Chapter 4: Phone calls


    Daniel''s POV:


    "What? Your mother pick a bride for you? Wow, another contractual marriage in the family."


    I snorted before bringing the bottle of beer to my mouth. I was currently inside the bar with my assistant


    and friend, Andrew.


    "You already know the reason, so I don''t have to exin it to you. We need this investment as soon as


    possible."


    "Tsk.Tsk. I really don''t know why these European investors don''t trust a bachelor and a young man, and


    they really wanted a married man. What''s the difference with that when you can do the same things


    that a married man can do?"


    "Of course! But they believe a married man has a lot of experience and is more responsible than a


    bachelor."


    "Is that''s why you end up on faking your marriage?"


    "It''s not fake, it''s legal. Do you think they wouldn''t find out if it''s just fake or not? They were


    businessmen, Andrew, cunning and devious."


    "Yeah, I know that. Anyway, have you already met the girl?"


    "Yes."


    "When did you meet her and what does she look like? Was she beautiful, sexy, or a model like your


    ex?"


    "I met herst week and no, she''s nothing special. Okay, she has looks but for me, she''s just an


    ordinary girl, who would do anything for the sake of money." I mmed the bottle on the counter.


    "Whoah! Chill dude! Don''t you think you''re being too judgemental? And how did you know she''s just an


    ordinary girl? Dude, you know your mother, she knows how to choose well. Maybe there''s something


    about that girl that''s why she easily got your Mom''s attention."


    "I don''t care, Andrew! Whether she''s special or not, it doesn''t change the fact that she easily agreed to


    this deal! And whatever her reason, I know it will only fall for the money!"


    I can''t believe that a woman like her can easily fall for money.


    "So what do you want... find a new woman?"


    "I wish I still have enough time to find another bride, but no. So, I have no choice but to ept her."


    "You can''t me a desperate person, Daniel."


    I frowned as I nced at him.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, you can''t me her for epting the deal without knowing her real reason. What if she really


    needs the money for her father''s surgery, who has cancer? Or maybe for his brother who suffers from


    heart disease. Or we just don''t know if it''s for her surgery, because she''s dying----aww!"


    I punched his arm. "What are you talking about? Do you want me to lose a wife so soon?" I don''t know


    but I can''t stand hearing that word for her. Well, nobody wants to hear that actually.


    "I''m just giving you some possible reasons why she epted the deal. Or what if she''s pregnant?"


    "What the fuck, man?" I asked narrowing my eyes on him. "If she''s pregnant, I''m sure my Mom would


    tell me. And obviously, she wouldn''t choose her for me!"


    "Fine! Chill, dude." he chuckled. " Anyway, maybe it''s better if you just ept that girl. As you know,


    mother knows best."


    I didn''t say anything, I just drink my beer again.


    "So, what are your ns after the wedding?"


    "What do you mean what my ns are?"


    "Well, you know... mating process." he shrugged.


    A snicker escaped my lips. "Dude, she''s not that attractive. And I don''t think I can find myself being


    attracted or aroused for her."


    "Whew!" heughed at me. "Dude, don''t put a period on your sentence. What if she''s the one who falls


    in love with you in the middle of your fake marriage?"


    "It''s not fake!"


    "Fine! But it''s just the same. You''re not in a rtionship or anything, you''re just pretending. So answer


    me, what if she falls in love with you?"


    "She shouldn''t. I''ll make it clear once I saw her again. And once the investors signed the contract in


    KIC, I will file for divorce immediately."


    "Ohh.. what''s her name by the way?"


    "Sophia."


    "Hmm... beautiful name."


    "What''s beautiful about her name?"


    "Tsk.Tsk. Dude, her name was derived from the Greek, which means wisdom and skill. Pure, feminine


    and intelligent."


    "And where did you get that?"


    "Google."


    "Tss!" I just shook my head.


    When I was already in the car, I suddenly remembered my sister. It''s funny every time I think about how


    the table turned, and how I ended up in a situation like this, which used to be my sister''s situation


    before.


    "Hi, Dani?" I heard her voice on the other line. She sounded so excited. I sighed as I realized how


    much I missed my little sister.


    "Hello, little sis."


    "Are you drunk?"


    I chuckled at her question. How did she find out so easily? "I drank, but I''m not drunk."


    "Oh, God! Yeah, you''re not drunk. I can hear it clearly from your voice!" she paused for a few seconds.


    "Is there any problem? Are you okay?" her voiceced with concern.


    "Why are you asking such a silly question? Of course, I''m okay!


    "Because Dani, I know you so well! You will never call me in this damn midnight if everything''s okay!


    Has something happened to you or mom and dad?"


    "No! Stop thinking about that horrible idea!"


    "So why are you calling me?"


    "Wow! Can''t I call my favorite sister whenever I want? I missed you, you know."


    "Oh God, Dani! At this damn hour? And excuse me, I''m your only sister and sibling, so don''t be so


    assuming! Spill it right now!"


    I sighed. I don''t know how to tell this to her.


    "I''m getting married."


    "And so, what if you''re---what?" she suddenly screamed.


    "Long story." I chuckled.


    "Then make it short!"


    Tsk.Tsk. My one and only sister is as demanding as ever.


    "I''ll tell you everything, but not now. It''s alreadyte. I just missed you and actually, I didn''t really expect


    you would answer my call at this hour."


    She didn''t speak for a few seconds and I frowned.


    "Hey! I''m talking to you!"


    "Ahm... Dani, I''m just going to call you---ahhhyy!"


    "Rian, what happened? What''s happening there?"


    I started to panic when I heard her scream on the other line. I also heard a man''s voice with her.


    "Rian, answer me! What''s going on there? Where are you?"


    But suddenly the line broke off.


    "What the fuck is happening to her?" I cursed as I tossed my phone to the top of the dashboard. I put


    on my Bluetooth headset and started the engine.


    Twenty minutester, my phone rings and I saw Alex''s number sh on the screen.


    "Fucking sake, Alex! I don''t know what happened to Rian! Damn it! I was just---"


    "Hey, hey, Dani, it''s me!" I was cut off by my sister''s voice.


    "Rian? Is that you?" relief instantly washed over me.


    "Yes. It''s me, Dani. I''m fine."


    "What happened to you? I heard your scream, forgodsake! What the fuck happened Rian? Tell me, are


    you okay?"


    "Come down, Dani. I''m okay and don''t worry, nothing happened."


    "And what does it mean that nothing happened, Arriana Ang?"


    "Ouch! My full name!"


    I know how much she also hates when I''ve always mentioned her full name.


    "I told you, I''m fine. I just called to let you know I''m safe, so don''t worry about me, okay? I''m going to


    tell you what happened, but not now."


    "Make sure of it, Rian!"


    "Yeah, I promise"


    Then I remember who''s number she is using at the moment.


    "Wait a minute! Why are you using Alex''s phone? Where is your phone? Where are you right now? Are


    you with him?"


    She suddenly turned quiet.


    "Rian! I''m waiting. Where are you and Alex right now?"


    "Hi, bro."


    My eyebrows crunched when I heard Alex''s voice.


    "Alex? Where are you and why did my sister use your phone?"


    "Why, what''s wrong with that? I''m her husband."


    "That''s not what I meant! I swear Alex, I''m gonna fucking kill you if anything happens to Rian!"


    "Hey, rx Daniel." he chuckled. "She''s fine now and don''t worry, I''m here for her."


    "Wait! What do you mean she''s now fine? So, what exactly happened earlier?"


    "Ahm... she just tripped over the small stone as she  walked, so she fell to the ground and identally


    threw her phone."


    "Okay, but why do I hear the noise of police vehicles?"


    "It''s on the other street, they were in an operation."


    "Hmm... so what are the current situations of you and my sister right now? You suddenly called her


    your wife." I smirked.


    "Why, isn''t she really my wife?"


    "In words Alex, yes she''s your wife. But in action, she''s not."


    Then I heard him sighed. "I''m sorry, bro."


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "What do you mean by your sorry? And don''t apologize to me because I''m not your wife. You better tell


    her that."


    "I know and I will."


    "And Alex, take care of her. I know you loved my sister, so don''t wait until it''s toote."


    "I''ll do it all this time." I smiled when I heard the determination in his voice.


    "Okay, I''ll wait for that. Thank you, just tell my sister goodnight... I mean goodmor-night."


    "Okay bro, take care."


    ~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~


    Sophia''s POV:


    "Okay guys, onest practice and you''re ready to go," I told all my afternoon students as I pressed the


    y button on our radio speaker.


    "Yes! Thanks, Ms Sophia!" They all shouted in unison as they exchanged high fives.


    I just smiled at them. "Are you ready for thepetition next week?"


    "Yes, Ms Sophia. We are excited about that event."


    "Okay, good luck, guys."


    They were myst students for today and they were in a thorough practice for their modern dance


    with our international dancepetition.


    I was already in the middle of the dancefloor and ready to begin the steps when I heard Craig''s voice.


    "Sophia, you have a phone call."


    I turned and saw him waving my cellphone and standing at the door of my office.


    "Who''s that?" I asked a little bit louder due to the ring musicing from the speaker.


    "Mrs Kelley."