•At O'Connor's Mansion•

'Odin sweetheart,
I need you here for a moment.'

Pasting on a grin, Grandma Eloise glances up from Allure Bridal catalog application on the iPad between her hands the moment she has heard the steps of her grandson walking downstairs, just finished talking to someone over the cell phone. She pushes her reading glasses back up on her nose, still grinning

'Anything
darling of my heart.'

'I want you to tell me
which one you prefer the most from this collection. I want your honest answer.'

She pats gently her delicate, fair hand on an empty space on the velvet couch she is sitting comfortably on for few hours now, as a sign to her grandson to sit down next to her.

'Nana..!'

He groans when he throws his gaze on iPad screen as his eyes scan the cafe table which has few other bridal catalogs on it. He tries to decline his Nana's request gently.

'You know
I don't wear women dresses.'

He jokingly replies, hoping his Granny would spare him this time.

'And who said it's for you,
kid! That's for my dear Imogen. I want her to stun everyone who will see her in the ceremony..'

She pauses, then turns her gaze toward her grandson. She speaks to him as she gently pats his hair

'I wish you went
with us the last day.
She's so polite, well mannered and not at all hard on the eyes. You will definitely
fall for her immediately just like I did.'

'I believe so!'

He replies diplomatically while in fact he is planning to break off his arranged marriage.

He just can't find an immediate solution to spare him another fight with his father, which can lead eventually to losing his share of the emperium, moreso he would never hurt his Granny, so he has to go with the flow and to agree on what she says till he will get out of this situation -hopefully- with less damages.

'Aah..
I cannot wait to see her becoming Mrs D.C O'Connor, and see your babies playing around.
You know how lonely I feel when you and Nicholas are away for work.'

Nana expresses her wish to Colin, who his eyes bulge, like they have doubled in size. What about the babies story now! He still can't digest his forced marriage and his nana wants children from him!

Attempting to escape, Colin raises off his seat but his Granny grabs his wrist, disallowing him to leave before choosing the ceremony gown.

She has done more than her share of work since she has with her son Nicholas met with Colin's future wife and talked about their future together.

To ensure that the engagement ceremony's plans are on track,  she has insisted on several, particular details, and she has been too demanding, meeting the standards hasn't been impossible to the family.

She decides the place where the ceremony will be held, at their mansion, because why thinking of a spacious and elegant place while they can stay at their own mansion.

She has the perfect reception menus, from the 'Golden Ballroom' as they're known for their excellent service and delicious buffets.

Nicholas has ordered to make the perfect diamond ring for his daughter- in-law engagement. A 24 karat gold band, displaying 2.5 carat VVS, grade E rock that is surrounded by 12 of 0.5 carat stones. But his mother  has insisted to give her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law the trifle large diamond ring which she has inherited from her maternal grandmother. The same ring she has kept it for Colin's wife.

However, she is unsure of her choice of the engagement dress. She has called designers and has checked almost every elite shop in Victoria, but she still can't find the perfect dress, Imogen would look too gorgeous wearing it.

From the end, she wants the ceremony day to be like a ball out a fairy tale. She has laid her eyes on a beautiful dress, but it's more suitable for the wedding reception than the engagement party, so she decides to ask Colin, it would be lovely to choose the dress for his fiancée.

'I don't really know Nana.
I don't have any idea
how she looks to decide what fits her but I trust your choice.
I have to leave now
as I have an important deal to seal with the French delegates which I can't cancel..'

Colin tries his best to escape to not hurt his nana, reading the note about his scheduled meeting on his phone

'Your work can wait
for another two minutes.
Choose the dress than go.
It will be lovely to pick it up for your future wife.'

'There will be plenty of time to buy her things. Now it's time for work.'

Colin kisses his nana's left cheek pushing his phone deep into his pocket.

Still can't find a way to demise his marriage, not when his father and nana went to the girl's house to make it official. What makes matters worse, is his Granny who keeps talking about Imogen since she back home from their visit like some kind of a rare jewelry.

Imogen! What kind of a name is still in use!

'Who gives a heck what's she gonna wear anyway?!'

Colin exclaims in his mind. He cannot say it out loud to his grandmother and be the cause behind her heart break as he sees how she's enthusiast for his marriage. He has to pretend he is fine marrying the girl, solely for his nana's sake and of course, to protect his share in the company.

'Okey then, for you;
darling of my heart
I come to a suitable solution that can serve both of us.
You pick up whatever you like out of this collection..'

He pauses, grabs a catalog and takes a quick look on it by swiping the smooth pages of it and gives it to his nana, pasting on an innocent grin then he follows 

'.. And then I will tend
to take it myself to her house.
Doesn't sound like a good chance to meet with her as well?'

'Ah naughty boy!
You should say it earlier that you wanted to see her!'

'To see her?!
You mean to cancel the marriage and break off the oath or to convince her to do it in your place?'

Granny is cut midspeech by her son Nicholas. The later joins the conversation coming from his golfing session with his friends.

Nick feels there's something fishy to see his son acceptance after their fire dispute couple week ago. He just can't trust his son, knowing how he is against this permanent relationship.

'I can't find any law
preventing me seeing the girl you want me to stay my entire life with.'

'You will see her.
Monday evening. At your ceremony.'

He pauses,

'Until then,
I am the law. I prevent you seeing her.'

Colin is motionless and seems frustrated as his plan to meet with the girl to stop the marriage is literally revealed by his father, although he tries to deny it but his dad is not convinced. Now he must figure out another way to free himself from his father's pact he made with his dead friend several years ago.

'Enough children!
I don't want to witness another fight here.
If Odin wants to see
his future wife he will
and no one on this earth will stop him.'

'But Mama!'

Nicholas looks at his mother with disapproving glare.

'I trust my child and
you better do.
He won't go break my heart
and dishonor our family. Imogen is a beautiful young lady and he well knows that I never harm him in anyway with my decisions.'

Nana replies, seeking for approval.

'You do not want to destroy this union.'

Warns his son, Nicholas starts to gait.

'If you already know I don't want to marry her, why are you forcing me into it?
I'm not your toy, father.
I have my own life, my own wishes, ambitions and goals.
I don't want anyone to take such decision in my place,
let alone forcing me
into marry someone I know nothing about.'

Colin's ire rises, but he grits his teeth. His father turns back to face him. Emotionless.

'You will know her. After your marriage you will know her better than yourself.'

'You are a fascist!'

Colin bursts out angry.

'One day you will understand why this fascist..'

Nicholas points at himself

'.. is persistent to marry Imogen. And you will thank me to put back your life on the right track again.'

'Be easy on the child Nicholson!'

'It's fine Nana. Mr. O'Connor is right.
I'll meet her soon enough. Monday is already upon us. There's no reason to meet with her before.
After all, he is my father. And he cares about me.'

Colin attempts to be diplomatic with his family. Nicholas just  gives his son a critical look. He never is quite sure what's going on in his son's mind.

  ••》《••

The evening soon arrives and Colin shows up at seven sharp after an exhausting meeting, escorting with his best friend Liam, or 'wild kitty' as his nana called him due to his free spirit and greenish color of his eyes.

Finally Colin can relax, but the soon engagement is what's stressing him out and the whole situation disallows him to chill.

Rose, the middle-aged housekeeper answers the door in a timely manner.

After a hug of greeting with Nana, Liam gives her the bottle of wine that he brings with him.

'It is a Gamay wine. Actually an award winning Texas Gamay. I brought with me when I was touring.'

Then he is escorted to the living room with Nana and Colin.

Nana Eloise already announces that her son will be home soon while she asks one of the maids to bring wine glasses, to taste the award winning wine. Moments later, Colin pours the Gamay into three wine glasses, handing one to his Granny and one to Liam. The later looks at his friend then looks back at the old sophisticated lady and propose a toast

'To Colin's marriage!'

'To Colin's.'

Nana repeats grinning. Colin glares back at his friend, feeling disturbed with what his friend has suggested.

'It's my fault to bring you here in first place.'

Colin murmurs behind his grandmother's back, kicking slightly Liam, who denies that he did any wrong to his friend.

••《¡》••

All through dinner, the conversation becomes lively  and fun and flows comfortably along with the wine. The supper was served consisting of rice and vegetables and meat, besides Colin's favorite lasagna.

They idly chat at the table about various stuffs, the topic of the conversation drifts a bit into gossip about Liam's business in Brazil. Nicholas seems to be paying excessive attention to everything, to the offers and counter offer that were made.

The meal was delicious and to Colin, seemingly unending as the conversation has centered on him as predicted and has filtered to his engagement and becomes heated and tense.

Colin never ceases feeling like a complete failure, but he has to stay strong, even though anyone can see in his eyes how upset he is. He, however, should stay focused and get a grip on his emotions, so not only he could keep a clear head and hopefully find a solution, but also he wouldn't do something that can damage all his life.

After dinner, Colin goes out with his friend, driving him back to his penthouse apartment after the later witnessed a heated discussion between the father and the son.

'I have got to find a way out of this damned engagement.'

'You could kill yourself then.'

Colin stares back at his friend. He has questioning look on his face.

'Or perhaps we could hire kidnappers and hold you hostage until your father cancel the marriage.'

'Nah wait.. I guess I have a better idea. What if we hire a wife, to pretend she's your wife and with that you cannot marry the other girl.'

Liam tries to come up with optimistic, but unrealistic solutions. They are not at all helpful, but at least he is trying.

Colin is silent driving as he considers the last idea Liam has popped it up on his mind. It's not perfect, but it would help. He will be still in risk to lose everything, but with this idea, he might be able to save his life and still held on to his portion of the company.

'But who would be his savior?'

A cold blanket of doubt seems to settle down over his shoulders.

Only time will give that answer.


Colin thinks to himself as his car enters the freeway.


                          ••《¡》••

Genny and Colin's meeting is so so so so close.. who is excited? and who can predict what's going to happen between the both? 😁😆🙊🙈