It All Started With A Bet

Chapter 13

Stella POV

"Dad, I told you a hundred times that I won't marry him. I will only marry the person that I love. Please don't force me!" I practically begged him on the phone call.

"Sweetheart, I am doing it for your good. You haven't even seen him. Trust me, He is a gentleman. He will keep you happy. Please meet him for one, do it for me. Don't judge a person without even meeting him. Moreover, you don't even know his name. How can you say that you won't like him?" he tried his best to knock sense into me. I knew that once I will meet him, it will give my father some hope. And I didn't want it.

"I don't want to know anything about him. Please understand that I can't marry him" I tried to make him understand my point of view.

"Why? Do you already have someone you love?" his tone was a curious one. He was again testing me.

I don't know what came to me when I gave my reply. I just wanted this topic to be over.

"Yes I have and I will only marry him" I spoke up in a moment of the spur. And I instantly regretted my false words. Because there was no way to prove it.

"What?? Who is he? I won't let you marry anyone who came from an ordinary background. He must match our family status" my dad spoke firmly. He was trying to point out every tough condition so that I can't marry him. And he will win in the end.

"Don't worry! He will match your expectations" I said to end this topic. Though I myself didn't know, from where I will get such a perfect man.

"I want to meet him. If he doesn't fall upon my expectations then get ready for your engagement on Sunday" his tone contained finality. The hair on my body stood up at his comment.

"What!! Sunday is just five days from today. Are you kidding me, dad? Give me some time to inform him about the news. Why are you in such a hurry?" I got up from my chair in my office.

"My decision is final. Take him to meet me tomorrow at dinner or you will lose your only chance. Then don't blame me for forcing my decision on you" he ended the call without even listening to another word from me.

I threw my phone on the floor in anger. I was frustrated. Marrying to a stranger was a big no from my side but stopping this marriage also seemed impossible.

"Where can I find a perfect boyfriend in one day?" I shouted in my office. The walls were sound proof so I had no fear of someone listening to my conversation.

I was walking in rounds in my office room, stressing about recent matters when the door opened and Kyle walked in.

"Hi," she said cautiously as she saw my sore mood.

"Kyle, thank God that you are here. Hurry up and think of some ideas to help me!!" I went over to her, grabbed her hand, and made her sit on my seat.

"Now what happened?" she rolled her eyes at me.

"My dad was forcing me to marry that unknown stranger so I lied that I have a boyfriend. Now he wants to meet him tomorrow otherwise I will have to get engaged on Sunday. Tell me where should I find a perfect boyfriend. You know my father's standards. He won't like any ordinary guy" I sat at the table in front of her.

"Tell me how did you respond to Aaron's deal?" she shifted the topic.

"I also don't know how to respond to him too. I have to win that bet, but no matter what I won't accept the marriage. Tell me, how should I persuade him?" I looked down while clicking the pen.

"The solution to all your problems is Aaron. Marry him, you will win the bet. You can save your career as well as the land. And Your dad will also be satisfied with his future son-in-law. Moreover, the contract is only for one year. After this year you can marry the person you love" she tried to persuade me with her best solution.

"Are you my best friend or not? Did Aaron bribe you, why are you taking his side? Give me some idea, not this bad solution" I gripped her shoulders and shook her.

"Stella, from the start I told you that he is a businessman. It will not be easy to deal with him. He listened to your request and proposed a sincere deal to you. It's already a lot. He won't do any bargain, I know it. Moreover, your father is also very stubborn, if he had given you a warning then take it seriously. I can sense from his attitude that he means every word of it. He is bend upon marrying you. Your future is still in your hands" Kyle held my hand and stated all those matters which I was aware of. I knew that she made sense but my mind was not ready to jump into a marriage.

"Let me think about it" I got off the table and again started pacing over the office anxiously and in anger.

"There is no time to think about it. Entrust your life to a stranger or sign a contract marriage with Aaron for one year. The decision is in your hands. There is no third way. Moreover, Aaron is not a complete stranger to you. You know him from childhood" Their words of Kyle were pushing me to the edge. I could feel the tense situation. My hands were tied, I had no way out. One way was the dead end while the other was filled with unseen circumstances and traps.

I sighed and sat on the chair in front of Kyle. My head was pounding with worry.

"Give me a glass of water," I requested her.

"Let's go shopping," she said as she handed me the glass filled with water.

"What!" I looked at her as if she had gone crazy.

"Shopping will distract your mind from this heavy situation. We will think of the deal at night. Tomorrow, we will take the action" I knew that she was trying to help me but this was known as escaping from the responsibility. I didn't want to do it. Deep in my heart, I had already made the decision. But I was refusing to admit it.

"We are not going shopping. Book an appointment with Aaron, I will see him in the evening" I finally let out the words.

"You made your mind? You really are doing this?" she put my face up and looked into my eyes.

"Yes Kyle, now hurry up and book the appointment" I rolled my eyes at her. I wanted her to do this quickly before I start to regret my decision.

"Okay, let's do this!" she went over to my laptop and started typing.

"Are you really sure, Stella? Think again because after this there will be no way out" she looked up from the laptop screen as she finished typing the appointment.

"Do it" I closed my eyes and said to her. I knew that with these words my fate was sealed.