Chapter 2 His Chosen Bride

Charles Alejandro was at his hotel when he received the report that his chosen bride had finally arrived home.

He was eager to see Nancy because his parents had been pressuring him to settle down, as he was their only son and, quite possibly, the future president. He had many enemies, both self-made and inherited.

Charles had been at his company earlier that morning before deciding to visit his hotel in the afternoon and possibly charm a lady in the evening. It was well known that he loved women, being a powerful man in AJ City, and many young ladies were keen on him as well.

Charles was a 30-year-old black man, very attractive, tall, and masculine, with short black hair. His mother wouldn't let him rest, constantly pressuring him about marriage and showing him photos of women she had selected for him to choose from. Charles wasn't interested in any of them, as he preferred his promiscuous lifestyle, though his parents were totally against it.

"Charles! You need to stop hosting different ladies and bringing shame to our family. You're the president's son, and you need to act respectably for once. Or how do you feel when almost half of the city's ladies here have seen your nakedness?" His father asked him from his seat on a black couch in the second-floor sitting room.

Charles smiled and replied, "Not half, Father. How could I possibly sleep with almost half of all the pretty ladies here? They're too many for me alone, and you know this."

Seeing that his father wasn't smiling, Charles adjusted his expression to be more serious.

His father replied, "Then you need to marry, Charles. Or else, I will revoke your privileges and find someone competent to take over my wealth."

"Hmm..." Charles frowned as his father warned him with blazing eyes and then exited the sitting room to meet with his guests.

His mother then stepped out of the elevator and walked into the sitting room to join him.

She asked, "Charles... Why are you afraid of marriage?"

"Hmm, I'm not afraid of marriage, Mom," Charles replied, taking a cigarette from his trouser pocket, lighting it, and smoking. The truth was that he hadn't found a woman he loved.

He believed most young ladies were cheaters and gold diggers. He had seen plenty of women eager to sleep with him, disregarding their boyfriends or fiancés, and he didn't want a cheap woman as a wife. Finding the right woman who matched his ideal bride had been difficult too.

"Then what's the problem, Charles? You haven't accepted any invitation that your father or I have offered you. Do you want us to choose a bride, marry her, and bring her here for you?" His mother asked.

"No, Mother. I'm not interested in any arranged bride. Most young ladies are cheaters and pretentious. Once they see it's me who wants to marry them, they'll pretend to be nice and jump at the chance. So no."

Charles shook his head and took a drag from his cigar, puffing smoke into the air.

His mother frowned and replied, "No, Charles. That's when you end up marrying a prostitute like yourself."

"Mum..." Charles looked up at his mother in shock, shaking his head as he noticed her smiling gaze.

She was a 65-year-old black woman, standing in front of him in a long blue native gown, being a traditional woman too.

First Lady Kira Alejandro approached Charles, who was seated on the black couch, and said, "Here, Charles. I have these three photos of cute women for you to see. Their families are respected and support your father's political party."

"Mum..." Charles was surprised to see his mother holding three photos, ready to show them to him at any opportunity.

His mother approached him and showed him the photos. "Here, Charles, take a look," she said.

"Hmm..." Charles finally accepted the photos from his mother.

Holding his cigar, he wore a black top, black leather trousers, and black boots, as he loved dressing in all-black clothing.

Charles examined the first woman's photo on top. She was cute, a black-skinned lady with a round face and a flat nose, her big brown eyes shining seductively in the outdoor photo, wearing a simple pink crop-top and blue jeans.

Charles frowned, holding his cigar to his lips as he slid the photo to see the next woman's face, spotting a pair of blue eyes.

She was cute with a round face, a sharp nose, and blue sparkling eyes. Her dimples were rosy on her chubby cheeks, and her plump, full lips enticed him to kiss them. Her long, golden hair glittered, making his jaw drop. She wore a white singlet top in her selfie.

Staring at her slender neck and slightly exposed bosom, Charles felt his muscles tense with desire. He didn't know how long he had been staring until his mother asked, "Charles... Do you like her?"

"Mom..." Charles snapped out of his trance.

He looked at his mother and met her smiling gaze.

Holding back his response, Charles finally slid the photo to see the last woman's face.

She was beautiful, light-skinned, and more chubby than the second woman, but she didn't captivate him like the second woman did.

Charles swiped back to the second woman's photo, handed the other two back to his mother, and asked, "Who's she, Mom?"

First Lady Kira Alejandro smiled and replied, "She's Nancy Marlon, Senator Logan Marlon's only daughter and child."

"Hmm..." Charles hummed, finishing his cigarette.

His mother said, "I see you like her, Charles. Don't worry, I'll arrange with my assistant to send a marriage proposal to her family right away."

"Okay, Mom, but is she around? I'd like to see her in person. Does she really look like this photo? You know how edited photos can be deceptive," Charles asked, still staring at Nancy's photo.

His mother smiled, "I don't know, Charles, but I'll call her family to find out. Once she's around, we will proceed with the wedding preparations."

"Okay, Mom," Charles smiled, not rejecting the subject of marriage.

He wanted Nancy; his whole being yearned for her.

He wanted to kiss her photo but suppressed the urge, waiting for his mother to leave.

Charles stood from the couch and went to his bedroom on the third floor, taking Nancy's photo with him.

A month later, at his luxury hotel for the weekend, he tried to distract himself from thinking too much about Nancy as he awaited her return. But none of the attractive women he saw excited him like Nancy did.

"Boss, our security at her father's team just called. Your chosen bride is back at her family home," his personal assistant, Dennis Richard, informed him over the phone from the presidential suite of his luxurious hotel.

Charles replied, "Prepare the car. We're leaving for her father's mansion now."

"Okay, boss," Dennis answered. Charles ceased contact with the attractive woman who had been attempting to entertain him, feeling only irritation. He wanted to meet Nancy, the one his heart desired.

Dressed in a black suit and red shirt, Charles exited the luxurious hotel, entered his car with the help of his security team, and they drove to Senator Logan Marlon's residence.