The ruined evening.

"Create a situation where failure isn't even a possibility." [Christian]

That was the mantra of Christian Evercast. What he wanted, he would have it, whatever the way is!

________________________________________

It was evening, Her colleagues had left the office and Riley was just going to go home too. But Alas! When happened according to what she wanted?

"Miss Riley we met again."

Riley cursed in her head, it was a bad day.

Exasperated she sighed heavily and turn around to glare at the stupid assistant of The motherfucker( yeah you got that right, PA of Christian).

"What do you want?" She almost barked at his poor assistant.

But then, it wasn't her fault, So she Squared her shoulders and gave her the fiercest glare she could muster to the poor assistant.

However, PA didn't even flinch at her glare and said in a respectful tone, "Miss Riley, I'm here to inform you about the Sir's message that if you still refuse his proposal, He will destroy your whole family. Your father's life is in his hands for now."

"What do you mean? Where's my father?" Riley aggressively held the shoulder of his assistant Cynthia?

"See this video, you will understand what I am trying to say." enduring the pain in her shoulder, Cynthia handed her a phone. there was a video call going on on the phone.

Riley curiously stared at her phone, but what she saw almost made her run to the hills. Her 51 year-old-father, Stephen Brown was standing at the barrel of the shotgun. But her father wasn't aware of it. it seemed he was talking to someone, While a man in the mask was hiding behind him with a gun aiming at his head.

The small smile on Riley's face disappeared. She was in shock by his action. He had proposed to her 111 times and he was threatening her now. Was he truly a man who had said he loved her.

But then she remembered, that day in her office when after insulting him, she had left him there. And then again, he was mocked by citizens. it must be his revenge. 

Throwing the phone of Cynthia, Riley tried to call her father, But to no avail.

"Huh." Riley gasped blankly and muttered a small "Why?"

For a few minutes, Cynthia felt pity for Her future Mistress.

"It's Mr. Evercast's order. His payback."

'This damned Man!'

Stumbling, Riley pushed her away and walked towards her car amidst hearing the voice of Cynthia.

"Your father will be safe, If you.."

She knew that her family was nothing in front of Evercast's. Despite his ugly face, he was as rich as the president of their country. The man controlled the whole city like it was his paperweight. But she had sworn to love someone else, How can she disregard their promise.

"If I marry him, Right?"

"No Madam! Unless you marry a beggar!

The PA (Cynthia) pointed to Somewhere in the distance. And said slowly, 

"There's a beggar, who is sitting just around the corner of the highway. Come with me."

She was astonished! What a fucking destiny! She is doomed!

Clenching and unclenching her fists, she took deep breaths to calm herself down. She was too angry to say anything.

"Miss Riley, Your father's life and death, Depends on you."

Riley nodded and followed her slowly to the highway, Just when they turned to a corner,

She saw a disheveled man with matty hair and dusty clothes sitting on the ground under the wall and a dirty box in front of him singing a song. Although t

his voice was quite hoarse, still, it was pleasant to the ears, 

"Something in your eyes,

Tell me who I am?

Something in your heart,

Tell me who I am?

Something in my voice,

Tell me who I am?

Something in my rhyme,

tell me who I am?"

"Madam Riley you said you would rather marry a beggar than our Sir, Right?"

Cynthia tried to goad her into action.

She cursed the day she saved that stupid Man.

"Our Sir has decided if you didn't marry that beggar by tomorrow, Your daddy will die and your family will be wiped out from this city. It's a pathetic Madam. But I believe our sir will keep his words. I hope you know what's better for you!"

"Ho...How much time do I have to think about it?" She a

asked shakily.

Cynthia grinned "Madam You have twelve hours to decide, Because, after 8 in the morning, I will personally come to help you register the marriage with that beggar."

Riley almost wanted to punch her beautiful face, She!

"Go tell him, I will marry that beggar first thing in the morning not him ever!" Riley exclaimed 

Cynthia wanted to laugh at her poor mistress, Alas! She didn't know what was brewing.

Riley walked up to that beggar while behind her Cynthia smiled made a good luck gesture to the beggar under the wall

Beggar rubbed his matty hair with his dirty hand and raised his head twitching his lips coldly.

"Hello, I'm Riley brown, What's your name?" Riley asked in a hushed tone.

Christian look her up and down, and said in a hoarse voice, "My name is Mendicant."

Hearing the beggar's name, Riley was stunned. The eyes of the beggar felt familiar to her, yet she didn't know when and where she has seen him.

She felt pity for him and looked at him again. He was Handsome, Or should she say he was the most handsome man she has seen, Only his hair and clothes were in a mess.

His eyes were a mesmerizing brown, while his nose was roman shaped. His face was strong and defined. Nonetheless, as their gazes met, Beggar smiled at her. His smile was enchanting. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck. One look of him and Riley swooned at the sight of him.

'Well now is not the time to ogle at him, Riley thought and sighed.

"Mendicant I want your help," Riley said in a hushed tone.

"What is it?" With these words, Christian reached out and put his enlarged face just in front of her mouth.

Her heart rate quickened, But she said nonetheless "if you pretend to marry me tomorrow, I will give you 2000 dollars. is that okay?"

"Cough, pretending to be your husband, ahem ah ahem"...coughing badly he exchanged a look with Cynthia secretly. And she understood.

"Oh Madam Riley, Our sir has asked me to supervise you to register with a beggar. After the wedding, I will give the video to him, and then he will let you and your father go in peace." Cynthia said sweetly.

Biting her lips she said with resentment, "I'll marry him. I'll marry him tomorrow. Now get lost, I don't want to be anywhere near that scum's people. At least he looks far better than your Boss."

'Marriage means divorce.'She thought relaxing.

Hearing Riley's words Christian smiled and asked with a gleam of happiness in his eyes "Miss Riley do you want to be my wife?"

Riley rolled her eyes and said angrily, "What? Are you unhappy?"

"Ofcourse Not!" if he had known that this method would work, he would not have proposed to her more than one hundred eleven times in life.

Riley in low spirits exchanged her number with him and asked him to come tomorrow at the same place so that they could get married. His phone was too old to contact. 

But who was she to say anything to him about his phone? But Cynthia first took her to her car and requested to come tomorrow at 8 in the morning.

Back then, Riley would occasionally imagine her future wedding. She had plenty of ideas, The only thing she never imagined was her groom would be a beggar. She felt like crying, That ugly scum Christian, Why is he so crazy.

Her life would have been a fairy tale only if Stuart was here. She kicked a stone on the road and felt miserable.

Wiping her tears she reached home, only to see her mother waiting for her with a broom.

Ah! She even forgot about William.

Her mother Milly glared at her and asked angrily."Where were you, young lady?"

"Mom, I'm sorry, I had some pending work and the boss wanted me to complete it," she said dejectedly.

Milly sighed but retorted "But you could have at least informed us Ril-boo, Will waited for you at least one hour!" 

"I will apologize to him, Mom! Just let me be today."

Milly frowned "Fine but I don't want it to happen again."

She nodded and said tiredly "Yes Mom, It won't. Now Chill out. Good night."

Milly nodded "Night!"

Riley felt horrible she cried the whole night and left home early in the morning.

They met at the same place and registered at the civil affairs bureau and held a simple wedding.

There was neither a beautiful wedding dress nor any relatives.

And to make it worse the Mendicant was poorly dressed and that Assistant of Christian was laughing at her.

She glared fiercely at her. Cynthia was mortified by the glare but she was so happy today that she didn't care. Her boss was practically beaming with joy. Everything happened according to their plan, Now she will get a raise in the salary as promised by her boss. While on the other hand, Christian looked at Cynthia mischievously and she got the idea of what her boss wanted.

Cynthia pretended to take a call and behaved strangely. After disconnecting, she said in a hushed tone, "Madam Boss wants to see if you'll kiss your husband. He wants a picture of your kiss if you want him to set you free."

"Are you crazy?" she yelled.

Everyone present in the room looked at her strangely, She muttered a sorry to them. 

"No, I will not." She retorted

Cynthia shrugged "Okay I will report your words to the boss, I just think what will he do with your family,"

She pretended to call him but smiled when Riley snatched her phone and took the initiative to kiss Christian.

Christian was on the clouds, But when she tried to pull back He kept her in place and kissed her more deeply.