Chapter 4 4. First Date Gone Wrong

Adrien throws a pillow at her sister.

"Don't ever refer to him as my boyfriend, or I'll strangle you."

"Noted."

Adrien picks up her phone to call Theo but stops halfway. "I don't have his number."

"Let me check their company website for it," Beth says, picking up her phone.

"That's his work number, what if his secretary picks, what would we tell her?"

"You're Theo's girlfriend and you want to speak with him. You lost his contact because your phone was stolen and this is a friend's phone."

Adrien opens her mouth in surprise at her sister's lying skills. "Now I know how you were able to always have your way with Mum and Dad."

Beth laughs. She searches for the Ikson Media website and gets the number there. She calls it out to Adrien.

"They aren't picking up," Adrien complains.

"Well, we shall try tomorrow. You might even go to his house and tell him in person to make things more convincing."

Adrien laughs. "Seems you want to play matchmaker here."

The next day Adrien dials the customer care line for Ikson Media.

"Yes, this is Ikson media, how may we help you?"

The realization of what she is about to do suddenly hits her. She doesn't know what to say so she just listens quietly to the voice from the other end of the line.

"Hello? Hello? Who is this please?" the person at the other end of the line is already getting irritated.

"Uh, yes, hello, I... Uh... Can I speak with your manager?"

"I'm sorry, the manager isn't available now. You can drop your message."

"Um... I mean Theophilus Alphonso, I'm his girlfriend," Beth cringes at her own words.

"Oh, Cassidy?"

"Uh..." Adrien is about to call out her name but changes her mind. "Yes, Cassidy."

"Sorry, I did not know you were the one, I'll get Mr. Alphonso right away."

Adrien is relieved but also surprised that Theo has a girlfriend. Why didn't he just marry her?

"I'm sorry, Mr. Alphonso is busy, he can't speak with you now."

"Okay, can I have his number?"

"No, you can't, sorry."

"Okay, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Adrien puts off the call and sighs in relief. She has no other choice but to visit Theo and talk to him in person. The door flies open and Beth barges into the room. She stops in her tracks when she meets Adrien's glare.

"I guess that's your definition of knocking."

"Oops... I just came to check if you've called Ikson Media."

"Yes. Turns out Theo has a girlfriend."

"What? That's crazy!"

"No, it's good. He has a girlfriend so he won't even bother with me. I'll be leaving for his house now."

"Okay, don't forget to talk to him about his girlfriend."

"Why? I don't care."

"Talking about her in a bad way would make him hate you and want to get rid of you faster."

Adrien narrows her eyes at her sister as she thinks about what she said. "Sometimes I wonder if you're truly my younger sister."

Beth fans herself with her fingers. "Oh, please, you flatter me," she says in an exaggerated tone.

Adrien laughs at Beth's dramatic display and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. She meets with her mother on her way out of the house.

"Adrien, where are you going?"

"I'm visiting Theo."

Her mother flashes her a huge smile. "Seems he's getting under your skin, eh?"

Her mother's words irk her but she feigns her approval of it. "Yes, we're getting along."

"Okay, carry on. You don't want to be late for your date."

Adrien fakes a smile and rushes out the door. Her meet-up with Theo is nothing like a date, far from it. She takes the smallest out of the three cars her father owns. She aims to go as low-key as possible.

When she arrives at the Alphonsos mansion she feels unwanted, like an intruder coming to disturb the peace of their family. Just like last time, she's ushered in by the maid and asked to wait in the visitor's lounge.

Adrien sits there waiting for Theo as she entertains herself with the artwork in the room. She is standing in front of a particular painting that has picked her interest when she feels another presence in the room. She turns around to meet an unfamiliar face.

They continue to stare at each other until it becomes awkward.

"Hello," Adrien waves at him.

He walks straight to her and shakes her hand.

"I'm Kelvin, but you can call me K A. I'm Theo's younger brother."

"I guessed. Nice to meet you."

"I'm sure you're here to see my brother."

Adrien nods politely.

"He told me about you, his betrothed." Kelvin laughs. "I guess seeing a beauty like you has made him change his mind."

"Pardon?"

"Theo did not want the marriage until after the dinner the other night. Seems you prove as enough distraction from Cassidy or it's love at first sight."

Adrien remains silent as she tries to assimilate what she'd just heard. Distraction? Love? Those aren't part of the deal. She can't afford to have things on that level of messed up. She hates Theo and he hates her, together they would work to stop the wedding. That's how it should be.

"Hey," Kelvin says and holds her hand. She looks up at him, realizing there is only a little distance between them. "Don't worry yourself. I'm always here if you need my help with anything. I know how hard it is to be in an arranged marriage. You can come to me if Theo isn't available, okay?"

Adrien nods and steps aside. She stumbles on Kelvin's leg and is almost falling when he catches her by the waist and draws her to himself for balance. She holds onto him to gain her stability. They're standing face to face and Adrien suddenly feels the heat creep up her cheeks.

"Sorry about that." She apologizes and brings her gaze to the floor.

Theo is at the doorway now. He clears his throat to announce his presence. Adrien looks at him and back at Kelvin who still has his hands around her waist. She realizes her hand on his chest and she withdraws from him. He let go of her too.

"Thank you," Adrien says with a small smile which Kelvin reciprocates.

"You're welcome, dear," he says then leaves the room, taking all the good vibes with him.

Theo stares at her indifferently. "Why are you here?"

Adrien wonders if Theo is the same person Kelvin had talked about some minutes ago. Does he like her? Or he's just using her as a distraction. Anyways, she doesn't care.

"We need to talk."

"Fine, I'm listening."

"Not here, we need to talk in private."

Theo scoffs. "We're in my house, where else is more private?"

"This is your house, it's more private for you."

"It would soon be yours too, you should get used to it."

"That's not happening."

They engage in a short but intense staring contest before Adrien looks away sharply. "I came with my car, we can go somewhere private."

Theo studies her expression for a while, thinking of an excuse. "Okay, you have an hour, nothing more. I'm quite busy today." He turns and walks away.

"And I'm the jobless one," she says with an eye roll, then follows him out of the house.

When they are seated in Adrien's car, she winds up the tinted glasses so no one can see them.

"Where are we going?"

"Cold Rock Lake."

"Isn't that place dangerous?"

"Yes, I know. But to me, it's not."

"I don't understand you. What do you even want to talk about in such a place?"

Adrien sighs. Theo is asking so many questions.

"I don't want this marriage."

"That's not news. There must be something else you want to tell me."

Adrien remains silent without answering his question.

"Adrien!" Theo barks. "If there isn't something else you want to tell me, then it's best we turn back now. I have other things to attend to."

Theo's words hurt Adrien. He is doing it again. He is showing her exactly how he has no regard for her feelings.

"So what if I just want to express how I feel about this marriage? Do you not care so much that you won't mind marrying a sad and depressed wife? Maybe when we get married, you'll lock me up because you don't have any single regard for me. Probably, you'd turn me into a slave and personal slut."

The thought of it makes Adrien emotional. Tears roll down her eyes as she continues to drive down the road.

"Adrien! Adrien!"

Theo is in panic when he sees Adrien losing control over her emotions and the car. They continue at a high speed as Adrien drives through the dirt road that leads to Cold stone Lake.

"Adrien! Stop the car! Adrien!"

In Adrien's mind, all she can think of is ending it all, here and now. She could just end her life and no one would bother her again. What's the use of keeping her life if she won't be in charge of living it? Her life messed up and this is the only way out of it. Her breathing becomes restrained as she increases the speed of the car even more.

Theo looks ahead to see they are running straight for a tree. He quickly grabs the steering from her but it's already too late.