Chapter 2

'So this is it?' I said to myself.

My family and I are now in a five-star hotel. Did I mention that this hotel is owned by the Ottave family and we will be having dinner with them now?

I don't need to guess the purpose of this dinner. It was long-planned.

But I must admit, I didn't expect it this fast. It's just a year after we graduated from college. We are both in the adjustment period in our family business.

Though I heard that Maru will be promoted as the General Manager of their company. I guess he adjusted so fast.

After our college graduation, we both decided to immediately start to work in our respective companies. We both started in a lower position.

How did I know all this? It's pretty simple. All Maru's actions are being reported to me by my dad. He likes him a lot.

After a few minutes, Maru and his family came.

His mom smiled and kiss me on the cheek. His dad did the same to me.

While Maru is just standing beside them.

"Maru, aren't you gonna greet your future wife and her parents?" His father said with full authority.

He followed his dad's command like a robot.

He came to me and kiss me on my cheek. He did the same to my mom. While he offers a handshake to my dad.

After all the greetings, we head back to our table and call the waiter to serve the food.

"So Mara, I heard that your now the head of the Marketing team." Mrs. Ottave said.

"Yes, Mrs. Ottave. I was promoted last week." I said in a formal tone.

"Oh, Mara you can just call me auntie or mommy if you want." She said sweetly.

"Okay, auntie." I respectfully answered.

"And I heard Maru will be promoted as a General Manager" my mom butt in.

Maru nodded. "Yes. Mrs. Almonte, I will take that position next week."

"Oh dear, you can just call me Auntie."

"Okay, Auntie."

After that, we started to talk about business.

"I guess we all know the reason for this dinner." Maru's dad said after our business talk.

All of us remain quiet, waiting for him to talk.

"We are planning to have your engagement next week and your wedding in 3 months' time," Uncle said with finality.

Our parents nodded in agreement.

"Okay. I guess 3 months is enough to prepare for the wedding." My mom said.

Uncle look at Maru and said, "And you young man, you need to break up with your girlfriend."

I saw him clench his jaw.

I smirked.

What will you do now Maru?

He sighed and answered. "Yes, Dad."

I was a bit shocked. Is that it? He just agreed that fast? I thought he love her?

"Good son."

I just shake my head in disbelief.

After our dinner. I am preparing to leave when my mother stops me.

My brow furrowed. What does she want now?

"Since your wedding is coming soon, it's better if you guys start to get to know each other." My mom said sweetly.

"I guess you're right. We better leave them alone for them to talk and get to know each other." Auntie happily agrees to my mom's idea.

After that our parents went home, leaving me with Maru.

We just remain standing.

After a while, Maru breaks our silence.

"You want to have coffee with me?"

I just nodded.

He guided me as we went out of the hotel's restaurant. We walk together to the hotel's coffee shop.

Almost all the employee in the hotel are greeting Maru.

I also heard some girls giggling because of him.

'OMG! Sir Maru is really handsome'

'I agree! But do you know who is the girl beside him?'

'Girlfriend?'

'What? But Sir Maru's girlfriend is Ms. Jana right?'

I just shake my head as I listen to their whispers.

When we arrived in the coffee shop, I saw people starting to look at us. The manager of the cafe greeted us.

After we find a table, we just quietly drink our coffee. I'm not that surprised actually, it's our first time to go out ALONE together.

We don't know much about each other so we don't know what we can talk about.

"So you don't have a boyfriend?" Maru started to initiate a conversation.

"I don't," I answered him.

He raised his brow "I thought your boyfriend is Alex?"

My forehead furrowed. "No. He courted me but I reject him."

"Why did you reject him?"

I raised my brow. "Isn't obvious?"

He seems confused with my answer.

"I will eventually marry you, so why do I need to have a boyfriend? I don't like to complicate things."

"At least you experience to love." He said seriously.

I wanted to laugh but I did my best not to because I don't want him to think that I am insulting him.

"I am not here to love." I just said.

"What do you mean?"

I heaved a sigh "I am not made out of love, I am made out of obligation and business. I knew what my life will be so why will I need to waste my time for love?"

He looks at me with pity.

I just rolled my eyes.

'Oh please, I don't need your sympathy Maru.' I said to myself.

"Have you ever been in love?" He seriously asked me.

I chuckled.

I show his forehead furrowed.

"No." I simply said.

"Really?"

I nodded. "Yes. How about you? Are you sure that you will break up with Jana?"

He nodded. "Yes. Jana knew that when this time has come we need to break up."

That got my attention. "She knew and yet... really?" I can't believe it!

He chuckled. "Is it that hard to believe? Unlike you, I want to experience love, even just for a short while."

"How did you make her agree to this?"

He just shrugged. "How did make her agree?!" Almost pissed to ask him again because I don't like his answer.

He chuckled that added to my pissed mood.

"A month after he said yes to me, I told her our situation."

My eyes widened. "Our situation?!"

"Why do you look surprised? We both know that you will marry me right?" He said with a teasing voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever! So she just agrees just like that?"

"Of course not. At first, she wanted to fight for our love but I told said no to her."

"But why?"

"You seriously ask me that?"

I sighed. "At least you tried right?"

"I thought you are hard as a stone. Now I'm seeing your other side."

"H-ha?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing. Maybe my love for her is not strong enough to fight for her."

"Is it really okay for you to marry me?" I ask him curiously.

He looks at me with seriousness in his eyes. I kind of feel embarrassed by the way he looks.

"Staring is rude," I told him.

He smiled. "Your blushing. Your heart is not really made of stone."

I was about to answer him when he started to talk again.

"And to answer your question, it is okay for me to marry you, I'm honored to be chosen as your future husband. You just don't know how many guys out there wants to be in my position right now."