Chapter 3
2128 Words
I wake up in the morning to my phone blowing up. Oh no, I forgot to let Michaela know I was heading home. I quickly grab my phone, trying not to wake Xander up, throw on a robe, and call Michaela.
“You’re lucky that I’m able to see your location or else I would be calling your dad right now,” Michaela says as soon as she picks up.
I walk out to my patio so that I’m able to talk without having to whisper. “I'm so sorry! Things got a little crazy last night.”
Michaela gasps, “Wait, did you bring that tall guy home?!”
“Maybe?”
“Oh my god! Did you do the nasty?”
“Please don’t say it like that, it makes me feel dirty.”
Michaela gasps again, “You DID do the nasty! Was it amazing? Wait, no, are we happy about this? Did he make you feel like you had to? Do I need to fight someone?” Michaela is talking so fast that I can barely get a word in.
“I think we’re happy about it? He definitely didn’t force me into anything. And, yes, it was amazing. I just don’t know where to go from here.”
“You go back in there and start your day off with some ‘Vitamin D’.”
“Jesus Christ, Michaela.”
“What?! If it was good, why not go again?”
"The thought did cross my mind of waking him up with a morning blow job, but I feel like all of my courage was used up last night. I don’t think I’ll be able to do that.”
I see Xander through the door to my patio, he’s already put his jeans back on. “Look, I gotta go, Xander is awake.”
“He even has a hot name! Have fun!” Michaela says the last line with a sing-song voice.
“Goodbye, Michaela.” I say as I hang up the phone.
I open the sliding glass door. “Sorry if I woke you up, my friend was blowing up my phone. I forgot to text her last night.”
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t you,” Xander says to me with his hands in his pockets. “Actually, I just got a call from my boss and need to head to work.”
“Oh okay,” I can’t help feeling disappointed. Xander has been such a good distraction from everything.
“But,” Xander starts, “I would like to see you again. Can I get your number?”
I feel the butterflies in my stomach again. “Yeah, that would be great,” I say with a smile.
Xander and I exchange numbers and he leaves. I start getting ready to take Chance to the dog park. She was so well behaved last night and I have to keep up my end of our bargain. As I’m tying my Converse, I hear a text message come through. It’s from my dad. ‘Come to the house later. We have more to discuss.’ I know he’s probably seen photos of me with Xander by now. Why do I do this? You know he’s just gonna make your life harder when you act out like this.
‘Fine, when do you want me there?’ I text back.
‘Be here by 3. And dress to impress. I'll have people here.’
Perfect, we get to act like the perfect family that we’re definitely not. But, usually, if I play nice he’ll leave me alone for a while. Maybe this will work in my favor.
I take Chance to the dog park and play with her for a couple of hours before heading home to shower and change. As I walk up to my door, I notice some roses and lilies on my door mat. I pick them up and look at the card ‘Sorry for leaving so quickly this morning. I had a great time last night. -Xander’
This is unexpected, and super sweet. Maybe he could be more than just a one-night stand? I start to fantasize about what it would be like to be in a relationship with Xander, then I remember my nightmare of a father and the fact that I'm damn near broke. Dad would never let this happen. It’s probably better to never reach out to him again.
I head inside and quickly get ready to see my father. He texted me earlier and let me know that he would be sending a car for me so I have to make sure I’m ready to go right on time. Before I walk out the door I make sure that everything is perfect. Hair pulled back in a ponytail, like Dad likes it, plum sundress that hits right behind my knees, and nude wedges. I head downstairs just as the town car arrives. I’m surprised to see my father when the driver opens the door for me.
“Take a seat, we’re having a talk before we get to the house,” my father says calmly.
My stomach turns to knots. Oh no, he knows. He’s going to do something to make my life even harder isn’t he?
I buckle myself in as we start on our way to my father’s house. My father shoves an iPad in my hand and I can see Xander and myself walking into my apartment building. “Is this the kind of person you want to be associated with?” He says sternly.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I have worked way too hard to set you up for success and to keep our family’s company in good graces, for you to go galavanting with this thug.” This is one of the only times that I’ve seen him get upset. Usually, my father is the calmest person in the room no matter the situation. “You are going to accept the arranged marriage with Tripp.”
“What the hell?! No! I refuse! I am a grown woman now, you can’t keep doing this. What if I refuse?”
“There is no refusing at this point. You know I will get what I want in the end.”
I start to think back on all the times I tried to escape my father. There have been times that I’ve woken up to all of my money taken out of my bank account, been fired from jobs without reason or the company will suddenly close, I’ve even received eviction notices when I have been paying my rent on time if not early. He really does find a way to make sure I’m always at his beck and call. How much money has he wasted buying companies and bribing, or even threatening, people in my life? Maybe there really is no more fighting. He’s finally won.
“Fine,” I say, holding back tears of frustration. “I’ll do it. But I want to meet Tripp before I sign anything and he and I will agree to the terms of this marriage. Not you.”
“Brilliant. I’m glad you are finally seeing reason, mija,” he says with a smile. My father reaches for my hand but I pull away. Does he really think that I care for him at all at this point?
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We arrive at my childhood home. I start to feel a sense of dread. Is this what my life will be like now? Am I doomed to be controlled by my father my whole life? As we step inside, I notice that our guests are already here. Tripp looks almost the same as when we were younger. He still has his blonde hair, which he keeps short on the sides and just slightly long on top. His eyes are still the deep green that I remember as well.
"Hello Ariana," Tripp says while reaching for my hand. "It's been a long time." I forgot how charming his mixture of Scottish and American accent can be.
"Yes, well, it's been a while since high school," I let him take my hand and he kisses it, the act making me feel sick to my stomach.
Tripp's father stands behind him. His blonde hair now looks more silver, his hazel eyes look the same just with crows' feet surrounding them. I was never a fan of Mr. Williamson, or Uncle Jay as I called him growing up. He was border-line abusive to Tripp and his mother and it didn't help that he was always a close friend of my father's.
"It's so good to see you Ari!" Jay says while reaching for a hug. "You look more and more like your mother every day, but I bet you hear that a lot, don't you?"
I pull away from the hug and reach for his hand instead. I'm not going to be as obedient as my father wants. Jay has and always will disgust me.
"Yes, it's great to see you, Mr. Williamson," I say. I can feel my father tensing up behind me.
"Ahem," Tripp clears his throat. "You know, it's been a while since Ari and I have seen each other. It's been what? Five years now? May we should go somewhere private to talk?"
"Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea. You may go into the sitting room. Your father and I have some business to discuss in my office." My father says. He leads Jay up the stairs to his office, while Tripp and I head to the cold sitting room. Everything is in black, white, and gray. I feel like I'm in a doctor's office. I sit on the love seat, crossing my arms over my chest.
"So, you want to marry me, huh? You can't find someone else to marry you? Been sleeping around with too many women, so you got my father to force me to do it?" I say with disgust.
Tripp hasn't even had a chance to sit down and looks completely shocked. "You know Ari, I'm not a fan of this either," Tripp says. "You're not the only one who has been manipulated by their father their whole life."
"Yeah, okay Tripp," I say incredulously. "You're father has been forcing you to be a playboy the past few years. What is he your pimp?"
Tripp clenches his jaw, "Not everything is as it seems, Ari."
"Another thing, stop calling me 'Ari', you lost that privilege when you abandoned me when I needed you most."
Tripp finally sits down and unbuttons his suit jacket as he takes a seat. "Fine, Ariana, is this our first term to our agreement?"
"Sure, that can be one of them." My blood is still boiling but I also want to get this over with. "Second can be that I want a divorce."
"Throwing the bairn out with the bathwater, are we?"
"We both know that this won't work. I want to actually live my life, and this whole situation is just a means to an end for me. My father promised me the rest of my inheritance if I agree to the marriage. So, I say that we try this out for what, seven years? Then, we can figure out a story that will let us both get out smoothly."
"Seven years because of the 'seven year itch'?"
"Exactly, this way you can sleep with some woman with the perfect excuse to get out. It'll at least be believable."
"You really thought of the perfect out, didn't you?"
"Just about. Another thing, you can do whatever, or really, whomever, you want, but be discreet about it. We need to look like the perfect couple or else my father won't buy it."
"You really have no faith in me, do you?"
"None whatsoever."
"Fine, Ariana, but I have one term myself. We have to get married in three months, no exceptions."
I start to feel choked up. He wants to get married this soon? "Fine. I say while holding back tears. Three months it is, we'll have the perfect summer wedding."
Just when I start to feel like I'm completely trapped, Tripp's phone starts to go off. "Are ye here?" Suddenly, Tripp sounds much more Scottish than before. "Aye, come on in, you can meet my betrothed."
"Who am I having the pleasure of meeting? Your latest side piece?" I ask.
Tripp chuckles, "Nae, not quite, it's just my body guard and best friend, so we will be attached at the hip. It's best you get to know him now."
Just then, the door opens and in walks Xander. "You have got to be f*****g kidding me."
- Writer
