Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this fiction but the plot is entirely mine as I based it from a story I'm making at the moment though I do want to own kawaii Eriol…
Chapter 4 – Signed and Sealed
"It's quite lovely…" Tomoyo commented looking at the castle-like walls adorned with metal candelabras and mirrors giving it a rustic yet sophisticated feel.
"I thought so too…" Tamara replied pleased with Tomoyo's comment as she makes her way up the stairs.
"Well… don't just stand there, come on, we don't have much time…" she said surprising the two who quickly followed suit still wondering what's going on.
"She's here," Tamara said opening a white French door at the corner of the hall ajar.
"Thanks Tam please let her in…" Sonomi replied settling her teacup at the coffee table.
"We'll leave you two now," Tamara said as she motioned Tomoyo to enter the room.
---
The moment Tomoyo steps into the room, she felt herself totally bathe in white. The walls, the ceilings, the carpet and even the curtains of the white paneled windows are all white.
At the right and left side of the room are white paneled doors and at another side was a beautiful glass door overlooking the beautiful landscape outside.
By the very center of the room is a glass coffee table with two white seats, her mother seating on one.
"Hi dear, how was school?" Sonomi asked looking up from the magazine she was reading.
"Hi Mom, it was far from normal I guess… I suddenly had a lunch meeting and was given the whole day off instead…"Tomoyo said walking to her mother and giving her a peck on the cheek.
"Would you like some cake to go with your tea? It's strawberry shortcake, your favorite," Sonomi asked placing a slice of strawberry shortcake in a small plate.
"Yes, please," Tomoyo replied uncertain of the direction of their conversation as she watches her mother pour her some tea in a refined manner.
"Milk tea…" Tomoyo started.
"… With no sugar" Sonomi finished for her with a smile as she handed Tomoyo her teacup.
"Thank you" Tomoyo replied as she took a sip of her tea.
"So what is it you want to talk about?" she asked deciding there's no better way to find out than ask herself.
"Oh, nothing… just your little engagement with Eriol, that's all…" Sonomi said good naturedly that Tomoyo almost choked her tea.
"Excuse me" Tomoyo said dabbing her lips with the napkin she was holding, a stern expression on her beautiful face.
"I though I already told you that I hate that guy," she said ready to start an argument.
"I know, but you can't hate him just because of a simple incident" Sonomi reasoned taking another sip of her tea.
"Mom, hate him or not I don't want to be engaged, I'm only!"
"Your dad and I are just concerned about your future"
"My future? What about my future?" Tomoyo repeated not buying her mother's reasons.
"We just don't want you to make a mistake…" Sonomi reasoned once again.
"Don't you think this is much of a mistake you're doing?" Tomoyo shot back steam slowly starting to come out of her head.
"Your dad and I have thought about it already… why not give it a try?"
"You guys have thought about it, why didn't you ask me then? It is my future after all we're talking about…this is so absurd!" Tomoyo retorted slamming her hands on the table.
"Okay, calm down… I admit it was wrong on our part not to have asked your opinion…" Sonomi started calming Tomoyo.
"Definitely" Tomoyo said crossing her arms.
"But…" Sonomi said cutting Tomoyo, looking at her straight in the eye.
"But, as your parents we have the right to be concerned about your welfare. We've already made arrangements, we can't just turn back. Why not give it a shot?" Sonomi said quite firmly.
"Arrangements? What arrangements?" Tomoyo repeated questioningly.
"Why not try to be Eriol's fiancée for… say, 7 months?" Sonomi asked ignoring Tomoyo's previous question.
"Wait a second… are you telling me to waste 7 months being with a major jerk?" Tomoyo said in total disbelief. For her the statement is like her parents asking her to jump off a cliff.
"A jerk?" Why Eriol's such a gentleman, even your dad approves of him," Sonomi said surprised by the way Tomoyo addressed Eriol.
"Dad approves of him?" Tomoyo repeated surprise. Surely she was hearing things.
"Why, he's very polite and well mannered!"
"You're joking," Tomoyo said reclining on the chair.
"No, I'm not… to tell you the truth among our possible choices, he's our first choice. He's into horseback riding, soccer, fencing and skiing. Not only that, he's also a very good writer and musician, he plays the piano and is a composer… plus he's on top of his class." Sonomi said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"So, you want me to go gaga over a jerk just because he's into sports, music and books, is that it?" Tomoyo bluntly stated.
"We just want you to have the best,"
"Mom, this conversation is heading nowhere… you know that," Tomoyo said standing up.
"I know, that's why I'm settling this in the most civilized way as possible. And I want you young lady to get back on your seat and listen to what I have to say," Sonomi said in that authoritative tone once again giving Tomoyo the shivers as she returns to her seat.
"I'll go straight to the point now, give the arrangement a shot, if in 7 months it doesn't work then it's over, here I even prepared a contract for this," Sonomi said in a business-like manner as she pulled out a neatly typed document.
"You actually prepared a contract?" Tomoyo said in disbelief.
"They can't be serious" she thought to herself.
"Just to be sure that you won't run away or go against the terms agreed upon," Sonomi said tucking a stray strand of hair to her ear.
"What makes you so sure that I'll sign it?" Tomoyo asked crossing her brows slightly.
"Well… if you don't then I'm afraid we'll have to cancel your credit cards and shut your social life down and have a dozen body guards tail you 24/7," Sonomi said in a syrupy voice.
"You can't be serious," Tomoyo uttered, stunned by what she just heard.
"Is this blackmail?" she asked not believing that she was actually losing an argument.
"Something like that, I'm afraid. Now will you be a good girl and sign the contract, cause if you do, then I promise you that you won't be tailed down by body guards like you always wanted to and we'll take care of your credit card…" Sonomi replied impishly.
"What will I be doing during those 7 months?" Tomoyo asked suddenly trying to reconsider the idea. If there's one thing she hates more in the world than Eriol, that would be a dozen body guards running after everywhere she goes.
"Nothing much, really, just some domestic training, soirees, more of befriending the lad actually, we've everything else, you'll just have to comply with what we have in store for you guys, nothing that you'd resent" Sonomi said.
"That's all?" Tomoyo asked.
"Yes, that's all there is, But then I would require you not to deny the arrangement to others" Sonomi said crossing her fingers at the back.
"Fine, I'll sign it." Tomoyo said taking a pen from her purse and signing the contract.
"Good then. I'm so happy you see things our way," Sonomi said clapping her hands together in delight,
---
"NO! N-O, no!" Eriol said crossing his arms. They were in another room, this time in a totally blue one with a white couch at the center.
"I'm not signing any paper agreeing to this stupid set-up for 7 months, this is crazy!" he said shaking his head no upon his mother's proposal similar to that of Tomoyo's.
"Come on, Tomoyo is such a nice girl, she's very smart and is into a lot of things. And don't you find her very pretty?" Tamara asked trying to calm her son's wild temper.
"She may be pretty but I hate her attitude, she's but an obnoxious brat!" Eriol blurted out.
"Now, Eriol you can't just turn me down now. We may have been way too rash, but then at least you can give it a shot or something," Tamara started.
"Does Tomoyo know about this?" Eriol asked.
"I leave that matter to Sonomi, but right now I want you to agree…otherwise…" Tamara sweetly stated.
"Otherwise?" Eriol asked.
"Otherwise... let's see… I have to cancel all your credit cards… take all your extra-curricular activities … and confiscate your car and mobile phone…" Tamara said in a sing-song manner.
"You're not serious are you?' Eriol said shocked.
"I'm afraid I am. Sonomi and I have already made arrangements, we just can't let it slip without you two trying. Like seven months would hurt," Tamara said.
---
a grumpy Tomoyo appears on the screen
It's me again! Tomoyo. I can't believe this! Now I'm actually required to stay in one roof with that Eriol!
Just what will I do if he attacks me?? What? He has no courage to do so? Thank goodness... but still I hate this arrangement!! Now what will I do?
Up next: Chapter 5 of Project Engagement: Housemate: First Night
Read and Review! Adieu!