Linda – "What! Th-The-they want to get the two of you married?"
Linda asked.
Esmeralda –"Yes exactly sis, an arranged marriage between me and Elias Watson."
Linda –"So what have you decided on, will you agree?"
Esmeralda –"I haven't yet because dad said I should meet Elias and talk to him about it first before deciding on anything."
She said with both her expression and voice full of sadness.
Linda –"C'mon don't be sad am sure dad won't force you as long as you don't marry Elias."
Linda said trying to coax her sister.
Esmeralda –"Yes! I know but if only you were here to see how dad was talking about it, I know he won't force me but he really will be sad if I say no too."
Esmeralda said while playing with her long black hair.
Linda –"now that I think of it you are right, especially since it's the Watsons. I mean he will think no one can take care of you better than Elias will since uncle Patrick and Aunt Ivy are to be your in-laws since they are Elias's parents."
Linda said on the other line after processing everything her best friend told her.
Esmeralda –"That's why I will talk to Elias tomorrow to see what he thinks of all this arranged marriage thing."
Esmeralda said with a sad expression.
Linda –"I wonder who dad is planning on getting me married to now?"
Linda asked on the online
Esmeralda –"What... are you scared?"
Esmeralda asked.
Linda –"Of course I am... am not ready to end my single and bachelorette life yet, you know... " Linda replied. she has never imagined herself getting married at the age that she is.
Esmeralda – "Don't you worry yourself too much because I know when it's your turn, Dad will pick the very best of all of them. " Esmeralda said to Linda because she knows this is what their father will do for her as well.
Linda –"I know right." Linda said while smiling from the other line
Esmeralda –"hmmm."
Linda –"I mean what if Dad decides to match Petro and me together? just like he did with you and Elias." Linda said.
Esmeralda –"You and Petro... that will be great you know, I mean you both will make a perfect match."
Esmeralda said to Linda smiling from ear to ear.
Linda –"Because he can't match Petro with Watson's youngest daughter since she is still young and hasn't reached marriageable age yet, you know."
Linda tells Esmeralda what she honestly thinks.
Esmeralda –"Okay let's talk more about this tomorrow." Esmeralda said.
Linda –"And here I always have this feeling that he is not who he always portrays to be, I mean all that gentle innocent, and silent good man. I never buy that of him, been that kind of person and someone like that you know."
Linda said to Esmeralda how honestly she feels and thinks about Elias. Of him being someone else in front of them but behind closed doors, she is sure he is another person she still hasn't figured out yet. That's why she wants her sister to be sure about who he really is before agreeing to marry him.
Esmeralda –"That's why I will talk to Elias tomorrow and hear what he thinks of all this and observe him as well Sis."
Linda –"Okay! And don't forget to tell me everything tomorrow alright of how your discussion went."
Esmeralda –"Yes! Bestie….ok bye and see you tomorrow at E & F."
Linda – "Yeah! Bye Sis and see you at the office tomorrow."
Esmeralda –"Hmmm byeeee…"
While smiling she said and tab the call end button.
*******
NEXT DAY
"Good morning dad." Esmeralda greets her father while kissing his cheeks.
"Morning dear." Mr. Fernandez answers his daughter and smiles at her.
While sitting down Esmeralda asked, "Aunt Vanessa and petro where are they?"
"Here we are." Aunt Vanessa's voice was heard
Esmeralda turns to the side where she heard her aunt's voice, "Good morning guys." she said While smiling.
"Dear!" Mr. Fernandez called.
"Yes! Dad.'' She answered.
"Remember you don't have to agree if you don't want to ok, I will never force you to do what you don't want to okay," Her father said.
Esmeralda smiled at her father and responds to him, "I know dad."
She knew he was talking about arranged marriage. Although he said he isn't forcing her into anything, she knows her father well and that's why she also knows her not accepting this alliance will hurt him. But she has an option and that's to talk to Elias.
"Hmmm! Am glad you are aware of it." He smiled.
Esmeralda bitterly smiled, how she wished uncle Patrick never thought of this marriage alliance.
The Fernandez family eats their food in peace but Esmeralda didn't forget the daily praises she is used to giving her aunt she tried her best to sound normal.
Esmeralda, "Aunt do you know you look like an angel who just arrived from heaven?"
"Oh, Dear! You are too much." Smiling shyly Aunt Vanessa mumbled.
Smiling back at her, Esmeralda said "you look like a pure angel so breathtaking. Ah! Am so jealous of you."
Everyone laughed at the expression Esmeralda gave while saying her last words.
*********
WHITE CUISINE
"Sorry Elias for keeping you waiting, I just had to check on some files before coming here." Esmeralda apologizes to Elias for having been late to their meeting.
While standing up to bring the chair out for her he said "no don't worry it's ok! Because I haven't been here that long either." And smiled at her.
Smiling at her, he inquires, "So how are you?''
"Am good thank you… And you?" She replies and asks.
He smiles again and replies "am also doing great."
"Hmm! So what do you want to order?" He asked while gesturing at the menu in front of her.
"Hmm! A salad would do." Esmeralda said after looking at the Menu.
The reason why she just ordered a salad is that when she went to Linda's office earlier before coming here, the girl force her to have dinner with her and she couldn't refuse. Because she has never refused Linda anything she asked for and now Linda is used to it so she couldn't refuse her earlier.
"Ok." Was Elias's simple response after hearing what she said.
Elias turned around, saw a waiter, and gestured for him to come.
"Yes sir, what are you guys ordering please?" the waiter asked after reaching their table.
"Two cups of mineral water and one plate of salad please," Elias said to the waiter and ordered for the two of them.
After the waiter took their order and left Esmeralda broke the silence and said "I'm sure uncle Patrick must have already told you about what he and my dad have discussed" she paused and continue, "I mean about the arranged marriage they hope to happen between us both"
She finishes while looking at Elias and anticipating what he will say.
"Yes, dad has spoken to me, Esmeralda," Elias said
"Hmm! I see so what's your decision and take on this?" she asked him but his reply was what she was never expecting….