Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(37)

I had planned on visiting Ava last night, but I had gotten drunk too early and passed out in my desk chair. All thanks to the abrasive Sophia Chitwood. Father had invited her to dinner yesterday evening, and when I eyed him with a glare, he threw in that he had forgotten to mention it. Sophia had reveled in Cecilia’s attention, complimenting her clothing, home, and decor. She had even complimented my father on how handsome a son I was, which made Cecilia choke on her wine.

That, I appreciated.

When dinner was over, Sophia had invited herself to walk with me to my room, which I flatly rejected. Instead of bowing out gracefully and leaving me to my thoughts, she linked her arm with mine, chattering on about a woman named Lady Tara or Teresa, who’d caused some type of scandal in her wardrobe. Like I gave a shit.

“She practically... fell out of the dress!” Sophia said, exasperated, her eyes wide and her crooked nose scrunched up.

“Maybe she would attract more suitors that way.” The hallway we were walking down started to tilt sideways as I squinted my eyes to find my room. I was buzzed from too much wine and just wanted to collapse on my bed and sleep.

“Why, Garrett, that was simply unruly! You are lucky we are such good acquaintances.” I eyed her, and she giggled. “Oh, why can’t you accept how lovely a couple we’d be.”

“I don’t want to be a couple.”

She sighed heavily. “You aren’t a spring chicken anymore. You’re a man of position. You need a wife and heirs.”

“I’m a man that can make my own choices.” I yanked my arm away from hers, wishing I had something else to help me with my balance. I would rather drink myself dead than be married to her. This cat and mouse game was getting old, and I didn’t like being the prey.

“Are you now? There is talk about us marrying.” I didn’t respond. “My father and yours have been discussing our possible union of marriage.”

I tsked, pointing my finger at her. “I would’ve had to agree to that.”

“Which you will.” She eased closer to me as we turned a corner. Her arm brushed against mine, which made me jolt away from her. I never knew that being so repulsed by a woman was humanly possible.

I rubbed my temple with my fingers, feeling a headache coming on. “And why would I do that, Sophia?” She obviously thought too much of herself, and Father and I hadn’t finalized this fucked up plan of his. I wasn’t doing shit that I hadn’t agreed on yet, and she was the worst bluffer I’d ever heard.

A slow grin appeared on her face, as she took in the paintings of landscapes on the walls. She kept pace with me, keeping silent as though she was thinking of something I wasn’t aware of. Something she knew would annoy the living shit out of me.

“Well?” I snapped, breaking the silence between us. “Are you going to speak, or do I get to guess?”

Sophia glanced up at me, her brown eyes, too big for her face, looking guiltless at me. We both knew that was far from true. She was as cunning as she was persistent.

“You will agree to marry me,” she murmured, looking down at the floor, before she halted in her steps to gain my full attention. Reluctantly, I turn myself around, my curiosity now getting the better of me. She dragged her gaze up my body and stopped when we were eye to eye. “Because, my dear, you wouldn’t let your sister be put into an arranged marriage to tighten ties with powerful families, would you?”

I squinted my eyes at her. This was ridiculous. He and I had talked about this; well, I more so told him Hara wasn’t to be pawned off. I would buy time, come up with another solution, make Father happy, and be on my merry way. My father wouldn’t be bullied either by a judge nor be told what to do, so this was gibberish that she was spilling. He knew how I was, and we had an understanding to agree to disagree. It was how our relationship worked.

“My father would never do that,” I replied flatly. “She’s only sixteen.”

Her grinned widened. “He did it to Ava Barlow.”

Shit.

∞∞∞

I slammed my father’s study door, as I stumbled to find my footing in the room. “I thought I told you no!” I bellowed, as I pointed a finger at him.

He looked over his book and raised his eyebrows. “Weren’t you going to bed?”

“That was my fucking plan! But my plan also didn’t include Sophia Chitwood telling me that you planned on pawning off my younger sister!” I wobbled over to the drink cart, focusing hard on it, to grab a bottle of whatever expensive liquor Father had.

“You better pour me a glass as well.” He set his book down on a side table. “This is probably going to be a long, grueling talk.”

“I assure you, it won’t be that long because you can’t force either of us into a position we don’t want.” The cool bottle of, I think brandy, prickled my heated skin. I sloshed the brandy around, finally getting it into a glass.

“We’ve spoken about this,” he drawled. “I’ve already explained to you my reasoning behind the agreement.” I shuffled over to my father; his glass in one hand, the bottle for me, in the other.

“I think I’ve made myself clear,” I gritted, handing him his glass. “She is the worst kind of woman. She is manipulative and cruel. She is for her own personal gain and wouldn’t be a good mother to any children I would have. I don’t trust her.”