The Heiress

Chapter Five

I told Dryan about my escapades. How I enjoy partying and traveling. We discovered that we shared some hobbies. We both loved to paint and swim, amongst other things. Dryan was not much of a traveller like I was, he didn't have a lot of spare time on his hands recently, since he was newly made CEO of The Brooklyn Holdings — a major reason for my father's insistence on my marriage to Dryan Brooks.

As we sat out there in the courtyard, I couldn't help staring at Dryan. I was distracted by his sparkling eyes that as he talked about his passions. I found myself drawn to his confidence and sense of purpose.

Soon it was time for him to leave and Dryan requested that I walk him to his car. We walked side by side, our hands occasionally brushing together.

When his car came into sight, Dryan reached for my hand and squeezed it, "I enjoyed our talk, Ava. I hope we can get to hangout again soon." He eyes were piecing into mine as he looked down at me pulling me closer to him.

I felt my stomach flutter again— this man simply irresistible.

"My father would bind me and send me to you anyways," I joked.

He laughed. A rich laughter with a throaty sound that made me want to grab his face and press my lips on his.

"I enjoyed talking to you as well," I smiled at him. We stood barely two inches away from each other, and I could feel the warmth of his breath.

"Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow?" His eyes were intense and full of longing.

"Only if you pick me up."

"You bet," he said and proceeded to plant a kiss on the back of my palm. "Bye for now."

My heart was already being to feel lonely as soon as Dryan stepped into the back seat of his Bentley. I gave him a wave just before the chauffeur zoomed off.

I couldn't believe what had just happened. It all seemed too good to be true.

I grabbed my phone from beneath a pillow immediately I entered into my suite. My hands trembled from excitement as I dialed Barbara's number.

Barbara answered on the first ring. "Hey girl!" She said in her usual cheerful voice. "How'd it go?"

"You aren't going to believe this!" I said in an almost groan, trying hard to contain myself.

"Don't tell me they made you sign the marriage papers already?" Barbara gasped.

"What? No!" I was stunned at that response. "Barb, that would be too soon, don't you think?"

"Your father isn't exactly taking his time to marry you off..." She laughed. "What is it then?"

"Guess who the bachelor my dad wants me to marry is?" I waited for her to think.

There was a pause on the other line. "I don't know, Ava. Who was it?"

"It was him, Barb. The guy I hooked up with last night."

"Shut up!" Barbara shrieked. "Oh my goodness, Ava!"

"I know." I collapsed unto the couch with laughter. "I couldn't believe it myself."

I recounted the entire afternoon with Dryan and Barbara listened intently, making occasional blush sounds.

"Wow Ava, the universe must really be working in your favour. This is absolutely amazing."

"I honestly can not still wrap my head around it."

"You guys are a perfect match," Barbara laughed.

I sighed. Thinking about what Barbara had just said. "You think it could be fate?"

"What else would it be?"

I laughed in amusement. "He's taking me out for dinner tomorrow," I told her.

"Aww," Barbara cooed. "I'm super excited for you girl."

"I'm excited too!!," I shrieked, swinging my legs in the air as we both burst into laughter.

When I got off the phone with Barbara, I sent a reply to a text from my mom asking me how things went.

_*Wasn't so bad*_. I texted back. I laid there on the couch. All I could think of was my afternoon with Dryan. I felt drawn to him the first night we met but seeing him — actually seeing him— in the sunshine, with his luminous blue eyes, and silky black hair had me longing for him so desperately.

"Ava." My father called. I sat up quickly as he entered into the room. "Hello honey."

"Hey, Dad." I said nonchalantly.

"I just wanted to check in on my princess. See how things went with Dryan."

I tried very hard to hide the blush rising to my cheeks as I rolled my eyes. "I'm no longer your little princess, Dad. And things weren't so bad, I guess."

My father chuckled. "I didn't call you little, honey." He stared at me with a grin on his face. "You had a good time, didn't you?"

I glanced at my father and turned away from him, ignoring him. I'm still angry at him for how rash he wants to marry me off with no care about my love life.

He sighed. "I know you are mad at me, honey, but I'm doing all this for your well being..."

"No, you do not care about my well being, Dad. All you care about is what you have to benefit."

"Everything I get to gain, is yours to gain and you know that."

I scoffed. "That's the card you're going to play with me?"

"You do like him though. I saw you laughing together. You looked like you were having a good time."

I fell silent. "Dad please, just leave."

My father didn't relent. He sat beside me and held my hand. "Ava, my princess, I love you with all my heart, surely you are aware of that."

Tears welled up in my eyes and I was angry at myself for being so sentimental.

"Everything that I do, I do for you." He said.

I managed to blink back the tears, resting my head against my father's shoulders. He pulled me into an embrace and held me tightly, and I just wanted that moment to last forever.