Chapter Twelve

"Come in," I responded to the knock on my door.

"Hey," his deep voice reached my ears but I didn't look up, my eyes concentrated on the document on my computer screen.

"Whatsup?" From the corner of my eyes I saw him draw out one of the chairs in front of my desk before taking a seat.

"They were right," he chuckled and this time I looked up.

"What are you talking about?" I studied his face which had a smirk plastered on it.

"Your dad said that when you've got your head buried in work, it's best not to disturb you but even if I try it'll be hard to get your attention." He said and I laughed.

"Then why are you disturbing me?" I sank into my chair and watched as Miles stood up and walked to the shelve, running his hands over the books.

He turned around to me, "because your mum practically dragged me to come drag you to go wedding shopping." He rolled his eyes at his last words and I groaned feeling his frustration.

All week I've been doing my best to avoid my mother and not living in the same house as her has been helping but that doesn't mean she doesn't disturb my phone with texts and calls. Once she reached me through my email, something I only use for official purposes so you can imagine my anger when I saw it was just a message from my mother.

I still don't understand why she's pushing this wedding because deep down I know we doesn't want it. The only reasonable explanation is that my father may be blackmailing her or forcing her to push me because if no one pushes me then I'd definitely get nothing done concerning the wedding.

"What does she want me to do now? Go to a bridal shop and have another panic attack?" I was almost rasing my voice.

Miles placed the book he was holding back onto the shelve and made his way back to the table, taking his seat. "I was thinking we could go ring shopping, I would have gone alone but I just want you to make the decision yourself, you might as well pick the ring you'd be forced to wear for the rest of your life."

I gave him a flat look, "and how is that any better?"

He sat back and crossed his legs, intertwining his fingers on his laps, "okay I guess you'd prefer to go to the church then. We have to do all that church approval thing which means we'd be going to regular wedding counselling together and alone a few times."

I shook my head, "no that's worse."

He nodded, "exactly. So you decide, ring, church or bridal shop?"

I pretend to think for a second, "none." I turned back to the work I was invested in earlier.

"Come on Victoria," he uncrossed his legs and leaned closer to.my desk. "Let's just get this over with alright? If we can't find a way out of this before it's too late then worse comes to worse, you dumb me on the altar."

I chuckled, "that'll be epic."

He smiled, "I know right, that way this little thing would no longer be a secret and we'll be free to live our lives, you marry Andrew and I marry Nicole, no biggie." He shrugged as if what he was saying could ever happen.

"And what's going to happen to the business deals? This company would go bankrupt, my future my life," I looked around my office before looking back at him. "We can't just let everything crumble because of our selfish desires."

"So you're willing to let your life be destroyed to-"

"You're not half bad," I interrupted him, not ready to hear the rest of what he wanted to say. "I mean I can manage you as my husband for the rest of my life, you're a good guy. If things don't work out, I'll eventually get over Andrew he'll get over me, your girlfriend will get over you and who knows, we just might..." I trailed off, not knowing how to finish my sentence as I stared into his green eyes.

"We just might..." He whispered and held my gaze.

What am I thinking? It's Andrew and I forever and nothing is stopping that. I can't just get over him, it'll never happen.

I cleared my throat being the first to break eye contact, "Uh I think we should leave the ring shopping till the end of work, I still have a lot of things to do and I just have to get it done today."

He shook his head and rose to his feet, "sure no problem." He tucked his hands into his pants pockets. "Just call me when you're done for the day," he started to back away from the room.

"Sure I will," I nodded.

"See ya," he said before closing the door firmly behind him.

I realeased the breath I didn't even know I was holding and slumped back into my chair.

Dear heart, be careful of the waters you test.

***

The ring I chose was simple and nice but expensive nonetheless. The engagement ring was a simple silver band with a diamond stud on it, not flashy but not quiet. The wedding band was a plain silver band too and they both fit my finger perfectly.

Miles was walking me back to the office to get my car so that I could go home. The shop wasn't too far away from the office so we both decided to walk.

"So I'm not going to get on my knees and ask you to marry me but," Miles stopped walking and he began to search the bag he was holding before he handed me the small box that contained the engagement ring. "Wear it if you want."

I forced a smile and took the ring, tucking it into my bag. "Definitely not going to wear it."

I heard Miles chuckle softly beside me before the silence fell between us. We walked the rest of the journey to my car in silence and when I had unlocked my car, Miles opened the door for me.

"By the way, your mum said to tell you a date has been fixed," he said and I paused.

"Why can't she tell me herself?" I dropped my bag on the driver's seat and leaned on the open door. "I've been avoiding her yes but I feel like she's also avoiding me physically."

"Because she's scared to see that look of hate and disgust you give her everytime the talk of the wedding comes up," he answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

"But she's my mother, that's the worst I can do, glare at her and hate her." I was confused.

Ever since I left the house, mum has been avoiding me physically. I know this because whatever information she has to give me she always sends someone or disturbs my phone and email, except if it's absolutely necessary for her to see me. It's not like I'm going to kill her, after all she's my mother.

"That's what she doesn't want, for you to glare at her and hate her. I want to believe that is every parents worst nightmare, that and their child dying." Miles' voice was soft as he spoke. "Just talk to her, call her," he suggested and I frowned.

"That's not happening," I shook my head, hating his idea.

"That's exactly what she's avoiding, the look on your face," Miles pointed out and I had to relax.

"When is the date?" I lowered myself into my seat,  throwing my bag on the passengers seat now.

"January nine," Miles closed my door for me.

I started the car engine and rolled down my window, also turning on the air conditioning, "So she talked to the pastor and the church?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Our appointment is on Sunday afternoon, one."

I nodded, "see you around Miles."

He wove then leaned away from the car. I rolled up my glass completely and I backed out of the parking lot.

On the way home I began to think of what Miles said. Maybe I should call her but if I did, what was I going to say to her?

The truth is I do hate her now, my dad included and if they don't stop this wedding then a part of me is still going to hold that grudge.

Tearing me away from the love of my life, someone they knew very well that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with no matter how much he annoys and hurts me all the time. They took him away from me and they expect me to pretend like everything is normal when it isn't? I guess that's something I can never do.

***

Hey guys! How are you all doing?

Me I've been there, reading for exams and all of that.

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