The husband she never wanted

3

Alessia didn't calm down after the call.

If anything, the drive home made it worse. Every red light gave her another opportunity to replay the conversation in her head.

You will.

The arrogance of those two words refused to leave her alone. By the time Alessia reached her apartment building, her head was pounding. The elevator ride felt too slow. Every second gave her another opportunity to replay the conversation in her head.

You will.

The words refused to leave her alone. The sheer arrogance of it made her want to throw something. Who did he think he was? A stranger had spoken about her future with more confidence than she had.

She pushed her apartment door open harder than necessary.

"Seven days," she muttered. "Seven days for what? What kind of bullshit is that?"

Her phone was still in her hand. She didn't even think before dialing. The call connected.

"Hello?" Lila's voice came through, sleepy. "Amara? Do you know what time it—"

"I'm getting married," Alessia said.

"...sorry what?"

"I'm getting married. In seven days. Apparently, it's already planned, signed, arranged—everything."

".....Okay, no. Start again. Properly."

"I just did."

"No, you didn't. Because that didn't make sense." Alessia let out a frustrated breath and started pacing again.

"My uncle called me into the study. There were people there. Papers. Contracts. And then he just—he just said it like it was normal. Like, 'oh, by the way, you're getting married.'"

"To who?" Lila asked quickly.

"Damien Alvan."

"Damien Alvan?" Lila repeated.

"Yes."

"The billionaire?"

"Unfortunately."

"The one from the magazines?"

"I don't read magazines."

"I do. That's how I know he's annoying." Alessia rolled her eyes.

"You've never spoken to him."

"I don't need to. Men who pose like that in photos are always annoying." He didn't pose weirdly, Alessia knew that. She just needed a reason to make a jab at him.

"No, wait—how? Why you?"

"My dad signed something years ago. Some agreement with their company. It wasn't settled. Now this is the solution."

"That's not a solution, that's—" Lila stopped.

"Wait. Wait. Hold on," Lila interrupted. "You're telling me your family woke up this morning and decided to sell you like a piece of furniture?"

"That's not exactly what happened."

"Alessia, that is exactly what happened."

"That's actually crazy."

"I know."

"Did you say no?"

Alessia stared out the apartment window for a moment before answering. The question itself felt ridiculous. Of course she had said no. What else was she supposed to say? Thank you for selling me to a stranger. When would you like me to pick out a wedding dress?

A humorless laugh escaped her.

"Of course I said no."

"And?"

"And apparently my opinion is more of a suggestion than an actual requirement."

Lila was quiet for a second.

"Hold on. Explain that sentence because I really hope I'm misunderstanding it."

"You're not."

"Alessia...."

"They already signed everything. The contracts. The arrangements. All of it. They sat me down this morning and told me like they were discussing the weather."

"No."

"Yes."

"No, that's actually insane."

"Yes."

"Tell me you're joking."

"I wish I was."

"Tell me you're drunk."

"It's ten in the morning."

"Then tell me I've somehow fallen asleep at my desk." Alessia let out a chuckle at her ability to make a situation feel a bit lighter with humour.

"What about the guy? Have you talked to him?" Alessia laughed and started pacing again, one hand dragging through her hair.

"Yeah. He called me. Like five minutes after I left the house." Lila was quiet for a second.

"Seriously?"

"Mm-hm."

"And?" "And..." Alessia let out a disbelieving laugh. "He talks like everything's already settled. Like we're discussing dinner plans instead of a marriage."

"What did he say?"

"I told him I wasn't doing it."

"And?"

"He just goes, 'You will.'"

Lila paused.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Like you're a child?"

"Exactly."

A moment of silence passed.

Then—

"I don't like him."

Despite everything, Alessia almost smiled.

"I don't like him either."

"I am not agreeing to it." The words came out fast. Too fast. Like if she didn't keep saying them out loud, they might stop being true. Lila was quiet for a moment.

Then—

"I know." Alessia frowned.

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"You don't sound very convinced."

"Because being stubborn and actually winning aren't always the same thing."

Alessia stopped pacing.

"I am not marrying him."

"I know."

"They can't force me."

Lila hesitated. That tiny hesitation was all it took.

"Oh, don't do that."

"Do what?"

"That pause."

"What pause?"

"That one." Lila sighed.

"Alessia, I'm on your side."

"Then stop sounding worried."

"I am worried." That took some of the fight out of her immediately. She looked away from the window.

"Why?"

"Because you're trying to handle all of this by yourself."

"I'm handling it."

"You're pacing holes into your floor." Alessia glanced down. She'd walked the same path across the apartment so many times she practically had worn one into the carpet.

"That's not the point."

"It is the point."

A pause.

Then Lila's voice softened.

"Come here."

Amara closed her eyes.

"Lila—"

"I'm serious. Come over. For an hour. Two hours. Whatever."

"I don't want to drag you into this." The answer came automatically. Lila immediately laughed. Not because it was funny. Because she'd expected it.

"Alessia, you called me."

"That's different."

"No, it isn't."

"It is."

"How?" Alessia opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Lila continued before she could try again.

"You mean you don't want to be a problem." The words landed harder than they should have. Because they were close enough to the truth to hurt. Alessia looked down at the floor.

"I didn't say that."

"I know." Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then Alessia exhaled.

"I'll think about it."

"No." Alessia rolled her eyes.

"No?"

"No. Thinking is what got you pacing around your apartment talking to yourself."

"I wasn't talking to myself."

"You absolutely were." Alessia hated that she was right.

"I'll call you later."

"Amara—"

"I'll call you later." Lila sighed.

"Fine." Alessia ended the call before the argument could start again. The apartment instantly felt quieter. Too quiet. She dropped her phone onto the couch and sat down heavily beside it. For a few seconds she simply stared at the floor. Then her phone vibrated.

A message.

Alessia picked it up.

I think i found something. Her heartbeat quickened. Before she could reply, another message appeared.

You need to see this immediately. Alessia sat up straighter. For the first time since that morning, hope stirred inside her.

Maybe there was a way out after all.