Dario_1

Chapter one

He sighed and sank into his chair. He ran his hand over his face, his jaws clenched, a new headache forming. He knew this was a bad idea, he knew his father would one day decide to make his life miserable but he didn't think it would be this soon. He inhaled and allow himself enjoy five seconds of peace before he decided to call his shitty best friend for advice.

Shit! Shit!! He knew this was a big mess.

Dario massaged his temples and brought his cell phone to his ear with his free hand. He paused going over what he wanted to do, he was over thinking again, he had to stop. He slowly waited for his friend to pick the call, on the fifth ring just when he decided it was a bad idea Aaron picked the call.

"Well, well, well if it isn't Dario Simpson." He mocked as his voice came through.

"Aaron Wellington." Dario rolled his eyes but mimicked his tone.

"How are you doing and how's business?" Aaron asked.

He sighed wishing he could just cut the call but replied anyways. "Everything is fine and you?"

"Okay this is getting weird, let's stop the formalities."

"Thought you would never ask," he sighed still massaging his temples. "We need to talk." He added in straight voice.

That picked Aaron's curiosity, "Ok. Let's meet at our regular coffee shop." He said his tone laced with concern and ended the call.

Dario looked at his phone a little unsure of meeting with Aaron but he needed to share this with someone and that someone is no one else than him. He picked up his car keys and stepped out of his office almost bumping into his personal assistant Elaine.

"Am so sorry sir." She apologised and tried to adjust her top to let her cleavages show.

He eyed her from head to toe, he was already pissed and didn't want this desperate bitch to ruin the last bit of calmness he had.

"Get out of my way Elaine, I have an important thing to do." 

He didn't wait for her reply, he walked pass her. He should have pushed her out of his way but damn his good upbringing.

***********************

The bells right above the door to the coffee house jingled as he walked in, accompanied with the aroma of coffee enveloping him. Dozens of people filled up every available table there that he had to stand for a while trying to locate where Aaron sat. Few seconds later, he found him waving and walked over to where he sat.

"I ordered you a black coffee." Aaron said as he eyed him from head to toe. "You do not look good." He stated, his eyes fixated on his crooked tie and the shirt that seemed unevenly buttoned. "Don't tell me you came out like that?" His eyes held horrifying look.

"Thanks." Dario replied and took the seat in front of him ignoring other things Aaron said and focused on taking a sip from his coffee.

Aaron took that as a yes and groaned out dragging his palm across his face. "Okay, so..." Aaron drew out, waiting for Dario to begin. 

He put his coffee down gently, "What?" He questioned tapping his fingers on the table.

"Just spill it out man!" 

Dario hesitated for a bit— why was he here again? Aaron should be the last person he should be telling this too, considering their past. He shut his eyes for a bit pushing the memories back. When he was sure the memories were tucked behind he opened his eyes and spoke, "my dad wants me to get married."

He watched as Aaron paused for a while before speaking, "And? I mean you're more responsible than I am, so what's wrong?"

He hesitated, running his hand slowly at the edge of his coffee cup.

Aaron understood the look and sighed. "Look I'm your friend and I won't lie to you, it's been five years since that incident, I think you should listen to your dad and move on."

He chuckled dryly, "you say it like it's easy."

"It's easy once you put your mind there." Who was he kidding—that was a terrible lie, he still felt it.

Dario slammed his fist on the table making a loud sound which earned him glares from other costumers present.

Aaron sighed massaging his temples, "why did you call me here? If you're not ready to get over her you can simply call your dad and let him know you can't get married."

"Do you think I didn't do that" he seethed. "I did that severally."

"Dario calm down, we can been thrown out of this cafe and I love the coffee here." 

He relaxed his back on the chair but still looked a little tensed as he folded his long sleeves.

"He threatened me." Aaron nodded for him to continue, "if I don't get married in the next hundred days to come I'm going to loose the Simpsons enterprise to Theo."

Aaron's jaw dropped. "Wait," he paused trying to taken in what his best friend just said. "Theo, the Theo we both know?"

Dario nodded. At least someone gets him.

"B... but Theo knows nothing about business. He only knows how to stand in front of cameras and take a pose. He is a model!" Theo was shocked

"Dad doesn't care if Theo doesn't know anything about business, he said if the hundred days elapse and I am not yet married, he will send Theo to business school and hand him the company."

Aaron stared with eyes wide open and exclaimed, "that would be a disaster! Theo running the Simpsons enterprise...wow!"

He nodded in agreement. "That's why I called you here. I really need to secure my position in the company."

"Where do you think you will find a girl, go on a date with her, propose to her and get married to her before a hundred days?" Aaron asked

He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. "I have no idea."

"It's not like you can meet a random girl and propose to her then when your company is secured you'll divorce her." Aaron said nonchalantly and waved the waiter to bring more biscuits.

Dario stared at his friend Aaron in awe, he just found the solution to his problems. He didn't want commitment, he can't betray Caitlin's love all he has to do is to find a random girl get married to her and secure his company. 

"Don't!" Aaron shook his head, noticing the gleam look forming on his friend's face.

"Don't what?"

"Don't even think about it," Aaron ran his hand through his hair making it disheveled. "Are you mad!" He added his voice rising.

"No I'm not mad, you're just a genius." He complimented.

"Dario you can't just meet a random girl and ask her to marry you." Aaron tried to reason with him and then muttered a thank you to the waiter as she set the plate of biscuit down.

He stared at Aaron like he hadn't spoken anything. His mind was already set, he is going to propose to a random girl.

"Dario," Aaron called warningly. "Don't do that, I'm going to call Ronnie and tell him about this."

He rolled his eyes at Aaron's childish antics. There's no way Aaron will call his brother.

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't do this." He said with a straight face.

"She might be a gold-digger." 

"That's not a reason." 

"She might have a bad reputation?" 

Dario stared at Aaron incredulously, his gaze never moving to another thing. This is ridiculous, where did he get this from.

"That doesn't make sense." He replied and was about to close the chapter when Aaron spoke,

"What about yours? Your reputation, what happens when this gets out to the media, you're reputation would be ruined." 

He sat thinking of what Aaron said, he was right, his reputation would be at stake. 

"She would sign a contract." He stated and relaxed his back on the chair. "You'll help me with the contract."

"I own a security company not a law firm."

"Yeah, I know just get me a lawyer."

"Where's the girl? When you find a girl that will agree to your stupid shenanigans, I'll get you a lawyer." 

Aaron stood up to go, he payed for the coffee and biscuits and was about to go, when he turned to look at Dario.

"You said a hundred days?"

He nodded.

"How many days gone?"

"Five" 

Aaron chuckled softly, "you have ninety five days to get married. Congrats."