Chapter 6: Crossing The Rubicon

“Why are you on your knee?” Lia asked. Her heart was pounding loudly in her head.

The sight of Ryan on his knee, warmed her heart. It was a picture she had imagined, years ago.

“Every girl dreams about their fairytale proposal. Just because this is not real, there is no reason your first proposal should not be romantic.”

Lia felt a new surge of anger.

“When ‘girls’ dream of the, ‘perfect proposal,’; this is not what they imagine. A scripted and fake proposal is far from a dream. If you think I am like you, you are sadly mistaken. I do not need my ego stroked, with this counterfeit display of romance.”

Lia could feel hot tears burning her eyelids. She could not let him see her cry. She threw the rose petals, and ring at him. Lia stood up, pushed past the kneeling Ryan, and ran towards the door.

When she reached the staircase, tears were already streaming down her face. This was supposed to be a simple business transaction. Why was she getting so emotional?

What had she expected from Ryan? Did she really think; he would do anything out of affection? When was she going to learn that, Ryan, was a selfish tw*t? He did not do anything for anyone. Unless it benefited his own selfish mission.

“How dare he stage a scripted ‘dream’ proposal? Who did he think he was? What did he take her for?” Tears made her vision blurry, as she made her way down the stairs.

He would never change!

She reached the hotel room and crumbled to the ground, in a pathetic weeping bundle.

She missed her friend and cheerleader, Bobby. He would probably slap her and tell her to get a grip. Why was she crying over a guy who had eight years ago shown her she meant nothing to him? He was doing it again. Go figure!

Lia stood up, her face puffy from all the crying, and tucked herself into the king size bed. Not bothering to remove her shoes and dress.

*****

Ryan was never a morning person; however; this morning was the worst. He clearly did not understand women. What did they want?

He had gone all out to be romantic, but only ended up making Lia angry. Where had he gone wrong? He wished he could find a manual on how to understand women. He threw the stapler from his desk at the door in frustration.

Just as it hit the door, his lawyer, Keegan, walked in.

“Whoa, there! You could really hurt someone; you know?” Keegan said.

“What has got your panties in a twist, this lovely morning?”

“Women!” Ryan spat. Keegan smiled and nodded, with shared understanding and sympathy.

“Women! Can’t live with them...can’t live without them.” Keegan made his way over to Ryan.

“So, are wedding bells going to chime soon?” the older man asked. Ryan nodded, whilst in deep thought.

“Perfect!” Keegan cheered.

“Soon as the ink dries on the marriage certificate, Nash Global will be transferred to you.”

Ryan smiled. “That’s the whole plan.”

“So, who is the lucky girl? Do I know her?” Keegan dug for details.

“No. You don’t know her. She is a feisty and confusing, gorgeous girl. You will meet her soon,” Ryan stated.

“Awesome. I have to rush to a meeting. We will talk soon,” Keegan said before making his way out of Ryan’s office.

“Lia! Lia! Lia!” Ryan mused to himself and shook his head.

Ryan walked out of the basement elevator, into the underground office parking lot.

“Darling!” a female voice called out to him.

“Kelly!” he hissed underneath his breath.

She reached him, and proceeded to kiss the air on both of Ryan’s cheeks.

“Oh! Darling, you should see the dress I picked. Made for royalty such as myself. Don’t worry, we will get you a classy tuxedo to match me.”

As she continued to speak, suddenly a reporter and camera man rushed towards them.

“Mr. Nash! Would you mind answering a few questions?” the reporter said.

Ryan swore silently. Kelly must have brought them here. Kelly linked her arm through his, and stood facing the reporter.

“Of course, we will answer your questions,” she cooed.

“Mr. Nash, is it true that you are getting married?” the reporter asked.

“Yes, that is true,” Ryan responded.

He caught Kelly smiling triumphantly from the corner of his eye.

“So, is this Mrs. Nash-to-be?” The reporter gestured at Kelly. Kelly in turn laid her head onto Ryan’s chest, in a ‘he-is-mine’ type of way.

Ryan coughed and chuckled.

“No! The future Mrs. Nash, is back at our hotel room. If you don’t mind, my bride is waiting for me.”

Ryan disengaged his arm from a shocked Kelly, and made his way to his car.

As he entered his car, he could hear Kelly shout after him. He did not care to hear what madness she was screaming about, as he sped off.

****

Lia woke up with a slight headache. She sat up in bed and attempted to rub the sleep from her eyes.

She had slept throughout the night, despite yesterday’s unfortunate events. As she looked on the nightstand, she caught site of the ring she had thrown at Ryan on top of some documents.

“I was hoping last night, was just a nightmare!” she mumbled, groggily.

She picked up the ring and the documents. She read through them. The contents were not complicated to articulate.

“Get married, blah blah. Stay married for four years, to a jerk, blah blah....” Suddenly, she trailed off.

“‘During the four years of the marriage agreement, you shall live with Ryan, under the same roof. You will be expected to act like his true wife, in every aspect, in front of the staff, relatives, and friends. After the marriage ceremony, you will share the same bedroom with him...’ What the hey...?” Lia read the clause out loud, in astonishment.

She picked up the hotel room phone, and hastily dialed Bobby’s number.

“Friend, code AMBER!” she exclaimed soon as her friend picked up the phone.

“What happened?” Bobby asked.

Lia read the terms and conditions typed in the contract out loud, to her friend.

“What the hey?” her friend muttered.

“My exact reaction, friend. Same bedroom, with the devil, Ryan Nash, himself?”