𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 6

White , that's what it was. The dress she wore. Zaina Artino, of course.
"Nico!" She exclaimed, going in for a hug. I reciprocated, naturally, considering it would be rude not to. I mean, she was here helping me out.
"Zaina. A pleasure, as always."

"Please sit. I just ordered a bottle of wine. But something tells me that I'll probably be sharing it alone," we took our seats at the table for two, reserved in the right centre of the room. "I'm afraid so. Still need to get back to work after this. I take it you had a good flight from Greece?"
"Oh yes. And you are due for a visit. Everyone sends their greetings," she said, her voice getting drowned out as the waitress poured the liquour into the glass. Red wine.

The liquour, a tone of deep crimson, filled the glass about a third in. "A drink, sir?" The waitress fluttered her doting eyes at me. "He's good. You can go," she shoed her way. "Thanks," I said, taking a sip of the glass of cold water, with lemon slices and mint. "Of course. Anything for a dear friend," she smiled.

Our conversation was filled with chatter of current events in Greece. Social events, business conventions, and annual celebration of the restaurant we visited almost every night after we visited the library for research for an assignment. "Well, I look forward to it. It is 3 months away, right?" I inquired as our starter plates were replaced with our main course meals. "Yes. It would mean a lot to Mr Wilson if you can to the celebration," she insisted.

"Well, I could not possibly let Mr Wilson down. He makes a mean stake," I took a sip of my drink. Cranberry juice. I wasn't going to order the drink. Too...her. but they didn't give anything on the menu that could satisfy the thirst I was feeling. Nothing other than this beverage in my hand. I figured it couldn't hurt, considering how my thoughts were already enveloped in the sight of her each time Zaina took a sip of her drink.

Red lipstick. Red headband. Red dress.

It's like she was everywhere , I swear. Watching me, waiting for me to break. But I wasn't going to let her win.

"So what did you call me here for? And don't lie. I know you. You wouldn't spend a minute away from work even if your cat was dying," she took a bite of her Mexican jalapeño wrap meal.

"I need your help. Last night, I had dinner with my grandfather and the will reading for my...Father."

"Finally got those shares, I assume?" she inquired.

"Well, yes. Sort of. There were conditions to me receiving them."

"Nothing you can't work around, I'm sure," she sat back in her stool. "I thought so, too. I was on a call all morning with my lawyers to see if they could work around the conditions, but nothing. I thought maybe I could find a way out of this before we had lunch, but nothing. So Zee, I called you here because I need you to marry me."
She almost spat her food out, settling for wiping her mouth with a tissue. "I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure I heard wrong. Marry you?" she asked.

"Yes. On a professional level, obviously. That was the condition of the will. A marriage of 3 years. There is no divorce within 6 months after the 3 year span. So full on full, marriage for about 3 and a half years. And nope, it's no joke," i finished my drink.

"Well, that's really...wow. And how long is the grace period, assuming there is one?"
"6 months. After that, if I'm not married, my shares are divided amongst my siblings. So I really need your help."

"Well, I'm flattered. But are you sure I'm the person for the job?" She smiled. "What happened to what's her name-"
"She works for me. In fact, I haven't even told her about the whole will thing. I was hoping to keep it under wraps for now."
"Are you sure it's wise to do that? I know things didn't end well between you, but I know you still care about her," she held my hand a moment before letting it go.