Marriage, not dating.

Chapter 4

"I was worried" he said gently.
I stopped for a moment to collect my own thoughts.
"L-let's just go home." I felt weird.
I've never had someone worry about me ever since I was young, other than Jack and Matilda.
I've always been alone. All the elders were taking care of business so I spent most of my time alone.
Even my older brothers had their work.
Since I'm the youngest and the age difference between us is obvious.
They would stay a couple of minutes with me just to make sure I was studying or that I was acting according to manners.
But I've never had someone worry about me for any kind of reason.
I've never heard the words "are you okay?" Before from household.
So hearing it from someone who is my husband-to-be threw me off guard.
"Hey!" James snapped his fingers infront of my eyes to get my attention.
"You've been zoning out" he said and continued to look at the road infront of him.
I didn't even realize that we were already on the road driving.
I slumped in my chair and looked out of the window.
It was starting to get cold.
"Do I turn on the heater?" He asked taking short glances at me.
"Yeah.." I answered admiring the view outside the car.

***

I woke up in my bed. I tried recalling ever getting to the bed but I don't even remember I got out of James' car.
"You slept, so I carried you to your bed." I looked to the source of the sound.
"What the hell!" I shouted.
He raised an eyebrow as he was trying to understand what was going on.
"Don't tell me you spent the night here!" I got out of my bed to stand in front of him.
"I did not." He set down the coffee by my nightstand.
"You could have easily waken me up and told me that I arrived at my house." I sighed looking at him as he left my room.
"You were sleeping, so I didn't want to annoy you" he said as he wore his coat and was getting ready to leave.
"Get ready" he ordered me.
"What! Why? Where are we going?" I asked.
"Just get ready, your grandmother wants us to meet her-." He answer siting on my couch.
"You can leave first, I'll follow later." I said
"-Together." He continued his first sentence that I cut through.
"Whatever" I rolled my eyes as I left to get ready.

***

We were siting in the guest room of the main house. Grandmother's secretary told us grandma will meet with us after she finishes the meeting she has.

James was talking on the phone with his secretary. He has a couple of meetings in the afternoon.
My grandmother finally came to meet with us.
We sat down after we gave our greetings.
"What do we honor this meeting, grandma." I asked casually. I'm closer to my grandmother than to my own father.
"We've set your wedding date." She answered as she pushed back her glasses.
"Wait, what?!" I sat in my chair and gave all my attention.
"It's next week." She said as she flipped through a magazine.
"You are joking, right?" I asked her lowering my voice and showing my emotions.
Which is something my grandmother forbids.
Her motto in life is to never show emotions.
She stared at me as if warning me.
I looked to James to see him not even half surprised.
He looked calm and collected.
"Did you know about this?" I asked him getting angry for I don't know why.
"Yes, I found out yesterday." He looked into my eyes at the end.
"Great, really great! So I'm left behind again." I said to no one in particular.
I got my stuff and left the room.
I went to my room in this house.
My dad designed it himself.
It's very luxurious and fancy.
It's overloaded with stuff that I don't necessarily need.
I threw myself on to the bed without even taking of my heels.
I dozed off for a while and then got up.
Changed my cloth into a fancy dress and got a matching clutch.
I was to attend a meeting today at the company.
I should look my finest.
I called my secretary and he took me to the company.

***

There was an after party in the company that I was also attending.
I was sipping on my drink when a bunch of lads came up to me.
Most of them were people I've met through work.
"How may I help you?" I asked them not in the mood to speak to anyone.
"How are you, Mrs. Diamond" one of them smirked.
"It's Miss Goldstein." I retorted back and looked the other side waiting for them to leave me alone.
"What's the difference, you're getting married next week." They smiled and left me be.
Wow, news travel fast.
I left the stupid party and called my secretary to come and pick me up.
"Is he also dating?" I got a little bit annoyed.
"Want a ride?" James stood next to me and smiled down at me.
"Yeah, if you don't mind. It seems the whole world is dating." I said annoyed.
He chuckled and walked us to his car.

***

We didn't go to the main house first. We stopped by a beach.
"It's so beautiful!" I said looking and walking around.
I took off my heels and ran around the shore.
Whenever the water touched my feets I squealed, James would laugh in the background at me.
We played around for hours until it got very late.
I got into the car with my feet bare.
I sneezed a couple of times throughout the whole ride and James would offer a tissue, he also offered is jacket which o greedily took.
We spent the whole ride on this routine.
We arrived at the main house and dad was the one receiving us.
I paid my respect as well as James.
"Do you even know what time is it?" He asked anger clear in his voice.
"Father, it's late. Please let's talk tomorrow." I said trying not to argue with him.
"People will talk." He said
"Let them, when did they ever shut up?" I asked and left both men alone.
I left to my room and slept.