving.

“Is everything okay?” There was a concern embedded in her voice as she glanced at her face before returning her gaze to the road.

“How dare he?” She raised her voice a bit.

Lilith gulped anxiously. “Did he do anything to you?” Much as she didn't want to jump to a conclusion, there were two things Gwendolyn despised most. Looking down on her and making a move on her.

“You won't understand. I need to speak to Dad. Lilith, could you please drive me home? I'm about to lose my sanity right now.” She requested politely.

“Sure.”

When she looked away, Lilith didn't bother to ask any further, it was already a closed chapter.

***

She had to wait for her father to return home. Her stepmom had tried everything to pacify her anger but Gwendolyn had lost her cool. She needed to vent out her anger because she was going crazy

When she saw a maid taking his briefcase to his room, she knew he was already home.

Mr. Brook stepped in, he walked majestically toward the staircase but Gwendolyn spoke up. “What's going on, Dad? A few days ago you told me I have to marry someone I don't know and the same person wanted me to model for their company. Why in hell would you accept his offer after what he did to me?”

He halted on the track and then spun around. “The company needs Whitlock to survive. And, I'm doing everything for you and your sister.”

“No. You're doing everything for your selfish interest. No man in his right sense will sell his daughter out. No matter what you say, I won't marry that garbage.”

“Then watch what your father ever worked for crumbling before you. You're selfish, Gwen. I allowed you to do everything you want.”

“For years I have never come to you and cry for your help. I solve my problem, why can't you do the same and let me alone? I'm not Claudia that will do anything you ask of her. I'll live my life the way I want it and marry the man I love, not the man you choose for me. You don't make me who I am today, I work for it.”

Her stepmom stepped forward. She heard their dispute in the kitchen, she didn't want to intervene but their voices were getting louder. “That's enough, Gwen. You don't talk to your father like that.” Kathryn cautioned. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn was angry that nothing seemed to enter her head.

“I heard that you've been sleeping around to become who you are today. Have you finally decided to disgrace me?”

“Honey!” Kathryn gasped astonishingly.

Her eyes popped up shockingly. Edward had never raised his voice at her before until today. She never thought he would accuse her just because she wanted to live her life. She slowly took a deep breath to soothe her nerves. “I… I never thought you would think of me as a whore.”

When she said that, he finally realized what he had done. He skipped a pace closer to her but she gestured for him to stand back using her left hand. About to say something, his phone rang in his pocket. He dipped his hand in and brought it out. He picked up at once since it was a call from the company. He moved the phone to his ear, however, his eyes widened immediately after he heard the news.

“Okay, then. I'll be on my way.” That was the only statement he uttered before disconnecting the call. “I don't know what you did but if Mr. Whitlock should cancel the deal, I'll never forgive you, Gwen.”

With that, he went upstairs.

Her heart nearly leaped to her throat when she remembered what Austin was capable of doing. If she was still going to disagree with her father, she needed backup. She was still contemplating when her phone beeped.

After checking the caller ID, she picked up the call with reluctance. “Hello, doctor.” Before the doctor could answer she had already rolled her eyes while expecting to hear the same news.

.

“Good news and bad news, which one should come first.”

“I already had a shit day. If it's the same story, I'm going to disconnect the call now.” She let out a huff without expressing interest in what he had to tell her, she attempted to end the call that was when he spoke up.

“He's awake.”