Chapter 4:

ODETTE'S POINT OF VIEW

"Dad, what was Mr. Lopez saying, that I was his fiancé?" I pointed to Kiel; he seems not bothered about this freaking engagement.

"This is for your future, my princess. I just want what's best for you. I hope you understand."

"The best for me, yet you didn't think about me? Arrange marriage, huh? You make a deal without thinking about how I will feel. No, I won't agree to that deal!" I grabbed my bag, left immediately, and drove my car fast. He didn't even ask me or think about how I felt. I just came out of a breakup a week ago, and he never considered the pain I was facing. Am I, to him, a liability in his debt, or just a thing he can throw anytime he can think? I wipe my tears and focus on driving on my way to the condo.

I sighed when I saw all the reporters still waiting outside. Wait? Lucas? I stepped out of my car and went back to one of the reporters.

"Lucas, your ex-girlfriend was the girl in the photo with Kiel. Did she cheat on you with Kiel?" What am I cheating on, dude, if you just know he's the one who cheated? How thick is his face to have come here? He broke up with me for a monkey.

"Odette was a nice girl at the start of our relationship; I didn't know that in the last few months of our relationship. She changed; she became cold and out of focus on our dates, even in our conversations at night. I understand that because I love her so much. But my patient went off and broke up with her when I discovered she was cheating on me. and I was shocked when I saw her photo with him. And you know who I was talking about?" My hands get itchy, and I want to slap him hard. But I still want to watch his show.

"You're confirming that she was cheated on when you guys were still in a relationship." He smiled and nodded. Like wtf! Seriously, this is enough.

"I never cheated on you. You're such a jerk liar!" Everyone looks at me, and they start surrounding me.

"Odette, babe, I want you back." "I can't live without you." He kneeled in front of me.

"No, you cheated on me twice, yet I forgive you. But you tell such a horrible story that I cheated on you. While the truth is that it was you, I won't be back at you ever again."

"I will never do that again, babe. I want to win you back. Please forgive me." He held my hand, but I refused. I felt a hand holding my waist. When I turned around, I saw Kiel standing beside me.

"Winning my girl back, hmm, I will make it hard for you."

"Kiel, are you telling me that Odette was your girl?"

"Odette was my soon-to-be wife. will announce at the engagement party. For now, that's all I can say. Let's go, baby, you still need to take a rest." He winked at me while holding my hand.

We flew away from the crowd as we entered the building. The security was tight at the entrance, blocking all the media. We were catching our breath as we stopped in front of the elevator.

"What did you think you were doing? Telling them about the engagement is unconfirmed. ty, really? Don't you think this issue will stop if you say those are unconfirmed speculations? You'll just give them an idea to continue everything they were thinking about. Gosh! They'll think I was cheating on Lucas."

"You don't need to worry about anything; we can handle this. I'll make a press release about this issue." He held my shoulders while looking at me, assuring me.

"You better fix it." I grabbed his hand, stomped off, and went inside the elevator. He just smiled and leaned against the elevator wall.

"A lot of girls dream of marrying me, but you rejected that idea." Why? Is there something wrong with me? Or he hurt you that much, so you won't trust any guy?" At that moment, I didn't know what I would answer to his question; maybe I was too scared to fall for her in that idea that we'd just arranged a marriage.

"There is nothing I am afraid of; maybe I just don't like the idea of getting married just because my dad arranges it with some business venture he wants."

"Then why should we just make our deal?" And I will assure you that if this deal doesn't succeed, I'm the one who will talk to dad, and no matter what happens, we will still invest in your company."

"What kind of deal?"

"Date me in six months, and if you still don't agree to arrange marriage, I'll back out, and I'll make sure no one harms you." That idea seems like nonsense, but maybe if I knew him, I'd see the point of why dad chose him over some businessman's son. But if this helps me figure out how I can tell Dad it's not working, maybe I'll get a reason to prove it to him.

"Deal," I said and offered my hand for a shake, and he immediately took it. The elevator opened, and I saw my friends standing in front of it.

"Can you guys explain what is going on?" We look at each other and step out of the elevator.

"I'll explain everything inside." I look around and drag them into my condo.

They'll sit on the couch once we get in. I rub my hands and sit in front of them.

"So do you mind telling us what's happening right now? We just met Kiel last night, yet you're saying you guys are engaged? How did that happen?" Aria said while looking curiously at me.

"His father and dad arranged the marriage for us. But this whole thing was just a business deal. " "I wasn't agreeing with that idea." Morisette stood up and shook me.

"Girl, like a lot of girls, even I was dreaming of getting married at Kiel, yet you refuse it. How can you do that?" He slipped and sat on the floor in front of me. I look at Aria and Clay; they are nodding at what Morisette said.

"Kiel was the ideal man of all the girls; he was a gentleman, rich, tall, and pale. Gosh, you rejected him; if I were you, once I heard the news, I would call a priest and get married that same day," Clay stated that it makes him rub his finger on his forehead while shaking his head. Are they serious about marrying that guy?

"Let's stop this conversation. How about we just watch a movie?"

"No, we won't stop this topic, right, girls?" Aria said that Clay and Morisette agreed.

"Wait, why are you guys shaking hands way back in the elevator?" Morisette's eyes slant, looking suspiciously at me.

"We'll make a deal regarding our situation right now."

"And?" Morisette, come close to my face.

"He proposes a date that we date for six months, and after that, if I still haven't agreed, then there will be no wedding." They were screaming and shaking me.

"Oh my gosh, this is the best deal I will get," Morisette said, and she hugged me tightly.

"So did you agree, right?" Clay said, and I just nodded at them.

They screamed while shaking me.

"You're dating Kiel. Oh my gosh, I think I'm going to melt if he asks me to date him," Morisette said while acting like she was melting on the floor.

"You're lucky; I made Trish clean the condo, or else you're getting dirt on your shirt."

"You better should, oh my gosh." She stood up and wiped her shirt and pants.

"By the way, when is your first date with Kiel?" Clay said while looking at her phone.

"He didn't say when; maybe he's still not decided when we will start."

We are lying in peace on the floor when the doorbell rings. I sat, stood up, and went in behind the door. When I opened the door, I saw Kiel behind the door.

"I'm sorry, did I disturb you? Can I pick you up tomorrow night?" He smiled at me while scratching his nape. I was about to answer him when my friends appeared behind me.

"Yes, she is; pick her up at 7," Aria said while Clay and Morisette look amazed and in shock; they are just drooling.

"Uhm, okay, so I'll just see you tomorrow night." He left and went inside his condo. while we stay at the door.

"You need to get ready for this; we will sleep over here tonight and make sure tomorrow on your date everything is perfect, right girls?" Clay said, and Morisette and Aria high-fived each other.

"Right!" They pull me back onto the couch while Aria closes the door.

They start ordering online some beauty products, different types of masks, and even the foot spa home service. They didn't allow me to move; I just stayed at my place while they were busy preparing for my date.

"Wait a minute, why are you guys so excited about it? It was just like a date I usually go on, and nothing was special about it. Kiel is still a human, just like us. So can you guys stop everything?" They glared at me and turned back to their phones.

"Fine, I'll just zip my mouth." I grab my phone and open my Twitter account. My name was trending on Twitter next to Kiel's name. I read some of the comments and tweets. And some are critiquing me, saying that I was manipulating everything; I said nothing between us, but here we are engaged.

Maybe, just like Sloan, she will use Kiel for fame. #Odette #whoisOdette?

Who is she? Why is she engaged to Kiel? #whoisOdette #Odette

"Reading those kinds of tweets was not helping; you should just relax and take away all the negativity in your mind. Kiel just asked you out for a date, and that was most important right now, okay?" Aria sat beside me and tapped my shoulder.

I might not be in favor of everything, but this date will be fine, right? The doorbell rang, and Morisette opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" I looked in Morisette and saw Lucas standing in front of my door.

"You should leave now." Aria stood up and pushed Lucas away.

"Babe, let's talk."

"You have nothing to talk about with Odette; you cheated on her, yet you want to explain. Why all your lies? There's no way we won't make you do that. After all, you humiliated her in front of the media earlier. So if I were you, I'd leave before I call the securities."

"Odette, listen about earlier. I was just following orders from your dad. He said I should do that, babe. I should hurt you more so you won't disagree with everything he wants. Babe, you know how much I love you, and I can't hurt you. I love you more than my life. Please hear me out first, and I'll explain everything, babe. I'm begging you." I stood up and went on him.

"My dad will never do that if it's one of your lies; don't ever use my dad on it. I knew my dad, and I knew you; over you, I trusted him. So stop lying! Get out!" I slammed the door and went to my room, locking myself inside.

"You knew he was lying, right? Your dad never does that because he loves you so much. And Lucas always lies to you, even before." Aria said I sit on the floor, hugging my knees.

Maybe dad can do that if he can arrange a marriage for me. Maybe he can do what Lucas said, but why? Who should I listen to? I'm confused about everything that happened, from having an issue with Kiel and getting an arranged marriage with him to this controversy.

I didn't notice that I fell asleep on the floor. I stood up and went out. I saw them waiting for me on the couch.

"Why didn't you guys wake me up?"

"Well, we knew you needed space for yourself; what Lucas said might affect you, so we just waited for you instead."

"I don't bother; let's just prepare for the date." I smiled at them, and they giggled and went on to hug me tight.

"Earlier, you didn't even want to participate in preparing for the date, and now, tell us, what changed your mind?" Morisette said, look at me.

"Well nothing." I laugh and lay on the couch.

Aria grabs the mud face mask, while Clay and Moristte prepare the foot spa. They look all excited for this date. We laugh when Morisette falls into the foot spa water.

"Look where you are walking." I said,

"I'm sorry, I was too excited. I didn't notice the last step of the stairs. I get this." She showed us the boxes.

"What are those for?"

"A new set of shoes, dresses, and bags I just bought them online earlier." She opened the boxes and showed us the pair of shoes, bag, and dress. Our eyes widen when we see the new limited-edition heels.

"Oh my gosh, let's start the sleepover!" Clay said, and we're yelling.

"Let's start!" Morisette, hold my shoulder. Clay put a mud facial mask on me. while Aria put my foot in the foot spa machine. They sat beside me, and we waited to dry the mud facial mask.

"Do you have any idea where you guys will go for your date tomorrow?" Morisette gossip.

"Maybe he will just buy you a meal at a restaurant." Aria answered.

"But he may not; what if somebody saw you guys? If he bought you in, then how about in his condo with a candlelit dinner?" Clay said while looking at her phone.

"We never knew."

I took a deep breath and looked to the other side. We waited a few minutes to take off the mud facial mask. We clean our feet after taking off our facial mask.

"We should sleep now; we will still be in shape tomorrow morning." Morisette stood up and hugged me.

"Yeah, I agreed with that." Clay and Aria stood up and hugged me, and they went into the guest room. I went to the balcony and looked up at the sky. Am I doing the right thing?

Maybe I am. Dating Kiel was the best idea to get to know him, right? to know my future husband. Even I agreed that no matter what I do, the wedding will go on.