Perfectly Imperfect

Men busied past as Grace played with her straw again, every man but Lucas Mcarthy.

It was shameful enough that she had been reduced to getting into a marriage deal, she didn't need to be stood up to.

Fifteen more minutes passed by before he walked in, checking from side to side for the table number she had texted him.

This was their fifth attempt at having a date and she had always been the one waiting, totally unmanly of him.

"I'm sorry," he had beads of sweat lined at the top of his forehead and a grim smile.

Maybe he hates my dress, she thought, or the color

She blinked to shut the voices in her head

"At least you made it"

He pulled the chair opposite her and took a seat and their eyes met for the first time.

It was a lot to take in; the Rolex on his wrist, the neatly designer tuxedo, the well-arranged hairline, the fragrance that smells like wealth.

As if pulled out of a trance, he shifted in his seat "At least I did. Lucas Mcarthy" he pulled out a hand "It's a pleasure meeting you."

The butterflies in her tummy curled in bliss... that voice.

"Same here"

He brought her hand to his lips and planted a kiss on it "You look good"

So he likes my dress, she thought. She had been so unsure of the earlier look on his face.

A smile was her reply "Shall we?"

She raised the menu to her face, not to scan for something mouthwatering but to be able to release the tensed breath she had been holding ever since he walked in.

It wasn't the first time she had seen what he looked like, for he was all over the news, the billboards, and social media. Lucas Mcarthy was one of the leading forces in marine contracts and she had braced herself to meet him but the moment he walked in through the door, there was something about his presence that caused her stomach to churn, and in a good way.

"I would ask you to tell me about yourself but I'm not sure there's anything special I need to know," he said after the waiter had brought their orders and they were digging in.

Grace almost choked at his statement but before she could reply, he was back to talking "So let's get straight to the point" he sat back into his chair, "I would.."

"I am aware of all the deals," she cut in. His attitude was turning her off. He seemed uninterested in the meeting and seemed like he had something more important to do and couldn't wait to storm out. "I don't need them to be read to me physically."

For the second time, he took a good look at her and for a minute, it seemed like he was going to say something but he held back. "Good. Anything you want to talk about?" He asked

"I want to get to know you," her voice was soft. "If we are going to be getting into this, at least we should be on friendly terms."

He sighed in exasperation "I am a busy man, Grace," his eyes traveled to the low neckline of her dress before traveling back up to her face "and I don't keep friends, I make rivals." he paused to let his message sink in before resuming "this is a contract, not a relationship."

Women, he couldn't deal with them. It was the reason he found it difficult to keep one.

Grace grabbed her fork and resumed munching her salmon "That's alright, so, you wanna go?"

He resisted the urge to squint in surprise at her question "You want me to?"

"Well, I don't see you as one who would come sit for nothing when you have a very busy schedule. You better go catch up on those deals."

Giggling, he smiled "I think I'll like you"

She didn't know why that made her nerves tingle but it did.

"What do you want me to know about you?" He asked.

"That I don't think I'll like you" As much as she was already dripping just by being in his presence, she wasn't one to tolerate disrespect, especially not at this early stage.

He humped "I don't think that will be a problem." When she said nothing, he continued "Listen, we both know why we are into this, you want your family's stability, I need the company, this alliance is as important to me as it is important to you, so why don't we go ahead with the deal and let go of whatever we think we may feel. It's a simple deal and it's either you're in or you're out."

"Got it"

"You'll get everything, the money, the fame..."

"I have experienced all that before, it's not going to be the first time."

"What's your problem?" He asked her

"That you kept me waiting for almost an hour and you're coming in here, barking orders. You don't see me with an apron, do you?"

"We haven't even made love yet and you're already nagging."

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came through so she turned to her food for distractions. She was going to pretend he didn't just say that and that it didn't bring dirty thoughts to her head, and that she was looking forward to it. It wasn't just the line he said, it was the way he said it, the voice he said it with, the way his eyes romanced her while his lips moved.

His phone buzzed the entire time they were together and he kept glancing at it.

"Do you have anything else you want to say to me?"

Her head moved from side to side. "No, for now."

"That being said, I will take my leave now, it was nice meeting you and I'll try to stay in touch. I'm sorry we didn't get to spend much time together but we'll meet again soon and I'll make it up to you."

He was on his feet and after a quick kiss on her cheeks, he was out of the restaurant. He hadn't even touched his food.

"I hate him!"

She brushed past her mother and stepped into her room. There had been two meetings with Lucas and while he had acted like an ass for the first one, he hadn't shown up for the second. She had been on her way when he canceled and through a text.

What did he take her for?

It didn't matter that her parents were the ones with a lot to lose if things didn't go well, that didn't mean a qualification for a bad treatment.

She didn't need anyone to tell her she was beautiful; her mirror said it to her every day.

Curves, face, everything was on the beat.

Her whole life had been a fairy tale before it came crumbling down. She always had the princess treatment from birth, and she had gotten so used to it that she couldn't imagine herself settling for less.

Her first car had been delivered on her fifteenth birthday and in the second year, in it, she had driven to the Maldives with her then-boyfriend for her first sexual experience.

Nine hundred thousand dollars spent to get deflowered, yes, she was that important.

Although she had everything at her fingertips, she wasn't a stupid girl. She had made investments and even at a younger age, she always knew she wanted more than just the monetary things of life, and one of the things to which she held so much importance was family, the one she was going to make when she was ready.

The tourism sector came with so much risk, but her father had given his all to keep it standing and for that, they all paid a price, one that involved so much separation, sometimes it hurt.

She had used that opportunity to gain the freedom most of her peers didn't get and in that, she had gotten experience and at the end of it all, she had made her choice, to build the happiest home ever.

But tragedy had struck and now she was at the mercy of a man who had zero regard for her.

After he had left her at their table during the last meeting, she had gathered the courage to go home, and after a conversation with her mom, she had been encouraged to still go ahead.

"The marriage doesn't need to last" her mum reminded her "It's just for the meantime, when we're on our feet again, you can step away."

But she wanted it to last, not because it involved a marriage with a big shark on the cruise line, and a handsome one at that, but because she wanted no complications in her life, now and in the future.

The fact that the guy involved didn't see things the way she did hurt her, but every time she looked at her mum's face, she remembered the financial statements she had stumbled upon and she knew she just had to do it or her parents would rot in jail.

When the idea had first been presented to her, she had laughed it away. She had no intention of laying deals with her heart but when she had gone into her mum's home office in the middle of the night when she saw the lights on, she met her mum sleeping on the sofa, and on the table were files, pending lawsuits, evaded tax filings.

She had crept back in bed and the next day had declared she was willing to do what they wanted.

They had been stunned but made preparations as soon as possible so she wouldn't change her mind.

Slowly, she had begun looking him up, preparing herself for what was to come, for although she was about to enter into a huge mess, she was determined to make it a beautiful mess.

It didn't look so good so far but there wasn't much she could do about it.

She had tried to be strong but Lucas was making her drained already and they weren't even official yet.

An open marriage; it was disgusting but she thought it was better to clearly state out expectations than to make commitments one couldn't keep and besides, with everything she had, she doubted any man who saw her with no clothes would dare to look twice at another woman.

Her father had cheated on her mum multiple times, it had become a norm. But for every time he did that, it seemed her mum loved him more. She spent her life trying to be the dedicated wife but ended up getting spat on every single time.

Grace knew one thing for sure; if she couldn't get Lucas wrapped around her fingers, she would do what he did, and she wouldn't bat a lid. The only thing she was thankful for was the fact that the agreement didn't include kids so when in that case a separation happened, there would be no third party left hurt and torn, the same way she did each time her parents fought, each time her dad slammed the door, each time he didn't care.

She closed her eyes and slept still wearing her makeup. When she awoke, her mother was sitting by her bedside, stroking her hair.

"How are you?" She asked with a smile.

Grace mumbled words that didn't make it out loud.

"I made breakfast, care to join me?"

Her eyes popped "Breakfast? It's morning?"

Nodding, her mum replied "You were knocked out"

She smiled and struggled to sit, yawning and stretching in the process. "What did you make?"

"Oats and pancakes" she whispered "It could get cold anytime"

Grace grinned "I'll be down in a minute." She sang rushing into the bathroom to wash her face.

She raced down the hallway, down the stairs, and into the dining room, only to stop halfway when her eyes settled on the other man at the table, seated in the usually empty seat at the dining table.

He smiled at her "Hey, good morning"

Her widened gaze moved from him to her mum and him again, and just like that, she was running up the stairs, back to where she came from.

The rough hair, the tired face, and the well-exposed gown all messed with his mind but he had some things to get to that morning and he needed to get this over with, or else he wouldn't have the time again.

"I'm sorry," her mum said, embarrassment flushed over her face "She didn't know you were here, I thought that would make her hesitate coming down."

"I understand, it's alright" he went up the spiral stairs to the room Vivian directed him to.

On the door was a sign "Do Not Disturb, Queen Queening"

"Really?" He thought? "Someone still doing this?"

He knocked once, and then again

"Mum, you didn't need to let me come down there in the same dress I wore yesterday, he didn't need to know I was frustrated!"

She cursed and took hard steps to the door, swinging it open and having her jaw drop the second time that morning.

Grace's first instinct was to slam the door right back in his face but somehow, she stood there unable to move, embarrassed and dazed at the same time.

Who the hell was this man?

He cocked his head and flashed her a smile "Can I come in?"

She turned and moved inside awkwardly and for a moment, they both stared at each other

"I'm glad I didn't miss seeing you in this dress," he confessed.

She swallowed, her eyes searching his to see if he meant what he said

"Why are you here?" Her tone was not a good one

"To make up for yesterday"

"Well, to start with, you should be apologizing"

He pressed his lips together and hesitated "I'm sorry"

Ignoring the twitch in between her legs, she turned and walked towards the window, looking out into the open field that would belong to the bank if she and Lucas didn't stop playing games and get the deal sealed. "I'll be out in a while," she said

She waited for the door to close behind her but she didn't hear any movement. So when she turned, only to bump into his chest, she went mute with shock.

"You were frustrated I didn't come yesterday?" It was more of a statement than a question so she didn't say anything.

"You're in my way" she pointed out. She was stuck between the table and his body frame and she knew any careless moment would land her in his arms, where she had been aching to be since she saw him downstairs.

"Am I? You have the option to push me away" he reminded

His breath was heavy on her ears and his voice was hushed, almost as if they were heavy with arousal

"You know if we're going to be married, we better start practicing" he brought his hand to her hair and everything in her got excited.

"Stop" but he could barely hear her

"You don't mean that"

She hated that he could see through her without her having to say anything.

His scent engulfed her and she wanted nothing more than to throw herself at him and let him do whatever he wanted.

All of a sudden, he backed away "I'm just down the hall"

She collapsed on the bed when she was sure he was far away.

He made it so easy for her to like him and hate him at the same time. It was exhausting, but there was no time to think, she needed to get ready and if luck was on her side, the marriage preparations would begin in the evening.

Since he was dressed formally, she decided to wear something that would go with him but was careful to not overdo it.

In a green flowered shirt gown and boyfriend shoes, she came down to meet him. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and she held her head high like nothing had transpired between them in the room.

"Ready?" He asked, giving her his hands

She never knew he had "gentlemanly" as one of his attributes. "Ready" she responded as she placed hers in his.

With a nod of acknowledgment at her mum, she followed him to the waiting cars.

Guards were waiting outside and it caused Grace to roll her eyes. Although she had been brought up in a similar fashion, she had kept all those things out of her lifestyle. She preferred riding alone, at the same pace at which she did in bed, fast, hard, with music blasting her ears.

The fun was different when you had guards trailing behind you and looking like robots.

"Really?" She asked "The guards?"

"It seems you take pleasure in complaining about everything."

She sealed her lips as they stepped through the already open doors and into the car.

He was beside her in an instant and with a command, all three cars were heading out of the driveway.

"Where would you want to go?" He asked her

"Somewhere nice and quiet"

"You don't have a place you would love?"

"Oh, please, don't act like you care," she looked at him "Like you said the last time, let's get this over with."

He nodded and faced the front. The next twenty minutes in the car were unbearable. For some reason, he found her silence more disturbing than her chatter.

They pulled into the driveway of the five-star hotel and as she prepared to alight, he brought his hand to her shoulder "I'm sorry about last time, and about yesterday," He smiled "Let's do this, shall we?"

She nodded "Let's do this."