Future Groom

Nova stood in front of the mirror and examined the lavender Ralph Lauren fitted three quarter length dress with a flared skirt that she currently had on with its accompanying jacket, she had on gold and pearl Viviene Westwood drop earrings, a slim gold wristwatch and had even had makeup applied to her face, she looked like a doll and very much unlike her usual self.

A thought occurred to her, this was how wealthy people liked to look at what if her husband to be was a stuffed shirt who wanted her to look as staid as one of those trophy wives.

She eyed her outfit critically and felt suffocated, this was not at all who she was and she felt like a fraud but reminded herself that she was not marrying for love but in order to save her family's finances.

With some luck this marriage would be like the usual society marriages where the couple barely saw each other after the wedding then she could get a divorce in decent time.

"You look so beautiful, I can't wait to see you in your wedding gown. Yours is going to be the marriage of the century." Aunt Julia said proudly as she stepped into the room and inspected Nova's dress.

"How sure are we even that this Caden and I will agree to get married? For all I know he is some ogre who has been hidden from the world and he might not even like me and even if we did resolve to get married I would prefer to do something small for the ceremony." Nova said hopefully.

The best thing that would happen to her would be if this her future groom to be met her and decided that they were not a good match, she could only pray that the family would reject her so that she would be free of this obligation that she had inadvertently foisted upon herself and the only way that could happen was if they objected to the marriage.

"don't be ridiculous darling, they would be extremely foolish to reject you. You just have to be a good girl and how do you think that you will get married into one of the most influential families in the country and not have the biggest wedding?"

She arranged a curl so that it hung over Nova's brow artfully and spritzed perfume over her then gave one last look.

"Perfect! We are set to go so come along." She said and went out of the door and Nova followed her.

As she went down the stairs Nova noticed that the door of the study was open and she went there hoping to see her father and maybe explain to him why she did what she did. As she approached the door the clicking sounds of her heels on the wooden floors alerted him to her presence and he looked up and stared at her standing just outside the threshold and her heart beat erratically.

She watched in anticipation as he stood up from the armchair and approached her and when he got to the door he closed the door in her face without a word between them and the breath that Nova had been holding came out in a rush bringing tears to her eyes.

She turned on her heel and went down the stairs where her aunt stood waiting and when she saw the streak of tears on her face she frowned in disapproval.

"Oh my goodness, what you have done to your face? We are going to have to fix this damage in the car, we don't have time to go back up and fix it properly." She said and almost dragged Nova to the car where she did the best she could to repair Nova's makeup.

After driving for about fifteen minutes they got to the side of town where the wealthiest of the wealthiest lived and they approached the massive gates of one such house where a man dressed like a security personnel came to the driver's side to ascertain what their business was and when he was satisfied he turned and nodded at someone in the gate room and the gate automatically slid open and they drove into a palatial estate with well mowed grass and a beautiful mansion at the end of the drive.

When we came to a stop a uniformed man came to Nova's side and opened the door before helping her out of the car then they were both led into the house where a beautiful middle aged woman with neatly coiffured blonde hair stood up from a chair and looked at them with a welcoming smile before coming forward and embracing Nova first and then aunt Julia.

"Julia, it is so good to have you in my home." She said in a soft voice.

"Thank you for having us Callie." Julia answered.

"I would like you to meet my niece, Nova Addison." Julia said and Callie examined Nova approvingly and seemed pleased with what was presented before her.

"Come sit." She said and they all sat.

A maid came in shortly after pushing a trolley that was laden with different types of pastries and a pot of tea which was served to all of them in dainty white and gold china tea cups.

"I hope you don't mind but I did a little background check on you, it would be remis of me to not scrutinize the woman who might marry my son…" Callie said as she daintily lifted her teacup to her lips.

Nova and Julia exchanged a quick glance with each other.

"Of course we understand that even though we trust that your family's background speaks for itself and did not want to seem to be digging around." Aunt Julia said a little tongue in cheek.

"Hmm…" Callie muttered then went on speaking like Julie had not said anything.

"My dear, apparently your mother died when you were born and you have been raised almost entirely by your father?"

'That is true, and he has done a marvelous job with her." Aunt Julia answered before Nova could say a word.

"I learned also that you studied art at the prestigious Carrington Uni and spent a couple of years abroad, it is so refreshing to meet young girls who are open to exploring the world and pursue their hobbies with such seriousness. So where did you travel to?"

"Greece…"

"Poland…" both Nova and Julia said at the same time and Callie's eyebrows rose.

"I actually did a tour of Europe." Nova explained.

"I have a question of my own." Nova said and got a disapproving look from Aunt Julia while Callie looked at her encouragingly.

"I looked everywhere that I could on information on your son but the only things I have been able to find have been his achievements with the family business, there is not a record of him attending any schools nor a single picture of him online." She said and there was a long silence before Callie sighed.

"You see, Caden has always been a very special boy. He was home schooled and he took his college classes online. He does not do too well with strangers." She explained.

Great. Nova thought to herself, they are foisting their antisocial monster of a son on me.

"And he is okay getting married to a stranger?" she queried and Julia nudged her.

"Of course you will not remain strangers after you meet." She interjected.

"That is right, you must be curious very curious to meet him, let me take you to meet him." Callie said and stood up and Nova and Julia joined her, they left the room and went through the garden and stopped in front of a door which Callie opened and stepped aside.

"He will be along shortly, just make yourself comfortable while I show your aunt around the grounds." Callie said and they turned away and left Nova staring at their backs.

She took a deep breath and entered the empty room uneasily and shut the door behind her. It was pristine, everything in the room was white except for a massive puzzle painting hanging on the wall and when she heard the door opened she slowly turned around with her heart pounding, at this point she was expecting the worst but when she saw who had entered the room she could not believe it.

"You?" she sputtered in shock and took a step back as she felt an overwhelming unease creep up her spine.