An Arranged Marriage - Episode 10

 

I quizzed Anaya to the ends of the earth this morning, forcing her to get on her phone and call her friend in Caspian kings office.

Since Anaya is an admin assistant, she  doesn't know anything about Caspian's schedule, but she has a friend who is the personal assistant of Caspian's personal assistant.

So after some much wriggling and a promise of a night out, Anaya had gotten the girl to tell her where Caspian will be having lunch today.

Anaya had delivered this information to me, making me swear on our mothers grave not to use.

I had sworn not to use it, but she didn't see me crossing my fingers behind my back.

So here I am, sitting on a table at a swanky restaurant, debating the merits of ordering an over priced beverage.

I hope against hope that Caspian king shows up, I hate being outside and you can't tell me that after this sacrifice things won't work to my advantage.

The universe can't be that cruel.

Guess they aren't that cruel then, after about 20 minutes of waiting and sipping free water, trying to look busy checking my time and telling the waiter that I was there to meet someone, Caspian King walks through the door, he immediately gets ushered into the back, where I'm sure is for only VIP.

I get to my feet, smiling at the waiter and telling him that my date is here, I try not to look nervous as I make my way to where Caspian is sitting.

Before him is a salad with dressing and a stake and potatoes, yum.

When was the last time I had stake? 

I take a step forward but a wall of muscle blocks my view. 

"I'm sorry ma'am you can't go forward than this" The waiter from earlier says. 

"What?" 

"Nobody disturbs Mr Kane when he is eating." 

I know Caspian's middle name is Kane, my eyes go to him, to see if he's aware of me but he's tucking into his steak, his eyes not even coming to us. 

"Please, I just need to speak to him for 10 minutes" 

"I'm sorry ma'am" He repeats again, his tune rigid. 

I know there's no hope of seeing him when the waiter /bodyguard takes that stance you see James bond take while facing down a villain. 

Oh gosh. 

"Let her through" A calm, cool, growly voice says, forking a bite of beef into his mouth. 

The waiter immediately steps away, my eyes go to him, but he's not looking at me, his eyes are on his food. 

I begin to limp toe him, when k found out this restaurant was one of his, a swanky thing for the elites, I didn't bring my walking stick, no need to broadcast the fact that I don't fit in here. 

This few seconds it's taking me to get to him is becoming the longest in my life. 

Why do I have to have a bad leg? Ugh. 

When I finally get to where he is, I take a much needed seat. 

He doesn't say anything, just. Continue eating, but I know he's alert, his body is aware. 

So the man yesterday, the one who told me to come back later is indeed Caspian king. 

I look him over, trying to get that much in since he's distracted with his food. 

He has thick dark hair, a straight nose, full lips, an arched brow with a little scar, there's a birthmark near his eye, a little discolouration. 

I try to discern the colour of his eyes, but I can't since his eyes are on his food. 

"I see you found your way to see me then" He says, taking a drink of water, his eyes comes to me and I finally get the color. 

Black. 

They are the blackest black on the color pallete, no hint of brown or blue, just black. 

This back eyes are watching my every move so I stop acting like a baby and gaze back at him. 

"Mr

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/an-arranged-marriage

. Caspian.." I start but he stops me. 

"Please, Kane will do, I don't go by Caspian" He says, pushing his half finished dish away and I will my eyes not to follow it, as my fist clench at the wastage of food. 

"Oh, I'm sorry then, Mr. Kane" I say and he waves me on, a waiter appears, not the one from earlier, the waiter takes away the dish. 

"I.. I don't know how to go about this.." I say, suddenly nervous, I should have planned what I was going to say the moment I saw him.

"I'm sure you wanted to see me for a reason, please take your time" He says, seating back, as a waiter.. Another waiter brings forth a bottle of wine and two glasses, he pours it and into the two glasses before blending into the rest of the restaurant.. 

Seating with this man it seems like its  just the two of us in this room, like no one else existed. 

"You acquired a land recently.." I begin, something flashes in his eyes but he tilts his head, in an predatory way, I gulp. 

"My brother did" He says,.. ".. Under my name" He says finally. 

"Oh.. Well, my father.. The land he sold, its mine, not his to sell, uh.. He forged my signature.. You acquired the land illegally" I say, wringing my fingers. 

I almost growl at myself. 

I sound like a weak girl. 

He seats up, watching me as I make claims. 

"Do you have any proof? That this land is yours.?" 

"Well.. Uh" I say, before producing the bit of paper from my pocket, a photocopied version of my mother's will. 

He peruses it. 

"How do I know this isn't forged?" He asks and my heart slows. 

"I would never do that, what do I stand to gain?" I say, disbelief plain in my voice. 

"I'm a rich man, this could tarnish my reputation, maybe you are here to see how much I can pay you? To threaten me" He says, calmly, evenly. 

Like he's so used to this things happening that it doesn't even surprise him any more. 

What can of life must he have for people to want to use him everytime? 

I really don't care about that, what I care about is him insinuating that I would stoop so low as to blackmail him.. 

"How do I know you didn't get your father to sell it to me just for this reason?" He says and my fist clench as his simple baiting. 

I try to relax, he doesn't know what my father mean to me. 

"Mr. Kane, please.. This land, its the future of so many people, please I have no other choice but to come to you,.. I don't know what I expect you to do but.." 

"Miss...?" He asks

"Anadia" I say. 

"Miss Anadia, this is a dead end, this thing you are doing, I got a land, a fine one albeit in a bad condition, I went through all the right processes, I and my lawyers, even if you bring this case to court it is certain that I will win, even if the law isn't by my side, I have the money to buy the judge off, I would advise you to go back home and seek another alternative, to helping the future of the others you spoke about "He says with finality and I know this conversation is over. 

A dull roaring feels my head at my helplessness. 

Oh my God. 

What do I do now? 

My stupid, stupid father, I know, I know it would be foolish to take this case to a judge, I won't win, not with a paper out there somewhere saying I signed the lands over to my father... 

Oh God.. Oh.. God.. Oh....God.

"Are you going to answer that?" a dull voice asks, black eyes watching me. 

I come back into my body to hear my phone ringing. 

I look at the display and it's Aroos. 

"Hey girl" I whisper. 

The sob makes me seat up straight, 

"Aroos? Aroos? What's wrong?" 

"..

Read " Salvation (An Arranged Marriage ll) " by the same author ( Bebe Ernest )

. He.. He.. He.. Posted.. He posted the pictures.. He showed up in my working place and he's harassing me.. He's not leaving Anadia" She is saying and I know she's talking about that fool Edward. 

"I'm on my way, stay away from him, I'm in my way" I'm saying, standing so fast I forget to hold something, I cry out, going down but strong hands her holding me up. 

I look at him. 

"You must be in a hurry" He says. 

"Thank you so much for your time Mr. Kane.. I.. I. Must go" I say and I'm limping out, as fast as I can. 

When I get outside there's no sign of a cab, I look around. 

A car pulls up. 

"Get in" Kane says from the backseat and I don't hesitate. 

I enter. 

My sister needs me. 

To hell with it if I allow one measly excuse of a boy hurt my sister. 

AN

Happy Monday! 

Have a great day. 

And also comments, please? Your response is great but your comments aren't forthcoming, I want to know what you think and how you feel about certain things, please, thank you!