The Forbidden Passion

Chapter Six

She looked up at him taking in his neat undercut with slicked back brown hair and a short bread with neatly trimmed sides. His navy blue tuxedo resting handsomely on his broad shoulders. His eyebrows carved neatly, brown eyes staring into her silver ones and a small wrinkle in the corner of his eyes as he smiled, flashing his perfectly shaped and cleaned tooth at her.

“How old is he again?” Ariana thought to herself. He looked nothing like she had expected. He was above fifty so he was expecting a man with grey hair, messy beards and eyebrows, wrinkles all over his face with disgusting tooth not the man sitting in front of her. If she were interested in older men she would’ve been smitten by him but unfortunately she’s not. And besides, she’s been forced to marry him.

“You look beautiful Ariana” Samuel smiled as he complimented Ariana.

Deep voice and nice smile. Too bad I’m not interested. Daphne, her best friend would’ fall head over heels for this man.

“Thanks” she cleared her throat as she replied coldly making everywhere silent. “Can we eat already” Brie said, annoyance laced in her voice.

Benjamin kept staring down as he fiddled with his fingers sadly. His little mind wondering why Ariana hasn’t looked at him yet. Doesn’t she like me? Or maybe she didn’t see me here. Why won’t she look at me? So many thoughts passed through the little boy mind. He raised his head up to look at Ariana and was shocked when he found her smiling at him. Ariana must’ve noticed how sad he was and her love for kids just made her wanted to reassure the adorable little boy that she’s got nothing against him, so she smiled wider.

“I like your nose” Ariana said.

“Huhn....” Benji said, a confused look on his face as he stared at her.

“It’s really cute y’know” She added, smiling.

“She likes my nose” Benjamin sang in his head.

He became happy.Happy that Ariana likes him not hate him like he had thought.

“Thank you” he said, blushing as he smiled widely, his braces on full display which Ariana found adorable. No matter how sad she is she’ll always smile if she’s around children.

The maids finally served their food and they had lunch, quietly. Each of them buried in their own thoughts. Lunch ended well, with no drama this time,thankfully, so Samuel and Peter went to the bar to drink and talk about their business deal better while Carla excused herself and went up to her bedroom. Since Peter’s outburst at her she’s been gloomy and less chatty. Brie, Nina and Benjamin left for the living room while Ariana and Cole stayed behind.

“Don’t worry Ari, I’ll find a way to save you from this marriage” Cole said promisingly. “At least I still have you” Ariana smiled sadly and she hugged her brother tightly. “I can’t let him take the organization away from me. It’s the only thing I care about. Those kids are the most important thing in my life” she said as she pulled away.

“He won’t. I’m sure he was just bluffing. Dad isn’t that heartless” Cole replied.

“You of all people know dad never bluffs and he never goes back on his word”

“But still—” Cole started but Ariana cuts him off. “There’s nothing anyone can do about it. Except dad himself. And besides maybe it’s fate” she shrugged “Besides he doesn’t look that bad”she winked. “Ariana. He’s thirty-two years older than you for f**k sake” he yelled and Ariana’s face fell. “I don’t care okay. You’re not marrying that man” he said before walking out of the dining room.

She doesn’t love that man and she never would but if marrying him is what is going to let her keep the organization then she’ll have to do it.

Hours later Samuel and Peter appeared in the living room and he announced their leave so everyone except Carla followed them to the mansion’s garage. “Let’s have dinner at my place on Sunday.” Samuel said to Peter. “Of course my friend. We’ll be there.” They shared a handshake.

Samuel moved to Cole and stretched his hand out for a handshake which Cole rejected by putting his hands into his pocket causing Samuel to smirk lightly and retract his hands back, he didn’t expect Cole to accept his handshake. He moved towards Ariana and stretched his hands out and Ariana just stared at it, for minutes deciding whether to take his hand or reject it.

Taking his hand means accepting him and she gets to keep the organization while rejecting it means losing her family and the organization so what should she do. This little gesture held so many sacrifices behind it. Is she ready to face the consequences.

She stared at the hand as everyone stared at her, waiting for her to make her decision.