Chapter 2 Sooner or Later

Nicholas Andrieux The cold night air brushed against my face as I watched Alicia disappear into the distance, her silhouette barely visible under the dim moonlight. Tears had glistened in her eyes before she turned away; her steps hurried, almost desperate. I hadn’t expected to see her here. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop either. I was only here for some fresh air, to clear my mind from the suffocating expectations weighing on my shoulders. And yet, there she was, with him. Alicia’s boyfriend. Her words repeated in her mind. Seems like her parents have told her about our marriage, and she is not happy from the looks of it. I chuckled, shaking my head as I found her words funny. If she thinks this marriage between us is happening because I want to, then she is wrong. More likely, I don’t have much of a choice. After all, I will do anything to get what I want. I scoffed at the thought, rubbing my temple in frustration. I didn’t care about her or her relationship. The marriage had nothing to do with love. It was a business arrangement, one that benefited me greatly. Her family possessed what I needed to solidify my position, to ensure the legacy my grandfather had built would not crumble beneath my feet or worse fall on the wrong hands. That was my priority. My phone vibrated in my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I saw an unknown number flashing before me. Curious, I answered. “Nicholas,” a sultry voice purred. “Are you coming over tonight?” A smirk tugged at my lips. I recognized that voice. One of the many women who eagerly sought my attention. “I’ll be right there,” I said smoothly before ending the call. If Alicia could have her fun, so could I. The next morning, I found myself seated in the lavish dining room of the Davenport mansion, facing Alicia’s father across a grand table adorned with fine china and an assortment of breakfast dishes. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as he sipped from his cup, his gaze steady on me. “I told Alicia about the arrangement last night,” he began, setting his cup down with a small clink. “It didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped.” I nodded, unsurprised. “That’s fine. She needs time to process, but the marriage will still happen. However, I’m in no rush.” Relief washed over his face. “I appreciate your patience, Nicholas. Alicia can be... strong-willed.” That was an understatement. Our first meeting had been a disaster, and I had no delusions about this marriage being anything short of a battlefield. The sharp click of heels against the marble floor drew our attention. Alicia descended the grand staircase, her expression unreadable but for the tightness around her lips. Her displeasure was evident. “Alicia, join us for breakfast,” her father called. She didn’t slow her steps. “I’ll have to skip. I don’t want to be late for work.” Her tone was cold and full of disinterest. I leaned back in my chair, watching her with mild amusement. “I’ll take you to work.” She halted abruptly, eyes narrowing as she turned toward me. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need your help. I can manage on my own. I’m not a baby. ” “Alicia.” Her father’s voice carried a hint of warning. “That’s no way to speak to your future husband.” She let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. “Nicholas is not my future husband, and he never will be.” Her defiance was expected, but hearing her say it outright stirred something inside me. Annoyance? Challenge? I wasn’t sure. But I wasn’t about to let her walk away without having the last word. I pushed back my chair, rising to my feet. “Excuse me, I’ll talk to her,” I said politely to her father before following Alicia outside. She was already striding toward her car, heels clicking against the pavement with determined force. “Alicia.” She didn’t stop. “Alicia.” My tone demands, but it doesn’t stop her. I quickened my pace and reached for her wrist, my fingers closing gently around it. She stiffened but didn’t pull away immediately. “Let go, Nicholas,” she said, her voice low, controlled. “You’re going to have to accept it sooner or later,” I told her, my tone softer than I expected. “This is happening.” She turned then, her eyes blazing. “You think I’ll just roll over and let my father decide my life for me?” “No.” I held her gaze. “I think you’ll fight it, just like you’re doing now. But in the end, you’ll realize that this marriage isn’t about us. It’s about our families.” She exhaled sharply and yanked her wrist free. “You don’t care about me. You don’t even like me. This marriage doesn’t even benefit me.” I smiled, a slow, knowing curve of my lips. “You’re right. I don’t care about you. Maybe this marriage doesn’t benefit you, but it sure does benefit your family.” Her eyes flashed with something—anger, frustration, maybe even a hint of hurt. “I don’t care how important or powerful your family is. Don’t act like you have any right to be involved in my life.” I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. “I don’t want to be involved in your life, Alicia. But I will be. And you have to accept it sooner or later.” She let out a frustrated sound, shoving past me and getting into her car. She didn’t slam the door, but I could see the tension in her grip on the steering wheel. As she drove off, I watched her go, shaking my head slightly. This was going to be interesting. ~~~ A few days ago… The clinking of silverware against fine china filled the air of the Andrieux family dining room. The long mahogany table, set with an array of exquisite dishes, did little to ease the palpable discomfort between the four people seated around it. At the head of the table sat my father, Henry Andrieux, his piercing gaze hidden momentarily as he meticulously cut into his steak. My mother, Elsie, sat to his right, her delicate hands wrapped around the stem of her wine glass, while my sister, Rose, sat beside her, idly pushing a piece of salmon around her plate. I sat to my father’s left, absently slicing through the medium-rare cut of meat before me. The tension was a familiar companion at these dinners, woven into the very fabric of our family dynamic. My father’s voice finally cut through the quiet, steady, and authoritative as ever. “Nicholas,” he began dabbing his lips with a napkin before resting his elbows on the table. “How is the Andrieux Real Estate Agency doing?” I took a bite of my steak, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing. “Everything is going well, under control,” I answered, keeping my tone measured. “We’ve secured two major development projects in the past month, and the investors are more than satisfied.” My father gave a slow nod, a contemplative expression settling on his face. “That’s good to hear.” A moment of silence stretched between us before he placed his utensils down with an audible clink and leaned back in his chair. “However, you will not be working alone in the Agency anymore.” My hand froze mid-cut, and I raised an eyebrow at him. “What do you mean?” Before my father could answer, the sharp sound of shoes clicking against the marble flooring echoed through the room. Instinctively, I turned my head towards the entrance, my muscles stiffening the moment my eyes landed on the person stepping into the dining room. A man I had not seen in years.