From Hate Flourishes Love

Engaged

Zander's POV

A day has passed since I when ring shopping with my mother and found the perfect ring for Kai. Since then my mother has sent over a hundred texts on how I should propose. I think my parents are forgetting that they are exploiting my sexuality to cover up the fact that I cheated on my fiancée.

They were convinced that the only way to save my image was to make a story of how I was confused with my sexuality and Kai was my saving grace after Elizabeth died.

The company was the reason I didn't receive a normal childhood. I wasn't going to let my parents take away my birthright.

I know I made mistakes in the past that negatively impacted the company. But setting up an arranged marriage seemed a little drastic to me. My dad's parents had an arranged marriage for the benefit of business but they came to that decision together without their parents forcing them. My parents, however, are handing me over to some 20-year-old gold digger.

I searched for my car keys. I hope I wouldn't find them so I didn't have to dinner with my parents and their special guest tonight. After a few seconds of searching my room, I was sure they wouldn't turn up but sure enough, they were on my bed beside the velvet box with the engagement ring that would seal my future.

The idea of flushing the ring down the toilet crosses my mind

***

Thirty minutes later, I find myself listening to my parents on how they got engaged.

I had heard the story one too many times. I was starting to wish Kai would show up anytime so they would have something else to talk about, or better yet someone else to tell the story to.

"Don't be nervous, dare." Mom whispers, while my dad smiles in encouragement. I don't know why they're acting like Kai hadn't already agreed to marry me.

I looked around the restaurant to see the people enjoying themselves. I wondered if anyone else in the restaurant were here to meet their arranged fiancé.

"Mom, Dad. I am going to the bathroom" I excuse myself from the table.

I was halfway to the bathroom when the idea to run back home pops into my head.

The five minutes I spent in the bathroom away from my parent allowed me to clear my head. I wasn't going to act like some idiot and let my parent take the company from me.

I straighten my clothes, and I start for the dining area. I feel my back pocket for my phone and find it empty. I retrace my steps to the bathroom to check if I had dropped it there. I could've sworn I had it in here. I feel for my chest and remember that I left my blazer at the table with my parent, I quickly walked back to where we were seated.

"Mom did I leave my phone - " I pause.

The new person at our table makes me forget about the phone.

There he was, the waiter who had almost given me a second-degree burn. Engaged in a deep conservation with my parents. He smiles and looks me straight in the eyes. His eyes didn't have any signs of wariness like the last time I saw him.

"Zander, stop staring at him and sit down." My dad says impatiently.

Kai shifts, making room for me to sit beside him.

"Now, that you're both here. It's time you both finally get to know each other." My dad breaks the awkward silence forming at the table.