OUR SERENDIPITY

Isabella watches, her expression gives nothing away, but her heart is hammering in her rib cage , "so, he is a boxer. An alpha-" Her mother stops her, "a pure blooded alpha." She grits his teeth, "right." "So, he is a boxer," Bella starts again, "that's his job." Her mother nods, grins wide, "for now. He is to take over his family business.

He is unbeatable." Amelia her best friend turned sister hides her face in her palms, "so this marriage," she coughs to break the tension between mother and daughter , "he knows and agreed to it?" Isabella prays to whoever is listening for the answer to be negative. "Yes." "He knows I am a singer right ?" Isabella leans against the chair, "knows about my career?" Her mother nods again, "his family find you very suitable for him." Isabella would curse, but her mother will probably still ground her , "I see," she stares at Amelia. Amelia looks like she is in pain for her, Isabella knows her face shows the exact emotion, she sighs and asks "when can I meet him?" Her mother smiles, "I gave him your number. He will call you." Isabella snaps, "you gave away my number to a random stranger?!" Her mother frowns, "he is your fiancé?!" Isabella bites back a curse, rubs her temple, "so do I at least have the last say in this?" His mother's face twitches, "o-of course. Your father prefers him, though." Isabella knows what that means. She glares at her mother. Her mother stares back at her as if she doesn't know what is going on" "I will take her away now," Amelia tugs at her friend and smiles widely at Isabella's mother, "she has a photoshoot.she will call you, aunty." She nods, sips her tea that is Bella hopes she chokes on, "sure, my dear Amelia. Remind her to call soon! She never calls home or comes home unless we call her" Isabella keeps glaring at her on her way out. "Tell me this is the most terrible hour of your life!" Bella hisses, leaning against the elevator, "Tell me I am not freaking out for nothing!" "Amelia, they arranged my marriage without asking me to tell me I'm dreaming!" Amelia leans on the wall, "my life aside, this is a situation you need to handle very maturely. So, stop panicking!" "I am going to throw up," Isabella throws her hands up in frustration, glaring at her friend, "Pureblood alpha, lia! He is a pure blood alpha. He will be so prudish. Would never understand my choices or care for them just like everyone in my family I don't need this right now! Oh, My God!" "First of , you need to calm down!" Amelia hisses, grabbing at her hands, "we will find a way. You can ask Oliver and you two can decide-" Isabella blinks, "I am dating! Oh, my God, I forgot that I am dating!" Amelia stares at her friend, "Girl? you... forgot that you are dating?" Bella waves her off, "I will just talk to the alpha and tell him to go away." Amelia rubs at her temple as they walk out of the elevator, "just be nice. Don't bring trouble on yourself." Isabella shrugs, "Whatever. This wedding is not happening. I am not letting it!".

The phone call comes that night just as her mother said. Isabella is confused because it is very late but picks up anyway "Am I speaking to Isabella Knox?" the man sounds soft, his voice a low hum. Isabella frowns, sitting on his bed, "yes?" The man sighs, "sorry for the late call. I forgot about the timezone." Isabella glares at the skyline through the floor-to-ceiling glass window, "you forgot it's midnight here?" The man chuckles, "I am so sorry. Am I disturbing? We can talk tomorrow?" Isabella grits her teeth, "we don't have much to talk about anyway.

Tell me what it is." The man sighs, "I am Jaxon." Isabella grips the duvet closer to her chin, "I know. My mother told me everything about you." Jaxon hums, "mine told me about you too." There is a pause. Isabella bites her lips. "What are you doing?" Jaxon sounds hesitant. Why?" Bella frowns, "what do you want?" Jaxon snorts, "can we video call? We need to talk and-" Isabella glares at the floor , "I am in bed!" "With someone?" Jaxon curses, "sorry. Shit. I will call later-" Isabella gapes, "I am alone! Oh, God! Wait!" The call connects quickly and Isabella is facing the alpha, who stares back after a little wave that Bella ignores. Isabella's eyes trail over the alpha's face, and Jaxon's eyes are on her, just as inquisitive. Then they both look away, anywhere but at the screen. "I can't marry you," Isabella blurts out, cursing herself at the way she spoke, "I mean," "I am dating someone." Jaxson bites his lower lip, "oh?" Isabella hums, "So we have to-" Jaxon shakes his head,"Listen, I can't say no to my parents. I owe them this one." "You owe them a wedding?" "you can't be serious!" Jaxon sighs, "it's not like I am dying to marry you either. I-" Isabella interrupts, "Then what is the problem? Let's call it off. We can go our own way and-" "And they find someone else again for us!" Jaxon glares at her "how about you calm down, and we come to an agreement?" Bella glares, "I am listening." Jaxon goes to sit on a park bench, "we get married. Give it three or so months before we divorce." "That way, they will be off our backs," Jaxon takes a bottle, sips from it, "and they will have.no say because we did what they wanted us to do but it did not work out. How does that sound?" Isabella frowned at the screen, "I have a boyfriend." Jaxon shrugs, "then even better. Introduce him to your parents and get us out of this mess." Isabella looks away, "that's not an option. His family and all," he shakes his head, "they will never agree." "then do this. I have no problem with your boyfriend." Isabella sighs, "This whole thing doesn't make sense." Jaxon watches him, "do you have a better plan?" Isabella looks at the alpha, notices tand notices the bruise at the corner of his lips, "you are bruised." Jaxon touches his face, and smiles, "Normal for my career nods, "I will think about this." Jaxon lets out a breath, "we have to meet in a week. Decide before that and let me know. Either we put it all off or we go through with this plan. Let me know." Isabella bites her lower lip, "right. Okay. I will let you know." Jaxon nods, "oh, by the way," he smiles at the phone, "you look pretty when you are angry." Isabella gapes at the phone after Jaxon cuts the call, "this son of a bitc-" she throws the phone over her duvet before burying her face into the mattress to scream in frustration.

"This is the best plan," chole, another of her best friends says , "see, this way you can get out of the marriage and pretend that you are heartbroken. Your family will leave you alone afterwards." "Just call it off," Amelia ever the voice of reason says "this is not going to end well, and I can clearly see it!" Isabella stares at her friends, "you two were of great help. Thanks. I am right where I was before asking for your opinions." They both roll their eyes before starting a discussion about who is right and who is not. Isabella tunes them out.

"He will be visiting your set," her father says sounding as authoritative as ever over the phone, "we want to give you two some privacy, so we will let you meet alone for the first time. But, be in public. Do not do something to bring shame to the family name." Isabella cuts the call. He glares at his friends, "what am I going to do?! Jump him?! What is he talking about?!" Amelia and Chloe sigh, very much in sync, before they stare at her Isabella whines, "right. Pure blood. The scent. My scent. Blah. Blah. Blah. They are so backdated, I can't handle this!" Isabella ignores all of his parents' calls and multiple messages afterwards. She tends to do that when they get overbearing. So she misses when and on which date the alpha will be visiting him. So when her assistant comes running, telling her about jaxon's arrival, Isabella is not prepared. There are four alphas outside,", her assistant, gasps for air after running so far in the set, "all of them," his eyes are wide, "all of them are pure-blood." Isabella glances at Amelia and chloe , before sighing, "ask them to sit. We are coming." We?" Chloe quirks a brow, "you mean-" Amelia curses, "why are we getting into this mess?" "because you are my best friends and I can't or I'm not doing this alone. Come on!" Chole and Amelia let out a sigh, again in sync, before standing up to follow Isabella out. As soon as they get to where the men are Chloe clutches at Amelia and Isabella's elbows as soon as they are walking into the room where the alphas are waiting. "Is that," Chloe whispers, "is that Liam?" Amelia and Isabella blink, looking at the back of a man. "Who?" Isabella frowns, "Liam? Who's that? Chloe gulps, "how are you two so dense and you are in the entertainment industry too ?! Liam ?! He is a musician just like you he produces too how can you not know this?" Her voice dries in her throat when the man turns around, his eyes finding Chloe easily. Liam watches them for a second before a small smile quirks the corner of his lips, showing his dimple, "hello." "They are here," says another man and now Isabella can easily recognize the other man. James is a rapper. James grins at them, welcoming and warm while he watches the three of them. Liam bows his head a little in greeting, "Jaxon just went to the washroom. I hope you don't mind?" Isabella shakes her head, eyes trailing over the two men before she looks at the other side to see another man leaning against the wall, eyes on them. "I am Liam," he smiles, points at James, "this is my friend James and that's," he points at the guy who is pushing off the wall to come and stand beside James, "Andrew." Chloe chokes on his words, "the sonic escape.oh . God!" Bella nudged her friend to keep cool Isabella opens her mouth for a greeting when the scent invades his senses. The rich scent of burning wood. It suddenly feels warm and the scent carries the memories of bonfire with it. The smell of fire, consuming, invading. Setting Isabella's Nerves on fire. She feels discomfort and safe it scares her she barely knows the man She turns her head when footsteps near the door and the man walks in. Isabella holds her breath, suddenly it feels like the whole room is burning and the cold fire leaps against her skin because she is in the middle of that flame. "That's Jaxon," Liam speaks, "there." Isabella can't breathe. Her nostrils fill with the alpha's scent and she can't look away while Jaxon looks just as glued to the spot. The alpha's eyes flash golden for a second before Jaxon coughs, walking into the room with a smile, "hello." "I think we should give them some time alone," Amelia's voice sounds weak, she looks at isabella resolutely, "they need to talk about this. We might interrupt." Liam nods, "I mean, that makes sense-" "I am tired of walking around," Andrew sighs and complains, "I am not moving." " Isabella , how about you show him the set?" Chloe asks, a small smile on her lips and his eyes urging isabella to obey. Isabella thinks if given the chance, Chloe can surely take the role of a parent. She's the oldest of the trio She grits out a smile, "sure, sure. Follow me?" Jaxon nods, following him out. Jaxon can't help but take notice of the her attire when she walks past him in a hurry. Those soft strands of hair falling all over her glaring green eyes. That long coat doesn't hide those collarbones at all. Where the pendant of the necklace lies so elegantly The scent of the omega makes Jaxon halt. The smell of fire poppy. A flower that grows with the help of fire. When everything else burns to ashes from the touch of the flames, this flower grows from that ash. People say, it's the fire's love, blooming in a flower. What?" Isabella asks, noticing how Jaxon has stopped walking. Jaxon shakes his head, shoving those thoughts at the corner of his brain, "nothing. Where are you taking me?" Isabella sighs, waves for Jaxon to follow him to her office "come in." "It's nice," Jaxon looks around, eyes taking in everything, "well-" Isabella curses, arms crossed over her chest and glare fixed on Jaxon, "drop the formalities. We need to talk about a lot of things." Jaxon pauses, eyes on the her now, "we can't be civil about that? And I was trying to be polite" Isabella's lips curl in disgust, "I am not here to make friends." Jaxon's jaw tightens, "I see. Well, then," he goes to sit on the small couch, "tell me what you want." Isabella takes the other side of the couch, "we need to fix a few things. First, we have to get married." "My family will not listen to anything I say," isabella sighs, shakes her head, "so we have to go with your plan." Jaxon hums, "my family is not leaving me alone either. So, this makes sense. But-" "I will not break up with my boyfriend," isabella blurts out, "I won't." Jaxon waves his hand, "whatever. So, we give it five months?" Isabella nods, "five months and then we go our ways. We have to divorce on a very dramatic note because-" Jaxon lips curl up in a smirk, "you will manage it. I can see it." Isabella glares, "what?" Jaxon shakes his head, "nothing. But, the wedding, if we agree, will be done in a week." Isabella winces, "I know. My parents can finally get me off their hands as fast as they can." Jaxon sighs, nods, "well, if we are settled then-" "Do you have a lover?" Isabella asks Jaxon snorts, "I don't do lovers," his lips curl on a smirk, "hook-ups? Yes. Plenty." He says Isabella makes a face, "I see." Jaxon bites the corner of his lip, his piercing gleaming under the lights, "so no problem in continuing that after the wedding, right? Do you have anything to add?" Isabella snorts, "I don't care. Do whatever you want." Jaxon nods, "okay. Are we done here?" Isabella shakes her head, "what about the wedding preparations-" Jaxon winces, "our parents will do it. I will just show up. Don't really care enough to indulge, to be honest." Isabella lets out a breath, "me too. I don't have the time." Jaxon nods, "same here. I have enough time I'm busy enough as it is." They look at each other before their eyes wander. Isabella's eyes trail over the alpha's figure, noticing those veiny hands, the knuckles a little bruised. Jaxon's eyes tail over the omega's face, taking in those curves and edges before he looks up at the omega's face to see Isabella glaring at him, "stop checking me out!" Jaxon throws his head back and laughs, "you were doing the same?" Isabella blushes, flustered... Can't help but notice a pretty woman," Jaxon gets up, brushes his hands on his thighs before holding one out, "and you are one of the prettiest ones, if I can say." Isabella takes the hand, smirks, "I am not, 'one of the,' Jaxon I am the prettiest one you will ever see." Isabella let's out a shriek when Jaxon holds her hand for a shake and tugs her closer to him Their faces are inches away when Jaxon leans to breathe his words against Isabella's lips, "and what about me? Am I the most handsome man you have ever seen?" You wish Steele" Isabella glares up at those eyes, feels the way her face grows hot when jaxon's eyes glide over her lips, Isabella can smell the scent of fire intensifying around them. Her eyes drop to Jaxon's lips, noticing his tongue poking at the piercing on his lips The name is not an insult, darling," Jaxon's lips move, words are soft against her ear, "you will share it with me after the wedding." Isabella pushes away, opens his mouth to say something, but jaxon is already walking up to the door of the office, opening it and leaving