It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 18

- Lily Jane Collin  -

After granny was discharged from the hospital, she had been really happy and getting better. Now granny, mom and Eric’s mom were busy with the wedding preparation. They were so excited about the wedding. The wedding was next month and I didn’t expect the wedding to be this early. But I didn’t oppose the date because I didn’t want granny to miss my wedding. The sooner the better due to granny's health condition. 

Now granny was better so I decided to focus on my work since mom and Eric’s mom were the one who took care of the wedding planning. I have been working for our foundation annual fundraiser event. When I arrived at the office building, my assistant informed me that there’s a guest waiting for me at my office. I was wondering who that guest might be because I didn’t expect any visitor today. When I opened the office door, I saw an old man with grey hairs sitting. 

“Hello! I’m Lily Collin, the director of Collin foundation,” I introduced myself. 

“Hello miss Collin, I’m Jimmy and I’m Eric secretary,” he introduced himself to me too. He seemed like a really nice man. I was wondering why Eric secretary was here at my office. 

“Nice to meet you, please just Lily. Can I call you Jimmy too,” I said, smiling at him. 

“Yes, sure,” he said. 

“Jimmy, do you want something to drink?” I asked. 

“Thanks but it’s okay. I need to go back to the office soon. I just came here to give you this,” he said and then handed me over a small bag. 

When I opened the bag, I found a small box inside the bag. I took the box and I opened the box. I closed the box as soon as I opened and put it back into the bag. 

“Sorry! I cannot accept this. Can you please take it back with you,” I told him and handed the bag to him. 

But he didn’t take the bag and looked at me with a fatherly smile. “Sorry Lily, Eric instructed me to hand it to you no matter what,” he said. 

“But still, can you take it back with you now. I’ll call and explain it to Eric later,” I said. 

“I’m sorry Lily. Eric said it’s your engagement ring so just keep it with you for now and talk with him later,” he said and then went back. 

I was still confused and stunned by the early situation. He sent the ring with Jimmy without telling me anything first. Plus the ring looked really expensive. I dialed Eric's number right after Jimmy went back. 

“Hello!” Eric said from the other line. 

“I cannot accept your ring. I’ll come and give it back to you in the evening,” I said. 

“Why? You don’t like it. That was the most expensive and latest design,” he said. The way he said that seemed like no big deal. 

“That’s the reason. It’s too much for me and also you didn’t even tell anything about that,” I said. 

“Jesus, I’m busy now. I don’t have time to discuss that kind of small stuff. So just take it,” he said and then hung up the phone. 

I was so mad the way he talked to me and hung up the phone as he wanted. So I called him again. 

“What else, I told you I’m busy now,” he said. His tone was full of dominance and authority. 

“Why are you always so rude? I’m a busy person too, can’t you see it. Because of you now I needed to stop my work and fix this first,” I said angrily. 

He was sighing from the other line. I heard his heavy breathing. I could tell he was angry and frustrated by me. 

“As my fiance, you need that kind of ring at least. It’s one of my responsibilities to get you a ring too. I’ll not take the ring back. If you don’t want it, do whatever you want, it’s yours now,” he said and then hung up again. He hung up the phone again after he said what he wanted. I was so irritated but I knew he wouldn’t take the ring back even if I gave him back. There’s no other options for me instead of just keeping the ring. 

Urgggg I hate the way he treated me and did the way that he wanted. Now what else I could do, that would be part of my life from now on. So I just tried to calm myself down and told myself to let it go. I went back to what I was working on. I called my assistant to come with me to go and check the venue for the fundraiser event. After I came back from checking the venue, I was exhausted and taking a rest for a while at the office. 

While I was taking a rest, Emily and Nicole bursted into my office. “Where is the ring?” Nicole asked as soon as he bursted in my office. “What! How! How did you know about the ring?” I asked her while still trying to figure it out how she knew about that? “It was all over the news. Here, take a look,” Emily said and handed me her phone. 

I froze as soon as I saw the news that Emily showed it to me. The news said I was the owner of the diamond ring with the picture of the ring and also I was the lucky girl, fiancé of a billionaire tycoon. 

“How did the media find out?” I murmured quietly while reading the news. 

“None of the media knows about me except my family close friend. How come they find out about this?” I said while looking at Emily and Nicole. 

“Lily, of course they would find out the news because your fianceé is one of the powerful tycoons in the state,” Emily said. 

Oh yeah I forgot that Nick and Eric were mentioned by the media most of the time as the youngest billionaires and most competent businessmen. 

“Lily! Common show us the ring,” Nicole urged me to show the ring. I took the ring box from the drawer and showed them the ring. 

“Wow, it’s so beautiful, the diamond is stunning,” Nicole said. I just stared at the ring with a lot of thoughts. Both of them were excited and happy for me. But as soon as they saw my face they started investigating. 

“Lily, by the way, why are you not wearing it?” Emily asked. “Yeah, Lily. what happened you don’t look happy too,” Nicole said. I explained to them that I got the ring just this morning and I felt a burden because the ring looked so expensive. 

“You know, this marriage is arranged by our moms so there is no attachment between and I don’t feel comfortable to accept this kind of expensive ring too,” I explained to both of them. 

“We understand, but Lily anyway you guys will be getting married soon and it’s his responsibility to give you an engagement ring. So just accept it. Don’t think too much,” Nicole comforted me. 

“Yeah I assumed I just need to accept it,” I said to them. But still I was not comfortable to wear the ring yet. After Emily and Nicole left my office, I put the ring back in the box and put it inside my bag. Then I quickly wrapped up my work and went back home. Everyone from my family was also very happy for me and congratulated me that I got a ring from Eric.