Chapter 2

"Get out." Those were the last words I heard before the security men came bundling me out of the building. They didn't even have enough decency to take me through the elevator. They made me take the stairs before they bundled me out of the building.

Oh well, another arrogant man to go in my "Never Meet Them Again" list.

Dad is finally home when I walk in. 

"Another failed interview?" he asks without looking up from his bottle.

"Why don't you go get a job and feed us all? Then you would know how hard it is to even have a company get back to you."

He simply laughs. "I had some spare change to buy you a dress." I'm about to scream in excitement when he adds, "There's a soiree by tomorrow evening. I managed to get an invitation for us both. You will be finding your prospective groom there. If anyone picks you."

There isn't any need saying anything to him. I notice mom isn't in the kitchen. No dinner tonight. I just hope I don't actually pass out from hunger while I'm getting picked by idiots who all themselves prospective grooms. I never even wanted to get married. 

As I go to bed, all I can hear is that arrogant man's voice as he tells me to get out of his office. The blonde one even smirked. It would take a lot of self-control not to take action. He was at fault, wasn't he?

The next evening, I'm in front of the broken mirror as mom fixes up my hair in a high ponytail. The dress dad gave is pink. What does he think I am? A Disney princess? I wear it anyway. The shocking part of the whole thing is that dad hasn't had a drink throughout today. Turns out he can actually be serious when you don't need him to be.

"All the men would probably ogle at you while you're there," she tells me.

I scoff. "They would probably throw up when they see me. You know both dad and I don't belong there. We should stay where we are supposed to."

I see her roll her eyes through the mirror. "You did not tell me how your interview went."

"That was because you went to sleep before I came back home."

"To avoid talking to you about how bad our condition is."

"I was bundled out by the security. They made me a laughing stock again."

Mom just kisses my hair and tells me to go for my soiree.

Dad orders for a Bolt. I'm not very far away from suspecting that dad has a gold mine under our house and he is just being stingy.

The soiree is held at one of the tycoon's house. Dad probably got a pass at the bar because nobody is just going to hand it over to him. I almost cry as I see the kind of men we are surrounded by. Rich. Billionaires. CEOs. Dad pushes me to stand in front of the men so they can see me properly.

"How will anybody get married to you if you act you all stiff?" he asks and snorts.

I could take off my bra for all I care and my dad will still say I'm stiff.

I scan the whole party to see who I might have the slightest of interest in. I mean, even if I they don't have any interest in me, I might as well start a conversation so they might notice there is another girl beneath the pink dress. The one who needs glue to gum her broken pieces together.

I look around and I gasp when I see the person I thought I would never see again.

Alfredo Dejendro.

My hand flies to my mouth immediately and his eyes meet mine at the same time. He looks shocked but that only lasts for a millisecond. He has a smirk on his face as he looks away. I might have lost all my self-respect at his office, but I was brought up properly. I walk over to him. I notice how expensive and well-tailored his Italian suit is. In fact, he drips wealth as he stands there with all the girls present gawking and pointing at him. I still take the bold step to go talk to him.

"Good evening, Mr. Dajendro," I greet and stand by his side.

He looks me over. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" he asks. I know his voice sounds like rich honey but he sounds like an idiot right now.

"You do," I spit. "You had your security men bundle me out of your office yesterday". 

He grins. "Oh, you are that girl."

I give him a small smile. "Yes, I am her. I just came to apologize for my outburst yesterday. It was unnecessary and I acted like an idiot."

"So?" he asks and takes a sip of his whiskey.

"I came to say sorry," I say, stating the obvious.

He smirks again and walks away. He didn't accept my apology then. 

I try talking to a few of the men but I keep getting sidelined by the other women with able bodies and flawless skins.

My dad beckons me to come over. I walk over to him and he's beaming.

"Who offered to buy you a new drink?" I ask.

"Someone has offered to marry you."

"Who?" I ask, getting ready to see the idiot with glasses who offered to marry me. My dad points at someone at the other side of the room.

Alfredo Dajendro again. What kind of joke is this? Does he think I'm that desperate that I will just accept to marry him because my dad said he offered?

"No," I tell my dad.

My dad laughs. "Oh, I took the money already. And he agreed to foot 100% of the bill for the wedding. There's no going back, Euthalia. You have a husband now."

No, no, no.