THE ARRANGED BRIDE

KELLAN P.O.V I lifted my head from my laptop at the sound of the knock on my door. “Come in," I called to the person on the other side.“Sir, madam said to remind you that your guests will arrive in the next fifteen minutes."“Ok," I answered dismissing her.The happiness oozing from my mother since she started making the arrangements for the dinner with the Brookes is just as bright as a sunny day could be. Shaking my head at the reminder of why this dinner is not only an inconvenience but a match-making dinner.Dad had dropped the bomb as if the marriage agreement was just normal but my parents had married for love.It still came as shocking despite being aware of it for the past years, but then the Brookes had only Brian and I am no man's guy. I am not gay.The frustration I felt at the news of a sudden adoption was unexplainable.I still did not vividly understand why they would want to go to such an extent. Their company was doing well, and even if it was not, the marriage was

KELLAN'S POVDriving through the busy streets of New York, I made my way to my company, BAES GROUP. It is a multi-purpose company that deals majorly in food and partnership with many other restaurants.Dad had taken over the company after his parent's death, a ‘family business' he called it. Something he had no interest in which had caused a lot of struggle in the company.Graduating with an MBA at the young age of twenty-five years, I took over from where he left it. The company's gross skyrocketed the first year I took charge of the business and Bae's group has become the highest-grossing company of all time, that has been the goal every year and I could say the risk of an international establishment many others were not financially able to make help after all it is a billion dollar company.Thinking of business expansion I remembered Sharon had talked about expansion to Africa at the hotel during the opening of Quings Jewelry, one of our partnerships.As I reached the company buil

KELLAN'S POV Not in the mood for my mother's snoopy attitude. I drove towards my penthouse after I dropped off Olivia.I parked my car only to notice the lights were on. In total confusion, I moved towards the entrance door, knowing there was no way it would be a bugler. Only two people had access to this penthouse, which was Sharon and me. I had also installed a top-notch security system, so if it was a person without access, I would have been notified.I opened the door to notice flowers scattered on the floor, following their trail to the dinner.“Surprise!” I turned around to see Sharon popping a Cheval Blanc white wine. “Aren't you supposed to be in Europe?” I asked, still in shock.“I believe this is where you hug and kiss me,” She said with her arms open.Laughing softly at her I pulled her to me and kissed her. I looked at the food varieties displayed on the dining table, mostly Vegetables.“Did you change your diet routine?"“Of course, yes, I did that for you," she said e

Olivia's POVI stood in that gaudy bedroom, my brain still echoing with the jollity of the reception. Before me stood that huge pile of silk and satin that more threatened to overwhelm than it welcomed. It was as if nothing was there in the room except the memories of the entire day: the fragrant posy on the dresser, the beautiful wedding dress I still wore—but nothing calmed me. Growing feelings of dread nibbled my insides.My eyes clung to the closed door, the one Kellan left without one glance toward me. A wash of sourness surged into my mouth at the thought of memories of cool detachment in his eyes—what I seemed to get for the whole day. I had hoped like some sort of fool that things would have been different tonight and maybe behind that closed door, he would finally show me a small piece of the affection that I so hungered to feel.I kept my ears tuned to the door, and then I couldn't move until Kellan was inside. His expression was, as usual, clean. He never turned around at m

Kellan's POVI woke from my sleep, a small sound of breath at my ear, light sifting through blinds into the room casting a faint mute glow. Sharon lay asleep beside me. Her dark hair fanned over the pillow, her arm laying loose across my chest. I was still lying, staring at the ceiling and thinking over all that had happened during the last few days. Dimly, I remembered last night, hot discussions, and then Sharon's bedroom. Anything but to feel the sordid reality of my life.I peeked over at the nightstand. 7:30 a.m. My phone was vibrating a little as it bumped up against the bedside table, a few quick pulses. I inched over, still careful over Susan, and looked at the message. It was from Mom: *Kellan are you coming home today? Your father wants to go over the strategy of our business for the next quarter.*My jaw tightened, old anger coming from somewhere down deep. They never let up, did they? Yesterday, so heavy with atmosphere, and yet today they wanted me to knuckle down, to pl