Marrying A Snapping Turtle

Nineteen Years

Kensley sat up straight on the sofa, his mesmerizing eyes held the old man in front of him in respect and affection.

Finally after nineteen long years…

Kensley is now a well-known actor winning five Best Actor Emmy Awards and named the most handsome man in the world. His cold, aloof character drove his fanbase to a tizzy. Off-screen, he was as cold as ice but when the camera ran, he revealed a colorful array of emotions. Although he refused any scenes with excessive skinship, paired with the correct camera angle, he was able to create the illusion of romantic intimacy that had viewers swooning. When interviewed, he flatly stated that he was saving his purity for his future wife, which made every woman fantasize about being his special someone.

Ever since the accident at the ranch, his parents had taken him to numerous psychologists sparing no expense and it wasn’t until the fifth doctor that he dropped the act and returned to “normal”. This new normal was his true self— someone who couldn’t be bothered with the little things around him. He realized that he had been acting all his life to fit in with his boisterous family and he was sick of it so he shed his mask.

But today was different. He slipped into the role of the perfect husband prospect.

He smiled serenely as the drone of his elders hummed in his ears. He chuckled when they laughed, he nodded when he heard the word “right?” but he wasn’t paying attention. His eyes flickered to the entrance of the living room, waiting.

For nineteen agonizing years, he waited to see her again.

“Where is Harry and Ida? Those two youngsters are always late!”

Kensley perked up at his brother’s name and spoke up, “I just got a text from him, he got dragged into a meeting and will be late.”

Charles pushed the glasses up on the bridge of his wrinkled nose to stare wordlessly at Kensley.

But before Charles could talk, a maid stopped by the entrance to announce that Ida had returned and was going to freshen up before dinner.

The whole room visibly relaxed. At least the star of the show didn’t pull a Houdini trick this time.

It wasn’t a secret that Ida had been avoiding the Hendricks over the years. While they could catch glimpses of her from time to time, they never actually encountered her in person. When asked what Ida did for a living, her mother would smile enigmatically and reply, “She likes to spend time on her hobby.”

No one criticized Ida for her carefree lifestyle. Neither family needed their women to work. Even if the men quit and played hooky, they had amassed a sizable fortune that could last many generations.

Furthermore, both families retained a good relationship through the sons and a marriage alliance wasn’t necessary for business relations but it had been a lifelong wish passed on from generations past; so when a daughter finally appeared, they just couldn’t let it go to waste.

Harry, although not married, had a high school sweetheart that he dated on and off. As Charles so eloquently put it: as long as you haven’t said “I do” you’re still fresh meat on the market so get your ass over here.

Kensley waited another five minutes after the initial announcement before excusing himself to go to the restroom. When a servant offered to show him the way, he politely declined stating he was familiar with the estate layout. When he neared the guest bathroom he paused and turned to walk to the garage.

It’s been nineteen f*****g years and his patience was running thin.

***

Ida took a quick shower scrubbing her face clean. After she had roughly blow-dried her hair, she put on a T-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans. Grabbing a few hundred from her secret stash of cash, she stuffed it into her wallet and took a burner phone. Glancing out into the empty hallway, Ida made a mad dash to the elevator and went down to the garage level.

With all the years of escaping, she had the process down pat. Her grandfather would be furious and freeze all her credit cards but he didn’t know she had amassed millions as Sophia. Still, to appease the old man, she would have to live a few days in a second-rate hotel eating instant ramen; only then would her pitiful act move his heart and he would forgive her.

That was the plan…

Until the elevator door opened to reveal a smirking Kensley.

“Shit.”

Kensley raised an eyebrow. “Nice to meet you too, Ida.”

Ida pushed him aside and started to walk past him, mumbling, “Can’t say the same.”

She was jerked back and looked down to see Kensley’s hand around her wrist.

With a look of disIda tsked, “I gotta go…”

Kensley chuckled and Ida looked up to meet his green eyes. Ida swallowed hard. She knew Kensley was a popular actor but given their history, she boycotted all his movies and avoided any news of him. She didn’t realize how handsome he had become. His broad shoulders filled in the three-piece suit in all the right places. His blonde hair in a clean side part, accentuated his angular face, tall nose, and light green eyes. Her eyes settled on his slightly parted lips, how soft they looked.

As an artist, she was drawn into beautiful things, and Kensley is the epitome of manly beauty. But their proximity forced her to look up causing some discomfort in her neck.

‘Damn this giant,’ she grumbled to herself.

Chewing on her bottom lip she pushed his hand off her wrist and took a step back.

“I don’t know why you’re blocking my escape route but you should pretend you didn’t see me. Neither of us like the other so we should just tell our parents it won’t work out. Maybe they can do this silly marriage alliance in the next generation.”

As she turned to leave she heard Kensley whisper, “Sophia.”

Her footsteps halted and her eyes grew wide in panic. Slowly she turned around to look at him.

“What did you say?”

“You’re the famous artist, Sophia.”

Ida laughed unconvincingly, “That’s outrageous! What are you talking about?”

Kensley took a step forward and Ida took a step back until he pinned her to the side of a car. Ida lowered her head to stare at their shoes.

“You’re a horrible liar. I don’t know how you managed to keep this secret for so many years.” Kensley chuckled.

Ida flushed in embarrassment. “Are you blackmailing me into marriage?! Let me tell you–”

A low chuckle broke off her words as Kensley leaned in to whisper near her ear, “Blackmail? Honey, this is nothing...”

Ida whipped a hand to her ear to scratch an imaginary itch. Her ears were now beet-red and she was at a loss for words. Never in her twenty-five years of life did a man flirt with her like this so she had no immunity to his oozing charm.

Kensley watched in amusement and continued, “Aren’t you sick of running away all the time? I’m also tired of all the nagging from my side of the family so I’m proposing a contractual marriage.”

Ida looked up with wide eyes, her small mouth open in confusion.

Kensley continued, unperturbed, “Three years. During that time we will be loyal to one another and play the part of a perfect couple. Then we can divorce if you want.”

Ida thought about it for a moment. It wasn’t a bad idea. After all these years, she would finally be able to stop this charade and— with a glance at Kensley’s handsome face, she clicked her tongue in appreciation. It’d be fine to stare at him when they were married, right?

But then a dark thought hit her. If they were married, they’d naturally become intimate, if they also had a child…

Ida’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “We can’t have any physical contact,” she blurted.

Kensley’s eyes flashed but then he snorted, “If we can’t hold hands or kiss in front of our parents, they’ll know this is a farce.”

Ida rolled her eyes, “I know! That’s not what I mean. I mean… no…sss…*cough*.”

Kensley waited patiently as she struggled to say the word. Ida wasn’t a teenager anymore but this ridiculously innocent side of her was fresh and amusing.

“Fine, let’s just say I won’t initiate but if you ever pounce on me, I won’t say no.”

Ida glared at him. “Ha! You wish!”

Kensley leaned down with a wolfish grin. “I do.”

Ida pushed him away with a growl. “Stop teasing me!”

Kensley laughed and backed away. “What? Feeling tempted?”

Ida huffed and stalked back to the elevator with Kensley sauntering behind her.

“Let’s hammer out the details after we’ve shaken the old fogies off our backs.”

Ida didn’t turn but she nodded in agreement. Kensley smiled softly and entered the elevator, standing next to her. After years of running all it took to catch her was a simple verbal agreement.