A few hours ago...
At the airport, two young, handsome men, probably in their mid-20s, were seen alighting from a private plane. The first stretched his limbs as he basked in the sweet, sweet sunlight of the place he called home.

While the other seemed relaxed as he placed shades over his face and walked towards an expensive BMW, which was behind two hefty bodyguards that stood like unshakable mountains shielding a Thai chi palace.

They both got into the car and zoomed off.

"Damn, isn't it good to be back man?" Solomon sighed as he relaxed in the back seat and pulled out his cellphone.

After several minutes of no answer from his friend, not that he was expecting any, he took his eyes off his phone and decided to take a quick look at that dickhead, who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Man, what the hell are you thinking about now?" He smacked his friend on the chest; he was one of the few who had the privilege of touching the almighty Reiss like that, and contrary to others, he wouldn't waste a neuron thinking about the consequences of his actions. They're best friends, by the way; what could possibly go wrong?

"Oooh! Don't hit me like that when I'm deep in thought." Reiss argued, but the punch didn't pack much; it didn't hurt at all. It was just enough to draw him out of his thoughts.

"Look, we did good overseas; we've bagged multiple deals, and our clients are satisfied with the outputs, so I'm pretty sure your dad will reconsider this forced marriage stuff." He sighed,

At least he had touched on all the concerning areas that could make his friend think so much about things. If it wasn't business, then it was the client's satisfaction in question; if it's not that, then it's got to be her...

"You know that wouldn't work. He's an adamant, stubborn bull, and when he makes decisions like this, he doesn't budge." He said this as he placed his hand on his chin and looked at busy people going about their business.

Little coffee shops by the roadside, couples wearing matching outfits and all, homeless people on the street, a street performance they just passed some minutes ago Same old city...

"Then what're you going to do about it?" Solomon asked as his friend still kept his calm. He surely must have a plan.

"I'm just going to go through with it," he replied.

"You're going to do what?! I thought you'd have a wicked plan on how to tackle the issue; if we can't sway your father, then we'd have to get rid of the girl, stage a kidnapping, and keep her out of sight for some months till your father decides to give up on this plan of his.
We'll say she just mysteriously disappeared! Or we could bribe her to change her mind. But I'm sure you'll like the kidnapping plan because it's more fierce and dangerous. Solomon snickered

"I'm going to go through with this, Solomon; my inheritance is on the line here; there's no plan this time around. But I can say one thing...

I will make her life a living hell; her heart will crumble to pieces, and she won't know what love is anymore. She won't escape, no matter how hard she tries, until I'm finished with her, then she'll scurry away and leave my life as quickly as she was in it."

His friend sighed as he saw that look on his face; it simply meant that the matter was concluded and his friend was just letting him know his decision.

"Just imagine living with a stranger for over six months," Solomon sighed.
"Who said it was going to last up to six months?" His friend looked at him, and then uncontrolled laughter filled the car.

"Honestly, wouldn't people say something about the matter if she leaves that soon?"

"I don't really care; as long as I leave her broken at the end of this marriage, only then will I truly let her go. What you should really be asking is how long I intend for her torture to drag on and how fast that ego of hers finally collapses and she gets on her knees and pleads for mercy.

The sight of that would bring me immense joy. I tell you, I swear I am already falling head over heels with this marriage idea," his friend smirked.

"Indeed, but if she wasn't the one, would you have gone along with the marriage?" Solomon suddenly asked

"After long and hard thought from his friend, he finally gave his long-awaited answer."

"Surprisingly, I wouldn't; if she wasn't the woman who had my heart, then I wouldn't bother taking her to the altar; you know that already. In this case, she rather... is very peculiar, that is all," he said, putting a stop to Solomon's curious questions.

Although he wanted to say more, he remained silent. If his friend didn't want to ponder on it any longer, he would respect that. Being a man of few words and emotions, he might have even said too much today.

After much silence was observed in the car, the man in the shades spoke again.

"Why don't we go visit her?"

"Are you serious?" Solomon inquired if maybe his ears and head were in discord with one another.

"Could you tell Fritz to send her current address to us right now? I can't stand looking at that anxious face of yours any longer; you're dying to see her in person."

Solomon cackled, "Well, aren't we all? But seeing the bride before the wedding day is bad luck, right?
That's why I think you should sit this one out. I'll tell you all about her once I return." He smiled as he pulled out his phone and sent a text to someone.

"I don't think you said that correctly, Solomon, but nice try; you're not going alone," he sighed.

"If you say so, maybe someone is quite vexed that his supposed bride would be swooned over by my manly features and fall head over heels for me."

He snickers, "My dear friend, that is the least of my worries."
...