Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy
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Chapter 3: 3 broken Hearts
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Present day
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As soon as the applause had died down and the guest had sat down again, Lori excuses herself, quickly running out of the big hall to get some fresh air. Not that anyone would have minded. Deep down they all knew that this was nothing more than a business marriage. They still liked to play pretend however. It’s the only entertainment those sick voyeurs got.
Lori take a deep breath once outside, closing her eyes for a moment. They are burning. Burning so much that all she want to do is cry to get them to stop.
“You look beautiful”, a familiar voice startles you.
She quickly turn to her right.
Jordan is sitting at the end of the stairs with his hands folded between his legs and his cheeks obviously wet from tears.
The tip of his nose is bright red, his lips are swollen from biting them to keep them from trembling.
It feels like someone had forced a dagger right through her heart. Seeing him here and now, all dressed up but crying, it breaks her heart.
“Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to stay home?” Lori ask as she quickly make her way to him.
“I couldn’t. My parents told me to come, they said it would be rude otherwise”, he retorts with a shaky voice.
“Jordie god I’m so sorry”, She breathes, breaking the distance between the two of of them.
Lori is in the midst of sitting down when he stops her with a warm hand on her back.
“You’ll get your dress dirty. Sit on this instead. It’s not like I will ever wear this suit again. With all the bad memories attached to it”, he says, already slipping out of his suit jacket to put it on the cold stone for her to sit on.
Lori sits down. Their legs are touching, the feeling so warm and familiar it makes you ache.
“Did you watch?” Lori asks, not daring to look at him.
He doesn’t either, they keep staring at the wet concrete with their hands itching to hold the other.
“No. I, I couldn’t”, he whimpers, “I’m sorry. I know I should have stayed, it’s your big day after all.”
“Stop”, Lori warns with a firm hand on his knee.
She can feel his muscle tense under her touch as his legs open further to get closer to hers.
“You know that I don’t want this, so stop calling it my big day”, She spit, finally looking at him with dark eyes.
He turns his head to her slowly, already teary eyed again.
“I know. I’m sorry I just-“, he swallows, “-can’t help it.”
His hand comes to rest over hers, giving her a soft squeeze.
“I’m so sorry”, Lori force out before the first of many tears streams down her face.
Lori don’t even get to lower her head before Jordan’s hand, cupping her cheeks, supports her head instead. It had come natural to him, cupping her cheeks.
He always did so when she was crying.
“I know. Don’t cry, people will ask questions why your makeup is all ruined all of a sudden”, he says, brushing her tears away.
“I’m sorry I just-“, Lori sobs, “-can’t help it.”
She leans closer to his body, silently signaling him to take her into his arms. But before his arms can wrap around her tired body, someone steps out of the doors behind them and calls her name.
Jordan quickly pulls away, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Footsteps get closer to them, stopping for a moment before a tall shadow squats down beside them.
“There you are ma’am. Oh Mister Jordan? We missed you inside when the ceremony started”, Lori’s assistant says, bowing his head at Jordan beside her.
“Yeah I didn’t feel well, far too many people for my taste”, Jordan grumbles with a clenched jaw.
Lori’s assistant hums in understanding before his attention falls back to her.
“Everyone is looking for you ma’am. You and your husband are supposed to have your first dance together in less than ten minutes.“
“Give me a moment Hal I’ll be inside in five”, Lori tells her assistant, trying her hardest not to sound like she had been crying.
“Okay, I’ll tell the band that they should start in exactly five minutes”, he says.
“Yes thank you”, She mumble.
And with that he gets up again and rushes back inside.
“Guess responsibility is calling again”, Jordan states coldly.
“I guess”, Lori say just as coldly as him.
Jordan stands up, offering her his hand to take.
“Let’s get inside then”, he says, helping her stand up.
He doesn’t let go of her hand even after she had stood up already. His eyes are locked on the intertwined fingers, his lower lip is between his teeth. Lori’s own eyes can’t stop staring at his face, burning his beautiful features into her memory.
“I want nothing more in this world right now than to kiss you, but I know that if I give in I won’t be able to stop myself from throwing you over my shoulder and running off with you”, he confesses.
He rests his forehead against hers, closing his eyes.
“Kiss me then, kidnap me, please take me away from here”, Lori chokes out, holding onto his shirt with shaking fingers.
He leans closer. The feeling of his soft lips on hers is within your reach, burning on her lips already. But it never actually comes.
“I can’t. I’m sorry”, he whispers, squeezing her hand one last time and then his body is gone from hers. “it’s been five minutes, let’s get inside before Hal loses his mind over you missing”, he tells her.
It hasn’t even been a minute.
But Lori gets his urgency. He is just as heartbroken as she is.
“Okay”, She say, turning around and rushing back inside. If she didn’t rush, she would just turn back and throw Jordan over her shoulder instead. It would be a struggle but at least they could run away from here.
She don’t wait for Jordan, knowing fully-well he won’t be following her for a long time.
The dining hall with a dance floor next to the tables is located right next to the ceremony hall. Dozens and dozens of tables were scattered around the ridiculously big hall. They were round of nature, decorated with big bouquets of white and pink roses in golden vases.
Ten people were seated on each table, five from Elijah and five from her guests.
Lori’s parents are currently chatting with Elijah’s and her sister-in-law is chatting with two men, she assumed to be Elijah’s brothers. They have the same stance, so she noticed.
“Mr and Mrs Kim I am so happy to meet you”, Lori say as soon as she had arrived at the parents’ table. She bow her head respectfully, smiling at the both of them just like she had been taught. Elijah’s father stands up, shaking her hand with a firm squeeze. He smiles at Lori, relaxing her all to her surprise. He has a really boxy mouth when he smiles.
“I am glad to meet you too my dear”, he says, still smiling.
His mother gets up next to shake her hand as well. She has an even firmer handshake than her husband.
“You look beautiful today. Our Elijah can be happy to have such a beautiful wife”, she says, never letting go of Lori’s hand.
“Thank you so much Mrs. Kim”, She smile at her before turning to the two men now standing next to her.
“And you have to be Noel and Sangrid, his brothers”, Lori say, accepting the handshake of Kim Sangrid. His hands feel terribly soft in hers.
She knows who Kim Sangrid was, his face was all over the billboards in the city. Sangrid, the oldest son of Kim Enterprises and hottest man of the country.
Apparently, if one could believe the news, he managed to bring in two percent of their country’s wealth in the last trimester, hence why his face was all over billboards.
“I am happy to meet you”, Sangrid has a sweet voice, not too deep and not too high, it makes her comfortable.
Kim Noel, middle child of the three brothers and the fourth biggest shareholder in Kim Enterprises, has a comfortable handshake. Not too tight, but also not too soft. He smiles, showing off deep dimples on his cheeks.
“It is an honour to meet you Miss. I read about the work you did with the schools in Africa, I must say I was thoroughly moved”, he says, voice deeper than that of his brother.
“Oh that”, Lori laugh shyly, “thank you so much.”
Why does his family have to be so sweet?
Lori had hoped they would turn out to be complete monsters, but instead she was met with good-hearted people and a terribly guilty heart. She had wanted to hate them so badly, but now it would be cruel to do so.
“Now if you would excuse me for a moment. My assistant told me the opening dance is due to happen and I have to find my husband”, Lori excuse herself, bowing at her parents-in-law and her own family before walking off to find Elijah behind the stage.
He is currently sitting on a pillowed chair, sipping on a cocktail - a Piña Colada as much as she could tell – and frowning with dark eyes. He watches Lori walk up to him, never letting go of the straw inside his mouth.
“Hey, I heard the opening dance will begin now”, Lori tell him, studying his face.
He is slumped over on the chair, his right leg nervously bouncing up and down. He lets go of the straw with a loud smack of his lips before standing up. He wavers for a second before regaining his balance.
“Let’s go and get it over with so I can return to drinking my brains away”, He speaks, his words coming out lulled from the alcohol.
He grabs Lori’s wrist rather forcefully, dragging her out to the dance floor.
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TBC
Written by me
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy .Chapter 4: a dance with who she loves and who she hates .The singer of the band, a rookie group with big dreams and nervous eyes, sees Lori enter and announces the opening dance as soon as she give him a nod of her head.“May the newly-wed couple open the dance floor”, he speaks into the microphone before counting down.The music starts. It is a slow song, the perfect song to dance to when you are in love, when you want to hug your partner close to your body and whisper sweet nothings into their ears. Given the current situation, it feels nothing more than awkward. Elijah drags Lori to the middle of the dance floor, nearly stumbling over his own feet if she hadn’t pulled him back up again.“Behave”, She warn him, boring her fingernails into his shoulder.“Don’t tell me what to do”, he growls before he presses her against his body rather harshly.She is feeling things she did not want to feel. His stomach pressing against her
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 5: So no official consummation of your marriage.*LORI* I arrive at my parents table, leading Jordan to his assigned seat and sitting him down despite his complaints. Everyone, including my dear husband, was watching the two of us with confused eyes.“Yo Jordan are you drunk? Why are you sloughing like that?” Logan asks, putting a firm hand on Jordan’s shoulder.“Jordie you didn’t, what did I tell you about getting drunk”, Jana starts scolding her little brother all to his distaste.Now that Jordan was in good hands, well semi-good hands, I am sure Jana will make sure he sobers up, poor Jordan, I circle the table to sit down at my seat. Right next to Kim Elijah.To my surprise he leans in to talk to me. His breath smells of alcohol and his eyes can’t seem to focus on my face.“What’s his problem?” he asks, eyeing Jordan.“Low tolerance”, I lie, “but what do you care?”He sends me an annoyed glare.“You are right, I d
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 6: punishment for your rude words.I am woken up by my stomach screaming for release the next morning. I stand up as fast as my spinning head allows me to and rush to the enclosed bathroom. To my luck the toilet seat was open. In one swift movement I throw myself onto my knees, my stomach already emptying itself on my way down.I hate throwing up, i had hated it as a child and i still hate it as an adult, if not even more. My throat stings and my stomach aches from all of the tensing up. My whole body is shivering, i feel cold despite the big amount of sweat running down my back. I lean my back against the glass door of your shower, closing my teary eyes.“God damn alcohol”, i groan before a second wave of cramps washes over me, forcing me to release everything my stomach had to offer into the toilet bowl.I lean back again, panting. I hate this so much. I never should have drank that much. I take deep breaths, hoping t
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 7: some things just have to stay hidden . *LORI IVANOV* “So?” Jana and Logan slip into the booth beside me, “Now that you have managed to go through a month without killing Elijah, how is your marriage going?” she asks.I send both of them an annoyed look.“And here I thought you invited me over for drinks”, I grumble.“We did”, Logan says and waves the waitress over, “but we are still curious”, he places his hand on Jana’s upper back and rubs little circles on it.I watch his gesture for a moment, clicking my tongue afterwards.“Well, we are most definitely not doing that”, I say, nodding my head into Logan’s direction.“Care to enlighten us?” Logan cocks an eyebrow up at me.Just this moment the waitress arrived at our table.“What can I get you?”“A mojito with double the rum for me and a bowl of peanuts”, I tell her.“Whiskey neat”, Logan orders his signature drink.“Just a glass of water for me please”, Jana says
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 8: COUPLE GOALS . Jordan and I try our hardest not to snicker.“I see”, I say, lips trembling with the desire to laugh.“I guess you have to save him”, Jordan says, hiding his mouth behind his hand.Jana cocks an eyebrow up at I and Jordan and crosses her arms in front of her chest.“Just come join us”, she says tiredly and turns around to hurry off afterwards.I and Jordan break into laughter the moment she had crossed the corner, holding onto each other in order not to stumble over.“Shit he actually met him. This is hilarious”, Jordan wheezes.“Serves him right. Ah god, no joke. Karma is beautiful”, I say, rubbing my eyes to get rid of the tears.--Elijah is frowning, sitting at the table with his arms crossed in front of his chest. His dark eyes flit over to me the moment he sees movement in the doorway.“Hello everyone!” I exclaim, wearing my best business smile. Although I must be honest, today there is also a
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 9: arguments between couples and cheating ensues .I didn’t choose tonight either. I would have rather watched a movie in bed, maybe I would have invited Jordan over too. Yes that would have been my perfect evening. I and Jordan cuddled up in bed while we watched a movie. Maybe later i and him could have rolled around the sheets too.I turn the shower on and step under the water.Yes that would have been my ideal evening. Elijah would have been out, getting wasted somewhere far away from me and I would have spent time with Jordan.The actual events of tonights evening are without doubt the exact opposite of my ideal evening. I and Elijah locked up in a room together and having to share a bed which was the perfect size when I was fifteen.I step out of the shower and dry myself off, looking at my own reflection in the mirror as I do.I sigh, stopping my movements to lock eyes with my reflection. All fun and annoyance as
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with The Popular Playboy. Chapter 10: escaping reality is hard. *Lori Ivanov* “Let me in then”, Jordan says, tugging stronger.“Geez Jordan you’re so annoying”, I grunt, opening the blanket for him.He grins boyishly and shimmies closer. A second later I feel Jordan’s ice cold feet against my naked legs.I squeal, “Jordan!”.He cackles, wrapping his arms around me so I can’t wiggle away and rubs his feet up and down my legs.“Give me your warmth Lori. I’m so cold”, he whines cutely, attacking your neck with little kisses.“You are literally so annoying oh my god”, I groan, shivering like crazy, “how can a human feet be that freaking cold?”“It’s cause your floors are always so cold”, he mumbles, nibbling on my jawline lazily.His feet leave my legs, his naked thighs rubbing against them instead as he rolls his hips into me lazily.“Jordan”, I sigh, shivering for another reason, “what are you doing?”“Turning you on”, he states nonchalantly, warm ha
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 11: here with a man, who hates me."Hello?" Elijah says, snapping his fingers in front of my eyes. I blink and turn my head. I ache been looking into your phone before he called my attention, checking my notifications in case Jordan finally texted you back. He didn’t of course, but the hopes were still there."I just asked you if you also wanted something to drink", he says, distaste lacing his voice. I raise my head, letting my eyes race over his assistants face."Uhm, sure. A grande iced Americano please.""One grande iced Americano and one regular iced peppermint tea, coming right away", she says, hurrying off afterwards.I look back at my phone, checking my messages. Nothing. "What are you looking at anyways?" Elijah asks, shifting in the makeup chair. "Nothing that should interest you", I throw back."Honey", he warns. "What?" I throw back. Since when is he calling me honey? That’s so weird.He signals me t
Stuck in An Arranged Marriage with The Billionaire Playboy.Chapter 24: shoulder high shrubs .I study his features for a moment. I have spent enough time with Elijah to notice his habit of making himself smaller after every sentence he speaks. Especially when he thinks that his words could have offended the other person in any kind of way. I blame it on him being secretly very shy, but still can’t shake the feeling that perhaps there was another reason for said habit. I let my eyes linger on his shoulders, looking at whatever little part of his back is visible.“You don’t like it when people touch your back. Do you?”His eyes flit to his lap, his shoulders rise to his ears. He looks smaller instantly. Smaller and just a little scared.“Please don’t tell anyone about last night”, he begs in a whisper.I blink quickly, placing the cup down. Why should I tell anyone about last night?“No of course not. I just want to know for myself so I don’t accidentally do it.”His eyes widen in
Stuck in An Arranged Marriage with The Billionaire Playboy.Chapter 23: awkwardness phase .I peel my eyes open. There is a pillow in my arms. It is Elijah’s pillow. But the owner is nowhere to be seen. I sit up, eyes half-lidded as I inspect the room. It is abandoned.The sheets on Elijah’s side of the bed are cold as I touch them. Not that he spent a lot of time on his side last night. I wrap my arms around my body. It was kind of nice to be held like this. He felt so soft and warm in my arms and smelled so nice. My heart flutters.“No”, I realize, “no, do not fall for him”, I say out loud, giving my own cheek a little slap.You said so yourself, he can’t give me love or affection. Those past few nights were merely because we both wanted to sleep. Yes, this must be it. A mere attempt to find sleep.First me with the thunderstorm. He held me so I would stop wiggling and he could fall asleep again. Yes this must have been it. But then. I touch my forehead. Why did he kiss me?And w
Stuck in An Arranged Marriage with The Billionaire Playboy.Chapter 22: two nights in a two .Another thunder rumbles, but it doesn’t sound that scary anymore. Elijah made sure it wouldn’t by placing his hand over my ear before it could cut through the air.Shit. He is actually calming me down. Kim Elijah is actually managing to give me enough comfort to calm down.I close my eyes and inhale deeply. He smells of ylang-ylang and lavender. It's kind of nice.Elijah’s breathing changes, he must be falling asleep again. With his last bit of strength he flips to his side, pulling me against his chest.My eyes are wide open again. My hands are just sort of resting on his chest, his fingers in my hair and his arm is around me. This is so much more intimate than the other position. I can even feel his chest rise and sink and when I concentrate hard enough, I can even feel his heartbeat against the tip of my nose.Should I hug him back? Or is that going too far? But my arm hurts so much in t
Stuck in An Arranged Marriage with The Billionaire Playboy.Chapter 21: thunder rumbling storm .“Aren’t you your own person? You said so yourself to your brother. So why are you not acting like you are?”“I don’t know what you want me to say.”“I mean it. You allow your employees to talk to you disrespectfully without firing them instantly, you do everything your parents want you to do without complaining. Hell, you don’t even own a car because your parents don’t want you to and you work in a shitty office because your father told you to”, he laughs dryly, “you’re a strong, hardworking woman and yet you allow people to use you as their doormat.”I scoff in disbelief. What has gotten into him? Where is this sudden urge to life coach me coming from? I didn’t ask for this and yet I am left staring into his eyes and listening to what he has to say.“You think people will respect you if you show them over and over again that they can treat you as they wish without suffering consequences
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 20: there was a moment.I am already in bed, reading a book, when Elijah comes back. He was out for dinner after his swim and I spent my alone time boiling myself in the hot tub and doing a face mask. It was meant to calm me down, but it really didn’t. I was still feeling terribly guilty. Now I am reading, I very much enjoy reading before bed and tonight I attempt to use it as a distraction in order not to think about everything that had happened.“I’m back”, Elijah announces himself.I hum in acknowledgement, not looking up. I did so because my book is terribly thrilling and you don’t want to miss out on anything. He studies me for a moment, grinding his teeth.“Are you not going to talk to me?”“Mhm?” I sneak a glance his way, “why should I?”He blinks, eyebrows raised.“Okay then”, he gives up, “Imma take a shower”, he murmurs coldly.“Do that”, I say dryly, flipping the pages.Was that too rude? Will this start a
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 19: do cheaters burn in hell .What Jordan is doing right now?I slip my hand into the pocket of my slacks and touch my phone. I could call him.“Hello?” his voice is croaky when he finally picks up.“Jordan, hey! How are you?” I greet him, instantly feeling better now that I can hear his voice.“Sleeping”, he grumbles.“Oh my god”, I gasp, “holy shit, I totally forgot. I am so sorry, Jordan.”He laughs tiredly.“It’s fine, my alarm would have woken me in ten anyways”, he yawns loudly, “how are you? How was the flight?”“It was alright. I worked for the entirety of it.”“Did the jerk annoy you?”“Who?”“Your husband.”“Ew, true he exists too”, I fake gag. Jordan chuckles, voice raspy from sleep, “that bad?”“It's been manageable for now. Let's see if I will have changed my mind tomorrow.”“So you had fun?”“Jordan, don’t tell me you’re jealous.” “Yeah? As if I ever made a secret out of it”, he says and laughs breathle
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 18: progress at least? .“Would you mind walking a little faster?” I call over my shoulder.Elijah raises his head, blinking at me in bafflement. He had been gawking at his phone before that, playing Candy Crush. He locks his phone and stores it in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.“Excuse me?” he says, speeding up, “I’m not the one who insisted on getting smoothies before take-off”, he says, having reached my side.The two of us are hurrying through the halls of the airport, each carrying a big smoothie and trying my hardest not to bump into people. I was running terribly late. The driver had called me three times already, informing me that my plane must take off soon or else I would have to wait three hours for a free spot in the schedule of the airport.I know that it was my fault that we were late. Elijah said so already. I insisted on getting smoothies before take-off and the people, who prepared them, moved in
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 17: brothers can be betrayers too.“Did you do that?” Elijah barks slamming the door to my office closed.I look up from the contracts i was reading through, quirking an eyebrow up at him. This is the first time he visits me at my company. It is definitely weird. Why would he want to visit me?“Good day to you too”, I mumble and look back into the contracts.Elijah storms to my desk and slams his hand on the table.I huff out air in annoyance, closing my eyes for a moment.“For heavens sake, can you stop slamming things?” I grumble, sending him a dark look over the brim of my glasses.“No I won’t, it’s what you get for planning a goddamn vacation”, he spits.At that your attention shifts. I place my pen down, raising my head. Elijah is practically fuming in anger, lips stretched into a thin line.“I’m sorry, what? Did you just say vacation?”“Check your mails”, he says angrily yet calmly and sits down in a chair. He cr
Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy.Chapter 16: this is working out? .I let out a disbelieved chuckle, breaking my eyes away from him. He listened to me? I didn’t think that he would actually pay attention to the phone calls I was having close to him. What the hell? Why did this make me feel good for a split second? I look away. I go to work on his second shoe, fighting with the knot. This one is so much tighter than the other one, good god.“So is it for Aqua Cleanse? How important was it?” he asks.“Very, it’s the research reports for the products. I need to go through them before the meeting with the CEO on Monday.”“Isn’t the CEO your father? Why are you so stressed then?” he asks, laughing.“And? You think he is going to be nice just ‘cause I’m his daughter?” I spit.Elijah stops laughing and swallows heavily at the intense glare I send him. He clears his throat and lowers his eyes. “What’s the meeting about?” he asks quietly.I click my tongue and look ba