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New chapter & new challenge ( 60 votes and 45 comments)

Cordelia's Pov:

"Is it millions or billions?" questioned the brown haired guy that sat in front of me. His voice lacked the slightest bit of interest and his honey-colored eyes as usual were dull and lifeless.

"Why ? Does it really make much difference?" I asked back doubting how it will make a difference in our sticky situation.

"No, not really. Nothing truly can." Henry said with a sigh.

He is thirty two years old, a doctor, half British and an artist. When I reconnected with him nearly four years ago, I thought our relation won't be too bad because I too do adore art and I am gifted when it comes to clay molding. He is nearly a dream-man with a cute accent and a deep dimple on his right cheek. His family is also so supportive and loving. They accepted me between them rapidly. I honestly do adore them by now. 

I wished for Henry and I's  connection  and harmony to be instant however all I felt was discomfort and coldness. Both of us cannot keep a conversation going for more than ten minutes. I can hear him talking about sports, politics or medical cases for an hour but won't utter a word back. He also can sit there listening silently to my deals of business without a mere reply. How can we create a spark when it was never there? We were forced upon each other and still are forced. Forcefully we kissed on our engagement party nothing more however. None of us tried to kiss the other. Henry kept on holding my hand and that was the only contact we did have. 

"Any weird new cases?" I inquired praying for our dinner not turn awkward like all previous ones.

"No, it was a peaceful week." He courtly replied picking a fry and bringing it to his mouth.

"Good." I answered giving up

"Any new deals in foreign countries?" He quizzed like usual 

"Spain, however I am thinking of sending my team alone." I honestly said

"You trust them? Your deals are worth millions if not more." Henry spoke with clear disagreement 

"I do. Tobiah might be childish but I do trust him a lot." I confessed truly

"Your assistant ? " He asked then yawned proving how dull our interaction is. 

"Yes." I simply answered not willing to fake interest in talking to him anymore.

"You did really reverse the roles of business. I give you my complete respect." Henry ended.

Our "date" then turned into a simple act of eating. Our gazes fell on our plates and the sound of knives and forks were the one thing that echoed. Time felt so slow and I prayed for midnight to happen too soon so Henry can leave.Our dating schedule is made by our families; we have a date-dinner each Friday and then on Sunday we go to church all together. I asked henry to come to my house for our forced date. I hated to be uncomfortable in public. Some people do know about me but I try to keep off the articles. I am an introvert and I appreciate to keep inside my bubble without strangers hushing about me or a photo being snapped and entitled "Billionaire in Love."

"There is no magic about us." Henry's voice interrupted as he pushed his plate away

"Zero, zilch, zip,nada, No magic at all" I accorded 

"Do you think anything remotely good would come out of this relation?" He questioned laying back on the sofa

"Not really. We would become numb and robotic. They want to bring kids into such mess too." I huffed remembering our mothers begging for grand-kids as soon as we tie the knot.

"They think love will flourish and we would happily fall. What if..." He said in a mocking tone dooming our future

"What if we have other people?" I ended for him asking the one thing that bugged me since I met him. What if he was already with someone?

"Yes." He agreed faster than needed revealing the truth

"You do already have someone, don't you?" I insisted

"I have a muse. I met her when she came to my hospital with a broken leg. She acted tough and brave. Throughout the process of her recovery, she never whined. I became accustomed to her, her voice and clever comebacks. Once healed, I asked for her number. I dated her till the week before our engagement. I broke up with her because of a simple contract. My grandpa vowed to yours that I will be yours. They thought about your feelings more than mine. I was never given a condition to break it all. Now Celeste  lives in my memories and paintings." Henry revealed and my heart pained for him.

"I am so sorry." I apologized feeling bad for him.

"It is not your fault at all." He denied with a small smile revealing his dimple.

"Kind of is. If I found love all of this would have been broken. You would have been happy with Celeste and I ..." I argued with a long sigh feeling worst. 

"You cannot find love. Love just happens. Thanks for dinner." Henry denied standing up.

"There is one solution." I hushed at his retreating figure and he froze.

"That is?" He echoed in place

"My assistant" I revealed in one word remembering Helena's prolonged speech about Tobiah's offer

"Come again?" Henry asked clearly confused

"He offered to play the role of my lover. I denied him but seeing how platonic and static our relationship is, I guess he is our only solution. I hate to mix business with personal stuff but this time I have to. I would make a contract with him. Our lawyers will attend and sketch the rules. A two year play of us being madly in love to annual our nearing wedding." I explained to Henry and his smile widened a little

"You would do that?" He murmured enthusiastically 

"I would for the sake of both of us." I said and in a bear hug I was enveloped 

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you" he cried like a little kid and for the very first time our contact did not seem forced or cold. On the other hand it seemed friendly and natural.

"Well, Words with Tobiah are less robotic so it is for my sake too." I teased and never tell the idiot that I complimented him. His head is already big enough.

"You are just being a tease.I was not that bad." Henry said smiling down at me and pinching my cheek

"Maybe, maybe not." I joked and he laughed loud

"Sorry, for not giving us an honest chance." He apologized his honey-colored eyes softening with each word

"Your heart is elsewhere so don't be." I replied with a warm smile 

"You are a great person, Lia" He said using Helena's nickname for me reminding me of how much whining she did when I introduced them to each other. Simply, she did not like Henry's dull facade.

"Sorry about Helena's manners...But they are kind of your fault." I pointed out laughingly 

"True...I irked myself even." He said playfully

"Yeah, but you seem like a great person too Henry." I ended and he then hugged me wishing me goodnight.

Now, how will I talk to Tobiah about such a mess?

He did offer to play along, didn't he? 

Why do I always end up in such messes? 

Thanks you guys again for reading and commenting.

Hope that you did like Henry? Was he what you expected? or is he too nice?

How will the contract go between Cordelia and Tobiah? Will he still agree, easily?

new challenge ( 60 votes and 45 comments)  

thank you a lot for the third time :D