The Arrangement

2: The Date

If I was a normal teenager I would've spent the past week crying and sulking, but I had duties, unlike a normal teenager. In the past week I'd done a bunch of things, like attending formal dinners and making appearances at events.

That night particularly was a special one for my family. A new branch of the family businesses was being opened. . .the same branch that had my parents in the debt that I was paying for

"Susan could you be a dear and fetch my Fendi bag from downstairs . The one with the gold detail," said Ame as applied eyeshadow on her lids. "You should try saying please sometime."
"She's the paid help baby sister, no need to be nice."
"One day it could be you in her shoes, you know." She laughed for a while before shaking her head. "You have jokes, Amelia. Me? Amethyst Weston? A maid?" She laughed again, then shooed me away with her hand. She had me thinking as I walked down the hall to my own bedroom. Mom was right. Ame would never survive being poor. She was too used to this life. . .and I couldn't see her adjusting to another one.

I took in the night air, as I stood on my balcony, dressed and ready for tonight's event. I was deep in my thoughts about money and marriage, when a car I didn't recognise came up the driveway and stopped in front of the house. Had mom and dad hired a vehicle to take us to the party? Could it be him? I silently prayed that it wasn't, even though my fingers were crossed hoping that it was. What the hell was going on with me?

The male stepped out of the vehicle and looked up at me. "Lia! Like my new wheels?" I couldn't help but smile. Oh Andrè. My 23 year old brother who acted more like he was at least two years younger than me. With him, it was an endless stream of the country's hottest supermodels and foreign cars. "It's beautiful. Where have you been for the past two weeks?"
"Come down and I'll tell you all about it."

He was sitting comfortably in the main lounge as if he hadn't just been away from home for two weeks without letting anyone know where he was. "Looking beautiful as always little sister." I smiled as I walked into his embrace. "I know." I jokingly said with a cocky tone. "Oh, look who's grown some balls." He poured us some champagne, then sat down next to me. "Well I've changed a lot since you left."
"Well cheers to that, then." He lifted his glass then drank.
"Cheers to that and your new car. Where'd you get it."
"Italy. That's where I was."
"Who'd you go with?"
"This girl I met in a club called Sofia. I woke up next to her and she said she loved Italy. Next thing I knew she was giving me a hand-job on a plane there."
"TMI André! Do you like her?"
"I don't know. She wasn' t my usual type, but I seemed to be drawn to her." He furrowed his brows as if in deep thought. "You should see her again."
"As in, a date?"
"Yes."
"You know I don't do that Lia."
"Why not? If I were you I'd take the chance to fall in love while I had it. . .not everyone has that luxury."
He looked at me with concern and took my hand in his, "Where's this coming from?" I tried hard to not cry and put on a brave face but my fake smile didn't help. "Nowhere."
"Amelia?" He never called me that. Ever. "You can talk to me. Anytime."
"Except when you're sleeping around and getting lost in the world."
"Hey, it's not sleeping around. It's having a healthy sex-life without committing."
"Whatever."

The event started at 7, with my parents' speeches and the cutting of the ribbon to the new section in the building. I was bored to death while my siblings flirted and networked. I had somehow managed to get through life without any serious friends. Which meant not having anyone I knew at an event. I soon realised that it would take a lot of champagne to get through the night, so I grabbed a flute of one of the waiters' trays. I also took a cupcake off one of the serving tables and left the room. I wandered through the hotel trying to find a place to hide from everyone. The private deck, by the pool seemed good so I took a seat on the patio set couch. I pulled my Louboutins off and threw them aside. Long, slow sips of my drink helped me unwind. I was tired. Exhausted, in fact. The past week had been hell for me. From being forced to marry to all the work. It was all getting too much for me.

"Good evening, Miss Weston." That voice was familiar. . .I hated it. Mostly because I longed to hear it whisper dirty things into my ear. I stood and turned to face him. "Hello, husband."
I sneered, instantly regretting it. He walked around the sofa and stopped in front of me. "You sure don't like me for someone who's about to marry me."
"True," I said staring at the floor.
"Why? Everyone else says I'm a charming man. Have they been lying to me?" I looked up at Adrian, suddenly in awe of how good he looked in the moonlight with his dark amber hair, ocean eyes, perfect jawline. His tall, broad-shouldered structure adding to his breathtaking looks. He smiled that smile. . .the one that made me wet between the legs. "I know you're not comfortable with me right now, but I'd like to change that before you're officially mine, Miss Weston." I was at a loss for words and in sheer shock from the need that ran through my body. "Uhm, yeah, whatever."
"Are you drooling, Miss Weston?"
"What? Over you? No."
He laughed, seeming genuinely amused by the whole situation. "I don't seem to find that as amusing as you do, Mr Reed," I said in my most innocent tone. "Adrian, please."
"Okay, Adrian. . .Why me? You could've married anybody in this country. A guy as handsome as you could bag any girl he wants, and you choose me."
" You think I'm handsome?" He asked stepping closer. I kept a straight face and placed my hands on my hips, shifting my weight from one leg to the next. "Answer my question."
Again he took a step towards me. "Me being so handsome makes life easy. . .and I," he came closer, so close that our chests were touching, "love a challenge."
He lost me at love. His scent wafted around in the air between us and his breath felt warm on my skin. "So I'm just a game to you. . .just a challenge?"
"The game is getting you. You're more like the. . .reward."
"Oh," was all I managed. "Play my game, Miss Weston. It would be my pleasure to have you over for dinner."
"When?"
"How's Tuesday?" Too far, is what I wanted to say, but didn't. "Perfect. . .I'd love to pleasure you." What!? Where did that come from?
He did that sexy laugh again before downing the rest of the alcohol in his glass. "I, Uhm. . .yeah," I mumbled before grabbing my shoes and almost sprinted away.