CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"My love, you made it" Hilden said to the mystery woman before getting up from his seat and wrapping his arms around her

The scene that was unfolding before my eyes shocked me. The two supermodels locked lips and l turned away feeling awkward. The waiter looked at me somewhat pitiful but l simply gave him a smile to show him that l was unfazed

"What can l get for you guys to drink?" He asked causing the interlocked tongues to come apart. The woman was blushing while Hilden looked at her adoringly. He went over to the empty chair and pulled it out for her to sit. 

" Just a lemonade for me will be fine" l said diverting my attention from the overly coupled up scene in front of me to the couples enjoying a romantic evening

"And for the lovely couple?'

"Can l get a bottle of your finest champagne and a glass of lemon water" said Hilden . The waiter bowed before making his way to the kitchen. The couple simply spoke between themselves completely ignoring my presence. So l sat there awkwardly feeling like the third wheel.

As if remembering something, Hilden turned to look in my direction before clearing his throat.

"Isabel, this is Aurora. Aurora, this is my girlfriend Isabel" The woman looked at me with a smile on her face. I looked closely at her eyes and could see no animosity directed to me

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Aurora. I hope your baby is better now" she said in a friendly way.

"It's great to meet you too" l said more as a question than a statement.

"She is doing better thank you" l said offering a smile.

"Now that's out of the way. Aurora, l wanted the three of us to discuss how this marriage will play out" He said looking at us both. The way he looked at Isabel was a look that could make anyone jealous but for me, it broke my heart. I had started to develop feelings for Hilden but just like every weak willed female whose heart started beating a little faster because a man told her sweet nothings, l was left to deal with the consequences

It may sound absurd but l guess the smallest attention from a man could make me fall in love. It wasn't something l was used to neither did l want to get used to it especially now. Men have always been known to be a woman's biggest weakness and l do not need any more weak spots besides Akai

"Isabel and l stay together. You obviously will need to come stay with me now that we are getting married. You and l will have to fake being in love to everyone else. No one can know or else the deal is off. And this deal benefits you Aurora" he spoke with so much authority that l feared disagreeing with him will yield negative results for me

" So what are you saying"

"Isabel is an important part of my life. I won't leave her because of this arrangement. I know you will understand. We can make this work, l know you can. You also don't have to break up with your boyfriend. What do you say?" 

"okay"

"okay? is that all you have to say... you don't have any concerns or questions, suggestions maybe?.'"

"I don't think that l am in a position to tell you how to live your life. Why did you agree to the wedding if you knew your heart was captured by another?"

" You have every right, you are after all my future wife... My parents do not know about my relationship with Isabel. And just like you, l didn't have any option when it came to the wedding."

"And how sure are you that this little arrangement of yours is going to work, you know how secrets never stay secrets.. what if l fall in love with you, then what? what if this jeopardises your relationship with Isabel better yet the whole arrangement, what then?"

"Falling in love is out of the question. Nothing will go wrong as long as every party involved does their best to keep everything under wraps. Don't worry. It will all work out. And as for my relationship with Isabel, nothing will go wrong, she is my soul mate" he spoke confidently

"Your drinks" the waiter said with a tray filled with the beverages, placing them all in their respective places.

"Have you guys decided what you would like to eat?" he asked taking his notebook out the apron wrapped around his waist

" I would have lamb and for the beautiful lady beside me will have a chicken salad and the one in front of me full chicken and salad" he said folding the menus and handing them over to the waiter.

"Actually, l would like the creamy shrimp pasta one pot" l said with an eye roll and smile. Isabel looked at me with an unreadable expression as if confused by my blatant 'disrespect' to the man she loves

"What was that about?" Hilden asked glaring in my direction once the waiter has left the table

"what was what?"

"Why did you undermine me in front of the waiter?"

"And how did l undermine you Hilden, huh?"

"By disobeying me!" He said a little loudly bumping his fisted hand on the table causing the restaurant to look at us

" Oh cut the temper tantrum. I didn't disobey you, you simply ordered something l didn't like. Just because you are paying doesn't mean l will force myself to eat something l don't like. For your information, l am a pescatarian. You would have known if you asked, after all this little date was for us to get to know each other better and you had the nerve to throw your philandering ways in my face. On a first date, really?"

That shut him up but l could tell that his blood was still boiling. He glared at me for a minute before letting out a breath before storming off to who knows where.

"You shouldn't make him angry" Isabel said with a hint of fear in her voice

"Just like you shouldn't let him control you or what you eat. Are you going to be full with just a salad?" she looked at me sheepishly before shaking her head.

"It's not that l let him control me, l don't want to upset him or push him away. I really love him" she said close to tears

"I didn't mean to upset you. I was just saying that sometimes it's good to stand up to a man so that he knows he can't do as he pleases because he knows you wont stand for it"

"Tell me how you guys met?" and just like that she was back to smiling