Broken Smile

The Big News

Ophelia's father kept his planning and plotting to himself until one of his famous company Ball Parties. For every guest he invites, he notes to invite two more. He was always generous and never minded sharing with the less fortunate.

As snacks and drinks were being served around the ballroom, he felt this was the right time to speak of the engagement. A soft tapping on his glass with a metal fork was enough to get everyone's attention. After clearing his throat, he spoke.

"Thank you all in attendance to my 50th Anniversary Ball. Before I get into the business jokes, I have a very sentimental announcement to make. As a lot of you may know, my daughter Ophelia has been a huge reason why I kept my business running and now, it's time to let this young bird fly from Daddy's nest. This young man next to me has been by my side the past year and a half learning everything it takes to run the business just as I have the past 50 years and sometime, he will be passing it down to the future generation. This man right here is the perfect match for my Ophelia and in the early days of May, I will be walking her down the isle and giving her away to him," He says with tears in his eyes as the words finally become reality, shocking everyone in the room against all the excitement and praise they have for the big news. All except one, who was Ophelia.

A small speech was spoken by Ophelia's father before Justin's first dance with her. He was very nervous. After all, he's never met Ophelia in the year and a half he's been working next to her father. Only photographs of her were seen displayed on his desk at work. Nonetheless, he was going to make sure she was well managed.

As they turn face to face, observing each other, Ophelia takes Justin's hand before being escorted to the center of the ballroom. The orchestra starts playing a ballad as everyone starts dancing in slow steps, circling the floor.

"So, how long did you know about the arrangement?" Ophelia asks Justin as they dance.

"Well, your father asked me to take care of all his responsibilities which includes you, not just the company."

"What's your angle?"

"My angle?" Justin laughs.

"Why bother marrying me if he's already giving you the company unless you have other intentions," Ophelia asks, very suspicious about the whole thing.

"Trust me, if I wanted to, I could rob your entire family blind. But I'm not that kind of person. Your father just wants to ensure you and the company are well taken care of when he isn't around anymore."

"And he thinks I can't do it on my own?"

"You don't know the first thing on how to run this place. I've worked on his right side for a year and a half while you've been playing House all your life," Justin says and quickly regrets saying it after the shot look in Ophelia's eyes before taking off outside onto one of the balconies.

Justin tries to catch up to her, but gets caught in the other couples dancing. Once the dance is over and people start clapping for more, Justin quickly runs off the ballroom and outside where he finds Ophelia crying by herself near a water fountain.

"Ophelia, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that to you, I was out of line," He apologizes as he takes his suit jacket off to drape around Ophelia's shoulders.

"But you're not wrong, either. My mother abandoned us when I was a baby, so while my father struggled with his business, I had to take responsibility of the cooking and cleaning on top of my school work. That's when my father decided school was too much on me and hired a nanny who lived with us to teach me how to be a good wife and how things should be done around the house."

"Sounds like you had to grow up too fast and that's never fun. But I promise, I'm not out to hurt you or the company. You're in good hands," Justin gives a small smile as his warm hands hold Ophelia's tightly.