Destinies Entwined

Chapter 3

Charlotte's pov

Ring
Ring
Ring
I can hear my phone ringing off continously since the last 10 minutes but me being my lazy and depressed self does not want to move my ass up from my bed to get my phone from my study table. I am more that sure that it must be Nicole who is calling me. I don't want to speak to anyone at the moment and just think as to what all happened in the past 24hours. I coudnt get myself to believe that my dad literally asked me to marry someone I don't even know, let alone his name. The whole company's future is now in my hands. And I don't fucking know what am I supposed to do. I for sure know, that marrying some stranger is a lot to handle and I am not prepared to marry anyone. Period.
    I have always thought about my marriage to someone special. Someone who I will share everything with. Someone, in front of whom I can do whatever I want to, without being judged. Someone, in front of whom I can cry my my heart out, tell him all my worries, all my insecurities. Someone who will be by my side always. I don't want a Prince Charming sweeping me off the ground, niether a knight in shining armor. I just want a normal person who will be there beside me no matter what. No matter how I look, no matter what I do. I have always dreamt of having a perfect family of two children. One boy and one girl.
    Just Thinking about all this brings tears in my eyes. I don't know what I will do. What my decision will be. But what I know right now Is that i should think with a selfless mind. I cant be selfish and just say no to this marriage thing because that will not only make my dad loose the company, but also wil crush my dad's hard work. I know how hard he has worked for this company and I will be damned if anything happens to this. But then getting married cannot be the only solution to this problem. There has to be another solution to save dad's company. But then Dad I formed me that he has tried each and every method. And I believe him. I do. He must have tried each and every method to save the company from going down. Because no matter what my dad loves his family more than his company. He would never want me the be sad. Even now, he never forced his decision upon me. He wants me to say yes to this marriage but he will never force me. I have to keep all these things in mind while making my decision.
    My phone starts to ring again. And now I have to pick it up otherwise Nic will arrange searchparties to find me. I get up and walk towards my study table.
   "Where the hell were you Charlotte?" She more or less shouts from the other side as soon as I pick up. And she never uses my full name unless and until she is really a angry or upset with me.
    "Hello to you too Nic" I reply in a nonchalant tone. I cant tell her everything at the moment.atleast not like this. I will tell her everything face to face. "Are you okay Lottie?" I dont even know how she does that. She always gets to know whenever I am distressed or worried about something. "I will not even question your superpower as to how you even know that something is up with me. And to answer your question, No, I am not okay. I have never been this confused and lost in my life". I tell her because I know that hiding things from her is just a waste of time. That girl knows me so well. She will not even hesitate to call my parents and ask about me if she even smells something wrong with me.
    "Meet me at the new club downtown in 20 minutes" she says and hangs up. This is one of the things which I love about her. She always know what to do in such situations. She knew that I will not tell her things on the phone. And she knew that I needed a drink or two. At times like these, I can not even imagine myself without her. Not only in tough situations but in everyday life too.
    I walk to my cupboard and take out a red dress. It came up a little above my knees. It was a really cute dress and showed my assets just as much as I wanted to show. I then take out my black heels and go to wash my face. I dress myself real quick because I only have 20 minutes. I put a pink lipshade and that's it. I am not a makeup person. I do have a lot of it though but I am very lazy to learn how to put the makeup. I have tried a lot to copy those makeup tutorials online. They make us believe that putting makeup and a cake walk, but it is not. I literally poked my eyes with the fucking mascara and to say that I destroyed my highlighter would be an understatement. It was all over my face, my dress, my room and where not. After that day I knew that even if I wanted to I could never use makeup. And I likes myself more without makeup.
   Grabbing my clutch and phone and my car keys, I walk out of my parents' house. On my way, I messaged my mom that I will be late and not to wait for me for dinner. In just 5 minutes I arrieved at the club Nic asked me to come. I gave my car keys to the valet and made my way towards the entrance. I enter the club and start looking for Nic. I spot her near the end of the club. I walk towards her table and there she was seated with chips in front of her along with a glass of beer. As soon as she sees me, she gets up from her seat and engulfs me in a much needed bestfriend hug. I love her for this. She will never force you to tell her your problems. She will give you time and space and will wait patiently.
    "Hey bestfriend! Long time no see" she says while going back to her seat. "We just met yesturday Nic" I remind her. "But I missed you, you know." She says while pouting. Luke would find this pout of hers really cute. He would have gone up to her and kissed her. As for me her face looked constipated. " can you stop making that constipated face" i tell her. I could notice her trying to not smile at my statement.  
    "Oh you are just jealous because you can't have a face like mine." She retorted. 
    "Oh ofcourse. Whatever let's you sleep at night" I reply back.
    A boy in waiter dress comes to our table and asks us for the order. I came here with the purpose of drinking. I know I coudnt handle alcohol but then also two drinks won't cause nay harm. Right?
   I order two martinis and Nic ordered another glass of beer. The boy left us to get back our orders. "Soooo....whatsupp with youu?" And that's the most dreaded question. "Umm...nothing much just that I went to meet my dad today in his office and he told me that our company is at the edge of bankruptcy and nothing could be done to save it, except..." i trail of not wanting to get those words from my mouth. For me speaking things make them more real. Just thinking about things in your mind is really different from speaking them out. "Except?" Asks Nicole while furrowing her brows.     
"Except, ificanhetarrangedmarriageto-oneofmydadsfriendsson" I say in a single breath. The already confused face of Nic changes to a more confused one. She is looking at me weirdly. "Umm...Lottie I think you really need to consult a doctor for your health. You are having problem in speaking things" she says seriously. "No you aren't getting the point Nic" I tell her annoyed. "Okay lets start it again. What is up with you?" She says in a much calmer voice now.
     "The only way to prevent my dad's company from bankruptcy is the merger of the company with my dad's friend's company." I told her.
    "Okay so why are you so distressed bout this merging thing?" She says looking so confused.
    "Because the merger can happen only if I get arranged marriage to his son" I reply looking at my hands suddenly finding them very interesting. I don't have enough courage to look into her eyes, afraid of what might her reaction be.
    After almost five minutes of looking down at my hands I move my eyes up to watch Nic. Her mouth was hung open and her eyes were wide like saucers. In any other situation I would have laughed and maybe clicked a pic or two but this was different. This situation was way different and far from being funny. "Please day sapmething Nic" I pleaded with my eyes.
    "I swear to everything holy, Lottie. If this is a joke I would really kill you and feed your body to pandas." She says with an accusing look. "Why would I joke about such a thing Nic. I am not that stupid. I don't fucking know what to do. Seriously we are living in the 21st century and my father wants me to get married to someone I don't even know. Hell knowing him personally is way too far. I don't even know his name. What do I do Nic" I take a deep breathe to calm myself. I have been so pent up with all my frustration that I couldn't control myself to not speak out my guts to her.
    Nic was staring at me intently. As if she was trying to look into my soul. "See Lottie, I don't know why your parents are doing this with you. I mean I understand there need to save the company but getting you married to someone you don't know is not the solution. Hell, even if it is one then it is right." She says.
    "I know Nic but then I cant practically let me parents down. They have done so much for me. They've always been there with me. You know it scared to me so much seeing the worried and desperate expression on my father's face that I didn't know what to do." I breathe a sigh of frustration. We are getting to nowhere with this conversation. I think I need more drinks.
    "Okay Lottie I don't know what to say. Let's just do one thing. Let's order more drinks and enjoy this night. Let's not all the fun go to waste." She says while trying to look more enthusiastic.
    And we did just the same. I drank my sorrow and distress away and danced like there's no tomorrow.
    I don't remember how we both reached to nic's apartment but the last thing I remember is Nic throwing off her guts in the washroom. I was lying on the couch and let sleep overtook me.
I just hope everything will be fine. That was the last thought before darkness consumed me.

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Next chapter will contain something special. Hope you will enjoy it! ;)
   Till then keep readingg....