DESTINED TO BE TOGETHER

The sound of the rain which heavily poured outside filled the eerily Kings mansion as it poured against the windowpane. In the dimly lit room sat Amalia Kings with tears hanging in her eyes as she firmly held the edges of the paper handed to her by her dad. Her view became blur not because the words weren't clear enough or because she couldn't see. It was because of the weight which the words carried. It was a marriage contract, a three year marriage contract aimed at saving her family from financial ruin all this at the cost of her freedom. " Sign it Amalia, just sign it and save us the stress". Peter Kings, her dads firm and unyielding voice was heard in the room as he stood there with no emotions in his face. " You know it's not a debate". His temper began rising at how much time she was wasting. He had business to attend to. Amalia looked up to see the man who she had all her life considered her protector and guide, standing before her today as her puppeteer. His eyes held no warmth but only a very ruthless determination like that of a business man who isn't willing to lose. His business was his life. He had on his own hardwork and sweat built his company alone from scratch and letting it die before his own eyes could never happen. He found himself in debt and had to turn to the Rivers family, the most wealthy family in New York for financial help. For this to be possible he had to give his only daughter off for marriage in exchange for their assistance. Carlo Rivers, clearly written on the s**t of paper was the name of the man she was being bound to out of her will, she didn't even know him nor had she seen him before. Yet she was getting married to him in less than no time. " So what if I don't agree with this marriage?" She asked her dad not looking at him as she swallowed hard her face turning pale. She wasn't ready to sacrifice her dreams. " Don't even think of that Amalia, you'll doom our family if you do that. Do you think I'm happy handing you out this way? My only daughter?" Her dad asked running his temples already getting fed up of how much time she was taking to sign just a paper. She sat there staring blankly at the wall beside her. She knew the answer to that question. Her dad will go to any lengths once his business is concerned. Even if it means sacrificing her his only daughter. The normally light pen felt very heavy on her hand. Just as shook her hand, the bracelet her mother gave to her before passing away jingled taking her back to her memories with her mum as she recalled her saying that marriage is supposed to be out of love and will and never forced. But here she was at the door of a loveless marriage. Her mother had passed on and she had no one to fight for her. She decided to leave everything in the hands of fate. Taking a deep breath and with shaky hands she signed the paper handing it back to her dad without looking at him in the face. Two weeks had passed and there was Amalia standing before the giant door of the Rivers mansion. The mansion looked tall, cold and carried the wealth aura. It could be compared to a palace. It was exactly as she had pictured it to be. Her heart was beating so fast and loud that she thought the butler who had come to escort her in could get the sound. "You may go in now Madam" the butler halted in front of the door and stepped aside for her to go forward. Standing in front of the door which she was told was Carlo's study , she took a deep breath as she placed her hand on the door knob twisting it open . The sight before her was not surprising. Sitting behind a mahogany table in a well tailored and detailed suit was her contract husband as his hands smoothly typed something on his laptop. "You're late" was what she heard as she was still taking in the sight of his study. Very organized and neat and brown dominated in the room. He didn't even look at her while saying it and in stillness and calm lay authority which couldn't be denied. " I thought we should even pretend to acknowledge this marriage before getting into contract terms. It was held just this afternoon." She said tried her best not to be intimidated by the man in the room. "Hahaha acknowledge you say. I want you to know one thing Amalia. This is and will always be a contract and guess what it'll last three years. Three whole years. After that we'll go our separate ways. It's not a marriage in any way but an agreement. He said as he leaned back in his soft and comfortable chair. " Oh oh I see " Amalia said yet his words stung her right to her soul. "Great! Having said this and since you claim to have understood, I guess you know that you will have your own room and whatever other things you want. Do not and never come into my space. We will act as stipulated in the contract when in public but within this mansion you are nothing but an additional burden to me. You should have known your place already." He said as he stood in the room making Amalia realize how tall and imposing he looks. "And what place is that if I may ask" she asked as she felt her head spinning inside from the things she had just heard. " That isn't a question you should be asking. The one you signed of course". He said as a cold smirk appeared on his lips. They stood there in an uncomfortable silence for a while, Amalia struggling to conceal how much of an impact his words had on her " it's noted" was all she could manage to say. Carlo went back to the back of his mahogany desk and continued with the work from where he stopped, dismissing Amalia. She left the office and her steps quickened towards her room and she could feel pain in her chest and felt her heart to be so heavy. She knew that this marriage was just an agreement and for the public. However getting those words raw from Carlo's mouth hit differently. She sat on her bed as her hands trembled against the edge. Tears rolling down her cheeks. "Three whole years, it feels like forever" she said as she cried to herself". She managed to calm down as she had already settled into the room and was drifting to sleep bit by bit. In the very late hours of the night, she was awoken by the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Her heart began racing as she wondered why someone would be walking around at this time. While still in thoughts, she heard the steps settle infront of her door as a faint but deliberate knock was heard. " Who can possibly come to my room on my first night here if not Carlo?" She thought out loud yet in a low voice not to be heard outside. She sat there for over 3 minutes and was almost drifting to sleep but the knock came again this time firmer and more deliberate than the former. Just as she was about to get down from the bed to open the door for the person, the door knob switched as it opened, revealing someone she had not imagined. It wasn't Carlo.