QuietArrangements
The door clicked softly behind her, the silence of the house wrapping around Elara like a familiar shawl. Dusk filtered through the curtains, streaking the marble floor with soft amber light. The meeting had lasted hours- another round of polite commands disguised as suggestions, every sentence punctuated by tradition, duty and the Reeve name.
Her heels echoed against the polished floor as she stepped into the living room,where her housemaid Rosa had left a tray of tea and fruit on the low table. Her pets padded to greet her- Milo the gray tabby cat with watchful eyes, weaving between her legs,Theo the ragdoll, wagging excitedly,and Kota the golden retriever circling around her excitedly. Elara bent down,her hands moving slowly over their fur as though grounding herself in their presence.
"They said the ceremony would be held in a villa on the Reeveestate," she murmured, as if the animals could understand the weight of her words.
"No guests, just signatures and photos for the press."
She stood again and walked to her room peeling off the blazer she'd worn all day. The Reeve legal advisor had handed her a thick document with the day's agenda printed in careful lines- dress fitting, venue inspection, a silent vow that it would be done quickly, efficiently without scandal.
Killian hadn't said much. He'd sat beside her, impassive as ever, offering only a brief nod when she signed yet another paper that made their union look like that transaction sealed with ink instead of affection.
She placed the blazer carefully over a chair and stepped into the ensuite bathroom. The warm water rushed over her skin, and she let it soak into her hair, her shoulders, her bones. If this was the price of survival, she would pay it without complaint. The scandal had left her with no path. At least this one was paved.
When she returned to her room, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from her assistant.
"Final schedule for the week sent to your Email. Mr Reeve's secretary confirmed the wedding is set for Friday morning. NDAs have been circulated to all involved."
Friday. Four days from now.
She sat on the edge of the bed, towel wrapped around her head, eyes fixed on the wedding itinerary already waiting in her inbox. The contrast between the word 'wedding' and the absence of celebration struck her like a quiet slap. It wasn't a beginning- it was a resignation dressed in silk.
A part of her wanted to cry, not out of sorrow but fatigue. But tears never came easily to her. She had learned to endure with dried eyes and steady hands.
Dinner was simple- grilled vegetables and pasta left by Rosa who had gone to sleep early. Elara ate in silence, her mind already parsing through the next day's obligations. Another meeting. Another fitting. Another mask to wear.
She fed Kota the last bit of chicken before washing the plates and returning to her desk. Her calendar blinked back at her. A soldier's map to the next battle. She minimized it and opened a blank document.
At least work remained hers.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, pausing just for a moment before they moved.
--------------
(Thenextday)
She didn't sleep much last night, and the sun was barely over the rooftops when a sleek black car arrived to take her to an exclusive bridal boutique. Killian's mom elegant as ever in cream linen and pearl earrings was already there when Elara walked in.
"Try to avoid anything too modern," Mrs. Reeve said coolly, gesturing towards a row of accessories. "This is still a Reeve wedding, no matter the circumstances."
Elara nodded, offering a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course."
The shopping trip was quiet,tense. Every comment from Mrs. Reeve carried hidden blades- veiled critics marked as tasteful advice. "That one's too bold,"
"Perhaps something more...subtle."
"Don't you think pearls suit your story better than diamonds?"
Story.
Elara said little, letting the older woman choose most of the pieces- veil, gloves, modest earrings, nothing flashy. She understood the game. She was here to fix an image,not build a fairytale.
When it was over Mrs. Reeve gave a curt nod. "Let's hope you remember your place during the ceremony."
Elara only smiled, quiet and composed.
She'd already accepted her place.
Later that evening, back home, she collapsed unto the sofa, letting Kota curl against her side while Theo jumped unto the window ledge.
The accessories were boxed and neatly stacked in the foyer. Each one a symbol of surrender.
Friday would come quickly. And she would walk down the aisle- not toward love, but toward duty.