This Isn't My Idea of Love

Chapter Three: The Engagement Party

Staring at herself in the mirror of the bedroom that she was standing in, Viola tried to calm herself down; she couldn't believe that in a few short moments, she would be introduced to her fiancé.

“Viola… you look beautiful,” Annabelle said as she smiled at her eldest daughter; she couldn't believe how quickly Viola had grown up and now she was preparing to meet her fiancé.

The young woman was wearing a nude/black panelled pleat dress that her best friend, Chris Hummel, had picked out for her for Christmas with a pair of black heeled sandals.

It had been a week since she had received the Lotus flower and now she was stood in a house in Rosario, Argentina preparing to meet the man that had been chosen for her.

Viola was a little upset that she hadn’t been able to speak to Brent before she had flown out to Argentina; she could understand that he was upset that she was marrying someone else, but she had hoped to speak with him and make things right.

“Everyone’s downstairs,” Emilia said as she stepped into the bedroom, she flashed her older sister a smile; she knew that the older brunette wasn’t happy about this.

Emilia had known her own fiancé most of her life since he was from New York but Viola didn't have that luxury.

“Viola… I know this is hard for you, but Lionel will be able to provide for you and look after you,” Annabelle said gently as she approached her daughter; she could sense that the brunette was still upset about what was happening.

Viola nodded as she ran her fingers through her brown hair, she knew her parents meant well but she was still didn't want to be here marrying a man that didn't love her.

“Lala, your father and I… Lionel’s a good man please… just give him a chance,” Annabelle asked gently making the brunette nod as she fiddled with the 18ct white gold 1 carat diamond solitaire ring that was now on her left hand.

It had been given to her by Celia shortly after they arrived since Lionel was still traveling to Rosario with his older brothers at the time from Barcelona.

“I’ll try…” Viola said making Annabelle smile before she led her daughter from the bedroom, where she had been staying until the engagement party.

***

Meanwhile downstairs not enjoying the party, Lionel was watching as his family and friends celebrate his engagement; there were very few people that he didn't know, but he put it down to the engagement party being thrown at the last minute.

The Argentine sipped on his drink as he thought back to Antonella, she had been devastated when she had learnt that he was engaged to someone else; even after he had explained that he had no say in the marriage, she was upset about it.

Not that the Argentine blamed her, it wasn’t something that anyone expected to hear from their other half that they were arranged to be married to someone else.

He hadn’t seen her since she had walked out of their home in Castelldefels, Barcelona; no matter how many times he called her to see if she was alright, Antonella didn't want to speak to him.

“Cheer up Leo,” Matías said making his younger brother glare at him, he didn't want to be here during his summer holidays meeting the woman that his parents had chosen for him.

Rodrigo and Matías had also both been in arranged marriages, though they had met theirs years before they had been married; Rodrigo had married Louisa back in 2004 and the two of them now had two children, Catharine who had been born in 2005 and Lucas who had been born in 2007.

Then there was Matías who had married Florencia in 2007, they had twin sons; Augustine and Perito who had been born back in 2009.

Lionel hated that his parents had done this to him, that they had arranged for him to marry a woman that he had met when he was a child.

“Lionel, there you are I would like to introduce you to Viola, your fiancée,” Celia Messi said as she finally found her youngest son hiding in one of the corners of the room; the Argentine sighed as he turned to face his mother as Annabelle ushered a younger woman in front of him.

Celia smiled as she watched her son stare at the brunette for a moment, she knew that this was strange for the two of them but it was for the best; even if they didn't see it.

“Lionel, this is Viola… Viola, this is Lionel,” Annabelle said as she smiled while her daughter stared at the Argentine in front of her; her father’s obsession with Lionel Messi making complete sense to her.

The two stood in awkward silence as they looked at each other until Celia spoke.

“We’ll leave you two to talk,” she said grinning at Annabelle before they hurried off leaving their two children alone.

The two of them stood quietly as people around them celebrated their engagement; they couldn't bring themselves to say anything as they stood awkwardly together.

However their awkwardness didn't last long until Jorge and Leonardo gained everyone’s attention; the two men grinned like idiots, making Viola and Lionel realise that this wasn’t going to end well.

Leonardo was the first to speak as Annabelle moved back to her husband’s side and allowed him to wrap his arm around her waist.

“I would like to thank you all for coming here today to celebrate Lionel and Viola’s engagement, I hope the two of you will have many happy years together,” Leonardo said as he hugged his wife close, Viola stared at her father as if he had lost his mind.

She had just met Lionel and he was wishing them a happy future. Celia and Jorge smiled at their friends as they hugged each other.

“I couldn't have said it better Leonardo… to Lionel and Viola, may you both have a wonderful and happy life together,” Jorge said as he raised his glass of champaign to the couple in a toast.

Lionel stared at his father as he realised that this was going to happen, it wasn’t something that was going to go away; he was going to marry Viola if it was the last thing his parents ever did.

Brushing a strand of hair from her face, Viola glanced at Lionel before she excused herself, she felt sick knowing that she was going to marry him; it all suddenly seemed so real and she couldn't handle it.

Lionel watched as his fiancée rushed out of the room and disappeared from sight, he knew that he should follow after her to make sure that she was okay; it wouldn’t look good if he didn't make sure that she was okay.

Lionel sighed as he followed after her, he had no intention of actually looking for her; he just wanted some fresh air, as the last few days came crashing down on him.

The Argentine knew that his agent, Ricardo Santos, would be releasing a statement to the press about his engagement any day now; then there would be no escaping the arrangement.

Stepping outside Lionel sighed as he looked over to his left and spotted Viola, she didn't turn to look at him as she leant against the wall and closed her eyes; she wondered what she had done in a past life to deserve this.

She was being forced marrying a man that didn't love her and in a few days, she was expected to travel back to New York to pack all her things to move 3839 miles to Barcelona to live with him; Viola didn't know how much worse things could get.