In the solitude of her bedroom, Olivia sat on the floor, her back resting against the bedstand, tears streaming down her face. Mrs. Stone rushed in, her heart aching for her daughter. "Oh, honey," she whispered, kneeling beside her.
"Why does Dad want to do this to me? Does he not care about my happiness?" Olivia's voice trembled, the pain of betrayal evident in her eyes.
Mrs. Stone remained silent, her empathy speaking louder than words.
"Richard just broke up with me, and now this?" Olivia's realization hit her like a tidal wave. "Did Dad threaten Richard?! Was that why he dumped me?"
"I promise you, he had no hand in that," Mrs. Stone replied gently.
"I don't believe you!" Olivia shot back, her voice rising in desperation.
Sighing heavily, Mrs. Stone continued, "Olivia, this family needs that connection. Your dad needs it. Someone is out to get him, and he's trying to secure everything he's built. He built this empire from my family's and his family's wealth! Imagine how he'd feel about it now that he's about to lose billions of dollars."
"Is that how you got married to him? A 'marriage of convenience'? You had to make 'convenient vows' just to marry someone you don't know?!" Olivia's voice quaked with anger and disbelief.
"It's not like that, Olivia. I love your father, and I will never stop. Whatever we are doing now is for your future. You need money to gain power, to be able to make certain decisions, and we're building that for you!" Mrs. Stone stood up, her expression now one of urgency.
"Fix your makeup; they'll be here in fifteen minutes. Don't ruin this for us. But in case you want to try something funny, remember that if this doesn't go well, hundreds of our employees will be jobless, including Carly's and Jensen's parents! So get your act together and come downstairs in fifteen minutes." With that, Mrs. Stone stormed out, leaving Olivia alone with her tumultuous thoughts.
Later, as Olivia stepped into the living room, she was met with the sight of Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell, along with Matt Blackwell, already engaged in conversation with her parents. A wave of disbelief washed over her when she spotted Matt. "Matt? What are you doing here?" she asked, her confusion evident.
"We have a meeting with your family," he replied casually.
"You are the Blackwells?" Olivia could hardly process the implications.
"Olivia! Where are your manners?" Mrs. Stone interjected, casting a quick glance at the Blackwells. "Apologies for her behavior; you know how kids are these days."
Mrs. Blackwell smiled softly, "I do. I have one just like that." She looked affectionately at Matt.
"So who's going to be my future husband?" Olivia asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"What are you talking about?" Matt responded, a furrow of confusion creasing his brow.
"Oh, you didn't know? Apparently, I am getting married to one of you," Olivia said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I am so excited and thrilled."
Matt cast a glance at his parents, bewildered. "What's she talking about?"
Mr. Stone cleared his throat, his tone shifting to a more diplomatic register. "We can't discuss that here. I prepared some ambrosia delights that you might like. Let's discuss that over lunch." He paused for effect, nodding toward the dining area. "After you?"
With that, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell rose and walked toward the dining area, Mr. and Mrs. Stone following suit. Olivia and Matt exchanged glances before trailing behind, the weight of the situation heavy on their shoulders.
Once seated at the dining table, Mr. Stone beamed as he addressed the gathering. "This is going to be a union of two great families, and I am excited about it."
Mrs. Stone chimed in, "Where's Mr. Tristian? Isn't he supposed to be here to see his future wife?"
"He is getting married to Tristian!" Matt exclaimed loudly, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.
At that moment, Tristian was ushered into the dining area by one of the Stones' staff. He strode in with an air of confidence; he was a striking figure—tall, with blue eyes that seemed to glimmer even under the dim lighting, a chiseled face, and a body that filled out his suit perfectly, accentuating his toned muscles. His blue eyes scanned the room, settling on Olivia.
"My apologies for coming late," Tristian said smoothly as he took a seat at the table, positioning himself across from Olivia but beside Matt.
Olivia's heart raced as she took in his striking features. This was the man her parents had chosen for her? The room buzzed with polite conversation, but Olivia felt as if she were in a bubble, her world narrowing down to the handsome stranger sitting across from her.
"Thank you for having me. I've heard so much about your family," Tristian said, flashing an easy smile that did little to ease Olivia's mounting anxiety.
Olivia rolled her eyes, unable to contain her sarcasm. "And I've heard so much about you, but none of it was flattering." The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and she immediately felt a mix of defiance and regret.
Tristian raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from surprise to amusement. "Really?" He leaned back slightly in his chair, as if he were assessing her, and Olivia felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
As the adults began discussing business matters, Olivia's mind raced. She was being thrust into a situation she had no control over, and the weight of her parents' expectations loomed heavier than ever.
Tristian's gaze met hers, and for a fleeting moment, the chaos around her faded. But reality quickly crashed back in—this was her life, her future, and it was being decided without her.
Olivia found herself completely entranced by Tristian, unable to form words as she struggled to compose herself. She managed a soft smile in response to his staring, an involuntary reaction to his presence.
"So, I hear you major in economics. That's an interesting choice of career. What made you choose that?" Tristian asked, his tone casual yet probing.
"Well, I love money, so why not chase a career that will give me more of it?" Olivia replied, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"That's a smart choice," Tristian acknowledged, his smile widening.
She seized the opportunity to turn the conversation back to him. "So what do you major in, big guy?"
However, Tristian simply smiled and redirected his attention to Mr. and Mrs. Stones, completely ignoring her question. "Beautiful decor! You have a lovely home," he complimented.
"Thank you, Mr. Tristian," Mrs. Stones replied warmly.
"Please, call me Tristian," he insisted, flashing a charming grin.
Sitting beside him, Matt shot Tristian a glare, irritation evident on his face. "Didn't she just ask you a question?"
"Matt, it's fine," Olivia interjected, her voice nonchalant. "I don't expect him to have much to say. He has the looks, but it shows his cranium is filled with water."
Tristian's expression darkened, anger flickering in his eyes, while Mr. Stones cautioned Olivia, "Behave yourself, Olivia!"
She rolled her eyes at Tristian, who responded with a look that seemed to question whether she had really just rolled her eyes at him. The tension between them was palpable, and it was evident that neither was willing to back down.
Mrs. Blackwell, sensing the growing discomfort, tried to lighten the mood. "This food is lovely. Thank you for having us."
"You're welcome," Mrs. Stones replied, glancing at Mr. Blackwell. "I guess you are not a man of many words."
Mr. Blackwell smiled in response. "I didn't want to interfere; this meeting is for them, actually."
"I agree," Mr. Stones added, shifting the focus back to Olivia and Tristian.
Olivia turned to Tristian, her mind racing as she tried to place him. "Hey, you look really familiar. Have we met before?"
"I think not," Tristian replied curtly.
"I think not," she mimicked, glancing at Matt. "Is this how he usually speaks?"
Matt shrugged, nonchalantly confirming, "he's always been a macho guy, it confuses me sometimes."
"Interesting," Olivia remarked, her curiosity piqued. "Anyway, Tristian, I can call you by your name, right? Seeing how we'll be getting married? Have we met before?"
"Yes, you met him at" before Matt would finish his statement to respond, Tristian abruptly cut him off, stepping on Matt's foot.
"Ouch! What the hell?" Matt exclaimed, realizing too late that it was not the right moment to bring up Club Montana.
After a moment of silence, Tristian stood up from the table. "Can I please be excused? I need to have a word with Miss Stones."
Olivia crossed her arms defiantly. "No way in hell am I going anywhere with you."
"Olivia," Mr. Stones warned, giving her a stern look.
With a huff, she angrily pushed her plate away. "Fine! No one cares about my feelings anyway" she turns to Tristian "After you, big guy."
Tristian bowed slightly to the Stones and his parents before striding out of the dining room, Olivia following closely behind.
In the living room, Tristian stood, lost in thought as he took in Olivia's figure in the red short dress that accentuated her curves and showcased her toned thighs. "Damn," he thought to himself, momentarily captivated.
"So what do you want, big guy?" Olivia asked, her tone challenging.
Tristian snapped out of his reverie, his expression shifting to one of seriousness. "Firstly, you are going to stop calling me big guy. Secondly, you're going to keep quiet about Club Montana. Also, you will address me as Mr. Tristian or just Tristian."
He paused, his gaze locking onto hers. "Lastly, I need you to know that I don't want to get married to you. So when the time comes, I will draw up an agreement that will work for both of us."
Olivia let out a sarcastic laugh. "Big guy, I won't be changing that name. Secondly, I don't even remember what happened in Club Montana and honestly, I don't even want to remember. Lastly, an agreement? So you'd have time to be married to me while sleeping around with other women? No way! Not happening. You can't be married to me and expect me to welcome the idea of you sleeping around but if that's your intention, then we should go back in there," she said, pointing over her shoulder, "and tell them that we can't get married right now, big guy."
Tristian sighed, clearly exasperated. "You are going to be a problem, Shrimp."
"Shrimp?" she echoed, arching an eyebrow.
"Since we are going by nicknames, then we should stick to it till the end," he replied, crossing his arms. "I have to go now. I have a meeting. We are going on a date, so look your finest. I'll be picking you up at 7 PM."
"And you think I'd actually go with you?" Olivia challenged, her eyes narrowing.
"I don't think you have a choice, Shrimp," Tristian said, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he turned to leave.
As he walked back to the dining area, he faced the Stones. "It's been a wonderful experience coming here, but I have to go. I have a meeting with foreign investors."
Mrs. Blackwell, ever the peacemaker, suggested, "Why not take Olivia with you? I mean, it takes a husband and a wife to run an empire."
Tristian smiled softly. "We'll get there, Mom. I'll be coming back to pick her up by 7 PM. We are going on a date."
"That's good news," Mr. Stones chimed in, nodding approvingly.
"If that would be all..." Tristian said, bowing slightly in respect before making his exit.
As he reached the door, Matt intercepted him, his expression darkening. "If you hurt her, I will kill you."
Tristian raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Don't you think you are being too forward for my wife-to-be?"
With that, Tristian walked away, leaving an annoyed Matt behind. Olivia approached her friend, curiosity piqued. "What was that about?"
"It's nothing," Matt replied, brushing it off.
Just then, Olivia's phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her attention away from Matt. She fished it out and saw a message from her best friend, Carly. "Did you hear about the party at Brandon's tonight? You should totally come with Richard!"
Olivia's brow furrowed as she considered the invitation. "I might actually go out tonight," she said, glancing at Matt. "I need to clear my head after all this... wedding nonsense."
Matt crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "You think that's a good idea? After meeting him?"
"Honestly, I think it might be the perfect distraction," she replied, her determination rising. "I don't care if Tristian thinks he can just waltz into my life and dictate how things will go."
"Just be careful," Matt cautioned, his tone serious. "He might seem charming, but I don't trust him."
Olivia huffed. "I didn't ask you to be my protector, Matt. I can handle myself."
"Fine," he relented, but there was still a hint of worry in his eyes.
After exchanging a few more words, Olivia headed back to the dining room, where the atmosphere was markedly different now that Tristian had left. The adults were engaged in light conversation, but Olivia felt a heaviness settle over her chest.
"Everything okay, sweetheart?" Mrs. Stones asked, concern etched on her face.
"Yeah, just tired," Olivia replied, forcing a smile. Her mind, however, was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts of what her life was about to become. The impending marriage, Tristian's enigmatic persona, the mystery of Club Montana—it was all too overwhelming.
As the evening wore on, Olivia's resolve to enjoy herself began to solidify. She would go to the party, have fun, and reclaim a sense of normalcy, if only for a night. After all, she needed to remind herself that she was more than just the future Mrs. Tristian, she was Olivia Stones, and she intended to keep it that way.