Dash’s throat felt as if it was going to close up. He desperately wanted to take a sip of water, but fear had him frozen in place.
“We are loo—”
“We?” Mother asked, cutting Dash off.
“Yes, Parkins and Keys are helping me. They were with Alister Blake the longest and helped build the company,” Dash reasoned.
Mother slammed a charm against the table and magic erupted in the small room, as well as pressure that was nearly suffocating. The servants dropped to the floor instantly. Dash fought against the weight at his back.
“How could you trust Parkins?” Mother asked.
Dash felt as if his bones were being crushed, and his mouth clamped so tight his jaw ached. The magic vanished as soon as Mother lifted her hand. Dash swallowed back the cough that threatened to come out.
“I don’t trust him, but this company is Alister Blake’s legacy. One thing I know about Parkins is that the company means more to him than his position,” Dash said.
Mother didn’t seem convinced. “Very well, I will take your word for it,” she said.
Dash nodded. Mother got up from the table, leaving the eating area. Once Dash was sure she was gone, he breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Try and not mess up again,” Hina said.
Dash ignored her as she left. Chase silently slunk out of the room, and Dash was left alone. His siblings had no idea the amount of constant pressure on his shoulders. No one knew except Vanessa.
Dash had originally gotten with her because his mother had ordered him to, but now Dash wanted Vanessa. He might actually love her, she was everything Dash had never thought he would ever want in a woman. Strong willed, smart, and perfect in every way. Dash pulled out his phone and checked his messages again. And still nothing. Vanessa was usually quick about replying to him. Even if she was busy, she never failed to let him know she’d get back to him.
He chewed on his nail, catching himself. Dash put his hand back down and got up from the breakfast table. He hadn’t touched his food, but how could he? Dash’s life was out of his control. Not that it was ever his to control. His mother always had a plan for him, and Dash followed it like a good little boy. He was a grown man, and still he feared the repercussions of disobeying Mother.
Dash made it to his room. He pulled out a silent charm and placed it against the door. It would keep anyone from listening in. He hit the call button right next to Vanessa’s name. It rang and rang, and just when Dash was about to give up, there was a click.
“This is Vanessa Matt, please leave a detailed message, and I will get back to you at my earliest convenience.”
Dash glared at the wall, contemplating if leaving a message was worth it. Would she even listen to it? Why the hell wasn’t she answering? A second ticked by, and he caved to the pressure.
“Hey, Vanessa, it’s me, um, Dash. I haven’t heard from you.” Dash sighed, remembering Mother’s words. “Look, Vanessa, I need to talk to you. Just call me when you can.” Dash hung up, feeling worse than he had earlier. He threw his phone against the wall, and it shattered. It was slightly satisfying, but as it changed nothing in his life, the feeling was fleeting.
Dash walked into the Grand Max Hotel where he would be meeting his future wife. The thought still ticked him off, but he smiled and made sure he looked happy. Dash was shown to a private room that had a breathtaking view of the mountains. The hotel was on the far side of New Spark, one of the few Blake Industries owned.
Dash popped the champagne and poured himself a glass. He stood at the window, staring at the mountains and wishing he could be anywhere but there. The door opened and Dash cleared his mind of any wishes that would never come true. He turned around just in time as Alia Charming was ushered in. She had long, dark brown hair framing a heart-shaped face. She looked at him with her light blue eyes that looked beautiful upon first glance, but they were devoid of emotion even as she smiled at him with perfectly straight white teeth.
“Hello,” she greeted in a soft voice.
By all standards, she was perfect. Dash could make it work. As far as arranged marriages went, he could have been dealt a worse fate. Dash returned her fake smile with his own. They were two adults stuck as their parents’ pawns. Only thing was, Dash had plans to break free. He just needed backing to do so.
“Hello, Alia, please sit,” Dash said, gesturing to a couch.
Alia wore a flowy dress with a sweater. She sat there awkwardly, an unmoving doll with a passive face. Dash cleared his throat. “Would you like some?” he asked, pointing to the champagne.
“No, thank you, I don’t drink,” she said before going eerily silent again.
At least she wouldn’t nag him. Dash drank the rest of his glass as he sat on the couch across from her. No matter what happened there, they were getting married. Dash and Alia both could report back it went horrible, but Dash knew Mother. He knew she wasn’t willing to wait any longer. Not when what she wanted was right there.
“What do you like to do for fun?” Dash asked, trying to make conversation.
“Play the piano,” she said.
Nothing else. Dash glanced at his watch, not so discreetly. Only three minutes had passed, and he was already over the whole thing. Dash stood.
“Why don’t we end things here. I’ll see you at the next meet and greet,” Dash said.
Alia stood, not looking at all surprised. Really there was no expression at all to her face. “The next one will be with your mother so she can pick out the venue for the wedding.”
“A date has been decided already?”
Alia nodded. “Yes, it will be the next blood moon, which is November fourteenth.”
Dash had five months of freedom left. It was moving all too fast. An awkward laugh bubbled out of him.
“Then I suppose you will want to meet more to get to know each other,” Dash said.
“Not really. I am fine with how things are,” Alia said.
Dash opened and closed his mouth.
“Very well.”
Alia left the room, and Dash stood there perplexed by her. He knew an arranged marriage wasn’t exactly happy in the beginning, but Alia seemed resigned to her fate. She should have been ecstatic that she got to marry someone who was going to be at the top of the world. Instead, she looked bored.
Dash found himself angrily biting his nail. He yanked his hand down and put his hands in his pocket to avoid the habit. He walked out of the room, ready to go to work and do something to clear his mind of the mess he was in. He ran straight into Vanessa. Her golden hair and soft curves were dearly missed by Dash. He swung her around and pushed her into the room he’d just left.
“Where have you been?” he asked her.
Dash didn’t give her a second. He pulled her close and kissed her. Vanessa surrendered under him, kissing him back. When he pulled back, her lipstick was slightly smeared, and it made him want to ravage her right then and there. She placed her hand in the middle of his chest, stopping him before he could.
“Are you insane? Don’t even think about it,” Vanessa said.
Dash sighed, taking a step back. “I’ve been calling and texting you. What’s been going on?”
Vanessa looked away, and she fixed her dress. “Nothing, Dash.”
It sounded like a lie. “If it’s nothing, then why haven’t I seen you in the past two months?”