It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 15

- Eric William Miller  -

My day started as usual, taking care of all the business deals and meetings. I had been working since the morning and didn’t realize it was already past lunchtime. Then mom came into my office without advance notice. 

“Hey mom, what are you doing here?” I asked, startlingly looking at her. 

“Why do you look so surprised? Do I also need to make appointments like others,” mom snapped me out. 

I knew mom was being sarcastic. “No mom you know that’s not what I mean,” I consoled her. My mom could be dramatic sometimes, especially to me. 

“I know son, I just try to be a little dramatic,” she chuckled, roaming around my office. Then she took a seat and asked me to take a seat across her too. 

“So mom, what it’s that you’re coming here, at my office,” I asked. “There’s no important matter. I was at the mall near here so I just came here to stop by and meet you,” mom said. But mom somehow looked like she was trying to read me too. She seemed cautious about something. 

“Mom, your face is telling me other things,” I said. 

“Humm, okay I came here to check on you after I saw the news,” she said. 

I was confused when she mentioned the news. What news that she was talking about? “Mom, what news?” I asked. She seemed surprised by the fact that I didn’t know about it too. 

“I saw news about Sophia on the internet. She is back in town for some commercial shooting,” mom said, looking at me carefully. 

I was stunned by the news but I quickly tried not to show any emotion in the news. “Mom! Don’t worry about her. I’m done with her for good this time,” I told her. Even though I told her I’m done with Sophia, she still seemed concerned about her. 

“You know, Lily is a good girl and my best friend's daughter. I don’t want her to get hurt by my son,” she said, looking at me like giving me a warning at the same time with concerns. 

“Mom, I promise there’s nothing else left between me and Sophia,” I said. I knew my true intention of getting married was not pure but I just needed to do it. 

“Okay, I trust you on this Eric. Love you son,” she said while hugging me. 

“Oh by the way, we’ll meet with Mary's family this weekend to discuss the wedding plan so make sure you don’t have any plans, Okay?” she said while saying goodbye. 

After mom left the office, I started searching for the news about Sophia. Then I saw a picture of her together with a guy. Also the news was mentioning that guy was a producer and currently dating with her. When I saw the news I felt my heart was sinking deep, God knew where. 

I also felt hurting my pride and ego at the same time too. I felt regret that I was devoted to her. I wished I stayed and lived up as the playboy name before I met her. I used to be a playboy and didn’t believe in love. But after I met Sophia, I was totally changed, not playing around with girls anymore. I thought that she was the one and I devoted her. 

I quickly wrapped up the work for today so that I could go and drink with my buddies. Drew and Nick kept calling me one by one to come to the bar in a hurry. Before I went to the bar I stopped by my penthouse and changed into comfortable casual clothes. When I arrived at the bar, Drew and Nick were already there. 

“Hey bud, glad that you make it,” Drew said while hugging me. 

We started drinking, Drew was with a group of girls next to our table, flirting with them. Nick and I were at the table drinking without any conversation. But it was a good no conversation time, we both just enjoyed our drink. 

“I’ll be back, I need to go to the toilet,” Nick said, walking out from the table. 

I was left alone at the table. Then suddenly everyone was looking toward the entrance. Drew came back to the table and looked at me with what to do next look. It was Sophia and her new boyfriend. I tried to ignore their present and focus on my own drinks. Then she suddenly stopped by at our table. 

“Hey Eric, how are you doing?” she asked with her faking sweet smile. 

“Fine, pretty good,” I said. 

“This is Josh, my boyfriend. Josh, this is Eric, old friend of mine,” she said. She literally emphasised Josh as her boyfriend and introduced me as an old friend. 

I couldn’t continue the conversion. I was full of anger and trying my best not to explode my anger in front of her. Thankfully Drew noticed that and saved me. 

“Hey, Hi, Sophia, how are you doing?” Drew asked Sophia. 

“Hey! Drew good, good, nice to meet you too,” she said and hugged Drew. 

“Drew, this is Josh. Josh, this is Drew. Josh is my boyfriend,” she said and kissed Josh in front of me. 

“Oh happy for you. By the way Eric is getting married soon,” Drew said, giving a supportive smile to me. 

“Oh! Really! Nice for you Eric. So who is the lucky girl?” she asked me with a fake smile. 

“It's Nick’s sister. Hope you can make it to my wedding too,” I said, sipping the remaining drink from my cup. 

She looked pretty surprised by me getting married news. I let her know intentionally that I was really happy and excited with my upcoming wedding. Before they went to their own table, Nick came back from the toilet. He seemed surprised to see Sophia too. He gave me the questioning look. 

“Hey, Sophia, nice to meet you here,” Nick said, greeting her first. 

“Hey, Nick nice to see you too,” Sophia greeted him and gave him a hug. 

After greeting Nick, they left for their table. After they left we finished our drinks and went back to our place.