Thirty Days Of September

Chapter 1: The Engagement

The grand ballroom was a spectacle of opulence, adorned with crystal chandeliers and fresh floral arrangements, yet it felt more like a gilded cage than a celebration for Atasha Saldivarez. Standing in the center, clad in an elegant gown that shimmered under the soft lighting, she could hardly recognize the person staring back at her in the mirror. Gone was the spirited young woman who once dreamed of love and adventure; in her place stood a dutiful daughter, bound by the weight of familial expectations.

Atasha's heart raced as she caught a glimpse of Aaron Corrales, her soon-to-be husband, across the room. He looked handsome in his tailored suit, but his expression was distant as if he were mentally miles away. They had known each other for years, growing up as rivals in their families' intertwined business empires, but the animosity had shifted to a more painful silence. Neither of them wanted this marriage, a union orchestrated by their parents to solidify business interests rather than nurture love.

"Can you believe this is happening?" Atasha's closest friend, Vanessa, whispered, pulling Atasha back to reality. "You two are practically strangers."

"More like enemies," Atasha replied softly, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She felt trapped in a role she never auditioned for—a pawn in her family's game of power and wealth.

Atasha took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart as she surveyed the guests mingling in the ballroom. The laughter and chatter felt distant, echoing in her ears like a haunting reminder of the life she was leaving behind. Her parents had arranged this marriage without consulting her, and now, with each passing moment, she felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her.

I should be happy, she thought, forcing herself to remember the carefully rehearsed smiles and polite nods she had practiced for this day. This is what good daughters do—what good businesswomen do. Yet, the thought only fueled the fire of rebellion burning inside her. She wanted to scream, to run away from the confines of her designer gown and the suffocating expectations that came with it.

Across the room, Aaron's gaze flickered over the crowd, his expression betraying the inner turmoil he was trying to mask. At first glance, he appeared composed, but Atasha could see the tension in his clenched jaw and the way his fingers twitched, as if he were itching to escape. He hates this as much as I do, she mused, a bittersweet realization washing over her. Despite their rivalry, she found a strange sense of camaraderie in their shared predicament.

We both wear masks, she thought, watching him navigate through the crowd with the ease of someone who had spent his life in the spotlight. He's trying to make his parents proud, just like I am. But underneath the polished exterior lay a heart still tied to Candice, a love that lingered like an unhealed wound.

As the couple moved through the evening, they exchanged polite glances and practiced smiles, both acutely aware of their roles as puppets in this grand performance. Atasha noticed how Aaron's eyes would occasionally wander to where Candice stood, engaging in conversation with a group of friends. The sight twisted something deep within her, a pang of jealousy she quickly suppressed. He can't be thinking of her now, she scolded herself, not when we're supposed to be starting our lives together.

Aaron caught Atasha's gaze for a fleeting moment, and in that instant, something shifted. It was a silent acknowledgment of their mutual suffering, a fleeting connection that sent a shiver down her spine. But the moment was quickly lost as his expression hardened again, returning to the stoic facade he had adopted.

Why can't he just let me in? Atasha wondered, feeling the tears well up in her eyes. Why can't we find a way to make this work? She wanted to reach out, to show him that she was more than just an obligation, more than just a strategic alliance for their families. She wanted him to see her—Atasha, the girl who dreamed of love and adventure, not just a business deal gone awry.