Chapter Four

Third-Person Point of View

Soline is still shocked by what happened. She didn't know what to do, but she is not in a position to go against her dad's will. 

Why it has to be him? Silone asked herself.

Soline is sitting in their living room to calm herself when her dad came in.

"Dad -" Soline wasn't able to finish what she wants to say.

"I know you're shocked about this princess, I'm sorry for not informing you. I just don't want you to do crazy things and please do it. This is for the future of our company and you and Zach are the future of it. I can't trust anyone who can help you." Mr. Madden said to her.

"Daddy, you know what happened to the both of us," Soline said in tears. She can't understand why her father trusted the man who destroyed her.

"I can marry anyone but not him" Soline added.

"I know that you're upset, however, this is not the right time to think about what happened in the past. We need to focus on the future. You need to focus on the success of our company. I built it all my life for you."

Soline doesn't have a choice and decided to stop arguing with her dad because nothing will change. It has been decided and announced. It will destroy their image if she will go against it.

Soline decided to rest and she saw Zach before coming into her room upstairs. She went to him and look sharply into his eyes.

"We will marry each other for the company. Nothing more and nothing less. We just need to sign the paper and do our job for the company." Soline said before coming upstairs.

-

Soline's Point-of-View

The next morning, I prepared myself. I need to come to the office starting today.

I just need to sit there and watch everyone work since my title is not yet official and it is still in progress. Dad wants me to familiarize everything.

I drove my corvette on my way to the office.

Everyone in the office is looking at me. I am wearing an emerald green backless dress with pumps.

The employee's eyes seem confused about why I'm here.

Don't worry guys, I'm confused too 

-

I fixed my office and called an interior designer to design it to my taste. I ordered some furniture to make it classy. While fixing everything, Sheena, my dad's secretary came in.

"Ma'am, you'll be attending a meeting with Mr. Laurier," Sheena said

"What? I thought I'll just review some files" I said. I don't want to see him every day the pain that I felt keeps on coming back when I see him. The feeling of betrayal is really painful.

"Yes Ma'am, however, Mr. Madden ordered you to observe some meetings as your reference in the future," Sheena said.

Oh well, I don't even have a choice.

"What time is it?" I asked Sheena so I can prepare to face that moron again. 

"Exactly after an hour" 

"Alright then, just tell me what to do" I don't even know where to go or what's the meeting all about.

"Mr. Laurier will come before the meeting to guide you," Sheena said and left.

Oh great! Why everything's happening against my will?

I'm currently fixing myself when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in," I said while putting some powder on my face

"I thought I still have an hour to prepare?" I asked Zach with coldness on my face. I need to show this man that I am not affected. I need to show him that I already forgot everything, about how is us before.

"Soline" Zach almost whispered my name. I look at him with a blankly face.

"What, Am I late?" I asked him

"I just want to tell you something" What will he say? This should be a business matter.

"Is this about business? If not, I don't want to hear" I said and turned my back on him. 

"You didn't give me the chance to explain my side," He said almost crying. What's this show all about? It's been years already and I don't want to bring it up. He cheated on me and that's it.

"You know what Zach? I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm happy living my life without you. There's nothing that you should explain now. We are already done. That's it. " I said. Even though I am still hurting right now, he doesn't have the right to explain. All I can feel right now is anger so why he is bothering himself to explain? I don't get it. Damn.

"Soline, we are getting married for goddamn's sake!" He shouted

" Uh-oh. Did you forget already? We are marrying each other for the company. Nothing more and nothing less. Please don't forget that I will continue my life even though we are married. I already forgot that you existed in my life a long time ago" It's hard to express myself right now, for all those years that I felt pain, I didn't share it with anyone, They didn't even know that I am hurting. I kept it all to myself so why he is acting this way? I don't have a plan to get back to him. We're done many years ago. 

"Let's go, Stop talking nonsense from now on," I said and left the office.

We went to his car and we headed to one of the famous restaurants with one of the executives for the meeting.

"Here comes the newly engaged couple," James said teasingly. James is one of our engineers in our realty group. We flirted twice after Zach and I broke up. He is the one who saw me struggled when I left Zach's office the time he cheated on me. 

I smirked and said "Oh James, long time no see! I didn't know that you are the one that we'll be seeing here. If I had just known, I'll message you instantly" I winked at him after saying those things. I felt comfortable hanging out with James. Even though we flirted, the friendship that we built when I lost myself matters the most. 

Zach looked at us sharply. I'm enjoying the view of seeing him annoyed.

I sat beside James and Zach looked at me seems like he wants to ask why I sat beside James. I don't care, James knows the most that the engagement is purely about business. He knows that I don't have a plan or guts to get back with Zach. They started talking and I started observing. I can't understand what they are talking about. What I know for sure is that they are talking about the new project that they are going to build, Soline's Casino. Yes, you heard it right. My father planned to build a Casino in Vegas named after me. It's kinda weird but my father wants to let the world know my name. Dad loves me for sure, haha.

"When is the wedding?" James suddenly asked

"I don't know," I said while looking at my phone way of saying that I am not interested in the wedding.

"Seems like--" James did not finish his question because Zach suddenly stood up and said;

"Let's go Soline, there is a lot of agenda today that you need to attend to learn from it," Zach said.

"Oh, I have? Alright! We need to go, James, I'll text you so we can hang out maybe later tonight. What do you think?" I whispered to him

"That's a good idea, I will wait for your text," He said and we left. Zach started the car in the parking lot with a frown on his face. 

"Why do you need to do that?" He angrily asked me.

"What?" I asked like I didn't know.

"Why do you need to disrespect me that much huh? Why do you need to flirt with that man in front of me?" 

I pushed and slapped him.

"Zach, Have you forgotten that you cheated in front of me? I told you that we are getting married in papers, not in reality. Always remember that you do not have the right to question me, All you have to do is to do your job for the company, not for me or us. Do not beg for respect when you don't even have one. I will continue the life that I made when we broke up!" I shouted at him. I am very upset with him.

He wants me to respect him? Who is he to ask that from me? He tore me into pieces and yet he wants me to respect him? How dare he?

*Clap Clap Clap*

I saw Marco on the other side of the car clapping. I raised my eyebrow as a sign of confusion.

"Oops I'm sorry, I didn't intend to disturb your quarrels." He said.

What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be in the office? I heard that he's reporting in the same office that we have. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Hey babe, how are you doing? Why you did not text me? I waited" He whispered and put his arms on my shoulders. 

To escape from Zach, I played his game.

I hold his tie and said "I got busy babe, I'm sorry. Can we go home now?" 

"Let's go, I will drive you to your home," Marco said and he started his rover.

I looked at Zach and he is just standing where I pushed him earlier. What is his plan? Why is he bothering me about the past?

"Aren't you going to thank me?" Marco asked with a smirk on his face

"Just bring me home, I'm tired," I said and closed my eyes.

A lot is happening in my life right now. I just wanted to take a rest from all of it.