Eldora

Chapter One

"Ethan Baltimore." Ethan looked up as his name was called. "You're next."

Taking a quick glance at the others, Ethan slowly rose to his feet before making his way over to the woman standing by the large fancy door that was adjacent to the door that led outside the large building. He eased past her as she glanced him up and down as he passed, the obvious lust flashed her in eyes as she eyed him closely while wondering exactly he would ask from the man that wrote her checks. 

Mr. Baltimore was a very sexy man that stood six-four with a very stocky build, his shoulders were naturally broad with his thick body filled with muscles, as well as gleaming silver-gray eyes that made him only more mysterious looking. He gladly sprouted a five o'clock shadow that gave him an even sexier appeal, his nice six pack was covered by a black tee that hugged snugly to his masculine frame. 

Ethan kept his shape by working out and walking instead of driving around like the others around the small, but largely populated town that was buzzing frantically everyday except for the later hours. Taking up the profession of a mechanic before the sudden change in life that even he couldn't understand, Ethan's the only one with that occupation so his income was rather good, as he was the only one that could work on cars. 

The days Ethan wasn't working on cars, he would be in the basement of his home on the gym equipment he ordered from a catalog or simply laying around all day. Ethan glanced around the large office he entered to see a man sitting behind a desk and a woman working in a cubicle only a few inches away from him, her fingers furiously tapping away on the industrial typewriter provided. 

"Nice to see you, Mr. Baltimore." The portly man sounded, catching Ethan's attention from the decorative wall art.

Ethan simply nodded in return as the man eased down in his chair and sized Ethan up openly, a decent smile came over his face as he opened a file on his desk and scanned the listings inside, causing Ethan to patiently shift his feet while feeling a little nervousness. As the man read the biography listing before him, Ethan took the time to stare at the man as he had a balding head with a pair of the thickest black glasses known to the town. 

No one knew the color of the mysterious man's eyes, but that didn't mislead the fact that he was a very sweet man at heart and he truly cared for the people around him. The slightly elder man, no later than his fifties, wore an all black American-cut suit that fitted him almost perfectly, the large desk hid most of his frame. 

"Mr. Ethan Baltimore, you're record is completely clean... as it is every year." The man said, closing the file. "I'm not even sure why I opened it, honestly. I apologize, I don't expect nothing less of you as any other year that you've been here." He said, sliding the file aside for the woman sitting at the typewriter to grab.

"It's alright, Mr. Jones. I know good deeds don't go unnoticed." Ethan commented, crossing his hands over his crotch in a non-threatening or intimidating manner. 

"That's very true, Mr. Baltimore, how's your day been so far?" Mr. Jones asked, rubbing the top of his desk to wipe a few paper shredding off with a eager smile to hold a conversation with someone. 

"Same as any other day, wake up, go to work, go home, go to sleep... then do it all over again." Ethan said, solemnly shrugging to make it seem like the repetitive routine that he didn't want to express no longer, and he was hoping the man before him would get the hint. "I'm hoping after our meeting, I'll be leaving with a smile on my face. 

"As do I, Mr. Baltimore, and as usual... my policies are simple and I just want all of my citizens to be happy. So? What would you like for this new year? Finally wanting a car?" Mr. Jones asked. 

"Nah, I'm not really looking for something to drive, walking keeps me in better shape anyway." Ethan explained, reaching up and rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"A mansion that can fit all the women in the town?" Ethan replied with the shake of his head and a frown on his face. "A new motorcycle, that seems like it'll fit you."

"I don't even know how to ride one." Ethan explained, raising an eyebrow. "You give up yet?"

"Yes, what would you like me to give you this year?" Kyler Jones asked, clasping his hands together on the surface of the desk.

"Okay... so this might be hard to come by but I think you could do it, it's can't be that hard."

"Yes?" Mr. Jones told him to continue, raising an eyebrow with curiosity.

"I want to meet my soulmate, I know she's out here somewhere. Maybe I just haven't spotted her yet, or something. And before you even start about Lyrica, I'm not looking for one like her, I want something different." Ethan reasoned.

"Different how?" Mr. Jones asked with confusion.

"I just want something different from the original, something that's truly for me and I think you know out of everyone. You can grant my wish by marrying me to whoever you pick without consent, save me the headache."

"Mrs. James, bring me a few files of something... different." The woman at the typewriter quickly ceased and got to her feet to do as she was told. "So the type of woman, what do you require her to have?"

"She has to be gorgeous," Ethan spoke truthfully, "I'm not very picky on my woman, I just want someone full of love, large family oriented, and got good intentions most of all. Just something different that you think would fit perfectly for me. You got my charts, you can just match it with best you got." Was Ethan's reply as he cocked his head lightly. "I didn't really think that deep into it."

"Have you ever thought anything through before?"

"Never, you'll never experience life if you do." Ethan retorted with a smirk on his face as he winked at the secretary flirtatiously. 

Mr. Jones cocked his head a little as he examined Ethan's boasting demeanor and large ego as he made the appearance of being rather careless and to think the man would ever wanna settle down and marry was not comforting. All the townspeople knew as Ethan had player intentions and many believed the day Ethan found love wasn't even in his future, that the brawny man would be a player to his last day on Earth. Mr. Jones knew that getting him married without the picking's consent was going to be the easy part, making sure that the two stayed together was going to be a lot of work for them both, and no one could slack or just give up.

"When you're married, you're bonded for life-"

"I know." Ethan stated, reaching up and pushing his dirty-blonde hair back with a sigh. "And I don't care, I would love to finally be with someone forever."

"I've brought twenty women that haven't been filed yet, Mr. Jones. I apologize for the rush but I had only grabbed that stack, if you want me to-" Mrs. James rushed back, breathing heavily as she sat the many manila folders down with a heavy breath.

"No that's perfectly fine, thank you." Mr. Jones kindly replied, sliding the files closer to him. "These are all the people who haven't been filed?" He asked her in utter shock.

"Yes sir, Mayor Bland hasn't return to the office from lunch yet." Mrs. James replied, sitting in her seat while waiting for further instructions. 

The expression that came over Mr. Jones face was one of exhaustion as he sighed before opening the first file and lightly nodding at the red haired that was sedated with her bright green eyes staring blankly at the camera lens when the picture was taken. His eyes suddenly squinted suspiciously as he looked up at Ethan, who was glancing around the office once more until catching Mr. Jones eye contact. 

"Mr. Baltimore, I'll see to your love interest." Mr. Jones said dismissively. 

"Perfect." Ethan replied, thanking Mr. Jones before turning and moving to exit the office.

"Oh, and Mr. Baltimore..." Mr. Jones called suddenly, his head cocked slightly with a devious intent in his head. "I do not think things over myself, we all should live a little corre-"

"Wait..." Ethan quickly paused, completely against breaking the placed rules and he knew that Mr. Jones knew that about him. "You know I don't break any of the rules right, Mr. Jones."