Not For Love

1. The Cherauno Hassle

Eda

Two months earlier,

Driving to my parents' house, an ominous feeling tugs at my heart. I ignore it. And not until I walk into the lounge and find my parents quietly waiting for me do I regret my disinterest in it.

     My brows furrow as my father smiles at me. "Is something wrong?" I ask, halting.

     "Sit," my mother says.

     I narrow my gaze but comply.

     Father shifts in his seat, opens his mouth, then closes it.

     Something is wrong.

     "Clear your schedule for tomorrow," my mother says instead of him.

     "Why?"

     "You'll be meeting Asher Cherauno."

     "Why would I meet Asher Cherauno?"
  
     "You will be marrying him."

     I blink. My father runs his hand over his face and sighs as if he was scared my mother would break the news in this exact way. I blink again. "I will what?"

     "Marry him. You will be notified of the time and place tomorrow."

      "What the—"

•

"And that's it? You didn't say no?" Hanna hollers on the phone, knowing all too well that is never an option. "How long will you do this, Eda? You even became a surgeon because your mom wanted you to. Now saying yes to what to wear, what to eat, what events to attend is one thing, but marrying is something else."

     "I am aware."

     "Doesn't look like it."

     I grab my coffee from the hospital's cafeteria and walk to the incoming elevator. "The word 'no' doesn't exist in my house, Hanna. You know that better than anyone. Besides, I got engaged according to my liking before. Look how that turned out. That's what she's using against me."

     "Still. Making you marry a complete stranger is too much."

     "Well not a complete stranger. Apparently, my mom knows Ivette Cherauno from the ladies' club. And me and him met when I was seven at an event long ago, I guess."

      Hanna lets out an abrupt breath. "Wait. Ivette Cherauno. You're talking about Asher Cherauno then?"

     Uncertainty roils in the pit of my stomach. "Yes. Have you ever met him? Do you know what he's actually like?"

     "Well, his mother is a really nice person, to be honest. He, on the other hand, has a somewhat questionable reputation at work. I don't know the details. But remember Ashley? She worked for him, and every single person there is scared shitless of him. Did you guys get along when you were children?"

      "I pushed him into a pool as far as I can remember."

      Silence. Just for a moment.

      Ricochets of laughter almost burst my eardrums. I pull the cellphone back. "You pushed Asher Cherauno into a pool?"

      "I was seven." The elevator arrives. I get in, pushing the button for the basement.

     "When I did that with Stephanie, you grounded me. That's not fair," Isaac says from behind, clearly listening in on his mother's call.

     "Focus on your homework, Isaac." She pauses, makes an admonishing sound, then comes back. "What are you going to do then?"

     "I don't know. Maybe I should just marry him. Or maybe do what I did before. Make him reject me."

     "I don't think he's being asked if he wants this or not too, Eda. Otherwise why would he marry—" she pauses. "Why would he think he's worthy of you."

     "Asshole." I roll my eyes. The elevator's door opens, and another guy gets in, pressing the button for the first floor. I step away from him and lower my voice, "Remember what I did with Killian in college?"

     "No. Eda, no."

     "Oh come on. There's no harm. I've dealt with a lot of these assholes. They want trophies more than wives. Someone beneficial to their business, who can think but doesn't like to think too much, looks good, has taste but not too much to surpass them, isn't too decent nor too expensive, someone who won't embarrass them but not be more than them either. So I'll bet his type would either be Cinderella's stepsister or stepmother."

       "You scare me, you know that right?" she says carefully. "You need a session. A very thorough session. I can recommend some very good psychologists."

     "Hanna, you can even come and watch as I demolish this man. It'll be like getting front row tickets of the show, 'Ridding yourself of the Cherauno Hassle'. And trust me, he will beg his parents to let him break it off once I'm done with him."

      The guy behind me snorts, reminding me I'm not alone in the elevator. I turn to him, brow raised. He looks straight ahead, masking himself with a nonchalant pretense.

      We reach the floor the guy is supposed to get off at. When he doesn't move, I turn around and gesture to him.

      "I pressed it by mistake," he says. "I'm going down as well."

      I nod. Hanna asks who he is. I ignore the question. "Well, whatever it is, Mister Cherauno is going to think ten times before marrying a girl after this."

     "Eda, just say no. It's time you do."

     "It's easier and funnier this way."

     "You're acting like a teenage girl."

     "If that's what it takes."

     Instead of another snapping reply, I only hear a crash. After screaming a few words, she comes back on. "I'll call you back. Isaac's made a mess."

     "Alright. Don't kill him." I hang up.

    The elevator finally opens to the basement parking, and I get out. The guy doesn't get out.

     "Aren't you getting out?" I ask the guy.

    "Left my cellphone upstairs."

    I fold my arms, assessing him from head to toe as he fumbles with the elevator's controls. "Do we know each other?"

     "No," he answers and then gestures for me to get out. I do, very slowly.

     "Are you sure?" My eyes are narrowing. "You seem—"

     "Yes." The doors close to his smile. A weirdly amused smile.

     What is his deal?