〘⚫Chapter Five⚪〙
1262 Words
Daria's POV
A week.
That was how long I had given myself to decide whether I was actually going to marry a man I barely knew.
Seven days.
It sounded like a lot when Roman said it.
It wasn't.
By the second day, I was already tired of thinking about it.
By the third, I had started making lists.
Pros.
Cons.
Pros.
More cons.
Then I threw the paper away because apparently my life had become a business proposal.
I was sitting in my office, looking through a report when my assistant walked in.
“You've been staring at that page for five minutes.”
“I've been reading.”
“You've been staring.”
I looked at her.
She smiled.
“Okay. Continue.”
I sighed and went back to the report.
My phone buzzed.
I glanced at it.
Ethan.
I didn't answer.
It stopped.
Then started again.
I finally picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Where were you yesterday?”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“You didn't come home.”
“I stayed at my apartment.”
“You didn't tell me.”
“I don't have to.”
There was silence.
Then his voice became quieter.
“You're acting differently.”
“Maybe I'm tired.”
“Your father said you're reconsidering the wedding.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Of course he'd told him.
“I haven't made a decision.”
“You don't need to make this difficult.”
I laughed.
“I'm making it difficult?”
“Daria…”
“I have a meeting.”
I ended the call.
My assistant was watching me.
“Everything okay?”
“Perfect.”
She gave me a look.
I smiled.
“I'm fine.”
I wasn't.
Not really.
---
That evening, I went to see my mother again.
She looked better.
At least she tried to look better.
She was sitting near the window with a book on her lap.
“You came.”
“I said I would.”
She smiled.
I sat beside her.
For a while, we didn't talk.
Then she reached for my hand.
“Your father told me you haven't agreed to the wedding.”
I looked down.
“I haven't agreed to anything.”
“Do you hate him?”
The question caught me off guard.
I thought about Ethan.
Then I nodded.
“Yes.”
My mother sighed.
“That's not what I wanted to hear.”
“I know.”
She squeezed my hand.
“I don't want you to marry someone you hate.”
I looked at her.
“Then why does everyone keep pushing me?”
“Because your father is scared.”
“Of what?”
“Losing control.”
I laughed softly.
“That sounds like him.”
She smiled.
Then she became serious.
“I want you to be happy, Daria.”
“I know.”
“And if you don't want this marriage…”
She paused.
“You don't have to do it.”
I stared at her.
“Mom…”
“I mean it.”
My eyes started burning.
She pulled me into a hug.
And for the first time in days, I allowed myself to stop pretending I had everything under control.
“I don't know what I'm doing,” I whispered.
“You don't have to know yet.”
I held onto her.
Maybe that was all I needed to hear.
---
The next morning, I woke up with my mind made up.
I was going to do it.
Not because my father wanted me to.
Not because Ethan wanted me to.
And not because I wanted to prove anything.
I was doing it because I needed out.
I called Roman.
He answered after two rings.
“Daria.”
“I'll do it.”
Silence.
Then,
“Alright.”
“That was quick.”
“What did you expect?”
“I don't know. A congratulations?”
“You haven't won anything yet.”
I smiled.
“You're very encouraging.”
“I try.”
“Can we meet today?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“My office.”
“Of course.”
He paused.
“Three?”
“Three.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
That man really knew how to make conversations short.
---
By three, I was back at Blackwell Group.
This time, I wasn't nervous.
At least, I didn't think I was.
Roman was already in the conference room.
There were documents on the table, along with two lawyers and his chief of staff.
I stopped at the door.
“You brought lawyers.”
Roman looked up.
“You're signing a marriage contract.”
“Right.”
I sat down.
“This suddenly feels very real.”
“It is.”
One of the lawyers began explaining the agreement.
I listened carefully.
There were clauses about finances, property, public appearances, confidentiality and the duration of the marriage.
I stopped at one page.
“No physical relationship.”
Roman glanced at it.
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“You added that?”
“Yes.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because this is a contract.”
Something about the way he said it made me relax.
Good.
At least we were on the same page.
I signed the first few pages.
Then I reached another clause.
“No falling in love.”
I stared at it.
Then looked at Roman.
“You actually put this in writing?”
“Yes.”
I laughed.
“That's ridiculous.”
“It's necessary.”
“Why?”
“Because the point of this marriage is that neither of us becomes emotionally dependent on the other.”
I looked at the clause again.
“Fine.”
I signed.
Roman signed after me.
Just like that.
The contract was official.
I leaned back.
“So we're getting married.”
“Yes.”
“That's terrifying.”
“Probably.”
I looked at him.
“You don't seem nervous.”
“I'm not.”
“Of course you're not.”
He closed the folder.
“The wedding is in two weeks.”
My eyes widened.
“Two weeks?”
“We need to move quickly.”
I stared at him.
“Roman, my original wedding was supposed to be in six weeks.”
“I know.”
“And now you're telling me I'm getting married in two?”
“Yes.”
I laughed.
“This is insane.”
“You agreed.”
“I know.”
I covered my face for a second.
Then looked at him again.
“Does the entire world have to know?”
He nodded.
“Unfortunately.”
“Why?”
“Because your previous wedding was public.”
I groaned.
“This is going to be a disaster.”
Roman looked at me calmly.
“Probably.”
I laughed despite myself.
“Do you know any other word?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He stood.
“We'll have dinner tonight.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“We need to discuss the wedding.”
I grabbed my bag.
“Fine.”
He walked toward the door.
I followed.
Neither of us said anything else.
Neither of us knew that by the end of the week, the whole world would be talking about us.
And neither of us was prepared for what would happen when they found out that Daria Vale was no longer marrying Ethan Calloway.
She was marrying Roman Blackwell.
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