Chapter 22

Harper continued to dedicate herself to college, striving to improve her grades and secure a spot in the nursing course. She had received an offer from a nearby university and was filled with excitement about the prospect.

As she approached the school gates, Jenny called out to her. Harper shot her a sideways glance, curious as to why she had chosen to engage in conversation. "Hi Harper," Jenny began, and Harper couldn't help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive behind her sudden interest. "I heard Oliver is working at his dad's company."

"That's correct," Harper replied cautiously.

"Do you think he'll come back to college?" Jenny inquired, trying to keep up with Harper's pace as she walked.

"Not sure," Harper replied, abruptly stopping in her tracks. If they were going to have this conversation, she wasn't going to entertain it while rushing through the school grounds. Jenny looked around, confused by the sudden halt, but then refocused her attention on prying for information about Oliver.

"I hope he does. He wanted to become a doctor, right? I'm sure he got into all of his universities, didn't he?" Jenny probed, frustrating Harper with her relentless questioning about Oliver.

"Well, yeah, but what do you really want to know, Jenny?" Harper asked, determined to cut to the chase.

"I just want to know if he's okay," Jenny confessed, her worry finally surfacing. "The last time I spoke to him, it wasn't a pleasant conversation, and now all this has happened."

Harper recalled their last interaction and wondered if Jenny was referring to the time she confessed her feelings to Oliver, only to be rejected. "He's okay, maybe a little stressed, but you know Oliver."

Jenny put on a forced smile, unable to hide her genuine concern. "Well, thanks for talking to me anyway. Please take care of him." With that, she headed off to her class, leaving Harper to finally make her way to hers.

At the office, Oliver prepared himself for a crucial meeting with the CEO of the company interested in investing in them. He meticulously chose his finest grey suit and rallied the directors to be on standby for a presentation following their one-on-one discussion.

"Hi, I'm Oliver Rivers. Nice to meet you," he greeted the man, who appeared to be in his late 60s, slightly shorter than Oliver and relying on a cane for support. Yet, there was an air of intimidation about him.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rivers. I am Mr. Fontaine," the man replied, delivering a firm handshake. "How is your father doing?"

"He is recovering well from his recent surgery," Oliver responded, taking a seat across from him in the office, where two leather sofas faced each other.

"Well, I'm certain we can come to some sort of arrangement. However, I am keen to see what products you have in the pipeline and where my investment will be directed," Mr. Fontaine stated. "Will you be assuming full control from Mr. Rivers?"

"That is the intention," Oliver affirmed, maintaining a smile on his face. After some initial conversation, they moved to the boardroom to meet with the other directors and delve deeper into the investment discussions. Oliver pleasantly surprised everyone with his quick grasp of the company's operations and his valuable input on upcoming projects. His confidence shone through as he presented the future plans and a well-crafted breakdown of the investment's budget, highlighting maximum return on investment and the reasons for choosing their company. Mr. Fontaine appeared highly impressed, which led to a private meeting with Oliver in his office.

"Well, things are looking good here," Mr. Fontaine began. Then, seemingly out of the blue, he asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?" Caught off guard by the sudden topic change, Oliver shook his head and admitted he was currently single. Mr. Fontaine chuckled, saying, "I find that hard to believe, you know!" He paused, as if contemplating something, and then continued, "I would like to introduce you to my granddaughter, you know." Oliver was taken aback by the unexpected proposition but didn't let it show. "I think the two of you would make a great match, and I have always been keen to find her a suitable suitor for marriage," Mr. Fontaine spoke as if he belonged to the 1860s rather than the 1960s. Reflecting on the dire situation his father's company was facing, partly due to his own actions, Oliver considered the proposal. Accepting it might increase the chances of securing Mr. Fontaine's investment and thereby saving his father's business. He agreed to meet with her.

"Great!" Mr. Fontaine cheered, preparing to leave. "I will have my assistant set something up!" Oliver nodded politely, expressing gratitude for the visit, and escorted Mr. Fontaine downstairs.

Later that day, Oliver visited his father to share the details of the meeting and reassure him that everything was under control. Eleanor and Harper were also present, radiating pride for Oliver's remarkable achievements in such a short span of time.

"There's something else," Oliver began, unsure of how to broach the topic. "Mr. Fontaine mentioned that he has a granddaughter he would like me to meet."

"Like a blind date?" his father inquired.

"Well, actually, I think he was hinting at some sort of arranged marriage," Oliver explained, gauging the puzzled expressions on everyone's faces.

"Absolutely not!" Eleanor interjected forcefully, her hands slamming onto the bed. "You need to call him right now and decline!" Aaron advised Eleanor to calm down and listen to Oliver's perspective, as her emotions were escalating.

"What do you want to do?" Aaron inquired, seeking to understand his son's thoughts.

"I haven't made a decision yet," Oliver replied. "If I were to marry his granddaughter, it might influence Mr. Fontaine to provide financial assistance to our company in the future, which could be advantageous."

"I won't allow you to sacrifice your life and happiness by entering into an arranged marriage just to save the company. Surely you don't think I would stoop so low," Aaron sighed, finding it increasingly difficult to decipher his son's true feelings. "I built this company up from a small limited company to what it is today, but I have my pride. I don't care what the directors or upper management say to you. Marry someone you love." His father's heartfelt speech did little to sway Oliver's stance, but he expressed gratitude to his father nonetheless. He then reassured Eleanor that this did not mean he intended to marry Harper instead. Harper, aware of the awkwardness of the conversation and realising it had little to do with her own objections, attempted to remain silent.

"I'm going to take off," Oliver informed them, grabbing his briefcase. "Take care of yourself."

Oliver wasted no time and headed straight back to the office after meeting with his father. He had a meeting scheduled with the lawyers to discuss the terms of the investment and kickstart the legal process. The thought of climbing twelve floors in his suit made him opt for the lift, pressing the button as he waited for its arrival. Just as the doors opened, a young woman stumbled out, seemingly tripping over her own feet. Reacting swiftly, Oliver moved to catch her and inquired if she was alright. The girl nodded shyly, expressing her gratitude for his quick reflexes, and retrieved her bag from the floor.

"Do you work here?" Oliver asked, curious about her presence.

"Oh no, I was just looking for someone," she replied, letting out a slight laugh.

"I see. Well, take care of yourself," he told her before stepping into the lift and bidding her farewell.

"I will, thank you!" she called back, a broad smile adorning her face, and a hint of blush tinting her cheeks.

"Ah, Mr. Rivers!" someone called out, rushing into the lift in an attempt to catch up with him. As the doors almost closed, the girl looked back in surprise to see who was being referred to when she heard the name.

Upon reaching his office, Oliver asked his assistant to fetch him a cup of coffee before settling down to review some of the contractual agreements they would present to the lawyers upon their arrival. As he waited, he contemplated the idea of entering into a potential marriage arrangement with someone he had never met. Considering the potential advantages for the business, he concluded that it would be prudent to at least meet her. Nodding to himself, he made up his mind. If they discovered they weren't compatible, no harm would be done, and Mr. Fontaine would likely appreciate his effort.

A week later, Oliver made his way to the Fontaine Industry building to meet with Mr. Fontaine's granddaughter, Elizabetta. Despite Oliver's strong recommendation against it, Eleanor insisted on accompanying him, displaying an unusual level of enthusiasm which Oliver couldn't help but be suspicious of. Upon arrival, they were directed to the CEO's main office on the top floor, where Elizabetta and Mr. Fontaine awaited their arrival.

"Ah, my dear boy, thank you for coming," Mr. Fontaine greeted as Oliver entered, rising from his seat.

"Oh, please don't worry about standing," Oliver replied, approaching them. As he reached their seats, both he and Elizabetta appeared slightly surprised.

"Well, I hope that's a good sign, eh?" Mr. Fontaine exclaimed cheerfully, noticing their reactions.

"Oh, sorry," Elizabetta stood up to greet them, her voice soft-spoken. "I'm Lizzy, Arnold's granddaughter. I'm finishing college this year and hoping to study veterinary medicine at university."

"Yes, I believe we met the other day," Oliver responded, trying to recall where he recognised her from.

"Yes, full disclosure, but I visited your company's building to catch a glimpse of you before agreeing to this meeting. Fortunately, I did spot you, and I was pleasantly surprised, which is why I agreed," she explained.

"Do you have any hobbies?" Oliver asked, taking a seat across from her and motioning for his mother to sit next to her.

"Oh, well, I enjoy cooking and sewing, and, of course, I love animals," she replied. "But, apart from that, I'm afraid I'm quite boring."

"Yes, well, who can't cook and sew in this day and age," Eleanor chimed in, earning a scowl from Oliver, who was clueless about how to silence her.

"What about you? What are your hobbies?" Elizabetta redirected the question.

"I like reading. I'm currently immersed in a trilogy of horror-thriller books. I also enjoy playing tennis and try to practise most days," Oliver shared.

"Oh, that's right. My grandfather mentioned that you won some tournaments in school," she smiled infectiously, making it hard to resist finding her excessively adorable.

"Ah, yes, but I've been focusing on other things, so I haven't participated in any tournaments recently."

The two engaged in a lengthy conversation, interrupted sporadically by Eleanor's snide remarks, seemingly aimed at making Lizzy dislike her son and abandon the preposterous idea of marrying him. As their time together drew to a close, Mr. Fontaine posed a question.

"So, Lizzy, is he nice enough for you?" he inquired, causing her to blush and stumble over her words.

"Well, 'nice' would be a stretch," Eleanor interjected. "Once you get to know him, you'll find that he has a mean streak. Frankly, he can be a bit of a bully to those he deems inferior. It's rather pathetic, to be honest." Oliver was horrified by his mother's behaviour, fully aware of her motives.

"I was surprised to hear that he's never had a girlfriend," Mr. Fontaine commented, having done his research. "Were there no girls he liked?"

"Oh, no, he was incredibly blunt with any girl who dared express her feelings for him. He'd throw love letters back in their faces, discard their presents before their eyes, and when a girl gathered the courage to confess her feelings, he'd reject her bluntly in front of everyone. I'm not sure he possesses any empathy whatsoever. Who knows how many girls he's made cry over the years," Lizzy and her grandfather appeared utterly horrified, more by the way Eleanor spoke about her own son.

"I understand, though," Lizzy responded. "I think it would be difficult for anyone to react if someone made such a spectacle in front of a crowd." Oliver chuckled, she hit the nail on the head.

"I'm so sorry, I have no idea what's gotten into her," Oliver stood up. "Why don't we grab dinner sometime? We can get to know each other better without interruptions." He pulled his mother up from her chair. Lizzy gladly accepted the offer, and they exchanged numbers, with Oliver assuring her that he would arrange a date soon. They bid their farewells before leaving the building.

"That was childish," Oliver admonished Eleanor as they walked toward his car. "I honestly can't believe you did that." Eleanor just huffed, upset that her tactics seemed to do nothing to dissuade the girl from her son, she felt a pang of disappointment and tried to hold back her tears.

At the tennis practice the next day, Harper couldn't help but feel a sense of dejection after hearing Eleanor's account of the meeting. News of Oliver's upcoming date with another woman had also reached Jenny, who reacted by forcefully smacking a tennis ball against the wall in sheer frustration.

"So they're going on a date soon?" Jenny exclaimed, her tone laced with annoyance. "How infuriating that some perfect woman appears out of nowhere to mess things up for us!"

"Yeah, I suppose," Harper replied, leaning back against the fence and lightly bouncing off it.

"Well, there's nothing we can do. I give up," Jenny declared, throwing her racket onto the ground. "I thought I was losing to you rather than losing to some perfect, wealthy girl. How annoying." She began to walk off the court but turned back momentarily, a smile forming on her face. "Who would've thought both of us would end up with broken hearts, huh?"

Harper returned her smile, realising that her expectations with Oliver were already quite low. However, the thought of him potentially getting married to a woman he had just met was simply overwhelming. How could everything change so rapidly?

After finishing college, Harper made her way to her dad's restaurant as he had requested her presence. The place was quiet, yet to open its doors, and her dad mentioned that Kunal had something special to show her. She took a seat, curious about what was about to unfold.

"What's going on?" she inquired with genuine interest.

"Kunal is having a couple of his own dishes added to the new menu, and he wanted you to be the first to try them," her dad explained proudly. "He's been working incredibly hard, and in a couple of months, he'll finish his apprenticeship. I've decided to keep him on full-time."

Harper beamed with excitement. "That's fantastic news! I bet he's absolutely thrilled."

"Yeah, he's got a bright future ahead of him. Whether it's working with renowned chefs or opening his own place, he's got the spirit to achieve anything," Ian chuckled, joining her at the table.

"Order up!" Kunal's voice echoed from the kitchen as he emerged with plates, carefully placing them in front of Harper and her dad. "This one's for the lunchtime menu—smoked salmon with salted yoghurt fennel," he explained with enthusiasm. "Bon appétit!"

Harper picked up her fork and took a bite of the dish. Her face lit up. "It's absolutely delicious!" she exclaimed with genuine delight. Her dad shared her sentiment, equally impressed. Kunal, brimming with joy, disappeared back into the kitchen to prepare his second creation. Seeing how far Kunal had come in the past two years filled Harper with immense pride, especially knowing how disappointed he had initially been about not attending college.

Once they finished their meal, Ian excused himself and returned to the kitchen to prepare for dinner service.

"I heard that Oliver is getting married or something," Kunal mentioned, tidying up behind the bar.

"Oh, yeah, something like that," Harper responded, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.

"Well, you know, Harper, you could always date me. I would never leave you to go and marry some random rich girl," Kunal joked, playfully vying for her attention as he grabbed a cloth and started to clean the shelves under the counter. Harper smiled and contemplated the idea for a moment. She didn't want it to seem like she was merely seeking a relationship because Oliver was no longer available, but she realised she had never given Kunal a fair chance to show what he could be like as a boyfriend.

"Okay then, let's do it," she declared, causing Kunal to jump up from under the counter so quickly that he accidentally banged his head. "Let's go on a date!"

"Wait, am I not dreaming? You're really agreeing to go out with me right now?" he asked, his head throbbing slightly, providing the reassurance that he wasn't in a dream. Harper smiled and nodded, sending him into a state of pure joy.

"I'll pick you up on Saturday morning, and we can spend the day together. Leave everything to me!" Kunal said, brimming with excitement.