ELEANOR
(Unedited)

"As you can see the terms are simple. All you have to do is say yes. Do you accept?"

I stared blankly at the man sitting in front of me. I was at a loss for words. My mind was still processing every word he had uttered. Pestering mother, contractual marriage, AN HEIR?

"Eleanor?" He called out, his deep blue eyes searching mine for any sign of an answer.

I lowered my gaze, not wanting to get lost in his entrancing eyes. It was all too much. I tried to calm my shaky hands hidden underneath the white tablecloth. My heart was beating hard against my chest and I could feel my mouth growing dry.

"Eleanor," he repeated.

Unlike me, he remained calm and poised—as per usual. Robert was always like that. He was never one to show much emotion, or easily react. It was a trait I both envied and loved.

"I know this must be a lot to take in," he said softly, as his hands inched closer to mine. "But you are the only person I can trust to help me with this."

'The only person I can trust to help me...' His words echoed inside my mind.

I bit my bottom lip nervously. My body froze as his warm touch grazed my skin. His thumb gently stroked the back of my hand, leaving a burning sensation behind.

I hesitantly looked up, staring at him through my dark lashes and meeting his ocean-like eyes. Those eyes had enchanted me from the first gaze with their hues of blue that resembled the sea's depths, and I would give anything to have them look at me with the same love and adoration I felt for the man they belonged to.

Anything.

I turned to the leather folder next to Robert, its contents called to me.

Maybe this could be the way to finally have him see me in another light. For those blue eyes to hold me with warmth. For my one-sided love to be reciprocated.

"I need your answer, Eleanor," Robert said, growing impatient with my silence.

I laid my trembling hand over my flat stomach and sucked a deep breath. I was going to allow my heart to guide me, not knowing if Robert would be there to catch me, or if I'd end up falling off the deep end.

"I-I'll do it."