Fifteen Years Ago Alexander and Mr. Paul Sherlock, Eloisa's dad, are both having a private meeting inside the Sugo Bar. They ordered different types of Chinese delicacies since they were half Chinese and half Filipino.
"So, what if we let Kent and Eloisa tie the knot this year? It would be a great opportunity for you when our company is merged as one," Mr. Sherlock uttered while sipping a glass of whiskey.
Mr. Stone set a smirk on his face. He likes what Paul is thinking and he had no choice but to accept his offer. Eloisa's dad had a huge base in New York about women trafficking and illegal gambling so as the only child of Sherlock's empire, Kent was lucky to be her husband. They can rebuild their failing business; the Ace Wine Corp and he can have the luxuries too if their family will become one.
"How can I say no to my best friend? Of course, we've been pairing them since they're young and now, the time has come!” Mr. Stone replied after drinking his champagne.
Paul and Alexander had decided their child's destiny without consulting them. They didn't know what they both have a different lover.
---
Lucy seems aloof to everyone at their school. She seldom stayed around the crowd. She loves reading books at the library with her best friend Eloisa.
Eloisa keeps her phone loud, but the staff inside didn't warn her. Lucy who was always here knows how Ms. Patricia yelled at everyone when they were loud and using phones without a headset.
“Hey, will you turn off your music? I can't concentrate on the books I'm reading!” I scold her softly, but she just pouts her lips.
Yeah, she does it again. If she's irritated and impatient, she will pout her lips like a brat.
"Lucy, Patricia won't bother wasting her time to punish me since my dad has a huge share in this campus." She said while leaving Lucy alone at the table.
She just took a deep breath after her friend left her. Rich people were allergic to someone like her, but Eloisa was different from them. Yeah, she's childish and brat but she's good to her. Her dad didn't come home last night so she's wondering where he hid again to run away from lending thugs. Dad taught her what to do if she saw his signal. If she saw her dad's room messy and his one backpack lost, believe me, he's on the run so Lucy won't come home at night. She will spend her whole night inside the church until her wristwatch alarm at five in the morning.
Lucy didn't realize that she falls asleep at her table when someone pinches her on her nose.
"Hey, wake up! If you want to sleep, go home!” his voice wasn't familiar to her.
After hearing him and realized that he was the one who pinches her, she quickly pinches his face too.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I just want to make you feel what I feel!” she mumbled but this guy laughed at her.
She doesn't know why he's laughing at her.
"Are you crazy? Do I look like a clown to you?” she raises her voice a little at him.
The male student sat beside her and asked her forgiveness.
“Okay, I'm sorry. By the way, I'm Kent Oliver Stone but just call me Kent and you are—", he stops asking her name while he was busy chewing bubble gum on his mouth.
"Lucy. My name is Lucy Mason " she replied and stood up to leave him.
Kent stops her by holding her arms. She struggled from his grip, but he didn't let go.
"Let me go. What are you doing?” she furiously said.
A fancy smirk came across his hot face. It's his first time to feel this kind of connection to a simple girl like Lucy. For him, her looks were enchanting and undeniable like any other girl on the campus.
“Why you're so tense. I just want to be your friend. Can I?” he keeps insisting so she decided to accept his handshake.
"Is this how you treat your new friend?” she said making him smile.
Kent stood up too and offered her a friendly date.
“How about one shawarma at the cafeteria?” he said while making her a way out like a princess.
Lucy can't resist this heartthrob of their school, so she agreed to date him on their first meeting but it's just a friendly date.
Two months passed and they became a couple. Many girls were jealous of her because she made Kent Oliver Stone notices her despite that she's a loner and a bully. Eloisa was one of them. She was Lucy's close friend. She knows Kent very well since their childhood playmate.
---
She went home stamping her feet on their tiled floor with an annoyance. Paul noticed it while he was reading a newspaper on the dining table.
"Baby, your graduation is coming, why do you look so stressed? You will go to your dream place New York on your college!” his dad said while busy with the article he's reading.
She narrowed her face at her dad.
“I just hate someone at school. I don't want Kent to be her boyfriend!” she cries like a baby even she was in her teenage phase.
Paul knew Kent was his business partner, Alexander's son, and that he owed a huge debt to him.
Besides, they agreed already, so maybe it's time for him to tell Eloisa what's going on.
"Come over here, baby. I have good news for you!” he put the article down and waited for his daughter who was coming towards him.
She sat on her dad's lap.
“What was it, dad? Tell me! I hope it's not about someone's proposal to me." She told him first and Mr. Sherlock immediately shook his head.
"Nope. It's about you and Kent. Your uncle Alexander and I decided to let you both married on the day of your graduation. We will just handle the faculty about it." His dad said but Eloisa didn't expect it.
It's not what she wanted because her heart belongs to someone and he was Kent's little brother Gale. Unfortunately, their dad forces him to study a culinary course abroad.
But anything can be possible At least, Kent can't say no about this and Lucy will be miserable her whole life if she heard this exciting news.
"But Dad, what if Kent doesn’t accept?” she said after making her way to an empty chair in front of her father.
Paul crossed his arms in front of his chest and lean his back against the chair.
“He can't say no, my dear since his dad took a huge amount of money from me and their business is falling." Her dad proudly said, and Eloisa giggled after knowing it.
---
Graduation day
Kent rushed to his dad's office when he realized that he hired bodyguards to stop him from attending their graduation day.
As he slammed the door on his dad's office, Alexander was there so calm while reading an article about their business. Kings and Queens hotel is suffering from bankruptcy and thanks to Eloisa's dad, it will grow again. He put a lot of investments in him so there is no turning back.
"Dad, where is my uniform? I am late for my graduation! And why is it that the house was surrounded by bodyguards, what are you planning to do this time? To caged me?” his anger was in the range that his body trembled.
“You will not attend! Eloisa is waiting at the airport! Both of you will get married as soon as possible after you arrived in States! No more questions Kent!” his dad said with his boisterous voice.
Kent walked closer to his dad and set an angry face.
"What? I have a girlfriend and I can't marry Eloisa! I don't love her!” he continued to argue but his dad didn't want to hear anything from him.
“My decision is final! Jo, take him inside the car and bring him to the airport!” Alexander ordered one of his bodyguards.
Kent shouted and struggle but they're three of them.
---
Wedding day Every man's dream is to marry a girl whom they love and wanted to live with for the rest of their life but it's not what he got today. He left the girl he wanted to share his happiness with and will be married to her best friend.
He is now in the aisle waiting for Eloisa, his bride. You can't dictate one's heart where to beat and you can't force to marry someone because it was a sacred ceremony but in Kent and Eloisa's case, it's not about love, they were forced to marry each other because of money, inheritance, and business.
"Congratulations to the newlywed couple!” everyone is cheering on them while throwing petals of roses on them.
Eloisa was overwhelmed by their warm greetings while Kent set a wide smile behind his sad face.