Chapter 3 First Encounter

Daniel reached the apartment ahead of everyone else. He had only stepped inside a handful of times over the past few years, yet this visit felt different. Laura's presence showed in the smallest corners of the place, making it obvious the two of them had settled into living there together for a while.

Something about the situation unsettled him. The whole setup pulled him back to those awkward dinners his mother used to arrange, where he had to sit across from strangers and pretend interest. This time, though, no one pushed him into it. What weighed on him was different. For once, he wasn't the one doing the judging. He was the one being measured.

Then the doorbell broke the quiet, and Deanna arrived. The second she stepped inside, Daniel felt the shift. Whatever he expected, it didn't come close to this. Her smile carried across the room with ease, filling the space before she even spoke. Warmth seemed to follow her in, and it settled around everything. Soft waves of caramel-colored hair rested over her shoulders, framing her face as she moved.

Without thinking, Daniel pushed himself to his feet, like his body moved ahead of his thoughts. Deanna walked straight toward him and stopped in front of him, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

"Hi, I'm Deanna. You're Daniel, right?" she asked, holding out her hand with a steady smile.

"It's good to meet you, Deanna. Yeah, I'm Daniel. Harry's brother," he replied, taking her hand. "Glad you could make it."

At that moment, Laura came in with drinks and snacks in hand. She greeted Deanna with ease, and the two women fell into a natural exchange. Even so, a faint tension hovered in the room. Harry, as always, jumped in with his usual stream of chatter, trying to smooth things over before the silence could grow.

This meeting needed to go well. Everything depended on it. In a way, it did work out. Just not in the direction any of them expected.

"So, you're in the same program as Harry and Laura?" Daniel asked, choosing his words with care.

"We actually met in university," said Deanna.

Curiosity crept into Daniel's voice as he continued, "And what field did you choose?"

"I studies classical singing."

A low sound slipped from him. "Mmm..." That tone didn't sit right. It carried something sharp beneath it, and she caught it right away.

Harry's warning echoed in her head. He really did mean it.

She didn't let it slide. "What's that supposed to mean?" said Deanna.

"It doesn't mean anything."

"Come on, you didn't just say 'mmm' for no reason."

"It's nothing... I respect artists, that's all."

Before either of them could push further, Laura stepped in. "Why don't we start eating?" she said, trying to cut the tension before it grew.

Letting Daniel go unchecked would only make things worse. At the same time, Deanna wasn't the type to stay quiet. If they didn't step in, it would turn into something else fast. All they could do was hold things together for as long as they could.

For a while, the meal moved along without trouble. Light conversation filled the table, and the mood settled enough to seem normal.

Then that subject came up, and everything shifted again.

"We don't have much time, so we need to sort this out fast," said Harry. "You don't realize how much this means to us."

Gratitude showed on Laura's face as she spoke. "I really mean it. Thank you so much for doing this."

Daniel didn't ease into it. He went straight to the terms. "While we're married, I'll handle your university costs for that year. It's fair, since you'll be stepping away from your studies."

That caught her off guard. "Wait, stepping away? I'm not stopping school."

"You'll need to. Being married to someone still in university won't reflect well."

"I'm not taking your money."

"This isn't about the money. You're giving something up, and that deserves something in return."

"So that's how you see it. A sacrifice."

Across the table, Harry and Laura shared a look. The tension they tried to manage had slipped.

Her tone sharpened as she continued, "You are aware I have three kids, right?"

"I know."

"Then we need clear rules about how you deal with them."

Turning her head, she glanced at Harry. He met her eyes with a tired expression, already bracing himself for how the rest would go. Quietly, he hoped his friend could stay through the evening without calling everything off. Meanwhile, Daniel carried on like he was finalizing a deal, not stepping into a marriage.

"There are house rules you'll need to follow. They already work, and I'm not changing them."

"What kind of place is that? Sounds like a military camp."

"I expect you to adjust, even if you don't seem interested in what I'm saying."

"It's not that I don't care. It's just hard to take this seriously when you come across so rigid."

"Rigid isn't the word. It's discipline. And while we're at it, you might want to rethink your clothes," he said, motioning toward her knees.

"What is this, a convent?"

"Hey, let's just calm down-" Harry tried to intervene.

But it was already slipping out of control. Every rule Daniel laid out was met with resistance from Deanna. The polite tone he usually kept didn't hold this time.

"If we want this to be convincing, these are basic expectations. You're not exactly the kind of woman I usually choose."

"That's good to know. I get what you're trying to say, but you're talking like this is some business deal."

"I'll speak with my lawyer about a prenup tomorrow. This marriage may not be real, but it has to look real. Everything needs to be accounted for."

"So let me understand this. I follow your rules, I leave university, I study how to deal with your kids, and I even change how I dress. I get the prenup, but everything else?"

"Good. That means we understand each other."

"Understand each other? That's your list, not mine. I've got conditions too."

"Go ahead. Let's hear them."

"Since I can't continue university, I'll set aside one day each week for private singing lessons."

"That's fine. I'll pay for it."

"No need. I already work."

"You'll have to leave that job, so I'll take care of it."

Frustration rose in her chest, but Laura's anxious look held her back for a moment. Drawing in a breath, she steadied herself.

"Alright... if you're handing out money that easily, then I want my own space in your house. A room I can use as a music studio."

"That can be arranged. Anything else?"

"For now, that's enough."

Silence settled over the table, and no one seemed willing to meet another's eyes. Harry and Laura exchanged tense looks, both realizing they had been holding their breath the entire time.

Breaking the quiet, Daniel spoke again. "Tomorrow, I'll talk to our parents. We'll set up a family meeting so they can meet her properly. Laura, I assume you'll help her get used to everything."

"Yeah... alright," responded Harry, glancing at Deanna with quiet apology. In his head, he could already hear everything she'd say about Daniel once they were alone.

Nothing about the man made sense. He spoke without restraint, like everyone around him worked under him and had no choice but to comply.

She couldn't take it anymore. "I'm heading out," said Deanna.

Harry suggested, "I can book you a cab if you want."

Before she could answer, Daniel cut in, "That won't be necessary. I'll take her home."

"Daniel, that might not be the best idea."

"And why wouldn't it be? She'll be my wife soon. There's nothing strange about it. Come on."

Without waiting, he moved toward the door and paused there, expecting her to follow. With a quiet sigh, Deanna said her goodbyes and stepped out after him.

The drive passed in silence. Neither of them spoke as the car moved through the streets until they reached her building.

"So this is where you stay?"

"It is. Thanks for the ride. Goodnight."

That ended it. She stepped out and walked inside without looking back.

For a few moments, he remained in the car, his eyes fixed on the entrance. His thoughts drifted as he sat there.

If she didn't fall in line with what he expected, their story wouldn't hold. No one would buy it. She wasn't someone who bent easily. She spoke her mind, carried herself with ease, and had that warm smile that didn't match the situation at all.

What had he gotten himself into?