RPOV:
If it scares you it might be a good thing to try. –unknown
I leaned back again, pulling Kate further down. We were both in splits, our feet pressed against each other. We were pulling each other back and forth. Class had winded down and there were only a few stragglers left. That didn't bother me. Kate was a soccer player. It was her thing. She loved it, but that meant that she got injured quite a lot. Soccer was a rough sport. I knew from experience. Kate was following in my footsteps. I'd played soccer and danced in high school too and now here she was. Despite being the youngest, she was definitely the sister that I felt closest with.
I gave Kate another pull and she groaned in what could only be described as relief before pulling me forward, slowly compressing my chest against the floor. I moved my head side to side and then took a deep breath and Kate let me up.
"You're a life saver!" Kate released my hands and fell backwards on to the floor, leaving her arms sprawled out on either side of her.
"I try," I climbed to my feet and made my way over to the front of the class.
I crouched in front of my gym bag and unzipped it to retrieve my water bottle. I wiped the sweat off of my forehead. I was dead to the world. I'd been teaching 5 hours' worth of dance sessions every day the entire week and quite frankly, I doubted that I could handle anymore. I'd been forced to break my classes in to age groups so I now taught a kid group, a teen group, an adult group and a professional group. That meant that four hours every day I was on my feet nonstop. There was ballet on Monday, hip-hop on Tuesday, jazz on Wednesday, tap on Thursday and solos worked on Fridays. I also did private lessons on top of my actual lessons. The blisters on my feet had blisters. I clambered back to my feet and drank some water as I walked around my studio, helping the stragglers loosen up. I was leaning on backs and holding legs up and simply giving encouraging words. This was what I lived for.
Kate laid sprawled out until I'd gotten the studio emptied and then we locked up together. My studio, "Rose Studio and Dance" was an okay one. The building was big enough for me to host two classes at a time. So every once in a while when Kate or Irina had the time to teach they would help my kid group and I would be able to work on my soloist. They were my saving graces.
I helped Kate to her feet and we collected our bags before heading out of the studio, arm and arm, our gym bags slung over our shoulders. Kate was my mini me. We looked extremely similar except for the fact that her hair was always a straight sleek down her back and mine required straightening at least once a week. Today, however we both had our hair up in messy buns.
Kate and I went off on a fruit smoothie run and then trampled in to my apartment all sore muscles and sweaty workout clothes. Kate dropped her bag at my door and I kicked it to the side before tossing mine to meet it. I locked my door and watched Kate collapse at my laptop. She practically lived at my house on the weekends. The guest room wasn't exactly a guest room. She had pictures and books literally everywhere and I didn't mind one bit. I didn't have guests or friends to be guest… except for Jasper Whitlock, who had known all of us long enough to know everything there was to know about Kate and me… and my entire family of course.
I made my way to my kitchen and yanked open my fridge, grabbing the first green apple that I caught sight of. I bit in to it and bumped my ice box closed. I released my hair from the knot on top of my head while holding my apple in the other hand and headed towards the bathroom. I put on the hot water, plugged up the tub and got prepared for the ache in my body to diminish.
"Rose!" Kate yelled.
"What?!" I took another bite out of my apple.
"You have an email!"
"So?" I yanked open the bathroom door and headed out of it, my apple in hand.
"It's from Jen. Do you want me to open it?"
"No," I power walked across my living room and tossed Kate my apple before leaning over my computer and clicking on the email before me.
To: Rose L. H.
From: Dr. Jen Halloway
Hello Rosalie!
It pleases me to announce to you that you have in fact been matched with someone! You and your match have been deemed compatible in the ways that you both put family above all else. You are very obviously a nurturer from the way you speak of your sisters and your match is more of a provider. You seem to be more reserved and your match is more straightforward. The two of you are alike in family values and goals, and yet different in the way that you'd consider reaching them. This match has been made in the hopes that each of you can bring out the lesser showed side of the other. Your wedding will be taking place in TWO weeks! As the bride you are in charge of your wedding dress, the band that you want your future husband to wear and of course your guests. Grab your bridesmaids and bouquet because you are getting married!
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions!
Sincerely,
Jen
I read the email once… twice… three times before I realized that not only was Kate reading over my shoulder, but that she was eating my apple.
"You're getting married," Kate said simply and spun in my computer chair, "and it's all thanks to me," she took another bite out of my apple and tossed it to me.
She blew on her nails and wiped them on her shirt. I rolled my eyes. This was real. These people were serious. I was going to be married to a stranger in literally two weeks. I had to find a dress and tell my parents that I'd even applied for something like this. I ran a hand through my hair. Yes, Kate… all thanks to you. My head was rushing and my heart was thumping. Could I go through with this? I mean Jen had said a week, two and a half weeks ago. I was sure I hadn't matched with anyone. I had pushed the whole idea away and chalked it up as a hoax, but this was real. This was really happening.
I kicked my computer chair and watched my youngest sister roll a little away as I leaned over my keyboard and read the email a fourth time just to be sure.
EPOV:
I leaned back in my desk and loosened my tie a little. Today was one of those tedious days that meant that I was running from one meeting to another and it was starting to annoy me. I spun my office chair and looked out of the floor to ceiling windows there. The view was spectacular. I leaned back and just took it in. I had worked my ass off to get here. I had worked so damn hard. There were several nights without sleep. There were several hard decisions and the weight of knowing that I made ways for thousands of people with jobs to provide for their families got a little heavy at times. My business was feeding thousands of people. If I shut down, those people wouldn't have insurance. They wouldn't have a biweekly check coming in. What would they do?
My office phone gave a beep and I spun around and answered it.
"Cullen speaking."
"Mr. Cullen," my assistant Victoria said, "You're 4 o'clock presentation in the boardroom is prepared."
"Thanks Victoria," I hung up the phone and stood back up with a sigh.
I just wanted to go to the bar, have a few drinks with some old football friends of mine and loosen up. At least tomorrow was Saturday. I doubted that I would be sleeping in late, but at least I wouldn't be in a suit.
I made my way down the hall and I couldn't help but take in the aura around me. I walked down the hall and people moved out of the way. They respected me. They knew that I was a no bullshit sort of guy and I was glad that they understood that. I wasn't around to be anyone's friend. I was around to make sure I had money in my pocket and they had money in theirs. We didn't have to like each other to get the job done. The guys around the building either feared me or wanted to be me and the women either feared me or wanted to be under me for the night. It would never happen.
When I entered the boardroom my laptop was already in place for me to make notes of any changes I wanted. These things typically droned on and on and on. I collapsed in to my chair at the head of the table and logged on to my laptop. The lights dimmed and the presentation started. It took everything in me to stay awake and I reminded myself to never put the guy before me on a presentation again. His voice was like nails on a chalkboard.
I somehow managed to not strangle myself with my suit tie long enough for them to reach their conclusion. My cell phone gave out a beep and I motioned for them to continue while I produced it from my suit pocket. Of course it was an email. I sighed with just the thought of more work to keep me in late and held my finger to my phone for it to unlock. My eyes glided over the screen.
To: Mr. Cullen
From: Dr. Jen Halloway
Hello Emmett!
It pleases me to announce to you that you have in fact been matched with someone! You and your match have been deemed compatible in the way that you both put family above all else. The two of you are alike in family values and goals, and yet different in the way that you'd consider reaching them. This match has been made in the hopes that each of you can bring out the lesser showed side of the other. You showed worry in being the sole bread winner and dealing with "gold diggers" as you so elegantly put it. I have no fear that this woman does not fit in to that category. You are both entrepreneurs. Your wedding will be taking place in TWO weeks! As the groom you are in charge of getting your suit, the band and ring that you want your future wife to wear and of course your guests. Grab your best men because you are getting married!
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions!
Sincerely,
Jen
I read over the email twice before I looked up and realized that everyone was staring at me. I cleared my throat and leaned back in my chair.
"It was horrible," I stood up and dropped my phone back in my pocket, "I almost fell asleep. Start over. I'll give you a week and I'll have Victoria email you my notes," I closed my laptop and picked it up before heading out of the boardroom.
The men I left in my wake were obviously very pissed, but that had nothing to do with me. I was happy. I had waited for this moment for a while now. It had taken longer than expected to get a response, but all great things took time. I headed towards my office and tapped on Victoria's desk two times on my way.
"Get my little sister on the phone!" I called continuing my walk, "Now!"
