EPISODE 5
1102 Words
Aria and I followed Clinton down the long, echoing hallways of the huge mansion. The butler walked with a dignified air, pointing out important locations as we passed them.
"This," Clinton said, gesturing to a large wooden door, "is the library. Mr. Sharpe has an extensive collection should you ever need it."
I looked in curiously as we passed, noticing the high shelves of books lining the walls. Down the hall further, Clinton stopped in front of another door. "The kitchen is in here. If you want refreshments at any other time than mealtimes, you can ask for them.
Finally, Clinton halted at another corridor leading to a quieter wing of the house. "This wing has been prepared for your arrivals. These are your rooms." He gestured to two doors across from each other.
They looked down the hall and Aria pointed to a third door at the end. "And who does that belong to?" She asked the question I had in mind.
Clinton followed her gaze. "That would be Mr. Sharpe's room."
Aria's lips thinned, and I shifted uncomfortably beside her.
"Well," Clinton continued smoothly, "you may freshen up and rest. Dinner will be served in a few hours." With that, he gave a short bow and disappeared back down the hallway.
Once he had disappeared, Aria entered my room, pushing the door open. My eyes scanned the room. It was a soft, airy room in lilac, plush carpeting, and elegant silver. The bed was huge, clothed in silky sheets in hues of lavender. A chaise lounge in the same shade was positioned beside the high window. Delicate artwork lined the walls.
Lilac," Aria said, turning to me. "Your favorite color."
I nodded, the tiniest of smiles tugging at my lips as I went inside and sat down on the edge of the bed. Aria followed me and we flopped onto the mattress, lying side by side, staring at the ceiling like always.
This feels so weird," I whispered after a moment. "I don't know what to do. What are we supposed to do?"
Aria let out a sigh. "I literally have no f*****g idea." We giggled.
We lay in silence for a while, each lost in thought, until Aria finally spoke. "We should shower and get out of these dresses. They're uncomfortable.
I nodded, sitting up. Aria stood and helped me unfasten the back of my dress before leaving for her own room.
I entered the en suite bathroom and turned the shower on. Then, my eyes fell on the large jacuzzi tub. After a little deliberation, I decided to prepare a bath. I poured in lavender-scented bath oil and let the tub fill with warm water. I got in once it was ready and let the water wrap itself around me. I shut my eyes and let out a satisfied sigh, soaking what felt like forever, trying to wash off the tension and unease.
Once my fingers pruned, I stepped out and wrapped myself up with a soft robe and back into my room.
Aria was already on the bed, fast asleep in her pajamas, her hair damp from her own shower. I quietly dressed in comfortable nightwear, climbed into the bed beside her and soon drifted off to sleep.
---
We were startled awake by a knock at the door. Clinton's calm voice filtered through. "Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes, ladies."
Aria groaned and rolled over. "Dinner," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "Guess we can't skip it, thanks to his stupid rule."
I sighed and sat up. "Might as well get it over with."
We dressed separately and met in the hallway. Without a word, we followed Clinton to the dining room.
The room was elegant but not too formal. A medium-sized rectangular table sat in the center, adorned with a simple runner and a vase of fresh flowers. Large windows were veiled with heavy drapes, making the room cozy despite its size.
Jace was already seated at the head of the table, an iPad in front of him as he worked. He didn't look up as we entered and took our seats.
Aria rolled her eyes at the lack of acknowledgment, but I nudged her under the table, silently warning her to behave.
When the food was served—steaming plates of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables—Jace finally set his iPad aside and began eating. The silence was thick and awkward, broken only by the clinking of cutlery.
Aria couldn’t take it any longer. “So,” she said, her voice cutting through the quiet, “why aren’t you married, Mr. Sharpe?”
Jace's eyes rose to hers, his mask unreadable. "It never felt right to me," he said coolly.
Aria snorted. "Right. But marrying two sisters at once? That felt just fine?"
Jace's lips twitched into a faint smirk of his own. "It's pragmatic. You know what's at stake, Aria. But if you'd prefer I annul the arrangement-
“Oh, don’t act like you’re doing us a favor,” Aria snapped, cutting him off. “This isn’t exactly a dream situation for us either.”
Jace leaned back in his chair, his tone calm but laced with a deadly edge that gave me the impression that he wouldn't tolerate Aria’s antagonism for much longer. “I didn’t force either of you to sign. Let’s not pretend you didn’t have a choice.”
Aria's fists had clenched under the table, her face flushing with anger.
Sensing the tension rise, I cleared my throat. We couldn't mess things up so soon. Whether Aria liked it or not, we'd signed a binding contract. "Mr. Sharpe," I began hesitantly, "what exactly is it that you do? Your work, I mean."
Jace turned to me, the hardness of his eyes easing a little. "I majorly deal in cutting-edge technology, but I also manage several businesses and investments. Technology, real estate, logistics-you name it." He sounded curt, almost dismissive of what he had to say.
I nodded, trying to keep the conversation going. "That must keep you very busy."
"It does," Jace said, turning back to his food.
The rest of dinner continued in strained silence, except for an odd comment now and then, which seemed to forcibly break into the void.
Finally done, I stood first, muttered a hasty "Goodnight," and practically fled the room. As I walked back to my room, I couldn't help but wonder how they were supposed to tolerate an entire year of this tense, bizarre arrangement.
Behind me, I could still hear Aria and Jace bickering as I turned the corner.
- Writer
