Chapter 3 HIM

"Where are you?" Mom asked over the phone.

"I'm at a bar, with my co-models, Mom. We're done with our shoot, so we're just grabbing some drinks," I replied.

"You need to go home. Now. You're going to meet this important man. You need to be here in a minute." And then she hung up.

It had been a month since Mom told me about marrying someone. And now, she's telling me I'm going to meet someone, and the thought makes me want to cry.

I thought that chapter of my life was over. I thought they wouldn't bring it up again, thinking I didn't want it. I hoped that would be the case, even though I knew it was impossible.

As I entered our mansion, I was shocked when someone grabbed my arm aggressively.

"Where have you f*cking been?" My eyes widened as my heart started racing. I felt as if I heard the voice of a devil.

His voice was deep, husky, commanding, and terrifying. It sent chills down my spine.

I looked up at the tall man in front of me. He's 6'4", extremely handsome, masculine, and intimidating. His dark aura is almost dangerous-like he could consume someone alive. His perfect jawline, sharp nose, and serious gaze made him even more terrifying. I heard he's 29 years old.

I've never seen someone this handsome. I could only imagine how many girls he has wrapped around his finger. His eyes were intense, focused, and unyielding.

I groaned when I realized his large hand was still gripping my arm. It didn't really hurt, but the force of it made me wince.

His eyes softened immediately as he noticed my reaction. He let go of my arm and checked it gently.

"D*mn it. I'm sorry, Doll." I looked up at him, startled. He called me "Doll." No one ever calls me that. It sounded strange, almost intimate, and very weird coming from him.

"Sadie, you're here. Come here and have dinner with us. We've been waiting for you," Mom called from behind.

I turned my gaze to her, then back to him. His eyes were still on me, following every small movement I made. I turned away and walked toward the dining room.

He kept looking at me intently, as if Mom and Dad weren't even there. I cleared my throat and looked away.

Dinner was painfully uncomfortable for me. It became worse when Mom mentioned that he's the man I'm supposed to marry. The man himself nodded, waiting to see my reaction. I just looked down, silent.

"Well, Sadie is a nice girl. I'm glad that you'll be the man she'll marry," Mom said formally to him.

"I'm glad too. And now that you've met, we hope you'll get along," Dad added, glancing at me. I sighed, keeping my eyes down.

"Don't look down, Sadie. Do what I taught you. Smile," Mom whispered. She smiled and signaled me to follow her instructions.

So I did. Every movement was careful and deliberate, especially knowing that an important man was in front of me. Any mistake would surely bring Mom's wrath down on me.

"I am, too," the tall, intimidating man said calmly.

"Oh, we forgot to introduce you to each other, my bad," Mom continued, turning to me with a smile.

"Sadie, he's Accius Niccolo Vasquez-the man you'll marry. Niccolo, this is Sadie Dollina, my only daughter."

The man named Niccolo nodded once. "I know," he said simply, his gaze still fixed on me.

After dinner, I immediately went upstairs. Mom called out to me, but I didn't look back. I didn't even glance at that man again. I knew Mom would be furious when she caught up to me later.

A few minutes later, Mom entered my room. I saw the irritation in her eyes immediately.

"You're very disrespectful, Sadie. You didn't even say goodbye. That's a terrible impression!"

I sighed. "Mom, I'm tired-"

She cut me off. "You just walked out, Sadie! That was rude! He's your soon-to-be husband. You should treat him like one! How many times do I have to tell you to behave! You're acting indecently."

"I am, Mom! I always do! I'm always trying. I'm just very exhausted right now," I said.

I am always trying. Trying so hard that I'm tired of it. I'm tired of pretending. It's exhausting to constantly act perfect.

"And I don't want to get married-" Before I could finish, I felt a hard slap across my face.

"You will! You will marry him. And that's final, Sadie. You have no choice," she said firmly.

"Why, Mom? Why do I need to marry that man? He doesn't seem like a good person. He's scary. I don't think he'll treat me well. Why do we even need him?" I snapped.

Her forehead furrowed. I stopped talking, sensing her temper rising.

"You don't know anything! You don't understand what's happening in our company because you don't care! How dare you say that? You know nothing, Sadie! You have no right to speak on these matters!" she shouted, pointing at me.

"You've never been useful to the company because you have no interest in it. Now that you are going to be useful, you complain?"

"Our company is struggling, Sadie. Last month, we could manage, but now? We can't. We need help-and Niccolo is the only one who can bring the company back to where it should be." I turned to Dad, who had just entered the room.

"We suspect someone is behind this. A company doesn't just fall apart like this without a reason. Someone is orchestrating it."

"And just having him as your husband, with his surname and influence, is already a huge advantage. And all of this will happen only if you marry him." I looked at Dad, helpless.

"We need you right now, Sadie. So please, cooperate."

I nodded, out of options. What choice did I have? I don't own my life. I don't have the right to make decisions about it.