"You can not be serious. You really are in love with someone else?" Samuel flinched and pulled the phone away from his ears, turning the speaker on while his sister ranted so he could dress without going deaf.

Since she moved to Germany, Ember had never returned home. She was absent at most family gatherings, not that she missed much. When it was Christmas or any other holiday, she would call in and speak with the family. She finished her Masters and started working there. The last time he challenged her to say something in German, she was able to give him entire passages in German. Their relationship had become strained due to the distance but, after so long apart they learned to make things work, still keeping in touch through video calls and chats. It had taken a lot of courage to tell her he ended things with Flora, but everyone in his house already knew; he didn't want one of his siblings letting it slip.

As predicted, her reaction was to go berserk at the news. She continued to rant on the phone as he stood in front of the mirror, fussing with his hair. He grabbed a jacket from the wardrobe and threw it on over his t-shirt.

"Ember, calm down."

"I am sorry I just can't believe this. I have known Flora for four years; you have been together for four years. What happened all of a sudden?"

Samuel sat on his bed and looked at the ring his mother had picked out. He didn't even get the chance to chose what he would purpose with. Samuel was glad his mother didn't request that he use the ring he bought for Flora. That would have sent him into a frenzy. He would meet this new girl for the first time in his life, and his mother expected him to propose to her on the same day. Then bring her over to the house and introduce her to his family before marrying her within a month. He didn't know if the grandeur of the ring was to torment him or just his mother's inability to buy anything simple.

"I told you that I don't have time to explain anything right now. I have..." he sighed heavily and eyed the ring again. "I have somewhere to be."

"Sammy, are you sure about this? I mean I have heard stories of people falling for someone at first sight, and so on, but still. This is a lot to take in especially coming from you. What's this girl's name? What's she like? Hobbies? Does she have a job?"

"I'll tell you later, Em. I really can't right now."

Ember relented, and he buried his face in his hands. Her name was Kali Hastings. She had a younger sister that lived in another state and worked as a freelance website creator and IT expert or something along those areas. He didn't know her hobbies or things she liked, like her favourite colours or food. He only knew the things his mother felt were relevant, and people's likes were never her strong suit. There was no picture of her either, why? He didn't bother to ask. He would see her today anyway.

Not wanting to waste any more time on the grim nightmare his life had become, Samuel closed the box and stuffed it into his pocket. He grabbed his keys and checked his phone for the address his mother sent before he left the house.

*

Kali turned from left to right, assessing her outfit. She liked to be nicely dressed whenever she went out; that meant picking out the right colours to mix and doing her hair neatly. Since this was a date with a man she had never met, a man that had bought her and indirectly ruined her life, she didn't want to look like she put in effort. Frustrated, she plunked down on her bed and rested her elbows on her knees. It had been four days since she accepted Ysabel's proposal, and she still felt internally sick.

Her phone vibrated beside her. She picked it up to read the message. "Good afternoon, ma'am. I am downstairs."

She dropped her crossed leg and jumped to her feet. "This is the first of many steps you need to take. Shoulders back, chin up. You will take this with dignity and never let any of them see you break."

Kali snatched her purse from the hanger and locked her doors before heading downstairs. One of Ysabel's drivers was waiting downstairs for her, prepared to drive her to the restaurant that would seal her fate forever. She sat in the back of the car, observing the road without much interest, waiting patiently for the car to stop. The day had barely started, but she wanted it to end. She wanted the ring on her finger quickly so she could go home and bury herself under tons of blankets and cry her heart out.

"Miss?" Kali snapped out of her daze, noticing the driver staring at her. "We are here. Sorry, we are a bit late. Mr. Madden has been waiting."

"Oh, no problem." She twisted slightly as she said thanks and stepped down from the car, nervously throwing its chain-link strap over her shoulder. The driver must think that she was his girlfriend, so Kali felt awkward asking which one was Samuel Madden.

Ysabel had made a reservation. All Kali needed to do, was walk to the desk and give them his name. So she did. She strutted to the reception desk and asked for Samuel Madden. The man looked away towards his computer and looked through before he smiled and led Kali towards the stairs. Someone else took over, leading her to the first floor and over to the table where her soon to be fiancée sat. The man left them together, and she only managed a nervous smile, but he stood and looked her over.

Samuel Madden was a handsome man; there was no doubt about it. The side part caused some of his hair to fall on the side of his face, shielding his eyes until he pushed it back with his hands. He smiled at her, a one-sided grin that flashed his teeth and caused his eyes to crinkle. The outfit he wore was simple and stylish, a leather coat over a white t-shirt, jeans and fashionable white sneakers. So, in other words, he was handsome, charming, and could dress. Kali couldn't figure out what in the world would make him want a wife so bad he couldn't just try going out to find one himself.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. S-sorry." She stammered as she took her seat, nervously looking around at the other people in the room. Their table was close to the glass balcony so she could look over and see the people below them. "The driver mentioned being late; hope you didn't wait long."

"No. Not at all."

They couldn't have the normal introductions because Ysabel didn't want any rumors going round that they had been dating, or at least knew each other, for no more than a day. That meant she couldn't ask about things he liked, what he studied, or things he wanted to do with his life. Common things a girlfriend should know. At least she wouldn't learn them here in this restaurant. Ysabel had other dates planned where they would have the privacy of talking about that. The woman was a real go-getter, Kali thought, biting back the desire to roll her eyes.

When she looked over her shoulder again, she finally noticed that the driver was seated a few rows to her right, watching them. He looked away when their eyes met.

He was a spy, she ascertained. There was no other thought that came to mind. Which meant he knew who she was, or more importantly, who she wasn't.

Solace came in the form of choosing something to eat. She lifted the menu high enough to hide her face, pretending to look through the menu while she tried to cull her tripping heart. She needed to get herself together before she blew this thing out of the water. It was a date, she had been on a good number of them before.

"Is the food nice here?" She heard herself ask.

"I think so. I haven't eaten in this place before, but my father has, and he had nothing but praises."

She ordered, and he did as well. They waited for their food, discussing the weather and the city; meaningless, but what else could they do. There was a tension about his composure that attracted her attention a bit. He wasn't adamant or arrogant. Kali wondered if he thought she would turn down his purposal when he finally asked. Desires, she didn't lack. She would give anything to be able to stand and embarrass him right there, but a lot was on the line for her.

It was a miracle that she was able to keep her food down. Her stomach was so knotted that she felt like hurling everything right out. It got so bad that, halfway through her dish, Kali stood and excused herself to the ladies room.

"Are you okay?" Samuel asked, standing when she stood.

She quickly waved his concern away. "I need to fix myself a bit, I will be right back."

Kali made sure she was alone before kneeling by the bowl and pushed her hair back before vomiting into the bowl. She heaved until her stomach was empty, and after she was sure there was nothing left, she stood. She took her time to rinse out her mouth and reapply her make up before returning to the table.

"Sorry. I seemed to have caught a bug or something." Kali lied.

"I see."

She swallowed nervously and compelled herself to start eating again. I see. What kind of a reply was that? The reply of a man who was nothing but a stranger. She didn't expect him to fawn over her. He probably could even sense that she was lying.

"This will be awkward no matter how I do it, so I'll just bite the bullet." Her brows pinched together, confused by his words, until he reached into his pocket and brought out a small rectangular box. It looked like a zippo lighter and flicked open like on, but inside sat a beautiful emerald ring.

Kali stared at the piece, completely speechless, breaking down every centimetre of the ring. The centre stone had two side stones and a few accents; all emeralds, with a golden shank. It was gorgeous.

So many years Kali and her sister always dreamt of the day they would be engaged. She had never been in a hurry but still, on a few occasions when they went to a jewellery store and saw the rings, they would play pretend, looking at which would be the best fit. In all of that, they both knew that they would only marry men they cared for, men they loved. They dreamed of being like their parents, marrying once and for all.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she cupped a hand around her mouth to stifle any sound that might escape her. Her life was over thanks to a stupid decision. It wasn't even accepting the plan that was the most foolish thing to her. It was accepting to date Richard. There had been no red flags, he had been considerate and attentive, and she had been an idiot not to think deeper. The skeletons in his closet just had to include someone as monstrous as Ysabel.

A small smile touched Samuel's lips. Bastard, he probably thought the wealth of his ring swayed her. He was, after all, buying a wife. Kali wondered if he knew what his mother did to get her in this position.

Kali gathered her thoughts and reached her left hand out, allowing him to slip the ring over her finger. He did it swiftly, and a few cheers rang out around them, starling her, but she schooled her features. With a smile at the men and women who applauded ded in congratualtions, she looked at her finger.

The first step was complete. Little by little, she could hear the locks on her prison doors click shut.