AN:/ Hey guys, here's another chapter, enjoy.

(C)

Chapter 3

"Glad you could meet me here Selendrile," his mother, Listria said with a cheerful smile.

Selendrile nodded to his mother in greeting and went off to a corner in Jo. to find anything to distract him from listening to his mother babbling. Jo. was a small little building that was famous for their male clothes. The store had a retro kind of theme; walls were white, white-tiled flooring, metal shelves and lamps. It was Selendrile's favorite stores to shop at in case of an emergency. He started distracting himself by looking around the clothing racks. He could feel his mother's eyes following him with so much intensity that Selendrile was getting edgy.

"Selendrile, there was a reason why I wanted to meet you here," his mother said.

"What would that be, mother?" Selendrile asked pretending not to know what his mother was talking about or the reason why she wanted to see him.

"I want to talk to you about this arrangement."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed it," Selendrile sarcastically said. He rolled his eyes and went back to gazing at more clothes. His mother slapped him in the back of his head for mocking her.

"Don't mock me again," Listria chided her son. Selendrile kept on looking at clothes.

"Why do we need to talk about this? I really don't want to talk about it," Selendrile said with a huff.

"Because we have to. Selendrile, you are getting married and to someone's family that can benefit from our knowledge of business also, you need someone to keep you grounded," Listria explained.

Selendrile sighed and kept looking at the clothes. Listria watched her son quietly shopping with concern. She knew only little about her son Selendrile but there is one thing that she does know about him and that was that he rather be alone and undisturbed. To him; it might seem like his life is going through an unwelcome change but to her it was a welcoming change that will bring him out more than he is now; especially with his family that he distanced himself from. Selendrile decided on a crisp white shirt and a black-cherry pair of pants. He tried it on and went to pay for it.

"Selendrile, I'll see you tomorrow at the restaurant. I'm so ecstatic to meet your betrothed," she chirpily vocalized. Selendrile rolled his eyes at his mother and left the store without a second glance. Listria watched her son leave the store and went in the car driving away to his home. Her smile was replaced with a sad frown. She knew that her son wasn't really happy the family because of the situation they put him in, but this was for his own good and for his heart. She grabbed her purple Chanel purse and left to go home.

Berlin

Alys could already feel the sleeping pills wearing off. Risa was still snoring next to her and mumbling about some guy named Nathan being smoking hottie mc hottie. The gentleman and lady behind her were loudly whispering about the reason on not having a kid from the mother behind them trying to soothe a baby and tell her rowdy son to sit down. Groaning herself out of slumber Alys rubbed her eyes and started scouting for the attendant so she could get some coffee.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Alys called to the lady before she passed by.

"Yes, how can I help you miss?" The lady asked turning her attention to Alys.

"Can I have a cup of black coffee and a white omelet special meal for this sleepy head over here, " Alys ordered kindly with a tired smile.

"Make that two white omelet special meal and with another cup of coffee with a quarter of flavored cream, " Risa mumbled tiredly and started snoring again. Alys sighed at her sleeping friend and glanced at the attendant with weariness. The attendant smiled and left them to get their order. Alys glared at her slumbering best friend.

"You didn't have to do that Risa. I wasn't hungry for breakfast," Alys said fuming. Her arms were crossed and Risa opened one of her eyes to stare at her friend/boss. She smiled at Alys with a happy gleam in her eyes for seeing her old friend again even though it was only for a little while.

"So you have been starving yourself again?! I'm going to make sure you eat," Risa exclaimed. "Your father would want you to take better care of yourself. What would he say if he heard about you not eating?"

Everything was quiet. Alys wasn't speaking. Risa opened both of her eyes and looked over at Alys who was gazing out the window seemingly solemn. Risa flinched knowingly that she had gone too far by mentioning Alys' father.

Risa decided to be quiet and wait for the attendant to bring their food before the plane landed in Berlin. The attendant came back with their order steaming hot.

"Here you ladies go and enjoy," the attendant said cheerfully.

She placed the food on the trays and left them to eat. They ate and drank in plane landed in Berlin, and both the girls got off and went to get their luggage.. They left and went in a taxi cab that was waiting for them so it could take them to the hotel. Alys checked them in, took the room keys from the gentlemen receptionist, and lead them to their room on the sixth floor.

Alys stopped at their room, swiped the key, and headed inside with Risa behind her. It was a two queen bedroom. The room was filled with cashmere colored decorations on the wall. The beds set were a black and white. The ottoman was between the bathroom. The couch was a lite black. The bathroom had a full bath/shower, a shining toilet, a sink that was shaped as a fountain and bidet.

After looking around with awe, Alys and Risa went on to unpacking their suitcases. They worked in silence. Alys wasn't in the mood to talk to Risa at the moment. She was deep in her thoughts about what Risa had said on the plane and realized that she right. Risa, on the other hand, was getting a bit on edge for not hearing a peep from Alys so she decided to apologize.

They were both finished unpacking and Alys was getting hungry. She was going straight for the door when Risa stopped her.

"I'm sorry for mentioning your father, Alys, but I'm very worried about you," Risa apologized honestly, "Both emotionally mentally, spiritually, and physically. I can't just stand here and let you destroy yourself any longer! Ever since he died, you've changed into a mute, and I don't mean the kind that doesn't talk but the kind that has one emotion and hides themselves from everybody. I'm your best friend and I am there for you through anything that is bothering you so tell me what's going on with from here on out."

Alys stood in the middle of their room staring dead eyed at Risa. There was no life in her eyes until Risa said her last peace. Pain, hurt, anger, sorrow, and relief shined in her eyes and she smiled a hurt smile.

"I'm arranged to be married," she croaked with emotion.

Back in Paris

It was Friday, the day that Alys and Selendrile were supposed to meet, but Selendrile's and Alys's family didn't know that Alys was out of town until Monday. Selendrile was already in his car driving towards the designated meeting place. He was wearing the white shirt he bought at Jo., a pair of cherry-black pants and black loafers. His hair was in a slick braid and had a white solar watch on his right wrist.

"Let's just get this over with and go back to work. Ahhhhh, I really wish she wouldn't show up," Selendrile mumbled under his breath. His hands tightened around the steering wheel with apprehension. He still didn't want to do this arranged marriage. Selendrile wanted to stay as a bachelor until he was ready to give it up. Women weren't a priority to him. His job was his wife.

He arrived at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon ten minutes early than expected, but he was a prompt kind of guy and prefers to be early than late. He gave the valet his car keys, paid him and went inside the restaurant.

"Good afternoon sir, do you have a reservation?" asked the host with a smile.

"Yes, it's going to be under Bollinger," Selendrile replied putting his hand in his pants pocket.

"Of course sir, right this way. Your family just arrived three minutes ago before you," the host replied.

Selendrile rolled his eyes and followed the host to where his family was seated.

"Selendrile, it's nice for you to join us," Listria waved happily.

"Hi mother, father," Selendrile greeted nonchalantly.

"You forgot about us, little brother," said an overly sweet voice. Selendrile gazed over to his sister, Tira, who was sitting right next to their father. Tira was a spitting image of their father and the oldest out of the three children. Long beautiful shiny brown hair, green eyes, a pointed nose and an attitude that can beat a five year.

"Yeah Lendle, how could you forget about us!" said a heavy voice. Corven was the second oldest and he was Tira's little copy-cat. He dyed his hair a Sicilian blue, his eyes were purple, a small nose and don't know when to shut up.

"I didn't forget. I just didn't want to greet you," Selendrile said, sitting across his mother. Tira and Corven were steaming with anger.

"Now now Selendrile. Be nice to your siblings now," Taurus said with amusement. Taurus was there father and Listria's mate. He had purples eyes, black hair that was in a ponytail, a small nose, and a strange personality that no one can decipher.

"Of course father."

"Good, now are you excited about meeting your fiancee?" Taurus asked.

"No, I'm not," Selendrile answered honestly with a sneer.

"Why not? Your mother and I thought it was a good idea to find you a wife. You don't appreciate our hard work?" Taurus asked with a raised eyebrow.

Before Selendrile could even reply, Gower and his family and Atherton decided to show up.

"Hello, we're the Bollinger family. My name is Gower, this lovely woman is my wife, Etta, and this here is my daughter, Una," Gower introduced excitedly.

"Greetings, we're the Presd'eaux family. My name is Taurus, this here is my wife, Listria, and these are my children; Tira, Corven, and Selendrile," announced Taurus with a smile.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you all," Etta said showing off her pearly whites with a smile.

"Nice to meet you," Una said, giving Selendrile her best batting eyes. Selendrile scoffed and hoped that she wasn't his fiancee.

"How about we get down to business," Atherton said in a professional manner.

"Of course, but where is Alys?" Gower asked, "Did she go to the bathroom?"

"We didn't see anyone here waiting?" Tira said, "Is she Selendrile's fiancee?"

"Yes, damn that girl never listens to me," Gower complained angrily.

"Let me call her...," Etta said trying to soothe her husband but when she grabbed her phone she realized that she didn't have Alys' number. She turned to her daughter, but Una hated Alys so of course she wouldn't have it. So she decided to call the operator instead.

"It seems like she doesn't know the number," Selendrile thought, "how useless; just Atherton."

AN:/I hope you guys like this chapter. I wanted to update on Fourth of July but couldn't. Review and tell me what you think.