Chapter 1: Strangers And Fiancés

Chapter 1: Strangers and Fiancés.

Stella’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the man who had walked into the room in his khaki pants and black sports top. 

A high fashion sense as high as his never escaped her recognition. 

It was hot. 

But she didn't know which was hotter—the shot of whiskey she'd just poured down her throat or this brutally-hot young man who seemed to effortlessly command her attention. 

Her eyes lingered on the stranger who'd already settled in a chair far behind her, his eyes darting around the room like he was expecting someone. 

Tall. Averagely thick muscles. Sharp jawline. Fit and fine.

She was quick as lightning to study those features of him. 

Despite the effect of the terrible urge to approach him running through her veins, she wouldn't give in. She was the type to never approach a man first.

“Hey Stel, hot right?" Her best friend, Valerie whispered to her ear in low breath. Valerie was the total opposite of Stella when it came to rating looks. 

“Um…Him?” Stella chuckled nervously, her eyes swaying from the guy she was staring at, to another guy her bestfriend found “hot". 

Stella's brows pulled together above her bridge; she didn't need to explain before Valerie understood. That was her comment. 

A person had to be super attractive to earn nice comments from her. 

Unsurprisingly, she was never the type to be classified as average. The type that men would die to have a word with. 

Beautiful thin almond eyes. Long natural lashes that were always mistaken for artificial lashes. Cheekbones sharper than a butcher's knife. Skin as smooth as silk. An almost perfect dentition. 

 A practical walking hourglass she was. 

She lowered her gaze to the last shot that had just been refilled and then took it all down her throat in one gulp. 

One part of her ached to approach this guy but the other part would rather burn than let him catch her staring. 

She turned her head slightly, hoping to steal another glance of him but he'd disappeared just as quickly. 

Left and right, her eyes scanned the entire room. 

Without sighting him, she bolted out of her chair, heading outside the bar—to look for him. Another glance at him was what she wanted but the moment she grabbed her phone,she knew she wanted something more. 

She exited the bar and there he was…standing with his hands in both pockets. She'd only wanted to clear her head at the bar but this man’s charm was dangerously intoxicating. She made a pause to compose herself, summoning the courage to walk up to him. 

She'd taken her first step when the bomb came off.

A young woman in heels who'd walked past her was with him and from the way she approached him they hugged, God, she could swear that they had some sort of connection. Not family. Not mere friends. They fucking kissed in her presence and it caused a terrible stir in her stomach. 

Her lips curved into a bitter smirk as she took deliberate steps backwards. 

She wasn't disappointed in him. 

She was the one who was going to approach him but thankfully, fate saved her from the disgrace of being rejected.

 “Sorry, I have a girlfriend. You cannot have my phone number" was the last thing she needed at this point of her life, especially with everything going on with her family. 

After all, she didn't want anything serious. She was only hoping for a fling like always. 

Her phone rang loudly while she watched the guy and the lady hold each other like lovers. She slipped it out of her pocket, a peeved groan escaping her lips as she saw the Caller ID. 

She cleared her throat, waiting for her Mother to speak. 

“Stella Scott, where are you?" Her Mother asked in a tone every Mother would, especially when their daughter hadn't been home after a heated argument with her Father. 

“Somewhere, Mom" She turned back, walking into the bar. 

“Your Father is dead serious, Stella. He's not changing his mind about you getting married”Her Mother's voice stilled. 

“Mom, how many times do I have to say this? I do not want to get married”Stella said, her words icy but with a restraining force. 

"Stella, you are 28 and we know what is good for you as our child. The marriage shall go as planned and you shall have no objections” Her Mother's tone changed. It was blunt. Scolding. 

She remained quiet, restraining every urge to say a word.

 She waited for her Mom to finish saying before she could begin hers.

“But what if I don't want to get married, Mom? Does my own decision even matter?”

“Honey, you must. You had over 7 years to decide and since you didn't, your Father has done it and there's no going back." Her Mother said with an air of finality. 

"I made myself clear already, Mom. If you want a married daughter, you should adopt one. You don't even understand what marriages are in this century, do you?" The clarity and sharpness in her tone synced. 

Her Mother sighed before saying a word. “I thought we'd gotten over this—" 

“No, Mom. We've not gotten over anything. I am not getting married and even if I will ever consider marriage, I would never consider that bastard I have never seen in my life" 

 “You will not speak to me rudely, Stella and not even about your fiancé.” Her Mother cautioned like she didn't care about her at all.

"Mom” She settled to the only unruly word her brain could recall despite its incapability of conveying her contrariety. 

"Get yourself home as soon as possible. Cut that crap” Her Mother hung up before her brain could process another word. 

She didn't hate marriage. She only feared it. 

Her eyes stung of tears as she grabbed her bag from the chair and stormed out of the bar. Her best friend, Valerie followed. 

“Stella! Stel!" Val called from behind but she wouldn't stop walking. Echoes of her parents' voices replayed in her head. 

Her Father had thrown the pictures of the man she was to get married to and yelled at her. 

“You must get married”

“You cannot be single by 28. You're getting old" 

“Clock 30 unmarried, and I will disown you" 

"Dylan is the best choice for you. Marry him or your place in this family is gone for life”

“You're nothing but a disgrace to your parents if you're unmarried at 28, no matter the number of degrees you have" 

“You're only good for nothing. Bring a husband—a man" 

“Stella!" Val grabbed her wrist. 

“You're zoning out again, aren't you?" Val asked, a heavy sigh leaving her chest after the slow chase. Stella's lips trembled as a proof of her inner hassle, with the irresistible ache to burst in tears.

"I know, I know. It's okay to let it out”Val opened her arms widely to receive her bestfriend. “It is—" 

Val had barely said half of what she had intended when Stella burst into tears. Her hands wrapped around her best friend, she released the sobs she'd stored in for long. It felt like she was going to burst open if she didn't.

Of all the people in her life, Val was the only person who knew how much marriages terrified her. She knew how much she feared the “What Ifs" of marriages and how much it haunted her. 

**

“So, I guess they're really going to do it this time," Val said calmly, avoiding her best friend's face. She had to censor that part of "disowning her”. It wasn't the first time her parents were threatening but this time felt real than the other times they'd sworn to disown her. 

Stella had decided she'd crash at Val's place and during the long drive home, an uncomfortable silence dwelled between them. The only thing that differentiated her from a dumb person were the heavy heavy sighs she'd let out frequently. 

No one but Val could see through the facade on Stella's face. The faint smile was fake. A total opposite of what she was going through. 

“They want a married daughter. I'll give them what they want" She smiled, faking her distraction so she wouldn't break down in tears again.

Her eyes ached as tears gathered, threatening to fall. Every ounce of strength within her was what it took to smile.

Val's phone rang not long after they got home, “Your Mom, Stella" 

They both exchanged knowing glances.

Despite Stella angrily telling her to ignore the calls, Valerie picked the call. 

“Hello, darling Valerie" Stella's Mother took Val as her own daughter even though she already had children of her own. 

"Hello, Mrs Scott. How are you doing?" She responded causally, lightening the stiffness in her voice. She usually addressed Stella's Mom by her first name but considering the seriousness of situations, she decided to be a bit formal. 

“Can I ask a favour from you?” Stella's Mother asked with a pause in her tone like she realized she was about to do something rashly. 

Val paused, exchanging a knowing glance with Stella. 

"Sure, ma'am. You can” She smiled almost uncomfortably. She didn't want to be put in a situation where she had to pick two sides. 

“Please, make sure Stella is ready for the dinner meeting with her fiancé by 8:30 pm tomorrow evening. Please,ensure she looks her best”Carol said, making emphasis on every word. 

If there was one person that everyone trusted around Stella, it'd be none other than Valerie. 

“Alright ma'am. I understand you" She smiled, obviously faking it. Her smile needed to be heard. 

"Thank you, darling. I will count on you" 

Val's eyes shut tightly as she caught her breath, dropping the phone from her ear.

“You didn't tell them I don't want it?” Stella's voice came from the kitchen area, holding a tray of two mug cups.

“Was making coffee. Figured you'd like some," She said, placing the coffee before Valerie.

"Look, Stel." Valerie held Stella's hand. She wrapped her hands around her bestfriend's.

“I know how hard this is but, you have to do this." She paused to remove a strand of hair from Stella's face. Every word was direct. As always. 

“But what if I don't want to?" Stella shrugged, yanking her hand out of Val's.

“You have to. We both know it's one of the two:you either do it or you lose one of the things you cherish most in life” Stella wrapped her hands in her palms again. 

Stella's gaze softened, the truth hitting a part of her that was almost tearing apart—the part that cared so much about her family. 

“But what if—" 

“No, Stel. There are no what ifs. It's either one or one" Val said, maintaining her piercing gaze. 

“I don't love him. You don't get it, I don’t know anything about him. How can I marry a total stranger?" 

She finally paused to check her phone when the glow of its screen reflected longer than expected. She'd ignored about 5 calls from her Mother and she just hoped within her that it wasn't another trap she was falling for. 

A pop sound. Another pop. Another.

It was a message from her Mother.

“Your Father was brought in right now, he was shot by two unknown men on his way back from the company.”

““He is currently unconscious as we speak and three bullets are still stuck inside him. Respond to this as soon as you can,honey. I love—”

 Time stilled as the meaning(of what she'd read) registered. Her phone slipping out of her hand, tears tripped down her cheeks. Her vision blurred as everywhere quited while Val snatched the phone from her to read.

“The car keys, Val. Please, the car keys" She ran outside the door, totally ignorant of whatever she was wearing. Her Father's life was at stake and she didn't care how it would happen but she'd die to save him.