Arranged Alliance

Nicholas

Nora Duke

I was on the balcony thinking that was the only thing I could do, but if I wanted, I could do more. And that's the thing I can't do. We riches have everything except freedom. People who don't have much money think that we have everything and can do anything, they think that we have the world in our first, but that's not it. We can't do things that those people can do. Yes, it's true that not everybody is born with a golden spoon in his/her mouth, but that doesn't mean that he/she is pure of all the devil's spirit.

People who are so obsessed over me or my life or my parents, relationships, studies, friends, etcetera. Who thinks I can do and have everything? That's not true. I can't do anything or have anything. What my parents want and is best for my reputation, I have to do that. If those people knew about my past and the reason behind my full sleeve obsession, that would be a big headline. I laughed. Also, about my revenge plan, revenge. I have to find Elizabeth and find out more about her.

"In this big world, where do I find you, Elizabeth? Elizabeth. Elizabeth...." I trailed with her name, drumming my fingers on the railing. There was a knock that came on the door. "Come in" I shouted, not looking to see who was there.

"Ma'am Ms. Duke is calling, urgently." She said, Ms. Duke. I smirked

"Ok. I'll come." I murmured.

"Yes ma'am" she said, walking out.

"Now what does she want from me?" I put on my slippers and went downstairs. I saw Sana sitting on the couch sipping something from a cup -honestly, I don't believe what she was drinking- and her daughter polishing her nails.

"What is it Simons, how is it being comfortable in someone else's house?" I said while sitting on the couch coldly.

"Mind your tongue, girl." She said, glaring at me. I rolled my eyes. "Your aunt called." I ignored her." Don't be too excited," -I am not- "she just said that your mother's anniversary of death was coming. You had better prepare."

I knew she had something that had to do with it. As I thought there was nothing we wanted to do, that is one of them. My aunt is in Canada, she doesn't care if I die or live, she just cares that she has money coming, so sometimes she acts like she is the best aunt in the world. I got up and again went to my room, because there was nothing else I had to do. All day I was just in my room doing business or finding Elizabeth.

"Wait." I stopped in my tracks and turned around to see her. She was coming towards me. She grabbed my arm harshly and said to my ear, "Don't get hopes up, if you are leaving this house, you are leaving a funeral box," she shoves me on the floor harshly. I gave her a bewildered look. "And wear something nice, your father's friends are coming. Go"

I got up and dusted my dress. Giving her a scowl, I got up and went to my room. Slamming the door harshly. Where did she have the guts to do things like that after what I did to her?

"Father friends." I said to myself, thinking. Again, standing on the balcony, deep in my own thoughts. James is coming after dad, pulling what dad still does. What does he want? A few minutes later, a car came into my view in a parking area. He really does come. I sighed. "I have to go", I said to myself, "Something is really going on that I don't know."

I walked to my closet and got a dress. It had a black upper body and then had baby pink that came just above my feet a few inches. I tied a belt around it. I combed my hair -my hair was straight-, applied light makeup and wore black heels. I then went downstairs. They were people who I met in a restaurant.

"Hello." I said awkwardly. A woman came and hugged me. I awkwardly hugged her back. What about hugging her? She is the same woman who called me mate? Guts of these people. I rolled my eyes at her after she let me go and I knew she saw me but didn't comment on it.

"Nice to see you dear." The woman said, smiling that I didn't gave her back.

Then she sat where she was at first and I sat next to Violette. She looked really friendly, sitting beside Nicholas and Seth. Lucy was nowhere to be seen. I looked around while all of them were talking but I didn't find her. I hope she doesn't do anything stupid. I put my hand on my cheek, playing with my dress. Seth was just staring at me and I knew why he was. Violette put her head on her elder brother's shoulder. I wish I had a brother. I drummed my fingers on my face, Seth kept staring at me.

"Nora?" My dad said, softly.

"Yes?" I gave attention to him. He smiled and gestured to the three of them.

"Take them and tour them around." I narrowed my eyes but nodded and stood; they also stood up. "Did you know where Lucy is?" I just shrugged and took them to tour around the house.

"Why is your room so simple?" Violette asked. I just shrugged, "Why do you always shrug?" I shrugged again. A few seconds, she just stared at me weirdly. I stared at her back. "Do you ever smile?" I rushed again.

"Of course, she does. Everyone is an idiot." Seth said. Violette looked at him weirdly, eyeing him up and down.

"You also don't smile," she said, scowling. Seth flips her expression. I saw how they interacted with each other. "Have you-"

"Do you want to see the garden?" I cut her off, she asked so many questions, she looked at me weirdly but then nodded and Seth just stared at me. "Let's go to see the garden." I marched towards the garden. "Come on this way " I walked forward them and led them to the garden.

"It's so beautiful," Violette and Seth said in union. I chuckled. Violette snapped her neck toward me so fast I flinched that she might snap her neck.

"You just laugh." I smiled at her.

"Well, as he said, everyone can smile," I said, pointing towards Seth. He smiled toward me. I almost flinched, almost.

Seth and Violette walked forward, me and Nicholas in the back. I saw Lucy standing there admiring the flower, Violette walked towards her, maybe both of them. Maybe bonded or something. Seth followed her, but I saw another thing; there was a hole in the garden.

Lucy.

I rushed towards Nicholas, giving me a weird look. Obviously, I was running in heels. I pushed her, she stumbled, but Seth grabbed her by the arms and carried her, but I fell in the hole. A sharp pain came into my head and my feet. I think it is spring.

"Oh my god." Lucy's voice came. I sighed and sat up.

"Are you alright?" Seth and Violette said in union. Are they twins or something? They give me the creeps.

"Oh my god, Nora, are you alright?" Lucy said in a fake worried tone. She came forward but put her shoe on my foot where the cramp was. I winced. Witch. She smiled.

"Can I look?" Nicholas asked. Lucy backed away, looking worried.

He kneeled in front of me and touched my ankle, he grabbed it and pulled it out. "Ahh" I winced, he looked at me, and touched different parts of my feet, he touched a spot where it hurt. I winced again and slapped his hand away.

"Is it here?" He asked, not even surprised, I just hit him; I nodded. "You are bleeding." He pointed to my forehead and I touched it. There was blood. It didn't hurt so I ignored it.

"Umm leave it, I am fine." I moved his hand and tried to get up. He also got up. Lucy was eyeing me and hiding her smirk. I glared at her and stood on my feet; I was going to fall, but Nicholas grabbed me. My back hitting his front, his hands on my arms.

"You can't even walk properly." He said sarcastically. "And you're bleeding."

He picked me up in bridal style. At first, I hesitated but leaned on him and put my hands around his neck. He moved to a bench and put me there carefully. He kneeled again and grabbed my ankle. I glanced at Lucy but she was gone and a few minutes later, she came back with everyone.

Everyone was outside now. I rolled my eyes, then there was pain on the side of my forehead. I closed my eyes."Oh my" the woman said. Nicholas looked up, his grip tight on my ankle. I winced, he looked at me and mumbled 'sorry'. My attention was on the family, but suddenly, Nicholas turned my foot. This time I screamed loudly and instantly smacked him on the shoulder.

"Oww." He apologized and pained it. All of them turned towards me, my whole face flushed.

"I am sorry, are you okay?" I put one hand on his shoulder and he grabbed my foot in his hands. I nodded but didn't apologize.

He left my feet and I got up but fell again. He grabbed me again by my waist and this time he didn't release me. "Just stay where you are."

"Nora, are you okay? What happened?" Dad asked, glancing at Nicholas and his hand on my waist, coming forward but not touching me.

"Yes dad. I am ok. Just slipped." I responded, freeing myself from Nicholas, but he wouldn't leave me. I glared at him.

"That's alright, treat your wounds later." He said, his voice shaking a little. I nodded, then he started to walk away. James, Seth and Violette came.

"I am sorry I disturbed you." I said, still pulling away from him, but his grip tightened on me. I glared at him, again, he didn't even look at me.

"No, it's alright." James said, smiling at both of us. Now everyone was alright and, again, they were talking. I was still in Nicholas arms, scowling. But I grab his arms for support. I wasn't feeling uncomfortable, just a little weird. No one has ever touched me, not even my own father. James went towards my dad, clapping his hand on his back. I put my arm around his neck and touched his hand on my waist. He smiled at me, I glared, he smiled wide and looked away.

"So, if it's alright with both of you, the day after tomorrow we can do an engagement and wedding next month." The woman spoke.

Who's engaged? What marriage?

"It's okay for me" dad said, smiling at me. I raised my eyebrows at him. He shrugged. Then I looked at Nicholas, he gave me an encouraging smile.

"Well then done, the day after tomorrow you are both getting engaged and married next month." The woman said excitedly. Sana fake smiled, my hand on his chest, now. She gave me a glance then followed them inside.

"Marriage?" I whispered; my hand changed into first. She would kill me. "What about my revenge?" I whispered. No one heard me except Nicholas.

I realized what I had done, and he was already looking at me. "Revenge?" he asked in a whisper, confused. My eyes went wide and I protested to get out of his arms.

"Nothing, and it's none of your business," I said coldly. I was still in his arms. Now they were all gone, except our siblings.

"How cute you both look," Violette said. After listening to her, my eyes widened I pushed him away. He was going to fall in the hole but I grabbed his collar and pulled him. I couldn't keep his balance and he ended up on top of me. What is happening to me today?

"Let's leave them alone, Violette." Seth said, a smirk playing on his face, I glared at him. "We kids don't have to see these things." He walks away with his sister and I was still glaring at his back.

"Are you going to get off of me?" I asked, irritated.

"No." I looked at him in his eyes. He was also looking at me, confusedly. "You are confused." I gave him a weird look and tried to push him off of me but he didn't budge. Finally, I gave up and my head fell on the ground.

"My day is bad today." I said to myself and obviously he heard.

"Why don't you marry me?" He asked. I looked at him like crazy. "Look, I know what is happening to you here, you can marry me and everything will be easy for you." He is kind of right. I tilted my head to start at him.

"Get out of me, first," I said coolly.

"Oh yeah, I am sorry." He apologized and left me. I dusted my clothes.

"Are you going to tell me about the revenge thing?" He asked. I looked at him and scoffed.

"No, and it's not like you are my husband." I said and touched my forehead and walked away, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. Our chests met.

"I am going to be there soon." he said and let go of me, smirking at me. I don't want to say, but I missed his warmth, his hand on mine. He smiled and walked away.

"Weird. I met him for the first time because I feel like I met him before." I stared at where he had just been, hugging myself. He's right, if I married him, I could get out of this hell and could get my revenge. Maybe he would help me, but why do I have a weird connection with him? I shook my head and followed where he had just gone. I have to get rid of Sana to live my life peacefully.