His Woman, His Addiction

A deal to matchmake

Allie's POV

I shifted closer to Mr. Smith, eyebrows furrowed together. Perplexed and curious about what this sneaky man could be up to. He cleared his throat one more time before he spoke up. "I want you to convince Aaron to get married. To have even at least a girlfriend. Just a lady that could be by his side"

"I don't get what you are trying to say, " I said, shaking my head sideways, incompetent at accumulating everything at once.

"I want you to talk to him, or perhaps get him someone for him to date." The elderly man repeated in a pleading tone.

"You want me to persuade him to get a woman? A lady to be called his? " I said, staring at him like he had gone, psycho. Since when did I become a matchmaker?

I raised my possibly wrinkled eyebrows at him for him to acknowledge my questions, hoping I misheard him

"Yeah..h" Mr.Smith breathed and smiled.

"Yeah!? " I scoffed, obviously feeling unsettled by his sudden request. There must be a vital reason he needed me to do this kind of thing.

"How is that even possible, Dad? You know how much we dislike each other. How did you even come up with this in the first place? And Aaron, I can't even imagine opening my mouth in an attempt to tell him or make a move to do that" I sneered unbelievably.

"I don't understand why you two dislike each other though. It would be easier if you become friendly at first" he implied, probably unbothered by my protest.

"Why are you telling me this though? Aren't you supposed to discuss this with Mum? Or wait did you guys plan this together to form a good bond you and I know wouldn't ever exist between Aaron and me?" I said, bombarding him with questions.

"No. She doesn't know about this deal of mine" Mr Smith shook his head negatively.

"Really?" my eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah"

My body calmed at his response. I looked at him closely. I could witness the determination in his eyes. He wants the best for his son and he prefers me to be the one to assist him.

"You are supposed to be discussing this with Mum. Don't you think? " I reasoned.

My mind boiled at the thought of a possible reason why he could have proposed this to me.

"Did mum tell you I lost my job? "

"You lost your job? How? When? Why? " He asked, goggling at me, waiting for an answer. Guess it was my turn to be questioned. My mind recalled that I did not tell anyone about my job. Now I am busted because I could not seal my wide mouth.

I pinched my lap to punish myself for being too straightforward and silently reacted to the insulating discomfort. I shifted uncomfortably under his stares scratching my fingernails before I was able to come up with a made-up reply.

"I just decided to change my environment.. t" I lied and I knew it was obvious.

"You are lying, Allie. I have told you several times not to try that scope with me"

"I know, I just.. "

"It's alright, whatever might be the reason I would always support you dearly." Mr Smith surprised me with such assurance in a calm voice. If it was before, he would have sprung on his feet while scolding me nonstop.

"And of course, always be careful and mindful" he proceeded sternly this time. Oops, typical man.

I nodded my head with my head down, trying to prevent the tears that were already threatening to fall. He clutched my small hands in his and said, "Will you sign the document now? "

"What document again?" I wiped my face and asked.

"Have you forgotten again? The deal we were discussing earlier" Mr.Smith reminded me.

"You made that on paper too" I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Yeah"

"Why?"

"So that you won't back down anytime. It's like a business proposal dear. You convince him to get a stable woman, and I open your shooting firm for you. As long as you sign this, nothing will change" he bargained.

"It would take you a lot of time and effort to convince him. Trust me, it is worth the stress" he convinced me, looking at me with pleading eyes.

I peeked at his movement as he stretched his hands to open the drawer that was situated at the bedside. I rushed over to his aid since his hand couldn't take it directly. He would need to adjust a bit before he could do that.

I opened my eyes in bewilderment to witness that truly he made a document for this deal of his. I opened it, carefully skimming my eyes through the papers. My eyes made contact with the statement that says

"To establish a shooting firm at any location she desires"

My heart swelled at that, but I still doubted if I could do this.

"I want you to convince him to get married and I will get you your shooting firm" Mr Smith declared the second time today.

"No...No I can't do this." I declined immediately. Not wanting to give him high hopes. Even though I was thirsty to be independent, Aaron and my path did not cross, how do I make the deal successful?

"Yeah, I know you will reject my offer, so… I'm well prepared, let's bargain then. What do you want?" he replied, not backing down either.

"Bargain? " I asked ignorantly.

"You get him to find a fiancee and you get your own company in return, but you said you refuse. So… tell me what do you want? " he shifted on the bed.

"I... I" I stammered.

"What if I did not succeed after I signed this?"I said pointing to the paper.

"Don't worry about that, you can do it I promise" He grinned.

"I am not forcing you dear, but you have to help me," He smirked playfully, assuaged that he had successfully made me do what he longed for.

"Force?" I huffed, this isn't different from what he is making me do.

"Common, it would be fun" he frowned, stretching the signed manuscript for me to pin my signature on it.

"I just hope I am not making a grave mistake by accepting to do it, " I thought, before bending slowly to fill in my signature.

"Were you expecting me to come home before?" I inquired.

"I was praying all night for you to visit home. I would have called you, but you always claim to be busy so... I did not bother," he answered.

We both jolted up in fright when someone tried to open the door without knocking. I hurriedly flung the paper to the other side of the room and thankfully, it was well hidden as it got stuck in between some luggages.

"What's going on here?" Aaron asked with that baritone voice, his face void of any emotions as usual.

Just as cold as ice.

"Oh lord! Did he eavesdrop on what we've been saying?" I trembled inwardly at the thought of that, while still staring up at him as he opened his mouth to make another statement.