The Arrangement

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

After being shown around in the whole big mansion, I am finally shown to my room. Ana tells me with a smirk that Rich's room is down the hall from my room, the last door to the right. She's a sneaky little girl but from what I've seen she is kind and smart, so is Flora, I like them a lot they're so sweet. I like Rich's mother as well, she's kind and warmhearted.

I’m a little disturbed by the fact that I was worried for nothing, again. Maybe I was born worried because I mean, I do worry about a lot of things, things I shouldn’t even be worrying about. I have to kick the habit of worrying all the time. It drains energy from my body.

Edvard shows me to my room, he leaves me outside, telling me that my bag is already inside. When I open the door, I was amazed by the room. It’s a big suite with a big queen size bed, a lot alike the bed at the hotel, I think I’m going to sleep like royalty in that bed, to be honest. It’s such a beautiful room. I’m not worth all of this. My bag is placed by what I think is the wardrobe. When I open the door, I see that it’s a walk-in-closet, not too big and not too small, just perfect, but definitely too big for the clothes in my bag. I guess I will have time to shop for more clothes, I’ll be living here for at least six months, I don’t know if we will be living here after our wedding as well, but I know for sure that I will be living here until the wedding at least. I hang my clothes inside the closet and when I'm done, I think it's pathetic how little clothes I have in this beautiful closet.

After I close the door, I view the room, I will most definitely be comfortable in here. I don't know how I will ever be able to bring myself out of the room again. The whole house is so unbelievably beautiful and magnificent I don't even know where to begin to explain it. I will feel like a princess living here, I just hope that I will get along with everyone. I feel like I'm getting along with Rich’s mother and sisters, I even get along with the employees and that feels good, but I hope I'll get along with his father and with him while living under the same roof.

I sit down on my bed and sink deep into the mattress, I lean down onto my back. Oh how I love soft beds, I love sinking deep down and being surrounded by fluffy pillows and cover. Someone knocks on the door just as I feel my eyelids begin to feel heavy.

I ain't back up again. ”Come in”, I say. Why did I become so tired all of a sudden? Maybe because all the worrying has drained my body of energy.

The door opens and Ana walks inside. She looks a little shy but also brave. She's so cute and she reminds me the most of Rich.

“Hello Katherine”, she was and walks up to me.

“Hey Ana”, I say and pat on the bed beside me.

“Do you like your room?” She asks as she climbs up onto my bed.”

“I love it”, I say.

“Oh good, Rich will be here soon I think”, Ana says.

I smile. “Great”, I say.

“Do you like my brother?” Ana asks.

“This is a complicated situation”, I yr to explain. “I didn't think I would like him, you're a big girl so I think you can understand why”, Ana nods her head. ”But I do like him and I enjoy his company a lot”.

“Do you think you will fall in love with each other?” Ana asks with big eyes.

“I don't know”, I say truthfully. “But I'm optimistic and I could see myself fall in love with Rich but I have to get to know him first”.

“I understand that”, Ana says. “Rich could really need a girl who loves him”.

“Why would you say that Ana?” I ask, now she has awoken my curiosity.

“Because he has been used by a lot of girls who only wanted his money”, Ana explains. “He has always known that he’s going to marry you but it didn't get less when girls only were with him to get nice things from him”.

“I would never do that”, I say. “Een if we weren't betrothed believe meme I would have an eye for your brother”.

“He likes you a lot”, Ana says. “But he's still afraid of getting hurt, he told me so last night, we talk about everything, and he said that it would suck to be hurt by a girl he has to marry”.

“I will not hurt him”, I say. “I wouldn't be able to live with myself”.

“That's good”, Ana says and hugs me.

I hug her back. “Hey, do you want to help me to pick out a dress for the dinner?”

Ana nods so we leave the bed to talk to my closet. She looks through the few dresses I have and chooses a red buttery dress with spaghetti straps. She also wants to watch me do my makeup. With an older brother, I guess she only has her mother to look up to. I hope that I can also be a role model for these two girls.

Someone knocks on the door again, Ana walks to open it. Flora walks in with a pretty little pink dress. Gosh, she's cute.

“Mom says that you have to get dressed for dinner Ana”, she tells Ana. “Dad and Rich will be home very soon”.

I start feeling a small thing in my stomach. Rich will be home soon. I talked to him this morning, but I haven't seen him since yesterday afternoon. I look forward to seeing him and I actually long to see him, see his handsome face.

“Katherine your face is flushed”, Ana smiles slyly.

“Oh hush you, go change”, I say and turn around. I smile to myself.

“Rich will be home soon”, Ana chants as she runs out of the room. “Very, very soon”.

Kids. I feel nervous and this time I know exactly why I feel nervous. I do like Rich, and I'm nervous because I have wanted to see him all day, and finally I'm about to. I shouldn't be so nervous though, but it feels like a whole other nervousness than yesterday, what I'm feeling now is an exciting nervousness.

I check myself in the mirror. I don't look too shabby, but if Astra had been here, I'm sure Rich would've given her the attention she always craves. I'm not ugly but she looks better than me. I'm smarter though, not that guys prefer smart girls over pretty ones.

Maybe I'm over-analyzing again, but I can't help it. I want our marriage to work, and I have realized that it's not only for my father, I want to find out if I can fall in life with Amalrich Walter.

“Katherine!” Ana is back in my room. “He’s home! He's home! Rich is home!”

The butterflies are going wild in my stomach. “Oh okay”, I say. Ana takes my hand and starts pulling me out of my room. “Take it easy Ana”.

I close the door behind me. Ana is really excited and I don't really know what she's excited about.

She drags me down the stairs and I'm actually afraid to fall down the whole staircase. Ana drags me into the dining room and stops abruptly, she lets go of my hand and I see Flora and Mrs. Walter sitting by the table together with a bold man with a blond pretty big mustache. He is a lot like the man who is standing right in front of me right now. As Ana sits down by the table, Rich walks up to me with a dozen roses in his hands. Somehow I thought that I imagined his good looks and how handsome he is, but I can see now that I did not.

“Hey”, he says.

“Hey”, I say and take the flowers. I smile. “Thank you so much”.

We look at each other for what feels like an eternity but I never want the moment to end. Someone cleared his throat though and brings us back to reality. Rich takes my hand and leads me to the table. He pulls out a chair beside Ana. When I'm sitting down he walks around the table to sit right in from of me beside his father.

“Lady Katherine, we are honored to have you here with us at last”, Mr. Walter says. “Have you made yourself at home yet?”

“Thank you, Mr. Walter, for the honor I mine”, I say and I can see Rich smile just a little. “I have actually found myself feeling at home, Ana and Flora are going out of their way to make me feel like home”.

“I'm so glad to hear that”, Mr. Walter says. “I hope they're not getting on your nerves”.

“Oh no not at all, they are so precious”, they say and look at the two girls. “I absolutely adore them”.

“You are too kind”, Mrs. Walter says.

Our meal is served on the table by Edvard. Baked salmon with rice and salad. When I put the first bite ok my mouth I just want to cry, it's so delicious I don't know what to do with myself. I try to hold back a moan. I think I succeeded because no one looks at me funny.

I sneak a look at Rich, and I catch him looking at me. He winks at me and I feel my cheeks flush.

“Lady Katherine, Amalrich tells me that you Are getting along great”, Mr. Walter says as the main course is finished.

“Yes actually, greater than expected when meeting someone for the very first time”, I say.

“Yes and considering your unusual situation in glad that you are getting along”, Mr. Walter says with a smile.

“It is an unusual situation but not necessarily a bad one”, I say and I can see at Rich that he's surprised by this, I even surprised myself.

When the desert is on the table saw that I Have a bowl with ice cream in front of me. I think of what Cark told me earlier about the chefs' free ice cream. I've got chocolate and vanilla in front of me by the looks of it. I take a bite and it feels like I'm in heaven.

“Oh Carl was right”, I say and take another bite.

“About what?” Rich asks as if he couldn't stop himself.

“He told me that your chef makes delicious lactose-free ice cream”, I say. “And this is the best and most delicious I have ever tasted”.

“You're lactose intolerant?” Rich asks.

“I am”, I say. “Ironic how ice cream is my favorite in the whole world”.

“That funny, Rich is also lactose intolerant and ice cream is his favorite as well”, Ana says with a sneaky smile.

I look at Rich and he looks at me. I already knew this of course, because Carl told me but I don't feel it necessary to tell them that I know.

“That's convenient”, I smile.

Rich nods his head and takes a bite of his ice cream. “Very”, he says.

When dinner has ended the girls are swept away to their bedrooms. I hadn't even realized that it's actually late. I feel a bit tired myself.

“Would you mind if I went to bed?” I ask the three remaining by the table.

“Of course not”, Mrs. Walter says and stands up. I admire her baby belly. She hugs me. “Goodnight to you, dear”.

“I'll follow you to your room”, Rich says. “I'm pretty beat up myself”.

“Rich”, Mrs. Walter starts but he interrupts her.

“Mother don't worry”, Rich says. “I will sleep in my own room”.

I find this amusing. Rich follows me up the stairs and to my room. I open the door but standstill.

Rich puts his arms around me and pulls me close. “You are pretty darn amazing”, he says. “I think I'm going to fall hard for you”.

I put my lips on him, taking him in, his scent and the feeling of his body pressed against mine. This man is really something.

“I want to let myself fall for you”, I say.

“So do”, he says.

“It’s not that easy, I’ve kept my heart well hidden my whole life”, I whisper, Rich’s forehead leaning against mine. I swallow hard.

“Maybe it’s about time someone found it”, he whispers, his lips now brushing lightly against mine. But he doesn’t kiss me.

“Maybe”, I breathe.

Rich kisses my cheek before leaving my room.