--Lucian POV--
It seems that the harder someone tries to forget something, the more vivid the memory ends up becoming. And I was unfortunately one of those people right now, but then again, while I'm here calling myself unfortunate, I felt quite the contrary at the time.
A simple woman that I met in the most unpredictable situation has made herself comfortable in my mind, and I don't think she planned on leaving.
And having found myself in this strange, unforeseeable situation, I'm quite unsure of what I should do or even how I should react to these newfound emotions. While I'm a man that always experimented on every possible outcome before sticking to one that he liked, I never honestly expected myself to find anyone at any point in my life.
To be able to call myself heterosexual, I made sure to explore most other orientations. Yes, I know that I'm a weirdo, I was told that often as I grew up, but there's nothing I can do about it since it's just the way I am. But at least now I'm certain that I'm straight, thanks to Angelina.
"Oh my gosh, you're finally home!? What took you so long, did you walk home instead of taking the plane!?" I hissed as my mother slapped my shoulder as soon as she caught sight of me walking through the front door.
"Wow, I missed you too dear mother of mine," I rolled my eyes as she moved to help me take my coat off, doing a complete 180 degree turn from her prior, more violent, persona.
"So, what about Julia?" I glanced over her waiting eyes, going to take the iPad out of my secretary's hands to skim over my schedule for the week.
"Yeah, she's well. Still a really big chatterbox, I don't think that's ever going to change," I rolled my eyes at the memories of having my ear getting nagged off by her constant bickering. One of the good things about my decision to end the fake relationship.
"I don't care about that. The ring, Lucian, did you propose!?" She snatched the iPad out of my hand, one hand on her waist while her heels tapped the ground, damn it, I can't divert the topic this time.
"You mean this ring?" I pulled the box out of my suit pocket, handing it to her as I ran a hand through my hair, shrugging my shoulders in reply to her speechless expression as her jaw comfortably sat on the ground, and I was even nice enough to click it shut for her.
"Wh-Wh-What in the world is this doing here and not on her finger!?" I squeezed my eyes shut as she burst, now understanding why Julia agreed to break the relationship off on the clause that I be the one to break the news to the parents.
Maybe it would have been better to go to my own house before stopping by my mother's home? Maybe then I would have had a higher chance of survival?
I looked to Klaus, my secretary, for help, but getting my hint, he quickly stepped back.
"I will wait for you in the car boss," And he left without another word. That unfaithful brat, I'm going to get back at him for this, just as soon as I dodge my mother's interrogation.
"You better have a brilliant reason for this?" She sceptically stated with narrowed eyes.
"I don't want to get married to Julia?"
"And I don't want you to remain single for the rest of your life! I'm not going to be here to keep you company forever, if nature will have it then I hope to leave this earth before you, and in that situation, I want to make sure my son is happy with his life before I go,"
"Mamma, is anyone ever really happy with life?"
"Don't go trying to be all philosophical with me now young man," She warned as I sighed, shoving my hands into my pants pockets as we stared each other down.
"Maybe I'll be much happier with my life if my parents stop trying to force me to get married," It would be an honest and true miracle if I manage to leave this house without a single slap today.
"But... I do not wish to see you lonely; no caring mother would want that for their child," Smiling, I stepped forward to take her into my arms, hugging her as she hugged back, gently patting my back as she always did.
"I will be fine, and I'm not lonely. Trust me," I reassured, taking a step back and watching her deliberate with herself for a bit before she gave in with a slow nod, assuring herself once more that this was for the best.
Well, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't expect for this conversation to last a lot longer.
"If you say so... but, son... There is just one little thing you could do for me in return of me dropping the topic of your marriage and my potential grandchildren..." She twiddled with her fingers as she spoke and I already knew that it wasn't going to be something that I would like to hear.
I'm going to regret this. I just knew it.
"What is it?" I delayed my response and she didn't miss a beat to speak up, gleaming as she spoke as if I had already agreed to it 100%. I swear, my mother can be more of a child than an actual child, I speak from memory.
"We're holding our annual charity banquet next week at our main family mansion, and I've made sure to invite all rich, pretty, successful, and nice ladies from all around the globe, and I would highly appreciate it if you would at least try to get along with some of them,"
See. I knew what I should have expected while not expecting it at the same time. I am both surprised and severely underwhelmed at the moment, leave it to my mother to make me feel like this.
"If I do as you say then you'll promise to leave me and the prospect of marriage alone?" I raised an expectant brow as she paused to stare at me with those large eyes of hers, and she grinned before nodding a confident nod. But I saw through the lie.
Yikes, this was a double-edged sword kind of situation.
And so, a week blew passed with a minimum amount of drama until the fateful day of the banquet came rushing in, and I was dressed in an expensive tux, looking as handsome as ever as I walked around the large ballroom with my champagne in hand.
Doing my best to mingle among potential life partners while steering clear of my mother and father's observant gazes that seemed to be judging me from every angle of this large room.
"So, have you found any prospective spouses yet?" My uncle, my mother's younger brother, casually asked as we stood to the side of the party where I had the perfect view of the lively room, glowing in lights and smiles of guests, none of them managing to intrigue me.
"Why is that all anyone is asking me as of late?" I grumbled.
"Because you've turned 30 and you've still not found anyone to marry. What about all those people you had flings with in your life? There were quite a few of them, of all genders, races and etcetera, everyone thought you were a weirdo," He chuckled as he spoke, clearly amused with my relationship history.
"It's not that I'm a weirdo, I just don't discriminate. I can find love anywhere, and who is to say that it has to be with a German woman, why can I not fall in love with a man? I don't know where to start looking for love if I don't know what form it could come in so I simply experimented,"
"Then I hope those people know that you felt this way when you were with them," I scoffed, rolling my eyes at his words.
"Of course, they knew. Although, I don't think they all took it seriously," I mumbled the last part as I thought back to a few of those said flings. He chuckled once more, no longer sounding surprised by my words.
"Well then, I hope you found out what kind of person you're attracted to after going through all that trouble," He didn't sound convinced, making me feel like I was a bigger weirdo than I already knew I was.
"I do... A tall Italian businesswoman who is socially exempt,"
"So, a female, Italian version of you,"
"I'm not socially exempt," I glared an offended glare.
"Yes, yes you are," He took a sip of his champagne.
As the sun began to descend beyond the horizon, the sky was cast into darkness, the lights in the room glowing brighter as the announcer called for everyone to move to the next room where the charity event was about to begin.
"We should go too. I saw a really nice helmet that was going on auction," My uncle patted my shoulder as he walked passed me.
"A helmet? For what?" I confusingly asked.
"For my head, what do you think?" He looked at me as if I were the weirdo before continuing on his way, and I couldn't be bothered in calling after him any further. In moments like these it becomes evident that he's related to my mother.
Sighing, I tucked my hands into my pants pockets, going to follow after him, but came to a halt as the blur of a sky-blue dress flew passed me, and at first, I paid no attention to it, there are so many women here today, why would I be caught off guard by one of them? But then again, I guess I stand corrected.
Standing there with my jaw hung open, I watched as the said woman stopped by the now empty dessert table, going to pick up a macaron before popping it into her mouth, a small, satisfied, smile creeping onto her face.
And I watched, reeling myself back to reality, as she gazed around the grand room which belonged to my family, chandeliers hanging off the ceiling, bronze walls with intricate golden details and French windows covered by heavy maroon curtains.
But it wasn't the expensive room that I was entranced by, no. It was the woman that admired the beauty of the said room because as she gazed at the room with wondrous eyes, I gazed at her with curious eyes of my own.
And before I knew it, I was stood right beside her smaller figure.
Unlike last time we met where she was dressed in more informal attire, she wore a deep V-neck dress this time where the bodice was white, fading into a light blue with a long slit creeping up the side, exposing her legs up to her thighs as well as the exposed bodice which gave me a view of her cleavage, reminding me of our drunken night together.
"Well, would you look at who decided to grace my presence tonight?" I started, subtly coughing my anxious voice away as she snapped her head around to look up at me, staring in disbelief for a moment before it changed to surprise.
Those familiar hazel eyes, I'd never admit just how much I missed looking at them.
"...You..." She squeaked out.
"Hi, best friend. How have you been?" I asked.
And this was the third meeting of chance, I don't think I can call it coincidence for much longer.
...