24. Arranged Marriage?

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ATHOUR'S NOTE:   Hey everyone!! I would like to apologize for not updating when I said I was. If any of you saw the last post I put up on my profile , then you probably know why. However, if you didn't then I would just say it again: a lot of things came up that just took over my complete attention and I have also been working on some other things, that just made updating hard. Like said on the post, Wattpad was honestly at the back of my mind. But do not worry I am back!!

Though, I do wonder what you all will think if I would have just stopped writing the story and not continue it??

No worries!! I have not forgotten the story, I will finish it. Especially since there is about 5-7 chapters left (give or take).

ON ANOTHER NOTE: I would like to thank you for not giving up on this story and patiently waiting for the next update. As well as for all the comments, votes, reads, and follows.

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{ Arranged Marriage? }

 

○○Alexandro (3rd POV)○○

 

The crackling of the burning wood echoed as it’s heat spread throughout the room. Poking the wood around, Alexandro moved trying to make it release some more heat. Satisfied with his work, he placed the poker back on it’s little rack that stood next to the fire place. Looking up, Alex’s gaze landed on the sleeping figure sprawled on the four-poster bed across the room.

 

Letting a small smile spread across his face, he made his way over to the bed.

Taking a quick glance at the electric clock on top of the bedside table - that read 7 in the morning, he decided to wait a while more before waking the sleeping beauty. Gently, he climbed back into the bed and moved her. Marie unconsciously moved around and snuggled against Alexandro’s chest, seeking the heat his body gave.

 

Alexandro wrapped an arm around her frame, and pulled closer than she already was. His thumb rubbed small circles on her shoulder as his other hand held onto to Marie’s, that laid across his stomach. Looking down at her sleeping form, he could not help but ask himself how he became so lucky as to have such a wonderful person in his life. This girl in his arms changed the way Alexandro felt about many things.

 

If you had asked him a year ago; how he felt about being in a committed relationship. He would have said he was far from being committed to anyone. He enjoyed the single life. Never having to worry about anyone else but himself. He especially enjoyed the attention he received from the opposite sex. He would flirt and do more than that with different women shamelessly. As for ever having a family of his own, he would have simply said: ‘that kind of life was not for me’. But now, now he could not help but to think just how naive those thoughts were. You never really know how something could feel and change you, until you experience it. For that he was happy. Marie was someone he really cared for in so many different levels. So much that he could not stand it if she was unhappy or hurt in any way. What made it even better was the fact that she was the mother of his unborn son.

 

Being able to say that he was going to be a father and feeling proud of it, was something that at time he himself could not believe. Yet, it was true and real.

 

Looking down at a sleeping Marie a little longer, he looked up at the ceiling. His thoughts quickly turning to what had occurred during the little private meeting his father, Mr.Jacobs and himself had the day of christmas eve two weeks ago. He could not wrap his mind around what was talked about. He some how expected it, but then again he didn’t...

 

*flashback*

 

“Please take a seat,” Mr.Giovanni said, motioning to arm chairs surrounding a small round coffee table.  Both Mr.Jacobs and Alexandro took their seats as Mr.Giovanni sat on another. “Now, what was it you wanted to discuss?” Continued Mr.Giovanni.

Mr.Jacobs cleared his throat and looked directly at the older Giovanni. He knew that if he looked at Alexandro during his speech, the younger man would not agree whatsoever. Mr.Giovanni was the better chance even if he was no longer in charge of his family business. There would be a slight chance that Mr.Giovanni would consider what Mr.Jacobs had to say and try to convince his son it was for the best. For the moment, Mr.Jacobs just had to wait and hope it all goes as planned. “As you know, things are a little hard for my business at the moment,” Mr. Jacobs began.

 

“For the past year and a half, things have gone down hill. My company no longer makes the suitable income that keeps us afloat. The rates have dropped by 20 percent within that time frame...and I hate to say that it is just increasing. I have managed to keep it going as much as I could, but I’m afraid it will soon become impossible.” Mr. Jacobs gave a quick glance towards Alex who was staring down at a spot on the rug thinking. He then averted his gaze towards Mr. Giovanni, hoping that he was making himself sound enough like a victim in need of great help.

 

“So we’ve heard, my friend,” Mr. Giovanni said. “What exactly is it you wanted?” At this question, Alexandro looked up, and waited to hear the response.

 

“You, of all people, both know how much this company means to me. How hard I worked to make it successful. For that, I do not wish to see it crumble,” Mr. Jacobs replied.

 

“Is it money you ask for? Or might there be something else?” Alexandro leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees and lacing his hands together.

 

“Yes and no. Money would help greatly, but it’s not just that. After all this publicity that is being given, coming back and proving that this company is still strong, is what’s more important...The only way for that to happen is if a bigger company -one that has not been tainted- would help. Such as yours.” Alex narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out what exactly Mr.Jacobs was implying. “The only solution for that, would be if our companies some how were to be combined.”

 

Both the Giovanni men sat quietly, pondering the words Mr.Jacobs just said. They could see how he wanted the Jacobs name to be respected like it once was. If they were to be in the same situation as him, they would seek help as well. After a while of thinking, Mr.Giovanni turned to his son, “You’re the boss now, son.”

 

“Well, Mr.Jacobs, given as you are a family friend I think that combining our companies can benefit both of us. We could talk about percentage now if you would like. As well as how much of your company will belong to us,” Alexandro finally spoke.

 

Mr.Jacobs stayed quiet for a second, then looked at Alex, “That’s just it. I still want my family to have full responsibility of the company. As you know, Sarah was meant to take over as soon as I retired and I still wish for that to happen…” Mr. Jacobs trailed off. Once again, both Giovanni men looked at the older gentleman and thought.

 

“You want us to help out with the your company to bring it back, but not have us own it. You want Sarah to run your company, yet have us helping…..Marriage,” Mr.Giovanni said, quietly saying the last word as it dawned on him.

 

“Yes. I would like for our families and companies to come together, and help eachother out through a bond of marriage,” Mr. Jacobs concluded.

 

*Present*

 

Alexandro still found it hard -yet amusing- that Mr. Jacobs would suggest such thing. Of course he understood the position the Jacobs where in, but to have them think he would marry someone he did not love or see as a wife was plain obsured. He will help with some money but that was it. He has absolutely no intention in marrying Sarah. Especially not while he was with Marie and expecting a child soon.

 

Though, he could still recall the idea his father had also proposed. Mr.Giovanni at first had a hard time wrapping his mind around what his friend had said, but the need to want to help out a long-time friend slightly over came him. He had suggested that Alexandro could marry Sarah, but only be married for a short amount of time. Enough to help out the Jacobs and then pull out of the marriage.

 

Upon hearing his father say that, Alex immediately protested. Saying that he would help financially, but no marriage was to be involved. He would do no such thing to Marie. After another twenty minutes or so, of trying to convince and work things out, Mr.Giovanni concluded that it all lay in the hands of his son, Alexandro. Yet, Mr. Jacobs not wanting to give up, just asked Alex to think it over and had walked out of the study with Mr.Giovanni following behind.

 

Alex rubbed a hand over the protruding belly of his six month pregnant girlfriend. It had seemed as if in the last few days her stomach had become larger. Not it was not suppose to do that, but it was just a little more bigger than that of what he had seen women in magazine’s stomach looked like at six months. To add to it, Marie had pointed out that something felt weird, but just couldn’t put her finger on what it was. This worried Alex, not knowing if something was wrong with her or the baby. Perhaps both, yet, whenever he suggested on seeing Dr.Collins; Marie would just brush it off.

Having to think over what Mr.Jacobs proposed and worrying about Marie’s pregnancy sometimes took a toll on him. But he was determined to stick by Marie and politely disagree to the marriage. With this, he would only have his focus on what’s really important.

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