The Fairy Lights Under Phoenix City

Chapter 15

The bright florescent lights of the office blinded Gina when she first stepped in. As did the burst of color. Everything in the Laminca Corporation was black and white. Except for Mr. Laminca's office. The books, the dark wood, the carpet, it was every color except black and white. The only black in the room was Aaron's dark hair and dark eyes. Which stood out brilliantly against his golden skin. She stared at him. Not caring if she was rude. He didn't seem to care. He didn't even look at her.

"Miss Dupré." Mr. Laminca said with a smile. "Thank you for coming. Take a seat."

Gina sat down silently beside Aaron. Who still didn't look at her. He kept his eyes downcast. Looking his hands, folded in his lap. She looked at them as well. Nearly trimmed nails. But they were not professionally manicured. No rings. No bling at all. No necklaces or rings or earrings. Not even gel or product in his hair. Other than the expensive shoes and suit, Aaron looked quite plain. Like he was wearing his wealth, but it did not touch who he was as a person. That was the first thing Gina saw in Aaron.

"As you know, your father and I have arranged an agreement to have you two married. For the sake of our businesses and your futures." Mr. Laminca explained. As if he was explaining the ABCs to a child. "I have brought you here to go over the terms of the agreement, and of course, have you meet my son."

"Pleased to meet you." Gina said lightly.

Aaron finally looked up at her. His eyes were so dark and so deep that they seemed to go on forever. Like the night sky or the ocean. He held his hand out. She took it. Shook it. It was warm. Warmer than she expected it to be.

She withdrew her hand.

They sat and tuned out Mr. Laminca's droning voice. The rules he read. Aaron showed no interest in her or their marriage. The only one in the room who cares about this engagement was Aaron's father. It made her sad. Gina knew that they'd have a loveless, sad marriage. But she agreed to it for her family's sake. But did he do it for the same reasons? Why was he agreeing to this if he didn't want her? It was pretty clear he didn't care about his father either. What was going on inside his head?

Gina was snapped out of her train of thought when she was handed a pen. She signed the papers absentmindedly. They weren't real legal documents. Since arranged marriages are technically illegal. But everything was on the line. Their reputations, their companies, their futures. It was a silent agreement to do the best for their families.

Aaron signed the line, his eyes blank and emotionless.

Gina rarely saw her fiancé after that. Occasionally Aaron would drop by to see her on his father's orders. They would stumble awkwardly through small talk. Every week Gina received bouquets of flowers with a printed card on tied to it. From Aaron. It read. Gina cast them aside. It had no value. Just a mechanical, meaningless pleasantry. Pretending to care. Gina doubted Aaron sent them at all. It was most likely another thing Aaron's father was doing to push them together.

But one Christmas Eve he came to her. Knocked on her door in the middle of a snowstorm.

Gina peered through the sheer curtains. Squinting to try and see her through the snow. Then she saw him. Dark eyes, dark hair. She'd know that fancy foreign suit anywhere. It was her fiancé.

She walked to the door. Opening it up to him. Standing in the the falling snow he was a handsome man. Especially with the snowflakes resting on his broad shoulders and his dark hair. Sparkling in the streetlights like stars. But his eyes were unreadable. He didn't care to see her. Which begged the question...