Unexpected Desire

The Agreement

Franco walked into the municipal hall, his heart beating in his chest. The walls seemed to close in around him as he made his way to Governor Arkin Harrison's office. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

"Come in," Arkin's deep voice called from inside.

Franco pushed the door open and stepped into the spacious office. Arkin stood up from behind his desk, a broad smile spreading across his face.

"Franco, my friend!" Arkin greeted warmly, extending his hand. "I’m glad you are here. Please, have a seat."

Franco returned the smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you, Arkin," he said, shaking the governor's hand before settling into one of the plush chairs across from the desk.

Arkin gestured to a nearby table. "Can I offer you some coffee? Just brewed a fresh pot."

"That would be great," Franco replied, nodding.

Arkin poured two cups and handed one to Franco before sitting down with his own. They sipped their coffee in comfortable silence for a moment, the rich aroma filling the room.

"So, Franco," Arkin began, leaning back in his chair, "how's Angela doing? Is she excited about the wedding?"

Franco's stomach tightened at the question. He forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, she's aware and, uh, she's coming around to the idea."

Arkin's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "That's wonderful news! Andrew is over the moon about meeting her. He's been talking about nothing else."

Franco managed a weak smile, feeling a pang of guilt for his deceit. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, taking another sip of his coffee to mask his discomfort.

Arkin leaned forward, his excitement evident. "How about this Sunday? Why don't you bring Angela over to my place for lunch? It'll be the perfect opportunity for them to get to know each other."

Franco hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sunday sounds good. We'll be there."

"Excellent!" Arkin exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I can't wait to see them together. It'll be a match made in heaven."

Franco forced another smile, his mind racing. He needed to change the subject before the conversation delved deeper into the upcoming wedding. "So, Arkin," he began, "any news on my former business partner? The one who embezzled all that money?"

Arkin's expression sobered, and he nodded. "Yes, we've been making some progress. Our investigators have tracked him down to a small town a few hours from here. We're working on getting the necessary warrants to bring him in."

Franco felt a glimmer of hope at the news. "That's good to hear," he said, his voice tinged with relief. "I hope we can recover some of the stolen funds."

Arkin nodded, his eyes narrowing in determination. "We'll do everything we can, Franco. I promise you that."

The conversation shifted to other topics, with Arkin asking about Franco's family and reminiscing about their college days. Despite the underlying tension, the two men shared a few laughs, easing the heaviness that had settled over Franco's heart.

After an hour, Franco stood up to leave. "Thank you for the coffee and the conversation, Arkin," he said, extending his hand once more.

Arkin shook his hand firmly. "Anytime, Franco. And remember, Sunday lunch. It'll be great."

Franco nodded, forcing another smile. "We'll be there," he promised before turning to leave.

As Franco walked out of the municipal hall, his mind raced with thoughts of how to break the news to Angela. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had no other choice. The future of his company—and his family's legacy—depended on this marriage.

*****

Angela sat on the plush sofa in Grace's living room, a glass of wine in her hand. Her friends, Janet, Sonia, and Grace, were sprawled around her, listening intently as she vented her frustration.

"I can't believe it!" Angela exclaimed, her voice rising. "My dad actually wants me to marry some guy I've never even met just to save the company. It's ridiculous!"

Janet, always the jokester, giggled. "But Angela, Andrew Harrison is a doctor, and he is so damn cute. Have you seen his photos?"

Sonia nodded in agreement. "And he's rich too. It's not like you're marrying some random guy. He's got everything."

Grace chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "Plus, he's the governor's son. It's not like he's some nobody."

Angela scowled, her anger not dissipating. "I don't care about any of that. I don't know him, and I don't love him. How can I marry someone I don't love?"

Janet shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Love can come later. Think about it, Angela. You could have a doctor husband. That's pretty cool."

Sonia sipped her wine thoughtfully. "And your dad wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important. Maybe you should at least meet him. Give it a chance."

Grace, always the voice of reason, leaned forward. "Angela, we all want you to be happy. But maybe this isn't as bad as it seems. You might actually like Andrew once you get to know him."

Angela huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't care. I don't want to be forced into this. It's my life, not some business deal."

She glanced at the empty wine bottle and felt a surge of restlessness. "I need more to drink. Let's go bar hopping."

Janet shook her head, checking her phone. "I can't, I have a date tonight. He's picking me up in an hour."

Sonia sighed. "I promised my mom I'd go to the spa with her. I can't bail on her now."

Grace gave an apologetic smile. "I'm grounded, remember? My parents would kill me if I even tried to sneak out."

Angela groaned in frustration, standing up abruptly. "Fine, I'll go by myself. I need to get out of here."

Her friends exchanged worried glances, but Angela was already grabbing her keys and heading for the door. She needed to clear her head, and she wasn't ready to go home yet.

As Angela drove, she felt her anger simmering just below the surface. She couldn't believe her father would put her in this position. Marrying someone she didn't know, just to save the company. It felt so unfair.

The city lights blurred as she sped through the streets, her mind racing. Eventually, she found herself on a quieter road, the number of cars thinning out. She hadn't been paying much attention to where she was going, just driving aimlessly.

Then she saw it. A cluster of cars, all luxury models like hers, parked near a large, impressive-looking building. It was a bar, hidden away from the main streets, but clearly high-class.

Angela grinned to herself. This was exactly what she needed. A distraction, a place to forget about her problems for a while. She parked her car and got out, smoothing down her dress and taking a deep breath.