Chapter 5

Nathan's Pov

"Her being in love with me has ruined everything! I do not want to get married or be disowned, I do not know what to do about this." He said, looking frustrated.

"You sound like marriage is a death sentence…"

"... because it is for me! I’m not caught out for this marriage shit, I still wanna have some fun."

"Getting married isn't a death sentence, Nolan. It's something beautiful if it's built with love, but it can be a disaster if it isn't built with love."

"I do not need a lecture about marriage, I need a lecture on how to get out of this shit."

"Nolan, listen. I think marriage is going to be good for you. Trust me."

"No it's not, never!"

"You are sounding like you've got a choice in this."

He is beginning to get me upset in all of this.

"You’re beginning to sound like dad." He said, storming out of the room with a loud bang of the door.

Why doesn't he understand? Marriage is a good thing, why is he overreacting?

****

I've been trying for the past two days now to reach Paisley on call, but couldn't. I don't know why, but I’m really worried about her. I know at times she can be so busy, but not hearing from her for two days doesn't settle well with me.

The sudden barging into my office really got my attention. I turned back only to see it was Nolan, that has always been his way. Plus, he looks super excited too. I’ve never seen him this excited after dad told him about his marriage.

"Nate, I finally got it!" He said excitedly.

"Got what?" I asked.

I seriously have no clue of what he's talking about.

"I’ve figured out a way not to get married and still be the son of the family." Nolan said.

"Oh…" That was all I could make out.

Since that day he walked out of my room in anger, we haven't seen or spoken about this marriage thing of his. Now I’m curious to know what he has figured out.

"Are you free for a talk?" He asked.

"Yep, I’m on my break period." I said, settling down on my seat.

"Perfect!" Nolan said, taking a seat. "I have a perfect plan that will work, but I need your help in it."

I furrow my eyebrows at him. What does he need my help for? Does he want me to talk to dad about not going through with his marriage?

"What would you be needing my help for?" I asked, curious.

"Do you remember those times when we were little…whenever I do something wrong in our class, you always come forward pretending to be me and receive my punishment?" He asked, and I hummed in agreement.

"And do you remember those times when I couldn't read for any exams and I was scared to fail, you would pretend to be me and write the exams for both of us and no one knew because we were so identical?"

"Yeah, but where are you heading with all of this?"

"I want you to do the same thing for me again." Nolan said, getting me more confused.

"What exactly is it for you?"

"I want you to pretend to be me and get married to Savannah. It will only be for some time till i'm really ready to face the responsibilities of marriage." He said.

I couldn't but laugh so hard that my stomach hurts. What he just said sounded so funny, he is really good at making jokes.

"What's funny?"

"Sor…Sorry, your jokes are just so funny." I said, trying to control my laughter.

"What joke? This is no joke Nate, I’m being serious. Think of it as a substitute, you will substitute for me till I'm ready." He said, looking all serious.

He wasn't joking.

He has gone mad!

"Can you hear yourself Nolan? You think this is some game to you?" I asked, getting pissed with him right now.

"Come on bro, you've done this before when we were kids. Doing it now won't be any different, no one will even figure it out."

"Are you crazy? You want me to be you and marry a woman chosen for you? What happens to my woman, huh? How do you think she’ll react when she gets to know that I married her younger sister just to please my brother and I'll return her back to him with time?" I half yelled, trying to control my anger.

"You don't have to tell her about it, it will only be for a couple of months."

"No way, Nolan. Back then when we normally did this switching of a thing was because we were kids, and that was school. Now is reality! You can't just do that with people's lives and feelings, how do you think Savannah will react when she finds out about it?"

"She won't, no one will if we play our cards well. I'll be living your life and you’ll be living mine, it's very simple bro. It's only going to be for a couple of months." He pleaded.

This guy has gone totally nuts!

"I can do anything for you Nolan, but what I can not do is play mind games with people's feelings. End of discussion, now if you don't mind I got work to do." I stated.

I opened my laptop and started working on the company business strategy. For a moment he sat there till he finally stood up and left, I closed my laptop.

I know Nolan to be so irresponsible, but thinking about this. I do not know what to think of how his behavior is becoming. Does he think marriage is a game?

He should better start thinking right!

****

Savannah's Pov

It's been two days now and I haven't heard from Nolan after that day at the cafe. I really don't know if my confession made him feel shy, or if he doesn't feel the same way.

Or could it be that he got busy?

Maybe I should call him, or maybe not?

I’m so confused now!

I really need someone to talk to, Paisley hasn't been picking her calls for the past two days now, which clearly means she's so busy.

Sigh.

"Hey!" Megan said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

She rested her arms on my desk, beside me.

"Here, try to review this and give it back to me. I worked on it and plan on submitting it today, but I want you to help me with some review and tell me what you think about it." She said, giving me a tight smile.

"What's it about?" I asked, accepting the document she handed to me.

"It's the presentation for our new investors next week." She explained.

"Okay." I said.

I’ll do that once my head is done with it's worries.

"Is everything okay, Savannah?" Megan asked, resting her hips at the edge of my desk.

"Yeah." I said, trying to put up a small smile.

"You’re such a terrible liar. An advice for you sweetheart, when you want to tell a lie. Try not to put up a smile, it will totally blow your cover." Megan said.

Great!

"So are you going to start talking?" Megan said, giving me one of her daring stares.

I think I should tell her, she might be able to give me the advice that I need.

"Fine." I sigh. "My father fixed my marriage with his friend's son, who happens to be the guy I've been in love with since childhood. Then two days ago when he called me up to meet, I confessed my feelings to him…but he didn't say a word." I said in one breathe.

Megan just blinked at me in surprise, with her lips apart.

"Your wedding is being fixed and you’re just letting me know about it?" She half yelled, which kinda attracted some eyes to stare in our direction.

"Don't be so loud. I planned on telling you once everything is set."

"Okay, fine. So if you’ll be ending up with the man you love, and you've confessed your feelings to him. Why the worried look?"

"After I confessed my love to him, he didn't say a word. And it's been two days now, but he hasn't called."

"Come on, Savannah. You surprised him with a love confession, what do you expect him to do after that?"

"I just want to know if he felt the same way.."

"Fine. When he called you up for a chat about your marriage to him, did he sound like he didn't want this marriage?"

"No." I said, recalling our discussion of that day.

"When you confessed your love to him, did he look like he didn't accept it?"

"He looked surprised and speechless."

"Did he smile at you before he left?"

"Yes."

I recalled before he left, he smiled so sweetly at me.

"Then he accepted your love for him."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He is just surprised about your confession. Plus, I know he feels the same way for you. He's just waiting for his own right time." Megan said with a small smile.

Is Megan right, Nolan?

Do you also feel the same way for me?

Are you waiting for the right time to confess your feelings to me?

****

Nolan's Pov

Nathan's being so inconsiderable right now. What's the big deal there in just substituting for his own brother till he's ready for marriage?

I sighed.

What do I do now?

There is no way I'm getting married!

I'll still try talking to Nathan and do all I can to make him agree to this, and I believe he will eventually agree.

Knock.

Knock.

"Come in." I said, making my way out of my closet.

The door opened and a female servant walked in.

"Mr. Black wants to see you in the sitting room." She said,

What does dad want now?

"Fine, I'll be right there." I said, and she left.

I wonder what he wants now. Does he want to know about my reply to this marriage? I hope not.

I walked out of my room and through the hallway. Making my way down the stairs, I saw mom, dad and Nathan already sitting there.

Is this some sort of family meeting or what?

I made my way towards them, taking a seat beside Nathan who just spared a glance at me.

"First. I know you all will be wondering why I called for this meeting." He began, sparing a glance at me.

"I called up this family meeting to announce to you all that Nolan's marriage date has been fixed to the next two weeks, his engagement ceremony will also be held on that week while his wedding will be on weekend." He said.

I stared at my father in horror. He already fixed my wedding date without waiting to hear from me first, that's impossible!

"Dad you can't do that! I haven't given my consent to this marriage, I told you I’m not ready for this! I refuse this!" I half yelled.

"Then why are you still here?" Dad asked, calmly. "If you have refused this marriage, leave this family and never show your face here again." He said calmly, but I could sense the anger in his voice.

This man is so impossible!

He knows that I can't leave, and he's using it to bend me to this will! There is really no point in arguing this!

I stood up and made my way upstairs, ignoring my name being called by Nathan and mother. One thing is certain here dad, I won't leave this family and I won't be getting married to anybody!

****

Nathan's Pov

I watched as Nolan ran upstairs, ignoring me and mom calling out to him, dad also got up and went upstairs to his study room I guess.

I do understand why dad wants to get Nolan married, but I think he's getting too extreme with it. I'll have to talk to him, I also don't like the idea of this arranged marriage.

Nolan doesn't love Savannah in that way, but Savannah loves Nolan with her life. If dad forces Nolan into this unrequited marriage, Savannah will be the one to suffer it in the end.