A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

Julian would’ve been completely intimidating if not for the incongruity of all that hair pulled into a knot at the back of his head. Someone so polished, so sophisticated, so rigid in his appearance wearing a…man bun.

A corded expanse of tanned neck contrasted with his light blue shirt. His broad shoulders blocked her view of the room, but Nina didn’t care. Her stare was riveted to his body. He was powerfully built, his arm tanned and flecked with black hair below the turned back pearl-studded cuff.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Nina seemed to be floating on a cloud, her mouth turning dry as her gaze slid lower. She was fascinated by the flex of his strong thighs beneath the tight denim as he released her hand and stepped back a bit.

“Is something wrong?” Julian asked, watching her closely.

The question brought her back to reality and she grinned sheepishly.

“Yeah… Oh nothing is wrong” she said hurriedly and smiled at him. “It’s just that you look so different… Not different in a bad way of course… I mean, you look really…. Sexy”

Julian looked surprised at her forwardness, but then he smiled and said, “Thanks.. I think you look amazing too… You always have”

“Please have a seat” Abby said as she took Nina’s bags from her. “I will put these in your room. Make yourself comfortable”

Gladly, Nina thought. She was so tired, but immediately she sat down, her phone rang. She groaned when she saw that it was her dad. She couldn’t ignore him forever, so it was better to get this over with.

“Hi dad,” she said, trying to sound cheerful.

“I have been calling for hours. Why haven’t you been picking your calls?” her father asked angrily.

“I’m fine, dad. How are you too?” she replied sarcastically.

“Don’t take that tone with me young lady” Scott Taylor said, sounding more angry, if that was even possible.

“I’m sorry, dad” Nina replied, “But I just got to Abby’s place and I didn’t want to have this conversation where anyone could listen and frankly, I’m not sure I want to have it now… Or ever for that matter”

“Well, you are gonna,” her father replied. “Now listen to me, young lady. I don’t know what has come over you, but you will do as I say. I have done everything possible to ensure that you have a comfortable life… And this is how you pay me? By defying me?”

Nina ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She was so tired and she wanted to rest so bad. She definitely wasn’t in the mood to have this conversation. “I know Dad,” she said. “And I’m grateful for everything you have done for me. But maybe it’s okay to let me make some decisions for myself. I’m tired of having everything planned out for me. You have always been there in every aspect of my life, the schools I attended, my job and now you even have a suitor ready for me. I don’t want that anymore Dad, and I’m done with it. I love that you care so much about me, but I can’t keep living like that and I sure as hell can’t marry Christopher Anderson… I don’t love him… I barely know the guy. No one does this arranged marriage crap anymore”

Her father snorted, like what she had just said was pointless.”There are more important things in marriage than love. That can come later. You mother and I had an arranged marriage, and it worked out well for us. I don’t see why it’s going to be different for you. You haven’t even given it a chance. Look, I’m not going to have this talk with you again. Just know that if you refuse to come back, I’m cutting you off… Don’t bother running back to me when all your plans go to hell.. And trust me, they will.”