The Unwanted Bride by the Winslows

Aoife, a new New yorker with barely enough money to rent an apartment in the town. This morning, she devoured five beef burgers, donned her favorite soldier’s shirt, and tied her striking red hair into a sleek ponytail. She was heading to an interview with Theodore, the CEO of Montgomery International Capital seeking a bodyguard position. This is a perfect job for a retired mercenary, moreover, this company paid private bodyguards 150% of the market rate. As a struggling job seeker, Aoife urgently need this job. Borrowing her neighbor’s old car, she drove to the destination. Confident about today’s interview, she believed she could beat anyone in a fight. Her skilled capoeira moves could easily send any man’s jaw flying into the sky. When Aoife arrived at the Montgomery Group headquarters, she noticed everyone looked very classy and well-dressed. As she looked around, she felt her chances of getting hired improve. She knew that bodyguards needed to look tough to scare off threats. Aoife gave her name with a big, confident smile. Her grin was wide enough to handle three bottles of beer in one go. After a short wait, she was taken to Mr. Theodore’s office. The secretary knocked on the door very gracefully, like a butler in an old movie. Aoife thanked her and stretched her muscles, ready to show her strength. She stepped inside and held her breath for a moment. She hadn’t expected the CEO to be so charming. “Aoife Byrne. I’m Theodore Montgomery,” he said. He was very handsome—tall and dressed in a nice suit. His dark brown hair was neat, like seaweed in deep water, making him look very artistic. His piercing blue eyes were cold, like ice from the Arctic. And his fingers look pale and clean, but visible veins hinted at a regular fitness routine. Aoife knew how to greet people and shook his hand. “Hello, I’m Aoife Byrne.” She squeezed his hand slightly, feeling the roughness of his skin. She used this little trick to mark others' fighting level. From the short evaluation, she could tell that her possible employer knows how to use gun but wasn’t as skilled as she was. That is a good sign, Aoife thought, an employer with combat experience would know how to evaluate her as a bodyguard. Theodore felt a bit offended, quickly pulled his hand back and sat down with a frown. “Would you like to sit?” Here's a more readable and fiction-like translation of the provided context: "A feeling of offense surged through Theodore as he instinctively withdrew his hand, furrowing his brow and retreating to his office seat. "Would you like to sit?" Unaware of Theodore's discomfort, Aoife casually took a seat opposite him, her military pants spread wide, leaning forward with her forearm on her thigh, a complete air of nonchalance. Theodore paid a bit more attention on this girl, he was accustomed to women who adhered strictly to 'noble etiquette.' His female employees typically wore refined business attire, meticulously groomed from eyebrows to nails, each strand of hair exuding an air of education. Lowering his head, Theodore studied Aoife's resume once more. This 23-year-old female hadn't even completed compulsory education; at the age of 14, she began accompanying elders in security services. In the resume photo, Aoife's smile was warmly inviting, like a cheerleader captain one might find at a university party. Initially, Theodore thought this was some sort of joke resume, a ploy to catch his attention in a unique way. After all, he only personally screened resumes for security personnel hires within the entire Montgomery International Capital. At first, he considered tossing Aoife's resume into the shredder as trash. Then a glance on the full-body picture, he noticed the fierce scar on this ‘cheerleader’ shoulder, he changed his mind and decided to meet this extraordinary woman with seven years of security experience abroad in person. Now meet her in person, more information provided than photos. "Boss, please give me this chance. I can guarantee that any thug who comes near you will wish they'd never been born," Aoife earnestly proclaimed, waving her arm. Her muscles were strong and defined, beneath smooth contours suggesting explosive power like a wild cheetah — an unconventional beauty full of urban danger. The menacing scar snaking out from under her shirt added to her formidable presence. Only the forge of danger could meld her into such an Amazonian warrior as the legends tell. "I don't doubt your security skills, but I have a question. Your resume said seven years in security, starting from your teenage years. Have you ever thought about change a career?" Theodore smiled, his tone slow and melodious, cold but with seductive charm. "You accepted my resume for a bodyguard position, didn't you?" Aoife answered. "Still, I can give you an answer, Boss. I'm not that quick-witted. I'm not good at any other moneymaking skills." "I can offer you more than being a bodyguard... money-wise," Theodore chuckled. "I'm a traditional woman, I don't sell myself." Aoife immediately cautioned, her face turning resentful, her fists clenched unconsciously. Any man making such a request was an insult. Even if she'd returned from the rainforests to New York, she'd give such disrespectful men an immediate lesson. "No, you misunderstand. I'm not interested in any illegal services either. I was simply wondering if you'd like to be an actress." Theodore explained calmly with his convincing frank gaze. "An actress? I've never thought of that. I'm probably not for it, right? Look at all these scars," Aoife rolled up her sleeve, proudly displaying her medals. "Should I play the role of a female mercenary? I might not even remember the lines." Aoife sighed, but honesty about her abilities was a virtue; she didn't want to cause any finance losses to her employer. In the rainforest, that could be fatal. "It's not just movie sets that need actresses, Aoife. Life itself is a stage," Theodore smiled, pulling out a document from his desk drawer and pushing it towards Aoife. "A fake marriage contract?" Aoife read the bold title on the document, looking incredulous.