A MARRIAGE OF FATE

CHAPTER TWO MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

“I'm interested, " the man announced, his electro-blue eyes locking into hers and sending shivers down her spine from across the room.

The room was filled with e whispers, while Melody stared at the man with a dumbfounded frown.

“Alfred Wellington, our esteemed host, has expressed an interest in Miss Melody Éclairs. We'll see how that develops.” The emcee dramatically announced with a smile that grated on Melody's nerves.

“Now unto the next…” Melody droned him out as she walked away from the stage.

“What just happened?” That was the only question on her mind as she stormed back to the back.

She quickly changed out of her clothing and stuffed the cursed dress in her duffel bag.

“Does he think marriage is a joke or something? Who decides to marry someone that they don't know?” She muttered underneath her breath.

As she stepped out of the changing rooms, she could feel the eyes of the other ladies on her, but she couldn't care less. Melody was more concerned about escaping the building without interruptions.

But alas, the universe seemed to be actively working against her today.

“How did you get Alfred of all people to choose you?” One of the ladies asked as she approached her.

“Did you use some sort of charm on him? Another lady asked, strangely reminding the melody of that one particular group of blondes she had always avoided in high school.

With an eye roll, Melody ignored them, pushing pastas she quickly strode out of the crowded room.

She retraced her steps to the back entrance in the same direction from where she had arrived, this time with urgency in her steps.

“Wait!” Melody heard a feminine voice behind her as she reached the door, just a couple of steps away.

“s**t!” She cursed under her breath.

“You are not allowed to leave yet; the event is not over!”

It was the same short woman from earlier, she seemed to be managing the event.

“I can leave if I want to.” Melody muttered with a scowl.

The woman looked taken aback by her tone, remaining in the same spot.

“B-but you can't!” She exclaimed exasperatedly.

“Watch me.” Melody called out before walking the remaining steps to the door and storming out. She shut the door behind her with a bang.

She barely spared the guard a glance as she walked past him, quickening her steps as she spotted the gates.

“I can't believe this is happening. I should have never come here.” She thought to herself as she went, regretting her attendance.

She had thought her plan was perfect, only to have it blow up in her face.

However, her steps halted as soon as she stepped outside the gates.

There standing a few feet away from her was Alfred Wellington himself.

“Where do you think you are going?” He asked with a hard tone.

Melody stared at him in silence, as her mouth chose this exact moment to stop working.

“Get in.” He ordered, motioning to the sleek car he was leaning against.

“What?” She asked with a confused frown.

“Get. In.” He repeated, emphasizing on each word.

Melody could not understand what was going on.

“Listen Mr. billionaire, I don't know what this is about, but I cannot get into your car for who knows what!” She finally stated.

Alfred let out a displeased sigh, string at her for a long minute.

“Just get in, all will be explained. Or if not, I can get my guard to throw you in.” He muttered with an annoyed tone.

Melody glanced at the bulky guy that stood on the other side of the car with a gulp.

“Fine, I will get in. But if you try anything funny, I will call the cops.” She warned before getting in the car through the already opened door.

Alfred joined her from the other side a few short seconds later.

The car started moving immediately. Melody stared at the back of the driver's head, wondering where Alfred was taking her.

“What do you want with me?” She asked with a scowl.

“Like I stated inside the hall, I'm interested in you and I want to marry you.”

Melody was speechless at the man's bluntness.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding here, I don't want to marry you. I only came for the consolation prize, which you already ruined for me. So, you can let me out now and we'll pretend like this never happened.” She expressed calmly.

Alfred stared out of the window throughout, but was fully immersed in the conversation.

“No, you seem to be the one that does not understand me. I am not asking for your hand in marriage, I am telling you that you will marry me.” He declared with a tone that left no room for arguments.

Melody thought, was not going to accept that.

“I'm sorry that you are infatuated with me or something, but I will not marry you. I'm in love with someone else.” She argued with a scoff.

“Don't delude yourself, I don't care about you. You will marry me because you need to.” He muttered with a sneer.

“And what makes you think I need you?” She retorted

This time he directed his gaze to her with a knowing expression.

“You need money.” He stated matter-of-factly.

Melody could not argue with that, after all that was why she attended the event in the first place.

“So what?”

“I will give you money, regardless of the amount you need.” He answered.

“And why will you do that?” She raised her eyebrows in question.

“Because I can.”

Melody stared back at him, unimpressed.

If there was one thing she had learnt in this world, it was that everything came at a cost, ‘give and take’-

“I have a proposition for you,” He paused.

“Which is?”

“You will get married to me, and in return, you get whatever you want.” He expressed it with an unreadable expression.

Melody peered at him in silence for a few minutes.

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

“I cannot believe that I'm considering this.” She thought to herself.

“No. I will take my leave n-” By then the car had come to a stop, surprisingly in front of her apartment. She did not question it.

“Don't you have a sick sister to pay hospital bills for?” He called out nonchalantly.

Melody removed her hands from the door, turning her gaze back to him.

“How do you know about that? What do you know?” She fired questions at him with an alarmed expression.

“How I know doesn't matter, and I know enough.” He said casually.

“Bu-” Melody stuttered.

Her heart was hammering against her chest as she pondered the implication of his words.

“How did he even get all that information about me? About Emma?” The voice in her head questioned.

“Why do you want to get married to me anyway? I would have thought that an affluent man like yourself would have girls flocking around him.

“That does not concern you. Why don't you focus more on your bills that keep piling up?” He taunted.

Melody glared at him in disdain. judging by the tick in his jaw, she concluded that she must have hit a sore spot.

“I have other matters to attend to and I haven't gone all day, so let's just end this here,” Alfred commented, shooting a quick glance at the expensive watch that was wrapped around his wrist.

He continued at Melody's silence;

“What do you say, are you interested or not?”