Mikaela sat gracefully beside her father, in the elegantly appointed meeting room of the prestigious office building, her calm and clear eyes taking in the surroundings. Delicate fingertips caressed the coffee cup in her hands as she occasionally stole glances at the man seated across from her.
He was Metawin March, the enigmatic and understated fourth son of the esteemed March family in Florida.
"Metawin, I want to express my deepest gratitude to your family for their unwavering support in this project," Stanley said, extending a cup of coffee as he spoke. While he talked, his eyes couldn't help but linger on the man's striking features. Metawin, his head slightly lowered, possessed an air of quiet confidence as he replied in his deep voice, "You're welcome, Mr. Smith."
The presence of two businessmen meeting rendered Mikaela's presence superfluous, and she observed the interaction, wondering about the purpose of her father bringing her here today.
The afternoon sun streamed through the gauzy curtains, casting a warm glow upon Metawin's face, turning him into a perfect and delicate statue. Half an hour later, he bid them an early farewell.
Stanley let out a soft sigh after Metawin's departure, his gaze shifting to Mikaela's beautiful countenance. "My dear, what are your impressions of him?"
Mikaela raised an elegant eyebrow, her peach-colored cheeks reflecting her confusion. "Dad, what do you mean?"
Taking a sip of his coffee, Stanley's expression became inscrutable as he deliberated for a few moments. Finally, he spoke, his words hanging in the air, "The March's has agreed to have him marry you, and today I brought you here to meet him."
Mikaela's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! Marry? Who?"
Mikaela's heart plummeted, causing her hand to tremble, nearly spilling the contents of the cup. She struggled to regain her composure and sneered, "Dad, are you joking with me?"
Stanley remained silent, his gaze steady and serious. Mikaela understood the gravity of the situation.
"Why would I suddenly be expected to marry someone? I'm only 24 years old; it doesn't make any sense to get married at such an early age." The concept of arranged marriages felt archaic and out of touch with modern times.
Observing that Mikaela wasn't reacting explosively, Stanley furrowed his brows and spoke with a bitter tone, "Do you think the March's would suddenly offer their financial support to solve our funding issues for this real estate project simply because they are interested in that piece of land?"
It took a while for Mikaela to find her voice, her expression turning cold. "Is the proposal of marriage coming from the March's?"
"Not entirely. The condition for the March’s investment in us this time is that they require a guarantee of cooperation. Marriage seems to be the most logical option at the moment."
"So, you're essentially selling me off to them?" Mikaela asked, her voice choked with emotion. She had had an overwhelming sense of gratitude that her own family hadn't harbored such notions of exploiting her for commercial gains, which now seemed absurdly ironic.
After all, the Smith family couldn't escape the bonds of self-interest.
The journey back home was marked by a heavy silence between Mikaela and Stanley. Both of them stared out the car window, gazing at the faint clouds in the sky, as if a cold mist had enveloped them in that very moment.
...
Upon returning home, Mikaela retreated to the sanctuary of her room, barricading herself within its confines and forgoing dinner.
As the night wore on, a chill permeated the air on the balcony. Mikaela gazed at the night view of the city. With slightly trembling fingertips, she dialed her manager's number.
"Please help me find Metawin's phone number."
Given her father's unwavering stance, it seemed that this marriage was considered an imperative.
However, Mikaela refused to accept her fate. Regardless of her lack of acquaintance with Metawin, she couldn't ignore the fact that unions between affluent families often yielded unfavorable beginnings and outcomes. Moreover, just last month, she had secured an invitation to Milan Fashion Week, paving the way for a promising career in modeling. She had no desire to imprison herself within the confines of matrimony at such an early stage of her life.
