Chapter 3: Her Plot!

Evelyn's POV

"Oh yes! I forgot. Will you marry me?" He asked.

What the.....?

"I'm sorry what?" I asked. I think I misheard.

"You heard me right. Will you marry me?" Man! Has he gone crazy?

"What in the hell possessed you to say that?!" I asked with disbelief. Is he for real?

"Look just hear me out. Come on you can't just reject me right away" he said with puppy dog eyes! Doesn't suit him.

"But you did" I seriously didn't mean to say it out so loud.

"What?" He asked as I got him confused. Silly me! He doesn't remember me. Well I'm sure not even my parents would recognize me with the way I look now. Actually..... he might recognize but definitely not my parents.

"Hmph.... whatever! Nothing you say will make me agree to this shit you're trying to convince me about" I said rolling my eyes.

"I said just hear me out. For once!" He said almost on the verge of pleading. I didn't say anything, but I just sat on the chair opposite his which meant for him to continue. "Look.... I know this may sound completely absurd to you. But I really need you to marry me. I know girls believe in all that fairytale wedding. Love marriage... blah blah blah... but... I may not love you now and you may not love me now. But I guess I can learn to love you. If not, my parents are going to force me to marry someone of their choice. Which I cannot and will not do at any cost. I can never accept a girl who they like. Because I can't be or live like them. So I'm sure you've obviously guessed I don't have a good relationship with my parents?" He asked and I nodded for him to continue. "So yeah... the condition is they should also like and accept the girl I choose. I know you're nothing like my mother and I'm happy about it. That is what I love about you the most. I know I can surely make this marriage work" he said.

Uufff! "So let me get this right.. you're getting married because your parents asked you to?" And he nodded. Okaaaay... "and you think I'm the one for you?" I asked. Like... I mean... from where he even got this bizarre idea about an 'us'?!

"Yupp. And let me tell you I'm serious about this marriage thing. I promise to be loyal. I don't love you but I'm sure we will, and we can learn to love each other..." he said. 

"What if I don't? What if I don't fall in love with you? I'll just have to tolerate you every moment of my life?" I asked. But why am I even having this conversation?

"I'm good looking, handsome" he said making me raise my eyebrows at him. "Sorry.. I mean.. I'm not that bad looking that you have to say 'tolerate'. I'm rich. At least you don't have to raise your eyebrows at that. You can go shopping. All my money is yours. You will be my equal in everything!" He said desperately trying to convince me.

"I don't want your money. And yeah... maybe the other brainless bitches you hang out with might find you good looking. But remember I don't fall into that category. Now seriously tell me what if I don't fall in love with you. Isn't there no way out? Like divorce or something... since you say this is a serious proposal." I asked. No... actually I am interested. I really want to say a yes. But he broke my heart. I just fell in love with his eyes the moment I saw him. I want him to feel the same pain. But how..... 

"Sweetheart.... I'm a traditional Greek man. I don't believe in divorce. But if you really want a way out then we can keep divorce as an option. But we'll try our best to patch things up okay?" He said and I nodded understanding him. Who would say no to such a secure marriage? Secure life....

But I still don't trust him making me look at him with doubt. "What" he asked again.

"Look you don't need to pretend okay? I know you have that playboy image. How come you have such high values about marriage and relations?" I asked... but I trailed off. Well that wasn't an appropriate question from my side.

"Don't worry. You have all rights to ask me any kind of questions. After all it's your entire life we're talking about" he said with emotions floating in his eyes.... is he really so concerned about me? I mean if he thinks I'm a stranger then.... he sure cares a lot about me.

Oh god I need to clear my mind. "So, what do you say? Yes or no?" He asked.

"What! Give me some time to think!" I said raising my voice at him. 

"Don't use that tone with me women. And what's there to think about it? You already know the advantages and disadvantages from this marriage. It's either a no or yes. So, will you be my Bride?" he asked me. Seriously! This is my life he is talking about. Except the last sentence he said had some truth in it. That's what I felt.

I feel like throwing his deal on his face. But then I don't want to say a no. And a 'yes'? I will say yes. Only so that even he goes through the same pain, same helplessness I went through. Five years back my self-confidence was completely destroyed. I felt like he crushed my heart, stamped it with his shoes. I felt so dirty and violated only because I didn't have anything in my defense. This time the game is in my hands. My plot. My plan. My game.

"Fine... it's a yes. But I need time. We will not get married soon" I said.

"But I have to have my bride by my side within a month" he said. A month is not enough for me to play my plan.

"I will be by your side. We just won't get married early. I will find a way to convince your parents. And I need you to respect me and my opinion. So, remember... I can and will get out of this arrangement any time I want if I see you violating our marriage conditions" I said with a smirk.

"Conditions?" He asked, more like stated.

"You will not touch me before our wedding night. I mean not sexually though. Cause even I'm a traditional Greek girl. And you will stay loyal and I promise I will too." That much is enough for now. I need to play the nice, kind bride.

"Agreed!" He said and got up.

"Come on Kate. Let's leave now." He said and brought his hand to my waist holding me like a possession. Kate? I never felt weird or awkward when anyone called me Kate. But him calling me Kate just reminds me about the old times. The way my family treated me. The way he insulted me. The way I discouraged myself..... everything! Everything just comes back in like a flash. 

"Sooo.... why don't we call your parents?" He asked.

"Mind your own business" I said. He seriously is annoying as fuck!

"My soon to be wife..... I need to know. I have to make everything right, everyone agree to have our wedding go smoothly" he said faking sweetness.

"My relationship with my parents is just like yours with your parents. Need me say more? If you want the wedding to go smoothly without any interruptions, then you better not invite them!" I said in my fake sugar voice.

He nodded and proceeded to escort me till his car and opened the door for me like a gentleman.

Gentleman huh? Wedding? We sure aren't going to go so far sweetheart.......

"Can I ask you something?" I heard him say beside me. I nodded for him continue. "Uhm..... have we met before? Like.... do I know you? I feel kinda familiar with you. Like... I've hurt you or something and moreover you're the first girl to reject me though you've accepted. You know me"

I know him....