The Arrangement

He was dauntless as he entered, not once did his eyes waver from his destination. My mom and some person I didn’t know were already waiting to discuss his marriage in the office. I squinted my eyes trying to get some glimpse through the frosted glass walls. My hands were clammy and yet my throat was dry, I thought of licking my palms for moisture but then decided against it.
The hands of time seemed to move as fast as my grandmother, anticipation mixed with nervousness and came in waves. What if he wasn’t interested in me, even worst what if he was? Arranged marriages were not common however my family and his family apparently have known each other for a long, long time. I had never met him because my when my father walked out on the family he took his connections with him.
My father, what could I say about him except he is the crapiest person in the world. He didn’t like spending time with my brothers nor myself, he didn’t attend any birthdays, and he didn’t help with college, he stiffed my mom with raising three kids. My mom might not be a saint but she didn’t forget to feed us or put a roof over our heads. My father remarried when I was about 15 years old, no I was not invited and no I don’t like the lady either. He now loves his new family and never misses a moment with them.
After an hour passed I decided to go explore my surroundings maybe find a drinking fountain or vending machine. The building I was in was a designed by a famous international architect, it almost looked like it was made of glass completely but that was impossible, I think. I ran my fingertips across the frosted glass that separated the room I was in from the outside world. After what felt like hours I found some kind of break room, it had a white microwave on top of a minifridge, a coffee dispenser and a snack machine.
I rummaged through my pockets and collected the contents which were $ 1.25 barley enough for a small bag of cookies. I grinned as I inserted the money, I wasn’t normally allowed to have fatty foods such as cookies with raspberry centers. Once the number was pressed I kneeled and waited for the bag to drop, it didn’t.
“Oh come on, this is just my luck” I slapped the machine and stood.
“Don’t you know that I’m not allowed to have cookies when my mom and grams are around,” I continued “It’s not like ill gain 50 pounds by eating the 6 oz bag!” I angrily whispered.
“Hear let me talk to the evil snack machine,” came a handsome voice.
My eyes widened as I turned only to see Matthew, the man who was supposed to be in the glass meeting room with my mom, shit. I moved out of the way to make room for him. He slammed his fist against the side of the machine so hard and so sudden that I flinched at the sound. His abuse of the machine was followed by the sound of not one but two bags of cookies dropping.
“Here you go, Elizabeth is it?” he smiled as he handed me both bags.
“Uh, oh yes and thank you,” I wasn’t sure what to say. I wasn’t even sure I was supposed to be talking to him without mom.
“No problem,” he winked then continued “I’m Ma-”.
“Elizabeth, I told you to wait on the bench. Matthew thank you for keeping an eye on her you are so sweet.” My mom’s tone changed dramatically.
“What can I say I’m just that kind of guy.” He smiled but his tone was a bit unsettling.
“Yes well, what do you think of my Elizabeth?”
“Her beauty, magnanimous” the was his eyes traveled up and down my body made me uncomfortable.
“Well, I hate to cut this meeting short however I believe we all have much to ponder on.” My mom put her hand on my shoulder as she ushered me out of the break room.
“Yeah, we do, at least let me walk you out to your car” he held out his arm in my direction.
“Of course, dear” my mom smiled slightly pushing me towards him.
“What, uh.” I mumbled not sure of what to do.
“Take his arm Elizabeth,” my mom explained pushing me further in his direction.
“oh sorry,” I said as I wrapped my hand half way around his forearm.
I was trying my best to not touch him in a creepy way when his other hand grabbed mine and pulled it so my whole arm was wrapped through his. I was so close I could smell his cologne, it smelled of something sweet mixed with some forest. Mom kept a pace next to ours as we walked, I could tell she was frustrated by the bags of cookies in my hand.
“Aren’t you going to eat your cookies” asked matt smiling down at me as if he read my mind.
“Oh, I think I’ll save them for after dinner, thank you again” I faked a smiled knowing that mom would take the cookies as soon as Matthew was out of sight.
“I feel a bit offended if you don’t.”
“Please don’t make me.” I whispered trying so mom wouldn’t hear.
He stopped walking and took a bag of cookies from my hand, once the bag was opened he pulled one out and tossed it in the air catching it with his mouth. He grinned and lifted another to my lips making me smile. How much could it hurt, and he did ask me to. I reached up for it only to have him pull it away from my hand and lifted it back to my lips. I opened my mouth and let him slide it in, no not that it the cookie. he wiped a crumb from the corner of my mouth and licked it off his finger.
“If this works out I expect you to not let any one dictate what you eat, understood” he asked passing me the bag of cookies and extending his arm out once more.
“Yeah, thank you.” I whispered the last part. This time I felt comfortable enough to walk closer to him and hug his arm.
I admired his masculine features and the hazel in his eyes. He was good looking, maybe this arrangement wouldn’t be so bad after all. Once we were outside I could see two cars one all black with a man dressed in jeans, two belts, shirt, and a fedora. He was also smoking, smoking was vary daring in these days. The other car a smaller white one which my mom had rented to appear better.
Matthew waved at the man and opened our cars door, mom quickly jumped in.
“I’ll see you soon Elizabeth” he ran his fingers down my arm sending shivers through my spine.
“I look forward to it, Matthew” I smiled and climbed in to the car.
He tapped the top of the car to let the drier know it was safe to drive once he shut the door.

Notes

Hey sorry I took my johnny one down but it wasn't to appealing to the Internets I guess. However I have this awesome Matt one that I've been working on for a while let me know what ya'll think, should I continue or bin it?