Chapter 2 2. Choked

Boy! How stuffy it is to sit at a table with your parents on one side, stylishly trying to sell you off, and the buyers on the other side, not so stylishly sizing you up. For the past fifteen minutes, Adrien and her parents have been trying to validate themselves under the judgemental stares of the Alphonsos who do not even bother to apologize for their delay.

"So tell me, Adrien, what does a beautiful girl like you do for a living?"

Adrien is just about to answer when Theo cuts in again. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to do anything too strong for a soft girl like you."

Adrien drops her fork on her plate and cocks her head at him. His statement feels like a harmless comment and an insult at the same time. "I'm a social media influencer."

"And what's that?" Theo asks, feigning ignorance. Adrien is one hundred percent sure he knows who a social media influencer is. He is just trying to make her look ridiculous so she decides to play him at his own game.

She picks up her fork again and continues to stab at her vegetables. "I'm sure someone as knowledgeable as you are would know who a social media influencer is. Except you don't follow trends and are not up to date."

"Well, I follow a lot of trends but indulge us. We would like to know about this trend."

Adrien laughs uneasily. "I expect you to be a versatile man from the many wonderful things I've heard about you, but it turns out you're just like anyone else."

"I hope it's not something common with you to be so delusional about people. If that's the case you must frequently mislead yourself. Anyway, it's good you're clear on the image you have of me. In my case, I'm not so unrealistic in how I think of people. Evidence of this fact is seeing how you turn out to be just as I predicted." The boastful lad turns to his mother and asks, "Isn't she, mother?"

"Oh yes, she is," Mrs Natalia replies.

Adrien cannot believe what just played out before her. She suddenly loses her interest in talking.

"So tell us about your trend, Adrien, what exactly do influencers do?" Natalia asks. She seems interested in Adrien's work or on the downside she just enjoys making jest of her.

"We help in promoting people's business by sharing them on our social media platforms which have a lot of followers."

"How many followers do you have?" Asks Mr Erikson.

"I currently have thirty-seven thousand," Adrien lies. If she tells them the real amount of followers she has, they will look down on her.

"What's your social media handle?" Theo asks and Adrien turns to him with a frown. She senses some sort of ulterior motive behind his question.

She returns his steady gaze with her fiery glare. She thinks of not replying to him but that will only make everyone suspicious of her. She decides to give him a fake name.

"Bethsheba summers," Adrien replies, then continues with her food. That's her sister's name, Bethsheba Summers. But the Alphonsos won't know since they can't check it right away. And her parents won't call her out on her lies except if they want the wonderful evening to become more unbearable than it already is.

Theo's fork makes a loud clink on his plate as he drops it. Adrien looks up at him as he reaches into his pocket and brings out his phone.

Adrien feels her heart sinking in her chest. She opens her mouth in shock.

"Theophilus," Natalia calls, dragging all the attention to herself. "You're not supposed to operate your phone while eating. Put it away, please."

All eyes are on Theophilus now. "Okay, Mother," he says and puts the phone back into his pocket.

"Thank you," his mother says to him.

A victorious smirk spreads across Adrien's lips as she continues to look at Theo. Theo catches her gaze and smiles at her mockingly.

Valerie takes her cue and makes the most out of the moment as she says, "Look how cute they are, smiling at each other." Her words make Adrien cringe inwardly. She and Thoe turn to look at Valerie. She had misinterpreted what was going on between them.

Before they can say anything in protest, Valerie cuts in. "Why don't we give Theo and Adrien some time alone? My husband and I have something to discuss with you, Mr and Mrs Alphonso. I suggest that we move to the living room since we're done eating."

The table is quiet and all eyes are on Mrs Valerie. She nudges her husband slightly and he speaks up.

"Yes, we have something important to discuss with you and it's getting late already," he says and checks his wristwatch.

"Okay, then. Let's meet in the living room," Mr Erikson agrees.

They all stand up and begin to leave the room.

Adrian leans closer to his daughter and whispers in her ear, "Be nice."

Adrien nods in reply. Her mother comes next and whispers, "Be naughty." To this, Adrien scrunches up her face in annoyance.

As soon as the parents are out of sight, Theo breaks in with the first question. "Why did you lie?"

"I don't have to give you an answer," Adrien snaps, "you should be smart enough to know why."

Theo relaxes back in his chair and studies her for some seconds. "You truly don't have much to brag about."

Adrien looks straight at him. "My ego isn't half as inflamed as yours, so don't worry I'm content."

"I want to believe I'm not getting married to some sort of proud, puffed-up spoilt daddy's girl."

Adrien smiles at his statement. "You are right about me being a daddy's girl. But for the pride and rotten behaviour, well let's just say your influence is so much that it's rubbing off on me on our very first meeting."

"I have a reputation to keep. My family has a standard that I would want to carry on and even make better. I can't do that with an impudent girl who is clumsy, dishonest, and highly dependent on her parents. I just can't."

Theo's words leave Adrien dumbfounded.

"In the agreement between our two families, you're meant to be the reward. But I fear that you're not as resourceful as we think."

Adrien looks away from Theo as tears threaten to drop from her eyes. Theo's words hurt her deeply and she doesn't like the fact that he sees her and her family that way. It's so humiliating.

"Your family depends on my family for business growth. Now it seems you'd be another burden placed on us."

"Enough!" Adrien shouts, slamming her hands on the table as she stands up from her chair. "My family and I are not so desperate. We will not do anything with you disrespectful and snobbish people. I do not even desire to marry you. I will put an end to this. The highly dependent daddy's girl will put an end to this."

"Then you better be fast. The wedding date will soon be fixed and I'm sure your parents will want it anytime soon. My parents' schedules are tight, there's only one free time in their schedule for the next six months."

"And when is that?"

"October."

October is just two months from now. Adrien suddenly feels tension building up in her. A wave of doubt floods her and her breathing suddenly becomes shallow. She looks over at Theo. He seems calm and composed. Out of annoyance she turns and leaves the dining, away from the one whose presence alone chokes her.