The Arrangement

Chapter 5

AnnaLeigh

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, sighing in sheer frustration. I couldnt believe I had forgot to get the pecan pie. It was my father's favorite. And it was the one thing I was supposed to bring to the dinner. As I slowly drag my body up from the chair to put on my coat I try to console myself. To be fair, I have had alot on my mind.

It would take over an hour to get to my dads house in Heller and I wished I was already there. I tried to focus on the scenery that blurred past but all that kept coming back to me was how I had lied to Sarah about my engagement. And how I would be lying again today to my family.

Dad had assured ushe was well enough to have Thanksgiving at home. And my brothers had kept telling me how much better he looked and I couldnt wait to see him myself. I couldnt wait to see all of them.

The closer I got the more I felt my head relax. I was relieved to be getting away from New York. Even if it was just for a couple of days, some timr away from the drama of the arrangement would be good for me. It would give me space to breathe and to come up with a plan.

After what seemed liked a very long drive I was finally walking up the front steps to my childhood home. I knocked on the door and Michael answered, wrapping me up in a bug hug.

"Its about time." He says pulling me into the house.

"Nice to see you too." I say playfully hitting him.

As I walk inside a wave of nostalgia hits me. This is where I had grown up. The house that had seen me celebrate and mourn in equal measures. But being back now, with everything that had happened, it felt different. Like somehow this couldnt protect me from the world outside anymore.

"Is that her? AnnaLeigh?" And there he was, my father, rolling into the hallway in a wheelchair. He looked more like dad than the man in the hospital bed did.

"Dad," I yell, hugging him hard. He really did look healthier. And seeing him out of the hospital only hardened my resolve.

They say storms are only temporary. But the lives they cross never remain the same. You either perish or grow so inured that even the mighty storm gets enamoured of you. And if Christain was to be my storm then I couldnt let him stop me from doing what I had to do. For my dad. Especially now that I have seen him.

"AnnaLeigh," He hugs me back. "I have missed you."

"I have missed you alot dad." I try to wipe away a tear before it spills from my eye and is seen. "Im just so happy to see you. You look great."

He laughs happily, "Are you ready to see the turkey?"

"You mean Greyson?" I joke.

"I heard that." Greyson yells from the living room. I knew he was already sitting on the couch watching football, his eyes glyed to the televison.

I couldnt stop the grin from spreading across my face. This was excatly what I had been needing. Just then the doorbell rang and we all looked toward the door in confusion.

"Are we expecting anyone?" I ask Michael.

"Nope. Unless, " His eyes lighting up. "You invited Sarah?"

"Sorry." I laugh at his longstanding crush on my best friend. "She should be with her mom." I walk toward the door and open it...

And just like thay my Thanksgiving sanctury is torn to pieces. Because standing there, looking handsome and completely out of place with a pecan pie in his arms, was Christain Cartwright.

He smiles at me but it doesnt quite reach his eyes. Instead they look cold. Calculating. Like a wolf playing with its food before it lunges in for the kill.

"Hey babe." He says.

My heart kicks into overdrive. I am about to have a full blown panic attack. My family didnt even know I was dating anyone let alone getting married to the richest bachelor in New York City.

"What are you doing here..."

"AnnaLeigh." Dad calls out from behind me. "Who is that?"

A pit of dread opens up in my stomach as I hear my family approaching. "U-um this is..."

Christain steps up beside me, his cruel, mocking demeanor gone. He wraps his arms around my waist and smiles down at me, his expression exuding affection. He looks like the definition of the perfect partner. But I knew better. He hated my guts. And hiz touch felt more like a weight than an embrace. I felt my brothers gazes zero in on the loving gesture and my face burned from the embarrassment.

"Im Christain," My tormentor says, his voice soft and smooth. "Im your daughter's fiance."

Christain Cartwright

I dont know what came over me when I had decided to go to AnnaLeigh's for Thanksgiving. Maybe it was only pure curiosity. Maybe I wanted to see what a gold digger's family looked like. Maybe I wanted dirt on her so I could run her out of the city before our very dreaded wedding day came. But all I found was an awkward time around the dinner table and a very nice meal. I took a bite of turkey, somehow managing to keep a straight face.

"More stuffing?"

I looked up to find the oldest brother offering me the bowl. He was obviously trying to be polite but I knew he was forcing it. I could feel the straight up hostility rolling in waves off them all.

"Please," I say, grabbing it from him. "My compliments to the chef."

"At least someone remembered to bring the pecan pie." The other brother comments. He was trying to fill the silence. "You could have just told us you were bringing him, Anna."

"I- I wanted it to be a surprise." She manages to choke out.

"Well it sure as hell was a big one." The dad mutters. He stares at me and I try to smile back in return. He was definitely wearing his years pretty heavily. It looked like he had just gotten out of the hospital.

"So how did you two meet?" He asks not smiling back at me.

"Its a funny story." I give my gold digging fiancee a look. "But Anna tells it better than I do."

She immediately turns red. And I was enjoying her being uncomfortable.

"We met kind of unexpectedly..." She began and I sat back to listen as she spun some tale of how we met at a hole-in-the-wall place. I contributed with nods and smiles at the appropriate places.

Again I dont know what I thought I would find by going to her house but this wasn't it...I had expected them to try and butter me up and to flatter the big catch their daughter, their sister had caught on her string of lies. But they hadn't. Instead they were worried and overprotective about her. In their eyes, she could do no wrong. To them she was a saint. An angel. But I knew this angel was lying through her teeth. I watched her with narrowed eyes. Speaking on a superficial level, she was beautiful. There was no denying that. She had luscious blonde hair, big blue intelligent eyes and a body that would have any man day dreaming.

She was the girl next door meets pinup girl....

"Sounds like you two are moving real fast." Her dad says. "Tell me, what do you like about my Anna? What made you propose to her?"

"Dad!" She protested.

I glance at her. Her blue eyes were wide and pleasing. I could of finally just spilled the truth of it all right then. Told her family her dirty little secret. But that wouldn't of done me any good. All I knew was that if I married this woman, my dad had guaranteed me my position at the company would be permanent. That I would be given my birthright as CEO of Cartwright Enterprises. And so if that meant fooling this small family from New Jersey, then so be it.

"What's not to like?" I ask. I gaze into AnnaLeigh's eyes. "Your daughter is beautiful. She is compassionate and the kindest woman I have ever met. And I know she is going to be honest and loyal for the rest of our lives together."

She flushed and had the decency to look down in shame.

"Hmm..." Her dad comments as he shoves a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth. He didnt look entirely convinced but he let it drop for now.

I felt AnnaLeigh's hand grab mine and squeeze it underneath the table. She glanced up at me and mouthed a silent thank you.

For a split second I felt the tension in my shoulders relax. My annoyance and anger faded away just by her touch and I found myself suddenly lost in her eyes. But then the rational part of my brain took over from the sentimental side. And I pulled away from her, angrier than before. Dont fall for her tricks. All woman ever want is your money. Your status. And if you let your guard down even for a second, She will rip your heart out.

"Looks like the game is back on." One of the brothers say. Both of them jump at the opportunity to escape this awkward dinner. I dont blame them.

"I will take care of the dishes." I say as I begin to pick up the plates. "Its the least I can do, being a surprise guest and all."

"Thanks." The dad says as he begins to wheel himself towards the living room but stops and looks at me. "Are you a football fan?"

"Of course." I say smiling.

He finally smiles back at me before disappearing into the living room, where his sons already were. But the most problematic of them all decided to stay. She silently helped me clear the table, refusing to meet my gaze.

"What's in this for you?" I demand.

AnnaLeigh

I nearly dropped the plate I was holding.

"Do you have some dirt on my dad or something?" Christian asks me. "Why in the hell does he want me to marry you?"

"I'm not blackmailing anyome." I reply.

"Then what the hell is going on?" He steps closer, towering over me. But he wasn't trying to intimidate me. For the first time since I met him, he looked sincere. His open, confused expression wasn't an act.

"Be honest with me." He says, his voice is low.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach...

My heart was pounding in my ears. This was a glimpse of the man behind the cruel mask he had been showing me. He was extending an olive branch.

Will everything be okay if I tell him the truth? Will he hate me less? Or hate me more? Would we be able to have an actual realtionship?

I opened my mouth but the words wouldn't come. The truth was sealed behind the contract I had signed with Mr. Cartwright.

"I...I just really like you and I thought we could have a happy life together. " The words sounded weak, even to my own ears.

Christain's face darkened and I can only watch the olive branch catch fire before me. He withdraws from me and that cold mask slips back into place.

"You are wrong about that." He says, his words sharp as a knife. "Our life together is going to be anything but happy."

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