Rekindled Rendezvous

Chapter One

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to disobey you, it's just-"

Father raised his hand and stopped me. He sent me a disapproving glance and my heart withered.

This wasn't the first time I've disobeyed my parents, but it was certainly the most problematic. I could tell my Father was mad, from the way he was clenching and unclenching his fist. I was scared he would hit me again but instead, he took a deep breath and relaxed.

I let out a sigh of relief but recoiled back when he stared at me with menacing eyes. "Do you know what you've created?" he hissed. "I had a future prepared for our company! Now, there are barely any suitors who still want to marry you,"

Even though I knew this was a bad thing, a part of me couldn't help but feel relieved by his words. Secretly, I was praying I didn't end up in an arranged marriage and would find the one for me. I thought that was Francisco, but obviously, he wasn't.

My expression turned sour just thinking of him. The way his silver hair sparkled in the bright sunlight, or the way he would wrap his warm arms around me, enveloping me in an affectionate embrace. How his faint freckles always stood out during dawn but disappeared at dusk. I loved how-

I stopped myself, scowling. "Are you even listening to me?" I heard my father snap.

"S-sorry, could you repeat that?" I asked. He growled in frustration and for a second, I thought he was part wolf.

I giggled at the thought of my father with furry skin and a tail. Father gave me a sharp look and I instantly clamped my mouth shut. "Because of your reckless acts, your mother and I decided to marry you to a neighboring company's son, Oliver Abate, in exchange to conjoin both companies." He smiled triumphantly.

Instantly, I felt like I lost the ability to speak. I started stuttering, but my mind was so blank and confused, that I wasn't able to form words. My father mistook this for shock and patted my arm. "Ths is what happens when you disobey me, dear," he said. "I hope you take this as a lesson not to defy me."

Even though he said these words lighthearted, his eyes conveyed a dangerous message not to mess with him. He marched out of my room and I felt the tears threatening to fall moments ago drip down my cheeks.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to curse. I wanted to slap my father across the face and demand for him to listen to my side of the story. I wanted to yell so loud that all of Italy would hear me.

But most importantly, I wanted to blame Francisco. However, even in my enraged state, I knew it wasn't fair to blame him.

I had brought this upon myself, by encouraging the relationship. I had believed and agreed to every false statement that came out of Francisco's gorgeous mouth.

I groaned and collapsed onto my bed. Frustratedly, I screamed into my pillow and kicked my legs repeatedly on my mattress until my muscles and vocal cords were aching.

I was screeching so loud that I didn't hear my mother enter the room. But when I felt a small, warm hand stroke my hair, I instantly knew it was her.

"Mom!" I wailed, flinging myself at her. Her long, pale arms automatically wrapped around me and out of habit, I bury my face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her lemony perfume.

"I don't know what to do!" I blubbered, my tears damping the front of her green cashmere blouse. "I just found out my boyfriend betrayed me and ran off. Now Father's marrying me off to some stranger!" I sobbed again, this time dragging my fingernails across my cheeks.

She rocked me back and forth for what seemed like an eternity, murmuring and cooing sweet messages into my ear. A part of me relaxed, knowing my mother was there for me, but I was still tense as ever.

I finally was able to compose myself and scooted off her lap. I was sure I looked like Frankenstein, but at the moment, that was the last of my worries. "What do I do?" I stared at her, my voice hoarse and cracking.

Sympathy shone clear in Mother's eyes and for a second, I wondered how she got stuck with my father. Unlike Dad, Mom was kind, solicitous soul who valued the opinion of others, unlike Father. She was quite the stunner at my age, with dark honey blonde locks and warm brown eyes. But now, her once healthy blonde locks were streaked with stressful grey strands and her eyes looked dull and lifeless. However, I still believed she deserves someone better than my father.

"It's alright," she soothed. "I talked to your fiance already and he is a handsome man," My eyebrows shot up and I stared at her, interested.

"What's he like?" I curiously asked. I had high hopes he wasn't like Francisco, who was short tempered and ill mannered, but still romantic nonetheless. My mother smiled gently at me, but her eyes glinted with respect for the male, Oliver.

"He's very polite. A true gentleman, really. Very humorous as well, he was cracking jokes the whole time I talked to him! I can see him becoming a potential businessman and I approve."

She saw my puckered expression and added, "Honestly, Alessia, Oliver seems like a great guy." I shrugged. I'd be the judge of that.

"I know, it's just that it'll be hard to trust after the Francisco incident..especially since that happened recently," I sighed, running a hand through my blonde hair. She nodded in understanding. "Remember, this isn't your choice to decide. So whether you like it or not, you're stuck in this engagement."

She was right, of course. My father was stubborn when it came to his choices and I was 100% sure he wouldn't change his mind. But that didn't mean I wouldn't rebel against him in my mind.

"I think you should go to sleep," Mom said, staring at me tiredly. Only then did I notice the visible, dark gray bags under her eyes and how pale her skin looked.

"Mama?" I asked in alarm. "Are you sick?" She shook her head and smiled sadly. "Your father has been giving me a hard time,"

Immediately, I shot up. "I'm going to set him straight!" I growled. Mother's arm reached for me and she yanked me down, soothingly rubbing my arm. "It's okay," she said. "You should go to sleep," she repeated, a bit more urgently.

I eyed her. "Why?" I asked, confused. She avoided eye contact with me and I repeated my question, a bit more violently. "Oliver is coming over to get to know you better," she said. "Your father sent me here to tell you, but I had to make sure you were okay first."

Crestfalleningly, I nodded my head. "Okay," I whispered, climbing into my covers. She stroked my hair once again, before kissing my smooth forehead. "Goodnight, my moon," she whispered to me.

For the first time today, I smiled. "Goodnight, my star," I hugged her once more and watched her soundlessly slip out of the door.

But that night, I couldn't sleep. All I could think about was Oliver Abate and our future together. What was my dad expecting? Did he just want us to act like a married couple in front of the media? Or, did he expect us to have kids?

The thought sent a shudder down my spine.

Whatever my dad had planned up his sleeve was not good.

Author's Note:

Hello and welcome to the end of Chapter Two. I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I have more coming out soon.

Thanks for reading!

-Nisha