IRIS' POV
"You have a guest, Miss Castille." Our butler Desmond said. I was surprised because I hardly ever got any guests.
"Who is it, Desmond? I am not expecting anyone."
"A mister Julian Brantholm." He said making me jump from the chair I had been sitting on and accidentally dropping the book I had been reading.
It had been over two weeks since his birthday party and our paths had not crossed since that time. What could have inspired his visits? I wondered.
"Tell him I will be right down," I said dismissing Desmond. He simply nodded his head and then left. I had to make myself look presentable and not like I had been in bed all day reading novels.
I rushed to my closet and pulled out my black jeans and a white 'One Direction' crop top. I put it on and then let my hair down. I applied a little lip gloss; I didn't want to make it obvious that I was putting in so much effort for him. I felt like a schoolgirl who had a crush on a boy in school. I felt excited.
I took deep breaths to calm my nerves before descending the stairs.
When I got downstairs, Julian was standing in the middle of the living room. He looked more casual than he did at his party in brown cargo shorts and a black tee shirt. It was fitted and it showed off his toned body. He was deep in conversation with my brother, Ivan and he had not noticed me yet.
"Hey, Julian," I said, drawing his attention away from my brother to me. I am sure Ivan had managed to engage him in some business discussions.
His face immediately broke into a smile when he turned to look at me. Did I mention he had a gorgeous smile? No guy had ever had such an effect on me before. It is a wonder that these feelings were a result of a man who I had only one conversation with.
"Good evening, Iris." He said, the smile still on his face as he walked the short distance to where I stood. To my surprise, he pulled me in for a hug. It was surreal because one minute, I was standing and the next, I was being wrapped in his arms and his scent was all around me. He smelt spicy and woody like cinnamon and cedar.
"How have you been?" He asked after he had pulled away from me.
"I am good. How about you?"
"I am doing okay."
"To what do I owe this visit?" I ask as I walk towards where the couch is to take a seat. He followed suit and sat beside me.
"I am not going to beat around the bush, I will cut to the chase. I want to marry you." He said casually. I looked at him for a while, before I burst into a heavy fit of laughter.
"You're so funny," I said still laughing heavily. Julian only stayed there, looking at me with a serious expression on his face.
I stopped laughing. "I am being serious, Iris. I want to marry you."
"Why would you want to marry me? We don't even know each other that well. This is the second time we are meeting, for goodness' sake!" I exclaimed.
"What does that matter? I felt drawn to you the moment I saw you at my party. I want you." He said with so much seriousness, I didn't even know how to respond to that.
"What happened to 'I don't believe in romance and happiness ever after are myths'?" I said in a mocking imitation of his voice.
"I changed my mind." He said simply as though it was the normal thing in the world, for someone to not believe in love one day and then automatically change their perspective the next.
"You can't just change your mind from things like that."
"Yes, I can. I want to marry you and both of our families are on board. I've been talking to your father about it for a while and he has given us his blessings."
"Oh wow! You all have been discussing my life without me for the past two weeks?" I got up and moved away from him, very much angry now.
"It's not like that. I just wanted to make sure everything was in place before I got you on board." He said, standing up too.
"I am going to have to think about this. Which is very gracious of me because this is not something I am supposed to be considering."
"What is there to think about? We had a spark from the moment we met, you can't tell me you didn't feel it too."
"We aren't even in love with each other for God's sake," I muttered.
He took both my hands in his. "People don't always fall in love before they get married, they fall in love after."
He had a point, but still, the whole idea of it was crazy. But what was crazier was the fact that I was even considering it. The fact that idea of marrying this handsome man who was practically a stranger to me was not nearly as scary as I needed it to be.
"Give me a few days to think about it," I said finally.
"I'll be back in a week. And while you are thinking, think about this too." He said before pulling me in for a kiss. I was shocked at first, so I didn't kiss him back, but then the initial shock gave way to the sweet feeling of his soft lips on mine and I found myself kissing his back.
The kiss was too short and was over before I wanted it too. "I want to marry you, Iris. I hope you say yes."
"What if I don't say yes?" I asked breathlessly still recovering from the kiss we just shared.
"Then you will be breaking a lot of hearts. Everybody wants us married, but nobody wants it more than me."
I couldn't help but smile at his statement, I wanted to say yes, there and then. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to be impulsive for once, but I knew it was the adrenaline rush from the kiss that was talking and I needed to think with a clear head before I decided, especially one that could change my life forever.