1 CHAPTER 1

-KAIDEN CLATES POV-

'We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells and constellations.' thinking those stuff motivates me a lot.

"KID!!!", she yelled.

'Here we go again.'

"Kid, it's time for you to settled down with someone."-mom

I glanced up at the ceiling from where I was resting on my VIG chesterfield sofa. Mid shift to keep from intending the material, as I trained myself to do. At the foot of it she stood up, who was giving me such a deep disapproving look that I almost, almost made a move to sit up properly. Her expression was carrying a definition of disappointment. Slim nose upturned and devil red lips twitching. I already knew where this conversation was heading and then I subsequently let my cheek fall onto the cool leather with a sigh.

"Here we go again." I said while glaring my eyes.

"You're almost thirty Kid.", she said emphasizing those words, folding her arms across her chest. The bracelets on her arms jingling as she moved. Her dark hair was tied up in a tight bun on the top of her head, giving her all-around stern aura.

"I'm twenty-five mom. I don't really think that's close to thirty." raising my eyebrows.

"Your father and I weddedly when we were twenty-two." She said as the matter-of-fact proclaim. "It's time for you to stop fooling around, stop making scandals and stop making our family look wicked to public."

"I don't make our family look wicked to public." saying it sarcastically.

"And it's time for you to build your own family so we can give a head start to our next successor in our exclusive business." she pressed on.

I push myself into a sitting position, making sure to smooth out my waistcoat. Then I subsequently gave her something else to complain about, "So.... You expect me to meet someone today and fall in love with them, get married and have children? Hmmm? It doesn't work like that." saying that while wrinkling my brows.

"Well, maybe it does nowadays with all those dating apps going around, but I definitely not like that kind of person."-me

"There are numerous of young women interested in you Kid. Like Amara's daughter Kylie. She has been asking for your hand in marriage since you two were five. She is also a stunning woman."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Lawful arranged marriages aren't a thing in America anymore. It's 2015, not 1765. I don't want to marry someone just because it is essential to our business."

"You want a marriage out of love?", she asked. Hearing her hard edge voice makes me a little bit pissed. "Rich families marry into other rich families to keep their wealth stable. It's what all our ancestors have done before us and it will still remain until now. That's why our business stays alive till your old great grandfather's era.

Arguing with her is fruitless, "I'm not interested in marriage right now. All I wanted is to live peacefully and stay cool, that's all."

So closed that the little distance between us, hovering above me intimidatingly. "I've already been given you twenty-five years of freedom. I've given you everything you'll ever wanted. All I ask for you is to reimburse me with a promise of keeping our business alive."

"And I will, but not right now." I responded firmly. The business wouldn't be going anywhere in a long time. We were basically the new Hiltons. What was eating at her? Why was she suddenly trying to force this with me?

"You have no more choice in this matter. If you don't settle down, I will secure to take your car and your house."

"I personally owned this house and my car. You can't threaten me like that."

My mom smile cruelly and I felt a chill running down through my spine. "You think I can't find a way around that?"

As much as I wished she was just kidding. I knew she wasn't. I scrambled off of the sofa, placing my hand over my pocket where the keys were place. "Wait a second."

"Wait for what?"-mom

"Isn't this a little abrupt? I need time to think about it first. You can't just barge in here and expect me to go along with this kind of circumstances."

"It shouldn't come as a shock Kaiden. You can thank your brother for doing that."

A surge of heat shot through my body. I bit my lip sternly, clenching my hands so tight as my fingernails bit deel into the skin of my palm.

'Don't fall for it.' I warned myself. She just wanted me to retreat and claim her price.

And she knew where it hurt the most.

"You're brother wouldn't give me this much of a hassle."

"How can you see Timothy against me?" I said tightly.

"It's your choice Kid." It wasn't like I had a choice. I just think of a way out of it. Rapidly.

"Will you?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"Nevertheless, I want you to give me a year."

Her eyes narrowed. "A year? For what exactly?"

"I would like to find someone on my own. Then when the year is up, I'll convey her to you, and we will talk about the marriage. You can't exactly expect me to just suddenly meet someone and marry her. Can you? Atleast let me meet a few of a candidates first."

The room was deathly silent as my mother contemplated my offer. I could feel sweat forming at the back of my neck. If only she would agree to my proposal, then I could have some more time to figure out what to do about that ultimatum she'd given to me. If she said no, then what could I say against her when she used Timothy as leverage?

"Six months," she finally said.

"Six months?"

"You may have six months to court someone," she permitted. "Not a day more. When the time is up you must bring the girl you choose to me and I will decide if she will be allowed to marry you as well as she can join our family. If she disappointed me, you will going to marry whom I choose."

Of course, there would be conditions. There were always be conditions. "Okay fine." I agreed, knowing she would get her way no matter what. I had to take what I could get.

The wrinkles on her forehead relaxed and she smiled. "Good. You may keep your car. So that you can proceed to your work today. There's someone you need to set off it's job."

"I understand. But always remember that your present situation is not your final destination." I responded, watching as she turned on her heel and clicked away from me.

As soon as she left, I collapsed back onto the sofa, feeling a headache coming through. Why was she so adamant about marriage? I was perfectly contented with the way I was living today. Satisfactory and alone. I didn't necessarily feel the need of a girlfriend. And even if I did have any of those needs, I could find a willing partner.

For now, I had to find someone to atleast to trick my mother in order to make her think that I have my own girlfriend. It wouldn't be too hard. Just a piece of a cake. It wasn't like I didn't have the physical appearance to goad someone into doing it. I was on the cover of multiple business magazines. Paired with my conditioned polite and charming personality. I knew I was a good catch. And if that weren't enough, I'd just show them my bank account.

'I thought money could buy me a girlfriend, I thought it wistfully.'

Then it suddenly hit me.

The plan was unsophisticated. Find a woman, hire her to date me for six months, fake a break-up right before I brought her to meet my mother, and then claim I was too heartbroken to move on. That way I wouldn't be forced into a marriage with a stranger and I would be allowed to stay single until I met the person I was meant to be with. Surely my mother would feel pity for her son going through his first heartbreak. It would just be too easy.

I grinned for myself, adjusting my tie and a big sigh.

Let the fun begin.