It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 22

- Lily Jane Collin  -

Today was the day of the Collin Foundation annual fundraising event which I had been working hard for more than a month. The event was the biggest fundraising event for the Collin foundation, with the fund that we raised going to the Southeast Asia and Africa refugee camp. I was still under the blanket on the bed, then a familiar voice dragged me out from the bed. “Lily, get up and wash up now or you will be late for work,” mom said while taking away the blanket. 

I groaned as I got up and went to the bathroom to wash up. I came down for breakfast afterwards. I was still half asleep, our house maid, Susan, prepared coffee and bagel. “Don’t forget to stop by at the salon, to do makeup. Be there at 5 pm sharp,” mom reminded. 

I was just making a fun face, Steve and Nick saw and they were laughing at me. “I hate it, help me,” I said as I looked at my brothers with pleading eyes. “Can’t help you, mom wants you to doll up,” Steve teased me. 

“Do you need a ride?” Nick asked. 

“No, thanks. I better drive myself because I need to stop by the salon too,” I said and then grabbed the coffee cup that Susan already prepared for me. 

I called my assistant and informed her that I’ll be going directly to the venue. The event was held in the Collin Hotel too. When I reached there, all the staff and my assistant were already there. We all were busy with work the whole day, all the prep work was done. My stomach was sent single with a loud noise. When I checked the time, it was already 3 pm. I couldn’t eat lunch due to the heavy load of work. I decided to go and have lunch and then leave the rest of the work to my assistant and staff.  

I decided to go to my brother Nick’s office and asked him to accompany me to have a meal. His PA told me that he was still at the meeting and the meeting would be done in 10 minutes. I went inside his office and just waited for him there. I was reading a book while waiting for my brother. At that moment, I heard someone coming inside the room. 

“Nick, come, let’s go and eat with me. I’m starving,” I said as I turned back. As soon as I turned I found out it was not my brother but it was Eric. 

He was surprised that he saw me there too. Both of us were just looking at each other due to an unexpected moment. A familiar voice broke the silent moment. This time was my brother, he just came back from the meeting. 

“Why are you two here,” Nick asked. 

“I came here to ask to have lunch with me,” I answered him first before Eric. 

“What! You haven’t had lunch yet? Look at the time,” my brother said with a worried tone. 

“I was busy, just got a break,” I said. Eric was just standing and listening to us. 

“What about you man!” Nick asked Eric as both me and Nick looked at him and wondered why he was here. 

“Same reason as Lily, I don’t want to eat alone and you didn’t reply to my message. So I decided to come and fetch you,” he said to my brother. 

“I have another important meeting, why don’t both of you go and eat together,” Nick suggested to us. 

“No,” I immediately rejected it. But Eric agreed on Nick's suggestion. “Just go with Eric, you don’t want to eat alone right? We have a special menu today at the hotel restaurant,” Nick said. “Thanks man, Let’s go and eat,” Eric said as he walked out from my brother's office. 

I was about to complain to my brother why he suggested that. He cut me off before I could say something. “You should try to get to know him. You are going to marry him soon. Now go now,” Nick said and told me to follow Eric. 

Here I was, sitting unwillingly and having a meal together with Eric. I tried not to make any conversation. Because most of the time when we talked we ended up arguing. The food was delivered to our table, I started eating and just focusing on my food. Same as him too, he was just eating. I was about to finish the food but at that time I felt like he was staring at me. When I looked up he was looking at me furiously. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked. 

“Where is the ring?” he asked as he looked at my finger. 

“At my house, why?” I questioned him back.

“You know that ring, you're supposed to wear it right?” he said furiously. 

“You can’t force me to wear it, it’s my choice,” I said. 

“I don’t care if you don’t wear it at home, but in public you need to wear it as long as you are engaged to me,” he literally ordered me to wear it. 

“You are unbelievable. Now excuse me,” I said as I stood up from the seat. 

“Where are you going without answering me first,” he said as he grabbed my arm. 

“I have an appointment in 30 minutes, now excuse me,” I said. I needed to hurry to go to the salon. If I was late, mom would be nagging me a lot. 

“I don’t want to see you without the ring at tonight's event, okay,” he said with his deep dark tone. I didn’t say anything back and walked away from the table. 

When I arrived at the salon, mom and granny were already doing their hair and makeup. As soon as I arrived the staff showed me to my seat then they started doing the makeup. I told the makeup artist to put me in light makeup and a simple hair style. After we finished our hair and makeup, I drove back home to change the clothes with mom and granny. I wore sleeveless one-shoulder Tulle floor length rose pink dresses with simple single cut diamond earrings.  After checking myself at the mirror, I walked to my dressing table and took a ring box from the drawer. 

I sighed as I wore and looked at my ring finger. Then the maid came and informed me that everyone was waiting just for me. I put my phone inside the clutch and quickly walked to the downstairs with holding heels. “Sorry mom, thanks for waiting,” I said while I was walking down from the staircase. “Esay, dear you gonna trip down from the stairs,” granny said. “Look who is here. Eric came to pick you up,” mom said. I was like, what! Eric how came he was here. He was standing next to Steve, mom and granny. 

“Go with Eric. We will meet you there,” granny said.

“But___ mom___” I said and looked at mom. 

“Go now or we all will be late,” mom urged me to go with Eric. Then we all walked outside together to the car. “See you there sis,” Steve said. Eric’s driver was about to open the car door for me but he stopped the driver. Then he opened the car door for me and we both got into the back seat of the car. He told the driver to drive and we headed to the event. 

There were many reporters and paparazzi waiting in front of the hotel. I have never been to go inside through the main entrance even though I was one of the heiresses of Colline hotels and resorts group. I hated being spotted by the reporters so I was always going through from the back door. 

As soon as we got out of the car, the reporters were throwing lots of questions. Most of the questions were about the wedding and about me. I was startled with the situation so I just held Eric's arm tightly and just followed him.