Laurel

" That's the end of our session today Mr. Pasile", I said to him smiling . "Already? This one one hour does move quite fast ", he said with a small sad smile . "Sure does", I replied . I watched him gather his things and package himself as he stood up to leave.

"See you next session Miss Serano".

"Till then", I offered him a small smile as he left my office. I loved my job ! I was a therapist and enjoyed bringing people to a better state of mental health. One would find it weird since I'm from a family of business and I'm the only one in a medical field.

But they didn't mind it, I came from one of the most elite families in New York known for our exquisite and exotic jewels.

I stood up and walked to my window only to find the most beautiful sight of the sun setting.

The sun sank slowly toward the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the land. Streaks of amber, crimson, and violet painted the sky like a masterpiece in motion, blurring the edges between day and night.

Each passing minute deepened the colors, as if the heavens were sighing into twilight.

Shadows lengthened and softened, and the last rays of sunlight danced across the clouds, setting them ablaze before fading into gentle hues of rose and indigo. I couldn't help but smile.

I was pulled out of my longing gaze by my phone ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket and placed it right on my ear without even looking at the caller ID.

"Hey princess", my father said with his gruff voice, he sounded happy .

"Hey dad",I answered with a big smile plastered on my face. Talking to him made me happy . "Your mum and I were wondering if you can come home for dinner today we've got some big news," I could hear my mum yelling something in the background but I couldn't quite grasp it ! "Honey, you there ?", Fuck I totally forgot my dad was on the phone.

"Yeah sure I'll be there, give me a few minutes", I said as I gathered my belongings and hung up the phone absentmindedly.

"Hey you", I said as I looked up to see my ex boyfriend Roman in my office . I didn't even hear him walk in. "Hey gorgeous", he smiled at me revealing his perfect white teeth and his cute dimples .

In all our years of dating I never got over that smile, it made me feel so warm I couldn't even decipher the feeling that always sat at the pit of my stomach. I just stared at him his blonde hair that shone like gold, his build like that of an underwear model. He looked great in blue jeans, I c-

"- can we do it over dinner". Do what over dinner !? Can't believe I missed what he said .

""Maybe another time , I'm going to my parents over dinner".I said as I brushed past him and walked as quickly as I could to my car. I revved it up real quick and drove off.

People like him are better left in the past no ? I mean that was why he was an ex.

"Uuggghhhhh " I screamed at myself . It took me months to get over that man , not two months , not three eleven fucking months that was basically a year !!

And yet he has the audacity to show up now after three fucking years !

I can't go through that path again I jus-

BANG ! A loud crash sounded. Someone bumped into my car ! You're kidding me !

I quickly removed my seat belt and stormed out of my car. "No no no no not my car it's brand new", I held my face in utter shock as I walked to the back of my car . "Would you relax , its not that damaged", Some guy in a suit said . Is he sane !? He hits my car and tells me to calm down! "What ?, you hit my car and that's what you say ! ", Yes it wasn't that big but still !! No ounce of remorse radiated from him .

The closing of a car's door had me drifting my attention to the man that was walking towards us. Holy shit ! People look like this actual people ?

He stood tall with a presence that drew attention without a word. His jet-black hair, thick and tousled, framed a face defined by sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline. But it was his eyes-icy blue and unnervingly intense-that held you captive, as if they could see straight through to your thoughts.

There was something raw and magnetic about him, a quiet power that simmered beneath his calm expression. His broad shoulders and sculpted frame spoke of strength and discipline, every movement precise and deliberate, like a man accustomed to control. He looked like danger dressed in confidence-unshakable, unreadable, and impossible to ignore.

But his voice ! "Here's my business card you're car will be picked tomorrow and fixed, come on Mario I'm getting late for the meeting ", he said as he walked back to his car. My eyes were glued to that card, his face imprinted in my mind. When I raised my head their car was no longer there .

I walked to my car with my mind thinking of a certain adonis, I wasn't even mad about my car anymore . It sounded alright even

I need to gather my thoughts, I'm losing myself!

I arrived at my parents house their majestic house stood right in front of me. I walked in and I was enveloped be the sweet scent of lilles and some spices.

"Honey you're just on time ", my mother welcomed me with a small hug. You're father is upstairs with a guest in his office he'll be right down.

I didn't know I missed my mother till I actually saw her , her dirty blonde hair that laid gracefully on he shoulders , her brown warm eyes that assured you of comfort and peace. She was beautiful , her beauty didn't match someone of her age. We sat down at the dinner table as the food was brought in by the servants.

We catched up slow with my mother and I heard my father coming down the stairs and engulfed me in one of his famous teddy hugs. His jet black hair slowing getting some edges of white was laid back . I did take after my father .

My father joined in on our conversation but my mother kept on obviously nudging him mouthing the words tell her Jack '.

I looked at my father with a expecting gaze urging him to talk.

"You see the thing is sweetie", he spoke as he held my hand and looked straight into my eyes.

"You're getting married". I felt my throat clamp up . The food that I was already eating tasted like acid in my mouth.

I could feel bile rise in my throat. This was some kind of joke.

"But I'm not seeing anyone ", I said as I drew my hand away from my father .

"Exactly , that's why you're marrying him ", my father pointed towards a figure emerging from the dimly lit staircase.

I quickly turned my head to be met with the man my father pointed out - "YOU ?"

The universe is fucking playing games with me right now!

Him ! I'm marrying him ? Someone shoot a gun through my head. "You know each other ?", my mother asked.

I could've been imagining my own things but I saw a smug smirk on that pretty face of his.

"Yes, he fucking hit my car". I spoke not being able to remove my eyes on him. "Nice to meet you too", he spoke in a velvety rich voice. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when he swept his gaze all over my body. I shifted uncomfortable in his stare, something about it made me tremble.

"Be nice Alora ofcourse he didn't hit your car on purpose",my father said with a scowl on his face.

"Have a seat Mr. Morretti", my mother said as she pushed back a chair for him. He seemed unfazed by our prompt marriage. It's like it didn't even bother him at all.

While I on the other hand was scared shitless. "You'll be engaged I a few weeks time and marriagewill follow right afterwards", my father said in a monotone voice.

Why would I marry him ? I don't know him ? Why him ? I don't love him let alone like !

This wasn't how I pictured my life. I could feel blood draining from my face, the room fell silent it's like my mind shut everyone out.

I could hear my father's voice but I couldn't make out what he was saying, I felt as if the walls around the house were closing in on me.

I was the perfect daughter since birth , walked on time , got perfect grades, went to an Ivy league University. I was a princess in my parents eyes ! I never did drugs, never partied but why were they selling me out like this ?

I've never disappointed them and why would I start now. I did what no normal person could do and made up my mind I'll marry him. I've never done anything wrong or objected my parents that was my sisters job !

"So honey you'll move into his house after the engagement", my father said with a sweet smile. I wanted to smile but I couldn't. Every muscle in my body went taut.

"Sure", I said picking my phone to see Roman on the caller ID. What did he want !

I rose up from my seat and headed for the balcony to answer my phone.

As I went to answer my phone he hung up . He's calling then hanging up ? What's his deal. I couldn't help it but feel sorry myself. The wind felt great on my skin, the night was still young. The stars looking so majestically like a drawing painted across the skies.

If someone told me this was going to be my life two months ago I'd laugh straight to their face. But now the jokes on me . I took a slow deep breath as I heard the murmurs of the town. I felt a presence behind but I didn't even bother turning.

"So it was you mia cara", Mr. Morretti said as he adjusted his suit beside me. "Me what !", I asked cocking my eyebrows at him. "Who's gonna be my future wife", he said with a smug smile.

"Look Mr. Morretti I'm not in the mood of whatever you're planning on doing here", I said and turned to leave. "See princess, I'm not interested in you , not even the slightest bit",he said as he grabbed my waist and put me in place.

"Why don't you just let me go then, tell them you don't want me", I said . My voice hitched and got stuck in my throat.

Upclose this man was majestic, his jaw was sharp like he could slice me in half ! His eyes were a deep wave of blue piercing like he was staring into my soul . He smelled of sandalwood and cinnamon, I wanted to tilt my head get a better wisp of his sweet smell.

And I did what an idiot could I do , I leaned in . I shouldn't be doing this but I wanted to .

He quickly tilted his head and unimaginably our lips brushed, this small movement made my my leap . I felt a bolt of electricity jolt through me and wetness pooling in my panties. I wanted more. I wanted to taste him. I wan-

"You see mia cara, as much as I wanted to throw this marriage I'm bound to it just as you are". He said as he moved my lingering hair behind my ear. It was a slight movement but it had my heart racing. "And my name is Laurie for you ", he turned and walked away.

I wanted that warmth back, the feel of his hands on my waist. His full lips against my neck ! I would kill to feel that again.

I couldn't shake off the feel of him. I got lost in my thoughts for a couple of minutes. I was still young, I had alot of time on my hands to look for someone but no it just has to be him.

My blood felt too cold and that's when I knew I'd been out here for too long. I walked into the house and closed the doors behind me , the warmth from inside the house enveloped me like a warm fire and my body felt instantly relieved .

"There you are , I startedto think you eloped through the balcony", my father had a sick sense of humour if he thought that was funny. "I just don't get why you guys want to marry me off I'm barely twenty five ", I said as I took a seat on our plush white couch in the lounging area. Laurel stood a few steps away from us in his glory.

"You're last relationship went to hell so we had to take matters into our own hands", said my father unimpressed by my character of trying to walk out from this. In their world marriage was an alliance, a profitable partnership to both parties. An arranged marriage was common in this business field but I never thought I'd be a victim of it, it was loveless and pitiful .

All this was happening too fast, "Why didn't you tell me earlier ? "This was an absurd arrangement. A marriage without my knowledge was one thing but meeting my future husband in one of the most unexpected ways possible was a whole other problem.

I wanted to be composed like Laurel , I wanted to act like none of it bothered me but it did. The devil had to be placing a bet on me or something.

My urge to retort settled slowly inside my chest, I couldn't do this to my parents. The urge was simmering but I couldn't let it reach to a full boil . I wasn't raised like that.

I'd disappoint my parents.

So sucked it all in , and tried to summon my best behaviour. My father was slowly changing he wanted the money, the power , the connection, the status , that's all that mattered to him amd my mother was falling with him .

"So I guess I'll be marrying Mr. Perfect soon", I said as I wiped my sweaty hand on my trousers.

My parents gave me a sweet smile but my cheeks were burning from the forced smiles I'd offered the whole night. "Nice meeting your beautiful daughter, I'd like to take my leave now , now that we're acquainted". Laurel said with his hands deep in his pocket not even a single emotion displayed on his face.

Laurel was famously married to his work , a thirty two year old man who wasn't even looking like he had an interest of giving up his bachelor lifestyle. So why did he want to subdue himself to this marriage? What made him surrender ? If this marriage was going through we would kill each other halfway to the altar or the honeymoon night,if we would get there .

His scrutiny gaze lingered on my face with no ounce of warmth plastered on his face. I wanted to dissappear, I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze his eyes were boring holes on my face ! "I'll see you soon Alora", he offered a smile that didn't reach his eyes. If I couldn't read more into his face, one could've said that he admired me, adored me but his little act couldn't fool me .

A mixture of unease and pure irritation twisted in my stomach when his blue piercing eyes found mine. He slowly drifted his eyes off me and bid everyone goodbye as my father walked him out .