Mr CEO
The city lights glittered below like tiny fires against the dark, and above them, stars hung lazily across the black velvet sky. Almond leaned on the balcony railing, the faint night breeze brushing against his face. His sharp eyes were fixed upward, but his thoughts were far from the beauty overhead.
Nicholas's report about his arranged bride-to-be refused to leave his mind. Yes, the young lady was beautiful there was no disputing that. But beauty was only a face, a surface. It did not last. It did not heal wounds. It did not keep a man warm in the coldest seasons of life. And for Almond, it was far from enough.
Why his grandfather was so determined to choose her baffled him. At thirty-three, Almond had never been interested in any woman, and his reputation for being cold was well earned. Watching both of his parents die before his eyes as a child had not just hurt him; it had locked away whatever softness he might have had. Over the years, he had grown accustomed to the solitude, even if the nightmares still came.
Now, as if he didn't already have enough on his shoulders, his grandfather's failing health was yet another weight. And to top it off, this… marriage.
Jayden? The name slid into his mind uninvited. I hope she's truly like jade – resilient and valuable – and not just another ornament. I've heard she's not happy about this either, sulking over the whole arrangement.
He exhaled deeply, his breath misting faintly in the cool air. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Time will tell how she fares," he murmured.
Almond turned away from the balcony, his tall frame disappearing into the dimly lit room. Even in the dark, he moved without hesitation, years of habit guiding his steps to the restroom. Only there did he flick on the light, the white tiles reflecting a clean brightness. He set his phone carefully on the stand; waterproof or not, he never trusted chance.
The shower steamed around him, warm water washing away the day's travel fatigue. Fifteen minutes later, he emerged wearing a thick bathrobe, his hair damp as he blow-dried it one-handed while scrolling briefly through his phone.
In the walk-in closet, he changed into comfortable nightwear, but the marriage matter still lingered like a shadow he couldn't shake off. Perhaps a proper meeting was in order, or even a blind date, something that would allow them to decide whether this arrangement had any real future.
He picked up his phone again and typed a brief message to Nicholas: Get the plane ready. We fly back at dawn. Board meeting.
Switching off the bedside lamp, Almond lay back against the pillows, fingers rubbing at his temples. His eyes closed, but he knew what awaited him—another night wrestling with restless dreams and the ghosts of his past.
City of Jinnah – Same Night
The city was quiet outside, but inside her apartment, Jayden paced her bedroom like a caged bird. She had always trusted her parents' love, but this… this was different. She was old enough to decide her own life, yet here she was, caught in a web she hadn't woven.
What exactly do they stand to gain from this? The question played over and over in her mind, sharper each time. She tried distracting herself with her phone, scrolling aimlessly through social media, but the words on the screen blurred.
Her stomach interrupted her frustration with a low, insistent growl. She froze, then sighed. "My goodness… I've gone all day without eating," she muttered. The day had been one long storm of meetings, calls, and emails, yet somehow she had even forgotten to restock her fridge. "Perfect. Just perfect. Now what do I eat?"
She crossed her arms, leaning against the kitchen doorway, glaring at the fridge as though it had personally betrayed her. The growl in her stomach came again, more urgent.
"Fine, fine," she said aloud, more to herself than anyone else. She dug through her snack stash and reached for her phone to order something online. Chicken and chips would do – simple, quick, familiar.
The order arrived faster than she expected. She carried the box to the living room, set it on the coffee table, and poured herself a glass of chilled lemonade. The television played softly in the background, a film she barely paid attention to as she ate.
Even on a day off, she couldn't fully relax. This was her company; her responsibility didn't stop because she was in a bad mood. She opened her laptop briefly, glancing over tomorrow's schedule, already thinking of adjustments.
When her plate was empty and the glass drained, she tidied up, switched off the television, and retreated to the bathroom for a warm shower. Steam curled in the air as she tried to let the day slip away. By the time she stepped into her bedroom, the bed looked far more inviting than it had an hour ago.
She climbed in, the sheets cool against her skin, and closed her eyes. Tomorrow, she told herself, she would deal with whatever came her way, whether it was work, her parents, or the man she had yet to meet, one step at a time.
Though she only closed her eyes, her heavy heart still made sleep far away, and dreamland seemed far-fetched, but after rolling around for several minutes, she decided to put the thought behind her and look on the bright side that things can only get better, confusing herself that she's old enough for some certain decisions.
Particularly something so life-changing as a marriage, she'll stand her ground and win her battle; just some strategy and proper measures to put in place, and she'll never be shackled down by who and what she detests.
I hold the key to my future; my dreams and goals matter. I'll not be shackled or burdened by what I detest, and I definitely won't be charging blindly into a marriage, and most especially not an arranged marriage!!!. With this thought of affirmation, she drifts on to dreamland, looking forward to what's ahead.