Chapter one
He sighed and sank into his chair. He ran his hand over his face, his jaws clenched, a new headache forming. He knew this was a bad idea, he knew his father would one day decide to make his life miserable but he didn't think it would be this soon. He inhaled and allow himself enjoy five seconds of peace before he decided to call his shitty best friend for advice.
Shit! Shit!! He knew this was a big mess.Dario massaged his temples and brought his cell phone to his ear with his free hand. He paused going over what he wanted to do, he was over thinking again, he had to stop. He slowly waited for his friend to pick the call, on the fifth ring just when he decided it was a bad idea Aaron picked the call.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Dario Simpson." He mocked as his voice came through.
"Aaron Wellington." Dario rolled his eyes but mimicked his tone.
"How are you doing and how's business?" Aaron asked.
He sighed wishing he could just cut the call but replied anyways. "Everything is fine and you?"
"Okay this is getting weird, let's stop the formalities."
"Thought you would never ask," he sighed still massaging his temples. "We need to talk." He added in straight voice.
That picked Aaron's curiosity, "Ok. Let's meet at our regular coffee shop." He said his tone laced with concern and ended the call.
Dario looked at his phone a little unsure of meeting with Aaron but he needed to share this with someone and that someone is no one else than him. He picked up his car keys and stepped out of his office almost bumping into his personal assistant Elaine.
"Am so sorry sir." She apologised and tried to adjust her top to let her cleavages show.
He eyed her from head to toe, he was already pissed and didn't want this desperate bitch to ruin the last bit of calmness he had.
"Get out of my way Elaine, I have an important thing to do."
He didn't wait for her reply, he walked pass her. He should have pushed her out of his way but damn his good upbringing.
***********************The bells right above the door to the coffee house jingled as he walked in, accompanied with the aroma of coffee enveloping him. Dozens of people filled up every available table there that he had to stand for a while trying to locate where Aaron sat. Few seconds later, he found him waving and walked over to where he sat.
"I ordered you a black coffee." Aaron said as he eyed him from head to toe. "You do not look good." He stated, his eyes fixated on his crooked tie and the shirt that seemed unevenly buttoned. "Don't tell me you came out like that?" His eyes held horrifying look.
"Thanks." Dario replied and took the seat in front of him ignoring other things Aaron said and focused on taking a sip from his coffee.
Aaron took that as a yes and groaned out dragging his palm across his face. "Okay, so..." Aaron drew out, waiting for Dario to begin.
He put his coffee down gently, "What?" He questioned tapping his fingers on the table.
"Just spill it out man!"
Dario hesitated for a bit— why was he here again? Aaron should be the last person he should be telling this too, considering their past. He shut his eyes for a bit pushing the memories back. When he was sure the memories were tucked behind he opened his eyes and spoke, "my dad wants me to get married."
He watched as Aaron paused for a while before speaking, "And? I mean you're more responsible than I am, so what's wrong?"
He hesitated, running his hand slowly at the edge of his coffee cup.
Aaron understood the look and sighed. "Look I'm your friend and I won't lie to you, it's been five years since that incident, I think you should listen to your dad and move on."
He chuckled dryly, "you say it like it's easy."
"It's easy once you put your mind there." Who was he kidding—that was a terrible lie, he still felt it.
Dario slammed his fist on the table making a loud sound which earned him glares from other costumers present.
Aaron sighed massaging his temples, "why did you call me here? If you're not ready to get over her you can simply call your dad and let him know you can't get married."
"Do you think I didn't do that" he seethed. "I did that severally."
"Dario calm down, we can been thrown out of this cafe and I love the coffee here."
He relaxed his back on the chair but still looked a little tensed as he folded his long sleeves.
"He threatened me." Aaron nodded for him to continue, "if I don't get married in the next hundred days to come I'm going to loose the Simpsons enterprise to Theo."
Aaron's jaw dropped. "Wait," he paused trying to taken in what his best friend just said. "Theo, the Theo we both know?"
Dario nodded. At least someone gets him.
"B... but Theo knows nothing about business. He only knows how to stand in front of cameras and take a pose. He is a model!" Theo was shocked
"Dad doesn't care if Theo doesn't know anything about business, he said if the hundred days elapse and I am not yet married, he will send Theo to business school and hand him the company."
Aaron stared with eyes wide open and exclaimed, "that would be a disaster! Theo running the Simpsons enterprise...wow!"
He nodded in agreement. "That's why I called you here. I really need to secure my position in the company."
"Where do you think you will find a girl, go on a date with her, propose to her and get married to her before a hundred days?" Aaron asked
He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. "I have no idea."
"It's not like you can meet a random girl and propose to her then when your company is secured you'll divorce her." Aaron said nonchalantly and waved the waiter to bring more biscuits.
Dario stared at his friend Aaron in awe, he just found the solution to his problems. He didn't want commitment, he can't betray Caitlin's love all he has to do is to find a random girl get married to her and secure his company.
"Don't!" Aaron shook his head, noticing the gleam look forming on his friend's face.
"Don't what?"
"Don't even think about it," Aaron ran his hand through his hair making it disheveled. "Are you mad!" He added his voice rising.
"No I'm not mad, you're just a genius." He complimented.
"Dario you can't just meet a random girl and ask her to marry you." Aaron tried to reason with him and then muttered a thank you to the waiter as she set the plate of biscuit down.
He stared at Aaron like he hadn't spoken anything. His mind was already set, he is going to propose to a random girl.
"Dario," Aaron called warningly. "Don't do that, I'm going to call Ronnie and tell him about this."
He rolled his eyes at Aaron's childish antics. There's no way Aaron will call his brother.
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't do this." He said with a straight face.
"She might be a gold-digger."
"That's not a reason."
"She might have a bad reputation?"
Dario stared at Aaron incredulously, his gaze never moving to another thing. This is ridiculous, where did he get this from.
"That doesn't make sense." He replied and was about to close the chapter when Aaron spoke,
"What about yours? Your reputation, what happens when this gets out to the media, you're reputation would be ruined."
He sat thinking of what Aaron said, he was right, his reputation would be at stake.
"She would sign a contract." He stated and relaxed his back on the chair. "You'll help me with the contract."
"I own a security company not a law firm."
"Yeah, I know just get me a lawyer."
"Where's the girl? When you find a girl that will agree to your stupid shenanigans, I'll get you a lawyer."
Aaron stood up to go, he payed for the coffee and biscuits and was about to go, when he turned to look at Dario.
"You said a hundred days?"
He nodded.
"How many days gone?"
"Five"
Aaron chuckled softly, "you have ninety five days to get married. Congrats."
Chapter two"Did it work, did you find any?" She asked anxiously as Elena walked in.Elena shook her head and she sighed. She needed a job badly, she had checked for online jobs but none was available, her best friend Elena tried to get her a job in the Del monte's coffeehouse where she works but all to no avail."I'm so sorry Diane," Elena was apologetic. "I tried to talk to Fabio but he just bounced me."She flashed her a warm smile. Of cos Elena just likes to be dramatic she knew Elena had done her best even if she hadn't she would still be greatly indebted to her.Three years ago, Elena took her in when she was in her most difficult time. She was four months gone when her so called boyfriend disappeared from home one night, she was so devastated that she looked for a way to get rid of the pregnancy, to rid herself of anything that belonged to him, at that moment she didn't wan
Chapter three He walked into the house tiredly, today he tried looking for a suitable bride for the Simpsons enterprise but all to no avail. All the girls he saw at the bar he went to, no one was suitable, he was sure if he presents any of them to his dad, he would loose the company in a twinkle of an eye. After the death of his fiancee Caitlin, he moved out of the Simpsons mansion since everything there reminds him of her. He also planned to move out of the city but his mom wanted to be close to him, she still treats him like she did five years ago when he lost his fiancee. He looked around the sitting room, it was littered with toys, toy cars, action figures and other stuffs. He clenched his jaw at what he saw, how could Dennis leave all this here. "Daddy!, daddy!!"Dennis called running into the sitting room with a toy gun. He moved away from Dennis quickly, avoiding th
Chapter fourGoing to the Del monte's coffeehouse was his regular morning duty, a place where he goes to escape from the harsh reality of life, funny how a coffeehouse turns into a place of solitude. Today was different, he didn't want to go to the coffeehouse but he kept having this gnawing feeling deep down and then it turned into a sudden craving for cappuccino coffee which was extremely weird considering the fact he didn't like the taste and it not being his regular.He walked into the coffeehouse and took a seat at his regular spot awaiting a waiter or waitress. He stared at his wrist watch, it was five thirty PM.He sighed disappointedly and ran his hands through his face, muttering under his breath"what the hell are you doing here Dario," just as he was about to stand up and leave the coffeehouse a waitress stood in his front."Good evening and welcome to the Del monte's coff
Chapter five Dario closed his eyes and focused on clearing his head, he sat with his brother Ronnie who had come on an unannounced visit to his office. He didn't know why he couldn't get the red hair off his mind, why he offered her a job, why he even considered finding out what the problem was, why he didn't snap at her for insulting and mocking him or for rejecting his offer. His jaw ticked with internal rage, he boiled with a vast amount of anger, why was he thinking about her, he was dishonouring Caitlin memory. "Dario," he heard his brothers voice bring him out of his thought. He looked towards him and raised a brow. "What's wrong?" Ronnie stared at Dario with full concern etched on his face. He wondered why he looked like he wanted to kill someone a minute ago and he also wanted to know how long Dario had actually tuned him out. "It's nothing." He said and swirled his chair
Chapter sixThe car pulled into the large driveway of the mansion. Her jaw hung low as she stared at the magnificent building in front of her."I can't believe this." She muttered under her breath.The car finally came to a stop and the chauffeur stepped down opening the door for her."We're here." He spoke in a French accent."I can see that." She replied not taking her eyes off the mansion causing him to chuckle.The contract had been signed the previous day and Dario asked her to move in with him effective immediately. She tried to prolong her stay with Lena but Dario strongly refused."Ma'am...""It's Diane." She corrected still not taking her eyes off the building. She still couldn't believe she'd be living a place like this.....it was magnificent."Diane, Garrett will take you to your room and possi
Chapter seven Diane walked into the kitchen as the aroma of bacon and egg wafted through her nose. "Good morning ma'am, would you like your breakfast to be served?" The cook asked. "Heavens! please serve it to me. I'm starved." She groaned, her love for food was an understatement. The cook chuckled and nodded. She served her the bacon and egg and watched as she ate it, she wanted the lady of the house approval of her meal that's why she specially prepared it. Diane moaned softly as the taste of the food hit her taste buds. She began to rush it earning a chuckle from the cook. "This is magnificent, this is heavenly." She complimented in between her meal. "Thanks ma'am." "It's Diane, what's your name?" "Charlotte. I'm glad you like it." Charlotte beamed with happiness. It was a great deal for Charlotte, Dario had ne
Chapter eightDario fumed in anger as he sat in his car heading for the bar or maybe Ronnie place, he wasn't so sure yet but he needed comfort and the only way to get that comfort was drinking till he was dead drunk or talking to his brother.His jaw clenched as the event of what happened not too long ago flashed in his head, he shook it not wanting to remember it. He wondered why he still trust Aaron Wellington after so much betrayal, the guy was hardly the best friend he knew ten years ago. Ten years ago, there were no secrets between them but right now the secrets between them was as big as mount Galilee and he dreads wanting to know them, scared what he believed all this years was a lie.He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and cursed sharply under his breath. He caught Leo worried gaze through the driver's side mirror. He scowled at him and continued to curse. He was frustrated because he couldn't go to a bar in
Chapter nine "Ruby!!" Diane screamed as she chased Ruby downstairs. "C'mon Ruby I don't have the whole day." She groaned stamping her feet. Ruby giggled as she made her mom chase her. It was too early and she didn't want to have her bath. Diane was getting frustrated by the 'catch me if you can' Ruby was playing. She knew all the screaming and shouting and probably the gasping from diverted heart attack had caused a ruckus in the house. This was just 5am in the morning and she had to bath and dress up Ruby for Elena's wedding. She missed the bachelorette party last night because of Ruby and Dennis, she didn't want to miss dressing her up, being the chief bride's maid and Ruby the little bride. "Ruby I swear..." She halted her words same time as Ruby stopped running and turned to face her with her face scrunched up in confusion. Ruby held her rag doll with her good hand as she sta