Broken Souls

The First Sight

The Izna Daily

If you thought that yesterday's news was a big one, then hold your horses, everyone. Izna is going to experience the biggest family union in its history. This morning the Papadopoulos and Yilmaz family announced a marriage between Leon Papadopoulos, the current heir of the Papadopoulos family and Hilal Yilmaz, the youngest daughter of Yilmaz family. The two families are meeting tonight officially for dinner and the marriage date has been set for next week. Nobody knows the real reason behind this sudden decision of the two rival families to finally put their past behind and unite together but you are free to make your guesses. 

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"It seems like when it comes to marriage you are not that lucky cousin"

"Quit talking nonsense and give me the information Aleksi"

"Well someone is being impatient. I came here to tell you the information am I not?" 

Leon rolled his eyes at his cousins' childishness. After he agreed to his fathers' plan last night Leon immediately got to work. Afterall you can't woo a person without knowing about her. 

"So cousin, there is not much information available about your future bride. It seems like the Yilmaz family heavily monitor about their public image. All I get to know that she is not the beauty of the family that title belongs to her elder sister who is already married. Your loss there," Aleksi cheekily added.

"And?" 

"And she is more of an artistic type. I manage to find a picture of her but it is an old picture and very blurry. Here," Aleksi handed over a paper cutting to Leon.

"Hmm, at least you got something. You can go now."

"Bye, cousin."

Leon looked at the blurry picture and thought it doesn't matter what she looks like, he just has to make her fall for him. 

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"You never seemed like the type to agree to an arranged marriage. I was very surprised,"

"Life is full of surprise Eleni," Hilal told her friend.

"Sure it is" Eleni agreed "But yours will be a pleasant surprise cause your future husband is gorgeous to look at."

"How did you manage to see the Papadopoulos heir?" 

"Oh! how I wish to see him in person. I didn't."

 "Then how did you know he is gorgeous?"

"I might have stalked the gossip pages of the North. Apparently, your future husband is the darling of the North newspapers. If he looks half as a good in real life as he is in the pictures then girl you have hit the jackpot," Eleni said excitedly.

"So what more did you discover?"

"Well, he is also a playboy according to the media. Never had a stable girlfriend but he always turns up in the social events with a different girl in his arm. With his looks and family connection no wonder the North girls are all over him. They are already cursing you in the comment section for taking their prince charming off the market."

Hilal didn't say anything more to her friend. She was hoping to get some information from her friend given her curious nature and she already served her purpose. Learning that the Papadopoulos heir's a charmer is a big plus, now she just has to pretend like a star-struck girl lost in his charms and her plan will work smoothly.

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Leon got to give credit to the Yilmaz family, they are quite punctual given the size of the convoy they brought with them.

The dinner meeting was arranged at 7 PM and they arrived dot at 7. Not one minute before or late. As the hosts, the Papadopoulos family is already at the table.

First, the Yilmaz security team entered and took their position beside the Papadopoulos security team. Then entered the famous family of the South. Cevedet Yilmaz followed by his wife Azize Yilmaz, then an elderly woman who Leon guessed as the mother of Cevdet, Hasibe Yilmaz. Last but not the least entered the women who Leon was waiting for, his wife to be. 

She was small, that's the first thing that came to Leon's mind when he saw her. But the confidence with which she entered the room gave him the idea that if anybody underestimates her from her height that person will be gravely mistaken. Her pale skin with the sun-kissed hair gave her an almost ethereal look. Then, at last, she looked at him and Leon was startled by her eyes. If he is not careful, he could get lost in those ocean blues. That feeling itself made him uncomfortable but he soon composed himself and gave her his most charming smile. 

The moment Hilal entered the room she can feel his eyes on her. She can feel the intensity of his gaze without even looking at him. She looked around the room first. By the dinner table stood the Papadopoulos family head Vasili and his wife Veronica. They made an odd couple Hilal thought to herself. They gave a very different aura from her own parents. Then finally she saw him. Eleni said he was gorgeous but surely it was an understatement. He was pure male but at the same time, there was such a boyish charm to him that made him mesmerizing. Suddenly Hilal realized that she was staring at him for too long and as if he can read her mind he smiled at that exact time. The reactions that smile brought upon her made Hilal angry at herself for being so affected by him. So almost involuntarily she scowled at him. 

To be continued.....