Almond leaned against the balcony railing, the night breeze brushing lightly against his face. His gaze was fixed on the sky, but his thoughts were far from the quiet beauty above.
The city lights glittered below, restless and alive.
Nicholas's report refused to leave his mind.
Yes, the young lady was beautiful there was no denying that. But beauty was surface. It faded. It didn't heal wounds or stay when life turned cold. And for Almond, it had never been enough.
Why his grandfather was so determined to choose her still baffled him.
At thirty-three, Almond had never been interested in any woman. His reputation for being cold wasn't an exaggeration, it was earned. Watching both of his parents die before his eyes as a child hadn't just hurt him; it had locked away whatever softness he might have had.
Over the years, he had grown used to the silence. Even if the nightmares still came.
Now, as if that wasn't enough, his grandfather's failing health had become another weight on his shoulders.
And then there was this… marriage.
Jayden.
The name slipped into his thoughts uninvited.
I hope she's truly like jade resilient and valuable… not just another ornament.
He had heard she wasn't pleased about the arrangement either. That, at least, made things easier.
Almond exhaled slowly.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he murmured. "Time will tell."
He turned away from the balcony and stepped into the dimly lit room. Even in the dark, his movements were precise, guided by habit. He made his way to the restroom before flicking on the light, the white tiles reflecting sharply.
He placed his phone carefully on the stand—waterproof or not, he never trusted chance.
Warm water poured over him, easing the tension in his muscles and washing away the fatigue of travel. For a brief moment, everything felt quiet.
Fifteen minutes later, he stepped out, a bathrobe wrapped loosely around him. His damp hair clung slightly as he blow-dried it with one hand, scrolling through his phone with the other.
In the walk-in closet, he changed into comfortable nightwear, but the thought of the marriage lingered like a shadow that refused to fade.
Perhaps a proper meeting would be necessary. Or a blind date. Something that would allow them to decide if this arrangement had any future at all.
He picked up his phone again and typed:
Get the plane ready. We fly back at dawn. Board meeting.
Switching off the bedside lamp, Almond lay back against the pillows, fingers pressing lightly against his temples. His eyes closed, but he already knew what the night held
Restless sleep.
And ghosts that never stayed buried.
City of Jinnah – Same Night
The city was quiet, but inside her apartment, Jayden was anything but.
She paced her bedroom, arms folded, thoughts restless. She had always trusted her parents… but this was different.
This was her life.
What exactly do they stand to gain from this?
The question circled her mind again and again.
She reached for her phone, scrolling aimlessly, but nothing held her attention. The words blurred.
Then her stomach growled.
Jayden stopped and sighed.
"My goodness… I haven't eaten all day."
The realization only worsened her mood. The day had been filled with meetings, calls, emails one thing after another and she hadn't even remembered to eat. Worse, her fridge was empty.
"Perfect," she muttered.
She opened it anyway.
Nothing.
She stared for a moment.
"Wow. Betrayal."
Another growl forced her to shut it quickly.
"Alright, fine."
She grabbed her phone and placed an order. Chicken and chips simple, fast, familiar.
The food arrived sooner than expected. She carried it to the living room, setting it on the coffee table before pouring herself a glass of chilled lemonade.
The television played in the background, but she barely noticed it. Even as she ate, her mind drifted back to everything waiting for her.
Work didn't pause. Not even for this.
She opened her laptop briefly, skimming through the next day's schedule, already making adjustments before closing it again.
After eating, she cleaned up and switched off the television. The bathroom soon filled with steam as she stepped into a warm shower, letting the day slowly wash away.
By the time she returned to her bedroom, the bed looked far more inviting.
She slipped under the covers and closed her eyes.
Tomorrow, she told herself, she would deal with everything, her parents, her work… and the man she had yet to meet.
One step at a time.
Sleep didn't come easily.
Her thoughts lingered. Her chest felt heavy.
She turned slightly, staring into the darkness.
I'm not a child.
The thought came firmer this time.
I have a say in my life.
Marriage was not something she would accept blindly. Not something she would walk into without a fight.
Her fingers tightened against the sheets.
I won't be shackled to something I don't want.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
I hold the key to my future.
And just as sleep finally began to take her
Her phone lit up.
A message.
Her father's number.
Jayden frowned slightly and reached for it.
Then her eyes froze on the screen.
"Get over here, first thing tomorrow. We have a lot to discuss"