A Marriage without Love

Meeting with the devil

~(Before marriage)~

**Flashback**

"Anna I'm going out" I yelled as I took my jacket from the hanger.

"You are going to meet Ethan. Right?" She asked.

"Yep and I don't want to be late so goodbye and take care." I kissed her cheek.

" Seems like you are really impatient to meet him." She winked at me.

"Oh you can't imagine how much." I answered sarcastically while going out of the house.

"Good luck." she said.

" Thanks."

After some minutes, I arrived at the ice cream shop. The place was not that crowded so it was not difficult to notice that Ethan has not arrived yet.

"Hi cutepie.. what's up?" Zack said giving me a huge smile. Zack is the owner of the ice cream shop and we know each other as he goes to the same university as me.

"Hiya! Zacky. I'm here to meet someone and he has not arrived yet" I smiled back at him.

"Who is that 'someone'? Someone special?" He winked at me.

"No one special Zack. He's just... someone. What about you? How is Melissa?" I tried to change the topic because I really don't know what Ethan is to me. Maybe friend... no, enemy is better.

"Oh haven't I told you that I broke up with Melissa two days before and now I'm with Jessie. So what can I get for you?" He asked while taking out some ice cream cups.

"I'll take my favourite and what the... why have you broken up with Mel? As far as I know she was your dream girl."

"I was wrong she is too clingy to be the girl I'm searching for." He said while handling me my favourite ice cream. Zack is always searching for the right girl for him.

It had already been one hour and the shop was crowded now. I had already eaten 5 cups of ice cream and Ethan was still not here. I was starting to think that maybe all this was a lie. He would not come.

I got up from my seat and wanted to say a goodbye to zack but he was nowhere to be seen.

Before opening the door, I scanned the shop one last time but neither Ethan nor Zack could be seen.

When I turned to open the door, I came face to face with a chest. I looked up only to find a pair of blue icy eyes staring down at me. I knew instantly to whom these eyes belong. Ethan Mackenzie. He was wearing a hood which was hiding half his face.. he reminds me of Arrow.

"Are you done with the staring session?" He asked, annoyed.

"Why are you wearing a hood?"

"To avoid being the centre of attention. Now let's seal the deal." He went to sit on the table in a lonely corner so that no one will see him and I followed him.

"What do you want to order sir?" A waitress asked him.

With his head still down he answered
"Just a choco bello and what will you take princess?" He was looking at me now and he was asking me what will I take? He is here to destroy my life right?

"Uh nothing thank you." I smiled at the waitress. She noted Ethan's order and went away.

"Why haven't you order any ice cream? I don't like people staring at my food when I am eating." Seriously he thought I would do that. Maybe I am poor but I am not ill-mannered for god sake.

"Don't worry Mr. Mackenzie. I have already eaten 5 cups of ice cream while I was waiting for you since 1 o'clock and I am not ill-mannered to do such thing." I gave him a glare.

"Oh good to know. Here, take this and read the whole thing carefully." He handed me some papers.

The title read: Marriage contract for one year.

One year? I thought I needed to spend my whole life with him.

"What does it mean by one year? I thought I needed to spend my whole life with you?" I asked him.

"What do you understand by 'read the whole thing carefully'?" He was going to add some rude answers but was interrupted by the waitress placing the ice cream in front of him.

I knew that he wouldn't answer me so it's better I find the answer myself. I tried to concentrate on reading the first page but there was the waitress still rooted at our table and the reflection of light from the tray that she was holding, was blinding my eyes. What does he want to order now?

I looked up from the papers and saw that the waitress was stock-still and her eyes was so wide like they will just fall out. Has she seen a ghost?

I followed her glaze and my mouth had formed an 'o' shape. Ethan's face was no more covered with the hood.

"Time to go!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my chair and started running towards the back hallway.

"It's ETHAN MACKENZIE.. AHHHHH .. IT'S ETHAN... " I could hear the waitress shout and there was more shouting from other girls.

"Is there any exit from here?" He asked still running and we could hear footsteps behind us.

"Yep on the left." I replied.

Unfortunately when we turned left there was other fans at the back door and the footsteps from behind were coming closer.

Before I could try to find another exit, I was pulled into a dark room and I was pushed against the wall. I couldn't see anything but I could smell Ethan's expensive cologne and I could feel him so close to me. His hand was still holding mine tightly. His other hand brushed against cheek, I could feel tingles where his hands were.

I heard a 'click' beside my head and there was light in the room. I could see the room was filled with boxes.

Suddenly I felt a hand on my cheek. I had forgotten that I was pressed against the wall and Ethan had his hand on mine. I glared at him but my eyes was met with his eyes and I felt lost in them. He has cupped my cheek with his other hand and his thumb was caressing my cheek. Slowly his thumb has started to brush my lower lip. I had closed my eyes to feel his touch. His body was pressed against mine now. I felt something soft and wet on my cheek and I froze. Ethan has kissed my cheek. He kissed my jaw line and I could feel his hot breath on my lips. At this point I was wide awake.

I opened my eyes only to see that he was going to close the gap. But before he could do so, I pushed him away. As he was taken off guard, he stumbled backwards. I moved away from him quickly and tried to open the door to get out from here but that damn door was not opening. Then I remembered that Zack told me not to close the store room door from inside as it only opens from outside.

Damn it! I'm stuck with the devil inside this freaking room.