WAS THIS FATE?
941 Words
"Yes?" Aolo answered. The door opened, and a young girl entered.
"Dinner is ready, sir," she said with a respectful bow.
"Thank you, Irene," Aolo replied with a smile. The pretty maid reciprocated the smile and left.
"Shall we?" Aolo asked me. "My cook, Angelina, has been with my family for over 30 years; she makes the best Risotto. I'm sure you'll enjoy it." He chuckled and gave me a friendly slap on the back.
Holding the bouquet and attempting not to look like a love-struck puppy, I braced myself for what lay ahead. I didn’t want my face to betray any discomfort I might be feeling.
We reached the dining room, which was softly lit, creating a cozy ambiance. The sound of heels clicking echoed like the rhythm of my heart. Would my father disapprove if I refused to go through with this wedding? These thoughts raced through my mind as the clicking grew nearer, and then a vision in white appeared.
I had never believed in fate or destiny, but at this moment, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a sign from my father directing me toward the path he wanted me to take.
Before me stood my mysterious woman, looking like an angel. She seemed as surprised to see me as I was to see her. The shock appeared to have frozen her in place, so I quickly moved forward to break the unnerving silence.
"Miss Ferretti, this is for you," I said with a wink as I extended the bouquet to her, hoping she would play along. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
She broke free from the spell that had held her in place and whispered a grateful, "Thank you."
Aolo filled the awkward silence with hearty laughter and introduced me to her.
"Ruby, this is Archer Petraki," he said—Ruby, just like her hair—a fitting name. Finally, I had a name to associate with the goddess who had captured my thoughts.
I held my hand for a handshake, thinking it was safer than going for the customary cheek kisses. She placed her soft hand in mine.
After the initial awkward meeting, dinner progressed smoothly and became more enjoyable. Aolo dominated most of the conversation, while Ruby made shy contributions. It was evident that she wasn't entirely comfortable with me just yet, but I figured that would change in due time.
Aolo regaled us with stories of his youthful days with my father. His love for my father was palpable in his words, and I saw a glint of nostalgia in his eyes before he blinked it away. It left me with a bittersweet feeling, knowing that I was not the only one alive who had known and loved my father.
"Ah! Angelina has truly outdone herself again," Aolo proclaimed, patting his stomach as he stood up. I followed suit. "Sit, sit. I'm going to take a walk. I'll leave you two to talk and get to know each other."
He left without giving us a chance to object. We stared at each other, and I couldn't help but smile.
"This was quite the surprise," I said, breaking the silence. She picked up her wine glass and took a sip. I continued to watch her, just as I had been doing all night. The soft lighting added a radiant glow to her skin, making her look ethereal.
"God, I thought I was going to be sick," she confessed, her honesty surprising me.
I touched my chest. "You didn't want to see me again?" I asked, feigning sadness.
"No, no, I did," she quickly assured me. "I just never expected to meet you under these circumstances."
She exhaled deeply and asked, "Why are you here, Mr. Petraki?"
"To marry you," I stated firmly. For the first time since this ordeal began, the prospect of marrying a stranger didn't seem so bad, especially when that stranger was her.
She looked distraught. "Why? You could have any woman you want," she exclaimed.
"That's true," I agreed. "But I want you. And, like you, I'm simply doing what my father wanted, even though he's no longer alive." I took a sip of my wine.
"I'm sorry about your father," she said somberly.
"Thank you," I replied.
"Getting married to a stranger was never really part of my plan," she confessed while fiddling with her napkin. I couldn't help but smile; it seemed like a nervous reaction. She had done the same at the bar.
"I don't think it's on anyone's to-do list."
"That's true," she said, adorably biting her lips. "I can't escape this marriage, but can I ask for some time to get to know each other first?" she requested.
I watched her momentarily, then stood up and walked over to her. I reached for her hand, gently drawing her to her feet, placing one hand on her waist and playing with her hair with the other. Her heels added a few inches to her height, making it easy to look into her eyes.
"I would like that. To get to know each other before setting a wedding date," I confided, looking into her captivating cat-like eyes as I cupped her cheeks. Ruby took a deep breath.
"Thank you. At least you're reasonable. That's a con," she said.
"Yeah, definitely a con. But you know what else is a con?" I asked softly, my lips close to her ear. I felt her tremble, and she moved closer involuntarily.
"What?" she asked, her voice soft as she licked her lips.
"This," I said as I kissed her, something I had wanted to do all night.
- Writer
