Arranged Marriage

A few years later

- KYLE ANDERS -

"Mr. Anders?" I looked behind me to see my secretary holding a file folder.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Your mother would like to talk to you" I wondered why and what my mother was doing here this early. I checked my watch to see that it was 8:30 in the morning.

"Bring her in" I waited patiently as my secretary left my office and my mother stepped in.

"I'm surprised you didn't teleport mother."

"Oh come on Kyle! We're in the human realm. If people were to see me suddenly appearing out of nowhere what would they think of me? Besides, I like walking" I sighed and decided to change the subject.

"What brings you here?" I asked her curiously.

"Son, I know you had past fiancées and I know that they didn't work out." That was because it was an arranged marriage mother.

"I got you a new wife. She is-"

"MOTHER! I told you I don't need a wife"

"I had a deal with her father when we were just teenagers. If you guys don't work it out, I will stop arranging your marriages and you will pick your own wife."

"Why didn't you tell me before my past fiancees? WHY NOW??" I banged the files I was holding on the table.

"DON'T YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME, YOUNG MAN! How many times do we have to tell you? If you want to ascend the throne of your father, you need a proper wife. Her father and I agreed you'd be engaged at the"

"WHAT?! MOTHER!" My last fiancee was a human and let me tell you. It did not end well.

Another one? Well, I guess I will just have to scare her off by being harsh on her so she will leave me. Let's just hope I won't fall for her.

No. I can't and I will not fall for her. I can't fall in love with my fiancée because the last time I did, she left me for another man. And that man was Ivan Aviles. The man Fia– my last fiancée –left me for.

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After my mother left, I fixed my things and headed out of my office. Once my bodyguard came, I told him to drive me to the nearest café. Once we arrived, I got off the car and walked inside the café. There were only a few people.

As I sat on the couch, I scanned the room. My gaze paused once I saw a young woman, probably in her mid-twenties, talking to the cashier. That can't be her, can it? The girl had long, wavy ginger-red hair. She was wearing a white cropped top with black pants. She looked exactly like her.

- CIARA COOPER -

I took my bag and left my apartment. At this hour, I need my coffee. I decided to walk because the café nearby was only a 5-minute walk from my condo.

After a few minutes of walking, I finally arrived at the café.

"Hey Ciara! Do you want the usual?" I'm actually a regular customer here so they already know what I like. I nodded my head at Kim. For your information, Kim was the one who greeted me a while ago.

As I waited for my order to be given to me, I scanned the room. Only a few customers were here, but one person, a man, caught my attention. He was a tall handsome man seated on the couch. The moment I saw him, I recognized who he was. I just wish I'm hallucinating.

"Ciara! Here's your frappe" I quickly thanked Kim and took my frappe. I left the café as quickly as I could. I would usually stay but I didn't want him to notice me.

- KYLE ANDERS -

That can't be her, right? I stood up and tried to approach her but she was quicker than me so I lost her. But then, I'm not really sure if that is her. My Ruby. The woman I could never get out of my mind. I can't forgive myself for letting her leave my apartment. I shouldn't have taken advantage of her. My stupid self even forgot about her when I woke up from that night.

"Let's go Devian" I walked towards the exit while my bodyguard- Devian –followed me.

The Next Day

- CIARA COOPER -

I woke up and got my things. I took a quick shower and slipped on my dress. I then wore my black leather jacket. I wore some sneakers and left my apartment.

I'm going to my father's company building today. I wonder why... I just hope he won't force me to do anything stupid again. Last time, he forced me into marrying a complete Italian stranger. Although I enjoyed his company and I even played matchmaker with him and a maid. I guess we had a friendship of comfort.

I arrived at my father's company building and checked the time. My father's secretary said that he would want to meet me at exactly 9 am sharp. I guess I was 20 minutes early. I spent the next 20 minutes talking to my best friend, Jean. Jean is one of my closest friends ever since elementary school. She is the only one who knows what happened a few years ago.

"Ms. Cooper, your father is ready for you" I stood up and followed my father's secretary inside. "Father…" he was sitting on his chair. As a child, I'd sit there and spin it around when my dad had meetings in the meeting room.

"Take a seat sweetie" I came closer and sat on the chair in front of his desk. "Ciara dear, I need to ask you a favor" here it comes… "Would you please meet with Mr. Anders?" I'm sorry what? Will my dad ask me to do that again? By that, I meant an arranged marriage. Or maybe he just wants me to substitute for him? Keep your cool Ciara. Don't overthink again. The last time I over-thought something I got a major headache.

"May I ask why father?" he paused for a few seconds until he finally spoke. "He will be your fiancé dear, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner" WHAT?! I knew it! I stared at my father. As I looked into his eyes, I could tell he didn't want to force me again but it looked like I had to accept. He knew- no, he knows –what happened to me and Ivan after he found out I had to marry another person. That was probably the reason why he cheated on me.

"When father?" I didn't want to disappoint my father. This business is his life. So I decided to accept his arrangement. "Tonight, actually. He'll be picking you up from your apartment." What?! I stood up without thinking. I couldn't help but say, "Father! Why would you give a complete stranger to me my address?! You know how I don't like people going to my apartment except for Jean." I felt bad for shouting at my father but I just couldn't help it. My apartment is my private space. My father should have just told me to stay at his house and that Mr. Anders will just pick me up there.

"He will pick you up in your apartment dear. I'm sorry"