15. Aria
15
ARIA
A re you ready to meet your future husband?” Mama asks as she fidgets with the zipper of my dress. I’m wearing a modest, light-pink one-shoulder cocktail gown for the occasion. My long hair is pulled back into a sleek bun, and my makeup is light with bold lips. Exactly how my mother wanted it.
The idea of meeting the stranger I’ll be tied to for the rest of my life is terrifying, especially since I had no say in the person chosen. My father warned me again not long ago to behave, claiming that it’s what’s “best for the family.”
But what’s best for the family isn’t what’s best for me .
I’ve imagined this moment countless times—what Andrew might be like, how we’ll connect, and the life we’ll build together. But now that it’s happening, I’m consumed with anxiety.
I suck in a breath so that my mother can zip up my dress.
“ Of course,” I lie, and my mama smiles.
“ Good . Andrew will be here soon. I’ll send Magdalena to get you when he arrives.” She moves toward the door. “ You look beautiful, Arioula ,” she adds, right before leaving the room.
I look at my reflection in the mirror and smooth the fabric of my dress, taking deep breaths to calm the butterflies in my stomach, but the sense of uncertainty persists. What if we don’t click? What if I don’t make a good impression? Even worse, what if he’s a dick?
These questions and more echo relentlessly in my mind, amplifying my anxiety. The weight of this encounter feels immense—my future happiness hinges on this singular meeting.
But each time I close my eyes, I’m transported back to that moment in the forest, where time stood still, and my world collided with Dion’s once again. His touch lingers on my skin, every sensation still vivid and electric.
And his words...those he spoke with such determination, cutting through the darkness of the night. I’m not letting you marry him. They reverberate in my mind, each syllable etched into my memory with lasting ink. The intensity in his voice, the sincerity in his eyes.
Now , as I face the day ahead, a facade of normalcy is expected of me. The weight of expectation presses down on me, urging me to wear a mask of happiness, to carry on as if nothing has changed. But how can I pretend that everything is fine?
I step into my bathroom and open the cabinet under the sink, reaching behind the baskets. I need something to calm my nerves.
“ There you are,” I say, finally finding what I was looking for, worried for a moment that Magda had found my stash and thrown it.
I pull out a small, half-empty bottle of tequila. Removing the lid, the scent of the liquor hits me immediately. I bring it to my mouth and take a quick swig.
The tequila washes over my tongue, fiery and potent. Warmth spreads down my throat, a comforting heat that soothes my nerves almost instantly.
I exhale slowly and set the bottle back in its hiding place, feeling a tad more composed than before.
Right then, there’s a soft knock on my door. “ Arioula .” Magda’s voice travels through my room.
“ Coming !” I call out.
Grabbing the bottle of mouthwash on the counter, I swish some around my mouth to get rid of the stench and taste of the alcohol.
Rushing to the door, I take another deep breath, then swing it open, plastering a fake smile on my face. “ I’m ready.”
As I head down the stairs, I hear my parents’ voices talking to our guests. Andrew should be here with his mother.
On the last step, I remind myself that it’s okay to feel anxious. “ You got this,” I whisper, pushing aside the doubts and fears that gnaw at my insides. Magda squeezes my shoulder and shuffles away.
When I turn the corner, I see him. Actually , I hear him first: a deep, unfamiliar laugh erupts in response to something my father said.
The sound of my heels clicking on the floor gathers everyone’s attention, and they all turn.
Baba greets me first. “ Kóri mou .” He extends his arm to me, and I walk toward him with a coy smile. “ This is Andrew Galanis .” He points to the man standing next to him.
“ Nice to meet you, Mr . Galanis .” I extend a hand, and he surprises me when he places a kiss on the top. My palms feel a tad clammy, and a slight blush creeps up my cheeks.
“ Likewise , Miss Kastellanos ,” Andrew replies with a soft smile.
A sigh of relief slips out of my mouth. He’s nothing like I expected.
When my father told me I’d be marrying one of his associates, I thought he would be an unattractive, old man. But Andrew is young, very tall, and quite handsome, with light- brown hair and a strong jawline. At least he’ll be good to look at and won’t disgust me every time he wants to have sex.
Sex . My stomach churns, my mind drifting back to Dion . His deep, steady gaze that holds me captivated, his touch that ignites a fire within me. Warmth shoots down to my center.
I close my eyes, and I can still feel the patterns he traced on my skin. It’s like a fever dream that slipped through my fingers too soon.
Reality is cruel.
My father’s voice interrupts my daze. “ Aria , did you hear me?” he asks from the other end of the hallway. They’ve all started heading toward the dining room, and I’m still frozen in place, assaulted by images of Dion between my legs.
What the fuck, Aria ? Your fiancé is standing right there .
When I look up at Andrew , I notice a subtle shift in his expression—a hint of suspicion flickering in his eyes. Fuck . Does he know I’ve been seeing someone else? Surely not. The mere idea sends a shiver down my spine.
A wave of guilt washes over me. I’ve been too careless, too reckless in my interactions with Dion .
I shake my head to clear my thoughts. “ Yes , sorry,” I say, hurrying to join them.
Sat across from Andrew , I watch him interact with my family. He’s polite and well-mannered, engaging in small talk with everyone at the table. He even gets Dimitri chatting, and my brother hates these kinds of dinner parties.
My baba leans closer to him, and they start talking, their voices low. Andrew’s expression becomes guarded, thoughtful. I strain my ears, desperate to catch any hint of their conversation. I have to find out if they are responsible for the notes that Dion received.
But amidst the chatter in the dining room, I only hear snippets of meaningless phrases that offer no insight into what they’re discussing.
Frustration knots in my stomach.
Andrew looks up at me, catching my stare, and I try to smile, even though deep discomfort gnaws at me. The entire situation is surreal, like I’ve stumbled into someone else’s life.
I bite my lip, torn between relief and disappointment as their conversation continues without revealing anything. Perhaps it’s for the best , I tell myself, trying to quell the rising doubts.
“ Aria , your mother tells me you’re a florist,” Andrew’s mother says, snapping me out of my haze. I turn my head toward her. My future mother-in-law. Mama introduced us before dinner, but I’ve been in such a trance that I forgot her name.
I fiddle with my napkin, my fingers tracing the delicate embroidery as I struggle to find my footing. “ Something like that,” I reply with a smile.
“ Don’t be so humble, Aria ,” my mother quips. “ She’s amazing. She created the beautiful arrangements on the table tonight. And she turned the guest house into a floral haven.”
My cheeks heat. “ Thanks , Mama .”
I really love working with flowers. Whenever I’m surrounded by fresh blooms and the sweet scent of petals, an immediate sense of calm washes over me. The process of arranging flowers is meditative, like therapy. And right now, I wish I could hide away and do exactly that, because I’m anxious as all hell.
Andrew’s voice cuts into our conversation. “ I’d love to see it, if you don’t mind.”
I steal a glance at him. “ The workshop?” I ask, trying to decipher his tone.
“ Yes . These flowers are beautiful. I’m interested in seeing your workspace,” he responds, his expression polite and masked with a practiced charm.
“ Sure . I’ll show you sometime,” I reply with a nod.
Dessert arrives, and I yearn for a chance to retreat and collect my thoughts. As soon as the table is cleared, I rush to the lounge area to grab a strong drink from the bar.
Everyone moves into the room while I stand by the window, looking out to the night sky, deep in thought. One arm tucked under my chest; I swirl my drink in my other hand.
“ Gin ,” a voice says from behind me. It takes me a second to recognize who it is.
Without turning to meet his gaze, I reply, “ Good guess.”
“ I didn’t take you as a gin type of person,” Andrew says.
I let out a small scoff, turning to meet his intense gaze. My eyes narrow slightly. “ Enlighten me, then. What type of person would you have taken me for?”
He chuckles. “ You look like more of a dark liquor girl. Rum or whiskey.”
“ I enjoy those, too. Can’t I be an all types of alcohol person?” I retort, raising a brow.
He smirks, looking down at his glass. Right before taking a sip, he says, “ I guess you can.”
I glance at his drink, and I can tell what it is just by its potent smell.
“ Ouzo . Surprise , surprise. Greek men are so predictable.” I roll my eyes, a grin pulling at my lips. I don’t know why I feel comfortable enough to engage in this type of banter with him, considering how uncomfortable I was moments ago, but I can’t deny that Andrew seems quite pleasant. I guess I should be thankful that he’s not an asshole. Yet .
Things could easily change once we’re married. I won’t think about that now.
This time, Andrew laughs out loud, grabbing the attention of our parents. I look at them, and my mother smiles at me. She’s probably happy that we’re getting along.
“ Not my first choice, but your father offered me a glass. I couldn’t refuse.”
“ Uh huh,” I say, with a little wink.
I turn and look outside again. I can see the soft glow of the guest house in the distance. Andrew follows my gaze.
“ Is that where the magic happens?”
His question catches me by surprise until I realize what he’s referring to. The flowers.
“ Yes . Yes , um, that’s my makeshift studio.”
“ Thélis na figis apó edó ?” he asks.
Do I want to get out of there? With him? I glance over at our families. My brother’s face is buried into his phone. My father looks half asleep on the lounge chair, and our mothers are in deep conversation, probably already planning the engagement party and wedding.
I have nothing better to do.
I shrug. “ Sure .”
We manage to sneak out of the room, topped-up drinks in hand, and I lead Andrew to the back patio doors. Once we step outside, the cool air hits my face, instantly calming me.
We walk down the path in silence, passing through my backyard garden. The moonlight casts a glow over the tangle of plants, where fireflies twinkle like tiny lanterns. The scent of herbs reaches my nostrils, and I’m grateful for this moment of tranquility.
When we reach the entrance, I input the code. The door unlocks, and I step inside, Andrew a safe distance behind me.
Just then, I realize that I’m alone in a small space with a stranger. He won’t do anything crazy, right? I mean, our parents aren’t that far away. Please , God , don’t make him a rapist.
Awkwardly , I walk deeper into the studio. Andrew doesn’t follow me, and I’m relieved.
“ Wow ,” he whispers. “ How much time do you spend here?”
I check on my peace lily plants, dipping my fingers into the soil to check the moisture. “ A lot, I guess.” I shrug. “ I don’t work, so this is what I spend my days doing. I’m a certified botanist and plant mom,” I say proudly.
Andrew walks through the studio, looking at every flower on his way and stopping right in front of me. “ Does that mean I’ll have to build you one of these?” He smiles, pointing around the space.
A niggling feeling of skepticism creeps up on me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate kindness, but it feels…a bit too good to be true. We’ve only just met, after all.
Part of me wants to believe it’s genuine, that maybe I’ve been lucky enough to be tied to a man who will be caring and attentive. But a small, cynical voice in the back of my mind whispers doubts.
I can’t help but wonder, is this all an act? I sure know I’m playing a part.
As much as I should be flattered by his offer, I feel nothing.
“ Why are you being so nice to me?” I blurt out.
Andrew’s brow creases. “ Why wouldn’t I ? We’re going to be married.”
“ Yes , but you don’t know me.”
He crosses his arms. “ So , you’d rather be treated like shit because we’re strangers? It’s just common decency, Aria .”
It’s the first time I’ve heard him say my name. And again, it does nothing to me.
I keep expecting a familiar flutter in my chest, a rush of excitement. But as I stand here, there’s no inexplicable spark.
It’s not like how I feel with Dion , and it leaves me with a sense of disappointment. Will I ever have a connection like that again?
The corners of my mouth curl down. “ I guess not. Sorry , I’m just having a hard time with all of this.”
He lets out a sigh. “ I understand. This isn’t my ideal scenario, either. But I have to protect my family.” Andrew’s gaze seems a little more distant now. I wonder what his story is. From what I’ve heard through the grapevines, his father passed away when he was young. He has no other siblings. It’s just been him and his mother for most of his life.
“ Was the marriage your idea?”
He shakes his head. “ Your father made me a proposition I couldn’t refuse,” he responds, not giving away too much. I decide to pry anyway.
I place my drink on a side table and pull out two stools. I sit on one of them, gesturing for Andrew to do the same.
“ What could my father possibly offer you? It can’t be his estate or business, given he already has a male heir.”
“ It has nothing to do with your family.” He takes a sip from his glass, staring out toward the rows of plants and flowers in front of us.
“ So , what is it? My father won’t tell me anything and I have the right to know. There shouldn’t be any secrets between husband and wife,” I say pointedly.
Andrew smiles. “ You’re a cheeky one, aren’t you?” I grin back at him. This isn’t so bad. There might not be any love between us, but if there’s friendship, I think I could do this.
And who knows? Maybe love could grow. Andrew is an attractive, pleasant man.
“ He promised financial stability for my mother.”
I furrow my brow. “ I thought your family had generational wealth?”
“ We do. But if I leave this earth, my mother will be left with nothing. I’m the last of the Galanis name and we’re not from a prominent family.” Something flashes across his face but disappears before I can make it out.
“ And he promised you that how?”
“ That’s what I can’t tell you,” he responds in a playful tone, meeting my gaze with a smirk.
I let out a dramatic sigh. “ Fine . I’ll get you to crack eventually.”
Andrew winks at me. “ Game on.”
We keep chatting for a while until we hear a knock at the door.
“ Come in!” I holler.
The door beeps open and my mother’s head pokes through the door, covering her eyes. I laugh. What did she think we were doing? “ The coast is clear, Mama .” I roll my eyes.
“ We didn’t want to interrupt, but Cora is getting tired.” Cora , that’s it. Mrs . Galanis waves sleepily behind my mother.
I look at my phone and notice it’s way past midnight. Andrew and I have been talking for well over two hours.
“ Sorry , Mama . I didn’t see the time pass,” he says, throwing another wink at me, and I feel my cheeks heat. Maybe , just maybe , this attraction could grow into something more. A pang of guilt hits me as Dion’s face appears in my thoughts, but I try to stifle it. “ Let’s take you home,” Andrew adds to his mother.
He turns back to me and holds my hand. “ Aria , it was a pleasure.” He places a soft kiss on my knuckles. “ Thank you for having us over,” he tells my mother.
Then , Andrew stops suddenly, as if just remembering something, and reaches into the interior pocket of his suit jacket.
“ I forgot to give you this.”
In his hand is a small velvet box. My heart falters.
Inside , rests a ring, simple and elegant. My engagement ring.
I force a smile, trying to mask my unease, though my mind is already racing ahead.
As I gaze at it, I can’t shake off the worry of how he’ll react.
I thank Andrew , giving him a small, uneasy smile.
“ May I ?” he asks, pointing to the ring, and I nod.
He takes it out of the holder and slips it onto my finger.
My mother smiles at Andrew and gives Cora a quick embrace. “ We’ll be in touch for the engagement party preparations.”
As soon as they leave the estate, I don’t waste any time climbing up the stairs to my room. Once inside, I grab my phone to text my best friends. Gianis , Angelica and I have been inseparable since childhood. They are my anchor, my confidants, the ones who know me better than anyone else. Gianis may spend most of his time rolling his eyes at our antics, but he’s always there when it matters.
Me: Andrew just left.
A few moments later, a message comes in.
Angie: So??? Is he hot?
I chuckle out loud. Of course that’s the first thing Angelica would ask me.
Me: Yes, he is…
I think back to Andrew’s face as I was seated across from him.
Angie: Describe him!!!
Gianis: Why am I here for this?
Me: He’s tall and handsome. At least 6’3, dark hair, and stark blue eyes.
Angie: Sounds yummy! Did you get along?
Gianis: Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m leaving.
Me: We did, actually. I was surprised. I thought he’d be old and wrinkly.
Gianis: I mean it.
Angie: Phew! At least you’ll be married to eye candy.
I smile at my phone. I know exactly what Angelica is trying to do. She knows how much I’ve been dreading this arrangement.
*Gianis has left the chat*
Angie: LOL. What got up G’s ass?
Me: Maybe it’s because you rejected him…
Angie: Shut up.
Me: Love you, too!
Putting my phone down on my nightstand, I roll over in bed and lay my head on my pillow.
For a first meeting, it didn’t go badly at all. However , a part of me believes that Andrew is hiding something behind his charming demeanor.
It’s frustrating, really. I want to trust him.
But it’s hard to do so in this world. I’ve seen people get fucked over by family, friends and associates more times than I can count.
And I got screwed over by my own father.
If I can’t trust my own parents, who can I count on?
My phone vibrates, and I pick it up, thinking it’s another message from Angie .
Unknown: It was nice finally meeting you, future wife.
I clutch the device in my hand and close my eyes. I have no idea how to feel right now.
Maybe one day, when this is all said and done and I’m happily married to Andrew , I’ll understand the reasoning behind my father’s decision without feeling like I’ve been taken advantage of.
Until then, I’ll tread carefully and guard my heart.