Forced Affinity

1

The summer air was thick with the promise of rain as Violet Wilson stepped off the plane back into the bustling city of New York. She'd spent the last few months indulging in the carefree life of a college student, far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But now, she was back in the concrete jungle, a prisoner of the past.

A sleek, black car awaited her at the airport. As she slid into the backseat, she caught a glimpse of the man in the driver's seat. Mason Cooper. The man who had been her childhood tormentor and now, her unwilling fiancé.

"Long time no see, Violet," he drawled, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Violet rolled her eyes. "I suppose. Can we just get this over with?"

The journey back to the family estate was filled with awkward silences. The years had changed them both, but the underlying tension remained. They were two people bound by a contract, forced to play a part in a love story that hadn't even begun.

As they pulled up to the grand, imposing mansion, a wave of dread washed over Violet. This was the place where her childhood had been both a blessing and a curse. The place where she and Mason had been forced to grow up together, a constant reminder of their shared fate.

A formal dinner awaited them, a gathering of their families. The air was thick with expectation, the weight of their parents' hopes and dreams pressing down on their shoulders. Mason and Violet were forced to sit beside each other, their forced proximity igniting a spark of animosity.

"So, Violet," Mason began, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "how was your semester of freedom?"

Violet shot him a withering look. "It was fine, Mason. Much better than being trapped here."

The tension in the room was palpable. Violet and Mason were locked in a silent war, their words sharp and their gazes icy. Just as the atmosphere was about to reach a boiling point, Violet's mother, Jennifer, a woman of grace and elegance, intervened.

"Now, now, you two," she chided, her voice gentle but firm. "We're all here to celebrate, not to argue. Why don't you two go for a walk in the garden? Fresh air always clears the mind."

A glimmer of hope flickered in Violet's eyes. A chance to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the dinner table. She nodded, grateful for the reprieve. Mason, though reluctant, followed suit, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of their forced engagement seemed to lighten. The garden, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, offered a serene escape from the drama of the dinner party.

Violet and Mason walked in silence for a few moments, the only sound of the rustle of leaves and the chirping of crickets. Finally, Violet broke the silence.

"So, how have you been?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Mason shrugged. "Same old, same old. Working, going to the gym, trying to avoid getting married to you."

Violet scoffed. "You're not fooling anyone, Mason. I know you're just as eager to get out of this as I am."

Mason rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. Like I'm going to believe that."

As they neared the house, the conversation turned to lighter topics. Violet, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist a jab. "So, how's your little girlfriend doing? The one you were so smitten with last summer."

Mason's face flushed slightly. "Sophia? She's fine," he replied, his tone defensive.

Violet smirked. "Oh, really? The one who couldn't care less about our little charade? The one who thinks we're actually in love?"

Mason's jaw clenched. "She doesn't know the full story, Violet. And it's none of her business."

"Exactly," Violet replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "She's just another pawn in this game, isn't she? Just like me."