CHAPTER 1
1712 Words
CHAPTER 1
Amara is busy cooking breakfast for her Mom, Dad, and her sibling, Amori. This is what she usually does before going to work. Amara owns a small café near their house.
“Good morning, Amori.” Amara greeted her, as she saw her yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Morning…” Amori's missing tooth showed when he smiled at her.
Amara laughed as she saw her smile. That’s so cute.
Her sister is adorable.
Amara placed the food she cooked in front of her sibling. She also took orange juice since Amori doesn't drink milk. Amori hates the taste of formulated milk.
“Thank you, Amara.” And she started eating.
Next, Amara prepared her breakfast. When it was cooked, she sat beside her sister and ate. They were eating when their parents came in.
“Good morning, my beautiful daughters.” Her Dad greeted them as he kissed both of the tops of their heads.
"Good morning, Mom and Dad." Amara greeted him. "Are you leaving already? Aren't you going to have breakfast first?"
"I'm sorry, Amara. Your dad and I must depart right away. It's embarrassing for Mr. Silvestre, he's already waiting for us," her mother replied. "But don't worry, I'll cook our dinner."
Amara smiled at that. Her mother was the best cook. She is already looking forward to dinner later.
"Amara, can you take Amori with you and drop her off at her school? We need to go, and we can't pass by her school. And if we drop her off, your Mom and I will be late for our meeting," Dad said with a pleading look on his face.
Amara nodded and smiled. “No problem, Dad. I got this.”
"Thank you so much, Honey," her mom said to her. "Bye, Baby." She said goodbye to Amori, who was still busy eating.
“Take care! Drive safe!” Amara yells.
She watched her parents leave their house before she went back to the kitchen to finish her meal. After they finished eating, she tidied up and washed the dishes.
Amara was wiping her hands when her phone rang. Her friend’s calling, Petal.
“Where are you, Amara Dixon? You’re late.” Petal greeted her.
Amara rolled her eyes. “Good morning too, Petal.”
“Yes. Good morning too! So where are you? Why aren't you here at the café yet?” she impatiently asked.
“I still have time, Pet. My café opens later, and what are you doing there? Wait," Amara stopped and put her hands on her hips. She took a deep breath. "Don't tell me you ran away again to Uncle and Untie."
"Fine. I'll just go there," she said without answering her question, then hung up the call.
Amara could only shake her head at her friend. Petal Cavalli has been her friend for almost 2 decades. She treats him like a sister, so she knows her every move.
Just like now, she knows that she is hiding from her parents again because of the arranged marriage they are setting up for Petal. And Petals hates it. She hates the idea of marriage.
Well, she can't be blamed for this because of her failed relationships. Petal loathes men, and now that her parents are forcing an arranged marriage, hiding is what her friend first thought.
Amara left her phone on the table and went upstairs. She entered Amori's room. She didn't see her, but she heard the sound of water falling from the bathroom. She prepared the clothes her sister would wear.
Amori had Level 2 ASD. That's why she always needs support. Amori can speak, but she often struggles with social interaction and communication. Her parents are focused on taking care of Amori, but sometimes when they need to leave, she is the one looking after her sibling.
She would love to take care of her sister. Amori is a lovely and nice kid. She’s not difficult to take care of.
"Amori, I'll put your clothes in the middle of the bed. Okay?" Amara said while knocking on the bathroom door.
“Yay! Thank you, thank you!" Amori's words were heard.
"Amori, baby, don't jump, you might slip." She stopped her because she might fall with all her fidgeting.
When Amori didn't stop, she opened the bathroom door. Amara immediately approached her sister to stop her.
“Hush now, Amori…” She said.
She couldn't help but laugh at its antics, but she also couldn't help but worry that something might happen if it didn't stop.
Amori played with the bubbles in the bathtub while washing her head and body. After that, she rinsed it under the shower.
She finished taking care of Amori before she took care of herself.
"Amori, I'm just going to take a shower in my room. If you need anything, just come into my room, okay? I won't lock it." She instructed. Amori just nodded at her, so she left her.
Amara immediately took a shower. She turned on the shower and removed her clothes. As it warmed up, she got inside. Amara was humming as she cleaned her body. After doing her rituals – shampooing and putting a hair mask on her hair, washing, etc., she rinsed herself off.
When Amara came out, she immediately dried her hair and got dressed. She was wearing a black tube and a white skirt. She also wore jewelry. Next, she fixed her face, just simple makeup. Lastly, she applied her favorite perfume.
Before leaving the room, Amara took her bag and placed the café key, phone, and wallet inside. Amara didn't take long and left her room.
"Play, play!" Amori's laughter could be heard.
She can hear voices from their living room. Looks like Petal has arrived, and now her sibling is playing with her.
“Amari, play! Dolls… dolls and makeup! Play, Petal.” Amori happily exclaimed when she saw her.
Amara was going down the stairs when Amori met her and pulled her toward her toys.
"Just take it easy, Amori. We might fall down the stairs," she said. Amori didn’t listen. “Have you been here for a while?"
Petal shook her head. "I just arrived too. Where are your parents?”
"They left early because of a meeting." "Only Amori and I left," she remarked, sitting next to him. Before deciding to send him to school, Amara and Petal played with Amori for a while. “Amori, let’s go. Your teacher and classmates are waiting for you.”
To get to Amori's school, Amara drove. Amari departed when they pulled it down and waited for her sibling to get inside. She looked at the arriving person, her brow wrinkled. She witnessed the head principal welcome a man who appeared to be surrounded by bodyguards.
“Who is he?” she whispered.
“That hunk is Mr. Xavier Alexander Demitriu.” Her friend heard him.
Xavier Alexander Demitriu?
He’s drop-dead gorgeous. He won't deny that. But his presence screams danger.
“Do you know him?” She asked Petal.
Petal looked at her in disbelief. "Are you serious, Amari Dixon?" You don't know the one and only Xavier Alexander Demitriu?
His brow furrowed. Does he need to know this? "No. I don’t know him. But the name Demitriu sounds familiar to me like I've heard it somewhere before, but I just can't remember where.
“You’re impossible, Amara.”
She looked at her friend. “What? So, who is he really?”
“He’s the great Xavier Alexander Demitriu. His family is one of the most wealthy in the entire country. Even without his parents' wealth, Xavier, owns a lot of chains of companies, local and international.”
He is that great, huh…
Amara looked at Xavier again. Amara is attracted to him. She can’t deny that. At first glance, he was deadly, fierce, strong, and mysterious. She could say that he was hiding many secrets. But that's not enough to lessen the attraction she feels towards him.
Amara was surprised when Xavier stopped and looked in their direction, as he was looking at her. Even though the windows of her car were tinted, she could tell he was looking at her. She can’t deny that.
Their eyes seemed to be drawing her closer. She wanted to turn her head away, but she couldn't bring herself to.
Don’t look at me like that…
Petal lightly hit her on the arm. "You keep staring at Xavier too much. He might melt. Let’s go.”
Amara coughs.“I’m not looking at him. I’m looking at Amori.” She insisted, even though she was caught red-handed.
Amara started the car and drove away. They headed towards the road leading to his café.
Amara glanced at Petal. "Where have you been these past few days? Your mom called me several times, she was looking for you." She asked her friend.
“Just somewhere…” Petal gave him a curt reply.
"And where exactly is that somewhere?"
"Just somewhere, Amara… Where I am far from my parents and my unknown fiancé."
Amara sighed. “You should give it a chance, Pet… Your parents probably wouldn't choose a bad guy. They just want the best for you.”
"No, Amara. Not all arranged marriages are successful. I don't want to marry a man I don't love," Petal replied to her.
Once more, she said nothing. She knows Petal very well. As she avoids her parents, however, it just serves to strengthen her friend's marriage.
“We’re here,” Amara announced. She turned off the car and took the bag before getting out of her vehicle. Petal just followed her.
Amara opened the café. Petal helped her with the cleaning and preparing what she needed. Her staff are gradually starting to arrive at the café.
Amara was busy at the cashier when the doorbell suddenly rang, indicating that a customer had entered.
"I'm sorry, but we're not open yet," she said while still busy with her work. Amara didn't hear anything, so she stopped what she was doing and looked at the customer.
She was surprised to see who had entered. It was none other than the great Xavier Alexander Demitriu.
What the hell is he doing here?
- Writer
