Slow Burn |

I wore my slick red velvet long sleeveless dress with a shiny jacket with glowing stones on each of the buttons blanketed it. My mom told me to wear it sleeveless but l didn't want that to be revealing because I don't care about other's opinion.

I put on my perfume which covered me in a scent of fresh lavenders. I then did my hair into curls styled with a red rose hair band. l had simple makeup on- a pink rose lip balm and foundation, concealer along with a red and purple eyeshadow.

"I look alright l think." I mumbled admiring myself to the mirror.  Actually l am a tomboy who had nothing in her closet except some hoodies and jackets with some jeans to match the clothes. My mom bought me all these lady like stuff probably to impress that random man into marrying me.

Actually l looked gross and pathetic for my inner thoughts. How girls can think they are goddesses! I couldn't care less as I was about to reject him myself. Perhaps, dress to distress?

"Are you done Lucia?" My dad came up to my room and his eyes glistened at his view.

"My daughter... looks so beautiful... in a dress! My eyes are blessed finally l can die in peace." My dad smiled like a proud dad and l rolled my eyes still mad at him, "Don't think pathetically, and by the way dad don't tell me you agree to that. You know l am too young for marriage!"

"Girl you're 24, and is in last year of university? You are not getting any younger!" My dad side-eyed me. I  said "And who do you think you guys to hand me to someone I never met? I bet you don't even know him that well!" My dad shook his head saying, "He is 25, graduated university last year, and has a net worth of $5 billion."

"His personality? Did you think about that? How would he treat your daughter... don't you think about that?!" I said and raised my voice a bit and he came towards me and hugged me tightly, "Dear of course l would research everything before letting you marry him right?"

He lied secretly but Lucia doesn't know about it, for her to agree to marry.

"He is a sweet guy still hasn't had his first kiss or put his loyalty in any other girl who wanted to seduce him. He is keen into marriage only." My dad patted my shoulders smiling sadly. My thoughts stepped back hearing my father's remarks and l nodded. I trust my father since he was the most close to me.

"Lucia? Oh my daughter! You look magnificent. The son will have his eyes blessed just by seeing you in a dress. And you obeyed me in putting on makeup and start acting like a real girl! Shall we finally proceed to meet my future son-in-law?!" My mother excitedly said. I muttered under my breath 'Future son-in-law! We will see about that!' l scoffed then followed my father straight to the car.

We entered the restaurant. The only sound was my heels clicking against the floor which caught the attention of the Vaxis as they stood up but a young man couldn't bother to even stand up t greet as he sat in front, his back turned towards us as he stared at his phone. "Oh my goodness! You look much better than you did earlier my daughter!" Mrs Vaxi smiled at me and led me to the sit beside the man.

If I was honest, he was breath-taking. He wore a black suit with his cream coloured tie- a little loose- his Gucci watch shined and he flashed his newly launched Iphone 14 pro max. His jawline was definitely a flex. God must have taken His time creating such a phenomenal creature. His hazel colored but tired eyes stared into the screen blankly when Mr Vaxi decided to break his attention and I knew I had his undivided attention.

I took a seat very far from him as he looked at his father. "My son, please introduce yourself to your new fiancé, will you?" He glared at his son in turn, his son rolled his eyes. "Dad seriously? I don't want to marry a random girl for God's sake please. I don't want to create a scene so allow me to leave for the company meeting." He sternly made his decision clearly.

I understood by that he was a workaholic, having my doubts up for him to be a bad person or not. What dad said wasn't true l see, now l can't even trust my parents for getting me married by distrust. I cleared my throat as he still sat back and the old people also sat hearing that l am making an announcement.

"I want to finalize that, l, Lucia Verceline won't agree to this pathetic marriage without knowing your son. So l will only marry him under one condition- if he manages to win my heart and promises to take care of me and give me full-heart freedom as long as l am a uni student. If he doesn't meet my type, I refuse to tie my knots with him." I confidently looked at the Vaxis as my mother looked at me in disbelief.

"All my life, l wanted a romantic man who could take care of me till death and l have the right to wish for that. You guys can't just force me marrying to a random man who doesn't even know me and I am pretty sure he is not happy with it here given his attitude few minutes ago. Also l care about my future so l am not agreeing to this marriage thank you." I continued and the man beside me nodded.

"Although she is a complete stranger to me, l believe she's much more wiser than you guys. Besides l have a girlfriend already and l plan to make her my future wife to fulfill mother and father's wish for the next heir.", said the male beside me and l let out a sigh of relief.

"Son you're not getting the point, the Verceline Corporation is in serious debt moreover she is rich and that useless girlfriend of yours isn't nothing but a daddy's girl who is just a general intern. We are in our last years and who knows when God can take you away so your mother and l want to fix a perfect future for our company with a heir or heiress fixed in the path to make the company's future even better." Mr Vaxi exclaimed to his and l listened to him in disbelief.

Looks like my plan will go down the drain if that pathetic man is successful in convincing his son.

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