Joshua Wilkins: Arranged Marriage

Chapter 9: Joshua

La Grande Boucherie was my go-to when I had to take clients out for dinner. Because of my ties with Mathéo Boucher, it was easy to get into places. Therefore, I had my pick, and the Boucherie had everything you could want. When the clients brought their wives, it was easy to impress them by leading them into this place. The men liked the fancy food and the fact that I ordered expensive wine and paid for it all.

However, meeting Daniel Garrett was different. He didn’t care about luxuries or wine, and he didn’t have a wife. All he was interested in was the software, the pitch, and either accepting or declining. He hadn’t said no to my software in a long time, but Garrett Security was my biggest client, and him turning down my products would affect the whole market.

The maître d' acknowledged my presence quickly, guiding me to the table I had reserved. Neither Daniel nor Lydia had shown up yet.

The immaculate design of the place was half of the buzz. The fine dining experience was the other half. The dark wooden floors complemented the crème-colored walls and matched the dark beams overhead, which held up the magnificent chandeliers. The tables were small and cozy, designed for two to four people. The tablecloths matched the walls, and the perfectly laid-out cutlery and three different glasses made it look upscale. The small vases and candlelights gave the table a romantic feel, and usually, I would have them removed when meeting a client like Daniel. However, with the special appearance of my fiancé, I kept them.

I recognized the olive branch when she handed it to me this morning. If you want to do something. It was small and came with nerves, but it was there nonetheless, so I took it. Though I didn’t like that she knew Daniel and that he had watched her grow up, whatever that entailed.

I sat down at the table and took out my tablet from my bag. The never-ending work. Occasionally, I glanced up to look around, just to see if someone was approaching. I usually arrived a little early to all my meetings, especially when it was with Daniel. He didn’t like to wait, and nobody ever got a second chance with him.

Suddenly, the air in the restaurant shifted, and I knew he was here. Daniel exuded power in a way not even my grandfather fathomed. I looked over to the entrance and saw the mountain of a man coming inside. Authority shone from him and his dark appearance.

His forty years showed little. Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, he towered over everyone, even me. He was nothing but pure muscle, ready to attack and protect. After his years in the army, he started Garrett Security. With his many contacts in the army, he got the most brutally trained ex-marines, ex-navy SEALs, and ex-Air Force personnel. This meant he had the best team and quickly outnumbered every other competitor.

I stood as he came closer to the table. My jaw automatically clenched. Being near Daniel Garrett was always a challenge; it was impossible to ignore the dominance radiating from him. However, I knew he respected me and my company and took great pleasure in using my software and products to help his business.

“Garrett,” I greeted, holding out my hand for him to shake.

“Wilkins,” he greeted back and quickly grabbed my hand. He looked at the table, seeing the three chairs and the cutlery. “Are we expecting others?”

“My fiancée,” I replied, which made his eyebrow shoot up—the one with the scar running from his forehead to his cheekbone.

“Your—”

“Daniel!”

Then I saw something I’d never thought could happen. Daniel’s demeanor completely changed at the sound of Lydia’s voice. His shoulders relaxed a little, and some light entered his eyes. We both looked at Lydia as she walked towards us, looking as stunning as she did this morning.

Her extravagant strawberry-blonde hair was tucked away as usual, but the way the strands flowed around her face showed she had been working and stressed over those drama queen writers. Her blouse was wrinkled, as was her black skirt. But, as always, she looked incredible.

“Princess,” he bowed his head slightly, as if she were royalty. “I didn’t know you would join us.”

She opened her arms, and the big man scrunched down to envelop her in a hug. Something inside me burned at the sight. How she smiled at him—not the fake smiles I got or the stifled smiles I got. Her face shone with happiness, like a star in the night sky.

“It was last minute,” she explained as she pulled away from him. Her gaze then met mine, and as I expected, her smile faltered. “Fiancé,” she greeted, before placing her hand on my bicep for support and giving me a peck on the cheek.

She had never done that before. As far as I knew, she had not willingly touched me yet. But the soft grace of her lips on my cheek burned into me.

“Dearest,” I greeted her back, which made her lips thin. I knew she hated it, but I loved watching the fire erupt inside her.

I pulled out her chair as Daniel sat across from where I had been. She sat down, and I helped her towards the table before sitting down myself. I could feel the intensity of Daniel’s cold and calculating gray eyes on me.

Princess. The nickname burned into my brain. How could he call another man’s fiancée such a name? It felt like a slap in the face.

We each perused the menu, looking over the different entrees and drink options. When the waiter came over, we politely gave our orders, and I ordered a red wine for the table.

“So,” Lydia broke the silence, placing her hand on top of Daniel’s, which lay leisurely on the table, “how’s Mara doing?”

Daniel looked at Lydia and gave her a small smile as he answered. The way he acted around her was completely different from anything I’d ever seen him do. In the nearly eight years I’ve done business with him, I had never seen a smile on his face, and now he had smiled not only once but twice at my fiancée.

“She’s fine. Parker is proud to be a big brother again, but Hixon has trouble sleeping,” he answered, naming people I’d never heard of before.

“Oh, poor thing,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “I hope she received the gift I sent her, our newest children’s book about some elephant or something. It’s supposed to be very good for small kids.”

He nodded, but before he could continue, Lydia turned to me. “Mara is Daniel’s little sister; she just had her third baby.”

“Congratulations,” I offered.

The waiter returned with the wine, opening the bottle and pouring it into our glasses before leaving. Lydia was about to do what she always did, but I caught her beforehand. I picked up the pitcher of water and poured it into her glass before filling my own.

“I heard you just signed another author,” Daniel small-talked with her.

“Yes,” Lydia had already told me about Maxine Killston, “I read her book and quite enjoyed it.” She started telling him about the book’s theme. “So we actually all have things to toast to.”

Daniel looked towards me. “Have you made something new?”

“I think she is referring to our engagement,” I answered, trying to plaster my face with a kind smile, but it came out empty.

“Actually,” she interrupted, breaking Daniel's brutal eye contact with me, “I meant your new software update you told me about Tuesday.”

I met her questioning green eyes. “Of course,” I smiled at her, more genuinely this time. “It must have slipped my mind.”

She rolled her eyes at my reaction, then turned to Daniel. “It’s amazing. It grants you the option to redesign your phone completely, making it easier to access the apps you need. You can time your phone to open the apps as well—”

“I don’t think Daniel is interested in that update, dear.” I grabbed my glass and lifted it, prompting them to do the same. “However, let’s toast to new life,” I looked at Daniel, then turned to Lydia, “to amazing accomplishments in the workplace, and to new beginnings.”

“Hear, hear.” Lydia nodded at me, then took a sip of her wine.

Daniel and I quickly drifted into business talk. I presented him with my newest software, which would make it easier to track and position the intended target. The software could connect with city cameras and had already been picked up by the FBI and Secret Service. Lydia silently ate her food while listening to us debate how it could work for him.

“It’s very convenient that you keep developing new technologies that can help my business,” Daniel squinted at me. “If I don’t get this one, will there be another one in a few months that can do the same and more?”

“I can’t guarantee there will be, but maybe there won’t be, and then I will just sell to another company.” I shrugged before taking a sip of the rich wine.

“Maybe I should take my—”

“The question isn’t whether a new model will be launched soon,” Lydia cut in, making us both look at her, “because technology evolves, becoming better, faster, and more efficient. The real question is whether you want Wade Bricks to buy the software and use it before you do. Joshua is offering this to you because you are a loyal customer, not because you are the only customer.” Lydia had a small smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “He doesn’t need your business, but he cares for your shared loyalty.”

Something sparked inside me. It wasn't the same feeling I had earlier, but a new and different one. I looked at Lydia and felt like someone had my back, like someone trusted my work and progress. I didn’t need the help or support, but it was nice to have it.

Daniel studied Lydia’s expression. I could see something lurking behind his eyes, maybe pride. He took the challenge. “Then I think I will wait for the next model.”

“Great,” Lydia smiled at him. “It’s been too long since I had dinner with Wade anyway.” Wade Bricks was the former king of security, who struggled after Daniel started up because he couldn’t get the same high-quality personnel as Daniel.

“You’re bluffing.” He took a sip of his wine, keeping his eyes on Lydia.

“We don’t have to bluff.” We, she called us we. “Whatever you do, it’s a win for us. We either get your business as usual, or we cultivate our relationship with Wade Bricks, and that sounds fun too,” she looked at me with a crooked smile. “Maybe he’ll even pay more for the software. Just a win-win situation.”

Daniel let out a groan, another thing I had never heard before. “Fine.”

Lydia dabbed her mouth with her napkin before putting it on her empty plate. “Fantastic. Now, what do you guys think about dessert?” She was good.

“Why not?” I asked, looking at Daniel, who clenched his fists on the table before nodding.

Lydia placed her hand on mine, which gave her my undivided attention. “Will you order me a piece of cheesecake?”

“Of course, dear,” I gave her a smile, which she almost reciprocated.

Lydia left the table to go to the bathroom, leaving me alone with a pissed-off Daniel. I could see the muscles under his shirt working, his chest tightening.

I was about to say something when he cut me off. “I don’t know how much Lydia has told you about our relationship,” his voice was ice-cold, “but know this, I protect her at all costs. I know about the agreement with Lucien,” he surprised me. “My job is to know everything. And if you hurt this girl, if you in any way, shape, or form upset her, you won’t find a safe place. Do we understand each other?”

I could feel my own body tightening. It puzzled me why Lydia would even need an arranged marriage, as she was incredible and could easily find a husband on her own. But somehow, Daniel's words set something off inside me.

“Firstly, you do not threaten me,” I established. “Second, no matter what you think, my end goal is certainly not to hurt Lydia’s feelings. I do not know how you got that information, but trust me when I say I have the situation under control. Thirdly, I admire how you feel for her, but make no mistake, she’s my fiancée and my responsibility.”

He leaned forward, looking at me with disgust. “You are nothing but a boy. I’m certain you do not know how to treat a lady, and trust me, I will be keeping an eye on you.”

I wanted to continue the conversation, or the standoff, but the waiter came to take our dessert orders. Daniel said he didn’t want any because he had to leave, leaving me alone with Lydia.

She returned from the bathroom and said a quick goodbye to him before sitting down again. “What did he say?” She fiddled with the stem of her wineglass, focusing on the liquid twirling inside.

“Excuse me?” I knew exactly what she meant, but I didn’t want it to seem like we had almost executed each other.

“Daniel has always been protective of me,” she explained. “I’m guessing you heard the speech too?” Her green eyes looked at me with curiosity.

“It was a very intimidating speech,” I said, “but I’m just glad to finally meet a man who actually stands up for you.”

The waiter came with our desserts, placing pieces of passion fruit cheesecake in front of us. Lydia gently cut into hers, putting a piece in her mouth with such precision that it looked like she would never have the chance to eat again.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, looking down at my dessert. “Helping me like that.”

“I know,” she stated, “I just wanted to be your partner.” Something fluttered inside me. “You support me, and I support you back,” a hint of humor tugged at her mouth. “It’s basic human decency.”

I couldn’t help but smile back at her. I was so totally f****d.