Page 26 of Possession

“She is to be treated as my fiancé,” I add.

“Understood. What do you want from me?”

“Everything should be business as usual. I don’t want her to learn, you know.” I don’t know why I added the last part. He would never betray me.

“It goes without saying. When are you introducing her to our father?”

“Most likely later today. She is with my mother. I’m sure she has made preparations for a family dinner.” He looks at me and stays quiet. He wants to say something but is refraining himself. “What is it, Oliver? Spit it out.”

“Our father is not going to like her. She isn’t from any of the families or Scottish. She is at a disadvantage. She is an outsider. He won’t welcome her.” It’s not until this moment that it dawns on me what he is implying. Ava doesn’t have anything. I am expected to marry someone who brings something into the marriage. But I’ve never cared for the old ways. “It’s not going to be easy for her. You need to prepare her for what it means to be with a Manarch. Especially a life with you. It won’t be long before you take over.”

I turn my chair away from him and look out the window. I’ve always been a man who doesn’t care about anyone. It’s one of the reasons I’ve remained a bachelor. Yet I never imagined my family having an issue with the woman I chose as my wife. The woman my father chose for me nearly killed me. I swore never to let myself be told what to do, not even my father. I am thirty-six years old and everything is how I want it. No one dares to cross me but it doesn’t mean Ava will meet the same fate. I made this decision on impulse. I am usually more calculated.

“She can handle herself. She has a debt to pay but I won't allow anyone to treat her like anything other than the title she holds.”

“I understand. Maybe we can have Tina take her under her wing. Strength in numbers.”

“I like it.” With Tina by Ava’s side, I will feel more at ease. I see them getting along. They are alike in many aspects.

Chapter Fourteen

Ava

I’m sitting on the chair taken back by how different I look. I barely recognize myself. At the spa, a lovely lunch was waiting for us. It was followed by a full body massage. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, a mani-pedi. Anita has been such a delight to spend time with. I wonder if this is how it feels to have a mother in your life.

“Ava, what do you want done to your hair?” A distant voice brings me back.

“What?”

“What would you like to do to your hair?” The stylist repeatedly moves my hair.

“I guess cut it and blow-dry it.”

“Just a trim. Not too much cutting.” Anita adds from the chair beside me with a wink. “You have beautiful hair. We wouldn’t want to ruin it.”

“Thanks.”

Being here feels unreal. It’s like I’m holding someone else’s place. I still don’t understand why Viktor would want this arrangement. He wasn’t completely clear what he is gaining out of this arrangement. I know nothing about him. How am I supposed to play the part of his fiancé? There is no way I can fool people. I’m a terrible liar. But this isn’t about me. This is about Dad. I can’t live with myself if something happens to him. As long as I can do something I have to. I wonder how life would have been if Mom never left or Dad wasn’t a gambler. Whenever I asked about Mom’s reasons for leaving it was always the same answer, she wasn’t ready to be a mom. I get it. I’m twenty-three years old. I would lose my mind if I were a mom. I have thought about looking for her and asking why she left. But at this point what is there to gain? She left me.

“All done.” The stylist says.

I am so enthralled in my thoughts I wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing. A glance in the mirror reveals subtle layers with relaxed waves. I look and feel beautiful. Never in a million years would I have ever imagined being at an elite spa pampering myself with Viktor’s mom. This feels like a dream. If this were a fairytale I would say I am playing Cinderella and we all know what happens at the stroke of midnight. But I have a job to do and that has to be my focus.

“Thank you, it's perfect.”

“Don’t mention it. You have amazing hair. It was my pleasure. From now on only Paulo touches your hair.” The stylist tells me referring to himself. I don’t even want to know how much it costs to get my hair done in this place.

“Of course,” I smile.

“Sweetheart, you look beautiful.” Anita tells me as I get out of the chair.

“Thank you. You do as well.”

“You are so sweet.” She smiles. “I told Viktor to meet us at the restaurant with great difficulty. He wanted to pick you up himself, but I want to make a stop before we meet him.”

“Ok.” I have no clue why she would want me to tag along especially how I am dressed.

“Great. The car should be waiting.”

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