Forbidden Romance

Episode 4-Marriage bullshit

/Ariana's POV/

I woke up to the ringing of my phone alarm. I switched it off and went back to sleep but I just couldn't as my boyfriend's call came in.

"Hey," I said into the receiver as I sluggishly sat up.

"Are you still sleeping?" He asked, sounding quite surprised.

"Yeah, just opened my eyes," I answered, rubbing my still-sleepy eyelids.

"You promised to call when you got home, Ari. What's up?" He asked casually.

"Sorry, I had so much going on." I apologised for getting out of bed and slipping my foot into my room's flip-flops.

"Is everything alright over there? no problem, I suppose?" He asked, sounding quite concerned, and suddenly I heard a splatter.

"Stupid cup." I heard him curse under his breath after that.

"Is everything alright over there?" I asked, sounding worried myself.

"Yeah, sure, everything is fine. I just spilled the coffee." He explained and silently fell for a minute.

"Stefan, are you still there?" I questioned myself as I walked into the bathroom.

"Yeah, just cleaned up," he answered, and I sighed in obvious relief.

"So...I was thinking, since I'm already here, I should probably tell my dad about us. What do you think?" I asked and I heard nothing but silence.

"I know how much effort you put into us Ari but I still have to finish my second degree-

"I'm not asking for marriage right now, Stefan. I just want to tell my dad that I have a boyfriend—someone I love and who loves me back-

"Think about it, Ari; wouldn't your dad ask me to come over?" He asked, and I huffed.

"I'm not sure, but if he does, you can catch a flight, fly here, and fly back once you've met; it's no biggie," I said, digging my paste-filled brush into my mouth.

"I can't Ari, but I promise to show up and have myself introduced properly immediately after my second degree-

"What's with you and your second degree, Stefan? You already have a job, You're doing quite well without it so what's your problem?" I was annoyed now. He was growing too ambitious for my liking.

"It's my dream. You know quite alright, I had to take my first degree because Dad wanted me to but now I'm in college chasing my dreams, I need this." Well I was tired of that bull talk, so I hung up the phone.

I met Stefan on my graduation day. He was a cool guy; he had bottle-green eyes, milky white skin, and Havana brown hair. He was also very intelligent.

You can call him a nerd. I was sad none of my family came to my graduation. So, I literally drank myself out because of it.

We were on the same bus, and our apartment wasn't far from each other. He watched me gibber and sputter nonsense. He told me I looked so funny as I talked.

I couldn't stand well, so he had to forfeit his ride and get me safely home.

He told me the sight was hilarious because I kept kicking trash cans and calling my dad names.

Well, I blamed my dad for it; mom and my brothers would have come, but he didn't let them.

I was furious, getting me safely to my apartment. He found me intimidating, and I didn't know he was there as I kept getting off my clothes.

I just got on my bed in nothing but my undies and slept off.

I woke up the second day with no recollection of the day before and when I saw Stefan sleeping on my couch, I was furious. Thinking he took advantage of me because I was drunk, I hit him severely until he explained his presence.

"So nothing happened?" I had asked him.

"Yes, nothing," he replied, sounding very upset. He left angry at me. I had to trace him back to apologise, and then we became friends until we got romantically involved.

I smiled at the memory of putting on my clothes as I'd just finished taking my shower. I check my phone to get the time, only for me to notice his missed calls. I didn't even know he called; I thought, moving downstairs, everyone was in the dining room.

"Just in time for breakfast?" My mom breathed, and I nodded in response.

"Good morning mom, dad, family," I said, not too sure I wanted to keep counting.

"Morning." Their reply was in a chorus.

"I knew you were probably tired so I didn't want them to disturb your sleep but I'm glad you're awake." My mom smiled as I spread the table napkin on my lap, ready for breakfast.

"Let's eat," my dad announced, and we all started. I watch as my brothers' wife feed their little ones. I like babies. I love them but I was still upset all these things happened behind me. I turned back to my food, trying to distract myself.

"I have a very important meeting to meet up. I don't think I'll be able to drop off the kids today. Can you fill in for me, Davis?" Damian asked and Davis gave a look that said no.

"That's out of my schedule. It's not my turn today so there's no spacing in my schedule. It's tight." Davis turned him down politely and they all turned to Danny.

"You both know I'm going to catch a flight right now, right?" Danny narrowed his face and they all recalled he was going to represent the company in India.

"I'll drop them," Jasmine volunteered as my brother's stares landed on me.

"Wouldn't you be late for work honey? Damian asked, sounding quite worried. I was tired of watching how everybody checked their schedule to drop the kids off at school.

It was frustrating, and I'm sure Dad and mom were frustrated too. As well as worried for their grandkids, who listen to how their parents list their schedule.

"I'll take them," I offered and their eye lit up. I was probably in shock; it wasn't surprising to me since I was basically the only jobless person around.

"It's not like you have to do the driving; it's just that the kids need adult supervision once they get off, like someone to direct them to their classroom and attach their backpack to their backs-

"That's why they need a nanny," I suggested, stunning them a little.

"As big as the house of Wright, I can't believe you all don't have a nanny," I added, sounding a little disappointed.

"We've had a couple of them in the last two years; they all just mess up," Davis defended with a timid look.

"Does the driver know the place?" I asked, sipping my coffee before grabbing a loaf of bread.

"Yes," Davis answered almost immediately.

"You just have to find their elementary teacher; she'll put them in class," Damian explained.

"And who's that?" I asked, slightly twitching my brows.

"She's Mrs. Stevenson. The kids are under her supervision." Davis answered, and I nodded in understanding.

"So, aunt is taking us to school?" Jeremy asked, his brows widening in a cute kind of way.

"How old are you?" I asked in return, as I admired the grey eyes he had.

"7," the boy answered, exposing his mouth with some missing teeth.

"Okay, it's getting late. You should all get going now," Damian said, and I stood, helping the kids up.

"Can you handle this?" Danny asked, and I gave him a fierce look.

"They are just kids. I can handle them," I said, helping the kids out. I took James in my arms, as he was too small to walk fast Jared and Jeremy followed me. I put them in the car and get in myself.

In a second, the driver arrived at the car and the drive started. Yes, the kids really did need adults to supervise them.

Jared and Jeremy wouldn't stop arguing and James, watching them, wouldn't stop crying. I sighed and turn to look at them.

"You're giving your aunt a hard time," I told them and they all kept quiet for a minute.

"So, why did you leave the house?" Jared asked.

"To study," I replied plainly.

"Dad said you finished your studies 3 years ago," Jeremy retorted.

"Did your dad always tell you everything?" I inquired briefly, meeting their eyes.

"Yeah, we are Dad's best friends," Jeremy smiled.

"Well, why don't you go ask him then? Ask him why I left?" I quipped, making it obvious I was tired of the conversation.

"You do know you talk a lot like grandma, right?" Jeremy pointed with a laugh.

"Well, you should know you bore grandma too, right?" I retorted sharply, making the twins stare for a while.

"Weird to see you quiet," I stated, curious why they suddenly became quiet after that.

"That was harsh. You didn't even know us, but we already bore you," Jeremy said with a pained expression.

"Look, kids...I'm just having a hard time. All I wish is for you to give me a quiet time like James's now giving me right now." I requested, staring into the review mirror, to see James playing with the jingles in his hand.

"Okay," Jared agreed and they relaxed. I was very thankful, as the rest of the journey was in silence.

After parking, I got the kids down rearranged their clothes and made sure they carried their bags and lunch boxes before picking James up and directing them inside. I had instructed the twins to stay out of trouble and wait till I got their mentor.

I was directed to her by the school doorman,M and I saw this man looking like a complete replica of the man I saw on the plane talking to her. She was suddenly heading in my direction.

"Hi," I said politely.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" The woman asked. She was of average height, had pale white skin, and had narrow chocolate eyes. She was probably in her late 30's or early 40's.

"Um...I was directed here by the man at the door. I'm actually looking for Mrs. Stevenson-

"Oh, that'll be me. Is there anything I can do for you?" Mrs. Stevenson asked nicely.

"I brought my nephews. I'm Ariana Wright," I introduced and I felt the man's eyes suddenly become intense on me. It was like he was totally checking me out.

Then a look of anger flashed his eyes. It almost got me distracted, After telling her about the kids, I moved her towards the twin, who seems to be in an argument with a girl, probably their age mate or less She had her tongue stuck out to them as she mocked them. Jared was enraged and almost hit her.

I placed James down immediately and held his hand.

"Jared!" I was shocked he could hit his fellow mate.

"You suck, Erica!" he bellowed in anger.

"What's going on here?" I asked, sounding pretty annoyed.

"She insulted my dad," Jeremy replied immediately, making me turn to the girl.

"He did first," the girl protested shyly.

"Jared, that's not an excuse to hit someone; you should never hit another person ever. She's a girl; why would you hit her?" I scolded him, and he paled.

"And little girl, it's wrong to insult someone else's dad, okay?" I scolded her, and she ran to the man who had been watching us all along.

"Uncle," she whined, and I looked up at the man.

He looked strangely familiar, I wanted to ignore him but his words made me not.

"I apologised for that," he said, his eyes burrowing deep into me.

"I'll take the kids to class now." Mrs. Stevenson suggested and urged the kids to follow her I sigh as I watch them go.

"You look strangely familiar," The man said as I turned to go. I turned back, hoping he was not the man on the plane.

"Oh, it's you. You mistook me for taking your wine. Isn't it?" He asked with a smile. p*****t I thought.

"Oh, we meet again; I totally didn't recognise you. You were in sunglasses," I lied, forcing him to smile.

"I completely understand, so... you, Ariana Wright. The only daughter of the Wright empire? He asked, shocking me out of my bones. I was not a very popular type. Talk of my brothers; they are always in the magazine.

Considering the fact that I haven't been home for the past 10 years. It was strange for just anybody to recognise me.

"Um, how did you know that?" I asked, staring suspiciously at him.

"Well, you introduced yourself to Mrs. Stevenson earlier; I kind of picked that up.

"Well, it's still strange since I'm recognised as the daughter of the Wright empire; I'm not a very popular Ariana Wright," I retorted, and he gave a charming smile in return.

"Are you pretending not to know me or you just don't?" He asked, getting me confused as we both headed out together.

"How do you mean?" I asked, furrowing my brows slightly in confusion.

"I'm Ethan McCain." He smiled, gesturing over a handshake.

"If you're one of the McCain's like the Donald's,. We aren't supposed to be shaking, you know. It's a bad idea," I said, knowing full well how much my family detests theirs.

"Well, that's what I thought until my father told me we'd be getting married. How sick is that?" He said he was sticking his hands into his pockets, and I felt my heart almost leave my ribcage.

"Excuse me?" I asked, my brows furrowed deeply in a frown.

"You don't know yet?" He said this, pausing as I stopped dead in my tracks.

"What do you mean by that? I don't know." I asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Well, you should ask your dad about it. I'm still trying to get over the shock too," he said with a smile.

"See you later." He waved, disappearing into his car.

"Wow!" I exclaimed under my breath. His car is breathtaking, as is his announcement. I thought as I got into the car and ordered the driver to head to my dad's office. I barged in anger because I was literally boiling.

"Dad!" I called and he raised an eyebrow in question of my audacity to barge into his office. His secretary ran after me to keep me from going in, but on hearing me call him Dad, he restrained from holding me. He looked like someone new.

"What's the meaning of this?" He queried with a frown on his face.

"What's this marriage bullshit I'm hearing all about?" I demanded my gaze be fixed on his, like we were in some kind of staring contest.

"Oh, It skipped my mind to tell you:

"Tell me what, dad?" I asked, praying what I heard from Ethan wasn't true.

"Take a seat." My dad urged his frown to disappear, but mine was persistent.

"Dad?" I protested.

"I said take a seat. " He reiterated and I reluctantly took my seat.

"You're going to get married to McCain's second son-

"But-

"It's not really marriage; it's an agreement. We can't fake it though and we need you both to be married to prove to the world we can work together. It's just for 7 months. You won't have to worry. After 7 months, we'll all go our separate ways-

"But why is this necessary?

"Because we have a very important project we have to do. It's a worldwide thing and Billions would be invested into it. If we don't work together, we'll both lose it-

"So you're using me for your business?"

"Don't you want to help your father?"

"I have a boyfriend, dad," I announced to him out of the blue.

"It's for 7months." My dad reminded me not to mind my declaration.

"What would my boyfriend think of this?" My eyes glossed up and my voice sounded hoarse, and I felt I might break down soon.

"He won't know if you don't tell him-

"Marriage can't be kept secret, dad. Dad, I can't do this. A business marriage?" I asked, tears slowly slipping down my eyes.

"You have to."

"I can't... And I won't, dad! " I said I was storming out of his office in anger.

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