Rain fell hard today, everyone got out their umbrella. Ariana stood outside the building feeling dejected.
"Why did rain have to fall right now? Gosh I'm so stupid for rejecting the umbrella Sunny gave me this morning" Ariana said.
Ariana walked back into the office. Ariana walked pass Roberto's office, she saw the light was on. "Why's he still here?"
She knocks gently on the door but there was no response. "I'm coming in" She said as she entered the room. Roberto sat down staring out into the city. "What are you still doing here Ariana?" Roberto asked without looking back.
"Um... It's raining... And I forgot my umbrella despite the fact my friend gave one to me this morning and I refused"
"I'm exhausted" Roberto said. "Then go home and rest" Ariana said. "Unfortunately rest wouldn't fix this exhaustion"
"Uh.. would you like to talk about it?" Ariana asked in concern. "I'm exhausted from the constant pressure of making the family proud" Roberto said.
Ariana didn't know what to say so she didn't interrupt him. "It's torture... Living up to someone else's expectation. Do you know how that feels?" Roberto asked.
"Yeah" Ariana replied. "Don't lie to me please... You have no idea what it feels like" Roberto said.
"No, honestly I don't know. All my life I remember my parents abandoning me. No one gave two shits abou me.... At least you have people who see you.... I'm not saying it's a good thing to be used like a machine..... Eck... I'm not calling you a machine... I... Crap I need to shut up"
Roberto gave a genuine laugh. Ariana felt her cheek flame up from embarrassment. "You are funny, you know that right?"
Roberto sat on a couch, he pats the couch. "Have a seat" Roberto said. Ariana sat beside him.
"What's got you all moody?" Ariana asked. Roberto sighs in exhaustion. "My family wants me to marry Jessica" Roberto said. "Weren't you happy with the arrangements before hand?" Ariana asked in confusion.
"When you come from a family as powerful as mine, foolishness isn't allowed. I don't like this idea one bit but I can't marry someone I don't love..... I was fine with the arrangement in the past but something changed my mind.... You made me change my mind..... I've spent these days asking myself certain questions about my decision.... What do I do?"
"If you get to that bridge and you find it terrifying, look around you'll definitely find me. I promise to save you when that time come" Ariana said. "Really?" Roberto asked.
"Yeah" Ariana replied. Roberto hugged her tightly. "Thank you" Roberto whispered. "Okay.... How about we go home, it's getting late"
{Six Months Later}
It's been six months since the incident. Tonight Ariana stood in the crowd with a glass of champagne in her hands. Tonight is a special one for the Gonzalez family. Tonight Roberto is expected to propose to Jessica.
Ariana didn't know why she felt sad about it. She spent the past months trying to convince herself that it meant nothing but Melissa told her more than twice that she had feelings for Roberto.
Ariana watched Roberto, he was too busy talking to people with a fake smile. Jessica clung to him like a leach.
Ariana had taken five glass of champagne already. "Hey, Ariana slow down... You'll get drunk" A colleague said. "What's the point? It's free drinks after all" Ariana said.
"Awn, look at mr Roberto and miss Jessica.... Aren't they amazing together" Another said.
Ariana looks at them, her chest ached with the sight of them smiling brightly. Ariana phone rang. "Ariana how are you holding up?" Sunny asked. "Great" Ariana replied.
"Don't lie.... We can see how flushed your face looks from the TV" Melissa said. "What?" Ariana looks around in a panic. "Didn't you know today's event would be broadcasted all over the news?" Melissa asked.
"I forgot" Ariana said. "How many glasses have you had so far?" Sunny asked. "Five or something"
"Quit mopping, you look like your fiancee ditched you on your wedding day" Melissa said. "I can't help it.... I don't even know why I'm here... Maybe I need to head back home"
"Don't you dare!!! You better stay right there. You need to stay there and enjoy yourself.... Maybe you can find a potential suitor" Melissa said. "Fine but promise me, you'll come get me when things get messy" Ariana said.
"We promise" Sunny said. Ariana hung up. The crowd erupted with cheers as Roberto goes down on one knee with a box in his hands. Jessica squeals in excitement.
Ariana grabbed another glass of champagne. She looks at the new couple, her heart stung so bad. Roberto looks around the crowd, his eyes found Ariana. Their eyes locked on each other for a while till she made her way to the door.
"I should have listened to them about the champagne.... Now I need to get a cab that would take me home" Ariana said to herself.
She swayed towards the door. "I need to make it out of here with my dignity intact" She whispers.
"Ariana wait!!" Roberto called out. Ariana twirled around to see Roberto on one knee. "What are you doing?" Ariana asked in surprise.
"Would you marry me?" Roberto asked. "What?" Ariana chucked on her own spit. "I got to the bridge and I saw you.... Remember... Please help me" Roberto pleaded.
"How can you do this? Do you know what you're doing? The implications? Your family...."
"I don't care.... I need you" Roberto said. Ariana swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm drunk"
"Will you marry me Ariana?" Roberto asked again. "Marriage is not a joking matter, it's serious"
"Ariana.... I love you..... Will you marry me?" Roberto asked. "You moron... Yes... I'll marry you"
Roberto slid the ring on her finger. Murmurs filled the room but they didn't care. Roberto stood to his feet. He held Ariana's cheeks and kissed her on the lips.
"You better not regret this" Ariana whispered. "I wouldn't dare" Roberto replied.
"Roberto Emmanuel Gonzalez.... How dare you disgrace this family?" A man yelled. "Father I have sacrificed everything for this family.... But I wouldn't sacrifice my happiness for the family any longer"
"I will cut you off this family" Roberto chuckles. "Your threat doesn't phase me... This is Ariana, the woman I love and the woman I am willing to burn the entire world for.... If you'll excuse me I have a wedding to plan for"
Roberto led Ariana to the parking lot. The media followed them, they flashed cameras and asked questions but Roberto ignored them.
They entered the car and drove off to a secluded place. Ariana came out of the car, she slumped on the ground. Roberto rushed to her. "Are you alright?" Roberto asked.
Ariana looks at the ring on her finger, it looks heavy for some reason. Like the weight of everything came crashing on her. "This.... This doesn't belong to me.... What have you done? What have I done?" Ariana asked.
"It seemed like the right moment.... I would rather be stuck with you than to be stuck with a woman I don't love" Roberto said. "Your family would never accept me... Your friends would hate me... Your enemies....." Roberto shut her up with a kiss.
"I don't care about them.... I love you... They just have to deal with it. As for my enemies, I will protect you with my life" Roberto said.
Ariana hugs Roberto tightly. "I'm still drunk.... It's a shame I'll have to wake up and find out that this was all a dream" Ariana said.
The next morning. Ariana opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was that this wasn't her room. "Where am I?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes.
Her phone rang. "Hello?" Ariana said. "Bitch, where are you?" Melissa's voice echoed from the other end. "What do you mean, I'm in my room... Why are you yelling so early?" Ariana's voice was hoarse.
"Don't you remember? You are now married to Roberto Gonzalez. It's all over the news" Sunny said. "That's not the point.... Do you know how worried we were when you didn't return last night? We called and texted you countless times but you didn't respond" Melissa said.
"Hold on a sec, I'm married to who?" Ariana asked. She wiped her face, that was when she saw the ring. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"
"Why is there a ring on my finger?!!!" Ariana asked. "We told you to dial it down on the champagne last night... Now you've accepted to marry Roberto" Sunny said.
The door flew open with a bang. "Shit!!!" Ariana yells. "Are you alright? I heard you scream" Roberto said. "Hello Ariana... Are you still there? What's that racket?" Sunny asked. "I'll call you guys in a minute"
Roberto sat beside Her. "What's the meaning of this?" Ariana asked pointing her fingers. "You agreed to marry me... Did you forget?"
"I knew I shouldn't have drank yesterday" Ariana said. "Do you regret it?" Roberto asked. "Not really" Ariana replied. "Why?" Roberto asked again.
"I don't know... It feels right.... The only thing I regret tho is waking up hungry" Ariana said. Roberto laughs warmly. "I meant it, what I said last night.... I love you... Can we at least give this marriage thing a shot?" Roberto asked.
Ariana exhales slowly. "I don't know what to say.... Jessica is the one that's supposed to be here... Not me... I'm just your employee.... And getting wedded to you is.... Absurd"
"Do you want to call off the wedding?" Roberto asked. "I don't know what I'm doing... This doesn't feel right... How would Jessica see me? A homewrecker? Or a hoe?"
"How about we take this marriage as a job?" Roberto asked.
{I've watched a lot of movies like this... The protagonist gets a contract marriage for a year with the ruthless ceo but they end up fall in love with each other. Should I give this a try? What's the harm?} Ariana thought.
"We get married for real... We could do a court marriage if you like" Roberto said. "How long?" Ariana asked. "A year"
{I knew it} Ariana said internally. "If you don't feel the same way I feel for you then we can get a divorce... You can have half of my wealth as compensation" Roberto said.
"Do you think I'm a golddigger?" Ariana asked. "No.. no... It's not... I just want my family off my back about marriage stuff. I'll pay you four million every month for one year... Excluding your salary of course" Roberto said.
"Well I can't reject your offer now... Besides it's all over the news and there's a gigantic rock on my finger" Ariana said. "I wish we get along just fine" Roberto said. "What about work?" Ariana asked.
"You will not work any longer, you'll move into my house. My future wife just needs to sit pretty while I spoil her with luxury" Roberto said. "We need to talk about this living arrangement and the terms of my job" Ariana said.
"Those are my terms and conditions" Roberto said. "Do you have more?" Ariana asked. "You'll be escorted by bodyguards from now on" Roberto said. "And?" Ariana asked. "We need to fix a date for our wedding"
"And?" Ariana asked. "I want you to know that... I love you" Roberto said. Ariana's voice hitched.
"Could you warn a girl before spouting things?" Ariana said. Roberto rubs his neck. "I'll leave you to rest" Roberto said.