"No—" she tightened her grip around his wrist. "I wasn't stopping you, I was just saying that it would be nice if we informed our families first. Don't you think so?"

"Are you okay with doing it today?"

Nervously biting her lower lip, she nodded. "Whether it is today, tomorrow or day after—we have to get married, right?"

Before he could say anything, Rachael started telling him everything she wanted to, without holding herself back. "Look, I know you must be finding this very strange, I find it strange too. But since we are already here, I want to tell you a few things."

She took a deep breath. "You probably know about this but I want to tell you again to get it off my chest. There was a man I used to love. But as you know, things didn't work out—"

Of course he knew. Andrew knew each and everything that had happened with her.

"But I am over him, he is just a part of my past now and nothing more than that." She was being honest. Though Oliver would always be a part of her past, he had absolutely no place in her present and future.

"I don't want you to think that I want to get married because I want to forget my ex or I want to get over him." She added, "This marriage is not a rebound."

Whether it was a love or an arranged marriage—it was a marriage, a very sacred thing.

"And you said yesterday that you will marry anyone, right?" He nodded. "So instead of marrying some random woman who will probably marry you for your money and fame, don't you think it's better if you just marry me? I mean, my family is already rich so you know I am not here for money. And from other perspectives, I am seriously not a very bad choice. I am beautiful, smart and the best part, I cook very very well. So you will never starve."

Everything that she had said was genuine and true. Rachael always regarded herself as a decent wife material. Though she did end up doing crazy things at times but she was still better than most women.

"I agree that you are beautiful but smart? I don't think so," Andrew stated.

"Are you doubting my intelligence?" She frowned. Did he think she was dumb?

"If you were really smart, you would know that you never mention your ex-boyfriend's name or talk about him in front of your future husband."

Rachael was dumbfounded. There was no way she could argue with that.

"So are we telling your parents first or do you wanna get married first and then surprise them?" When she did not say anything, he added, "You sit and think, I'll be back in a minute."

He then walked out of his office.

...

[Outside]

Nervously chewing his cuticles, Ben was impatiently waiting to know the outcome of the conversation his boss and the potential future lady boss were having.

Will they really get married? Or will Andrew get mad and throw the woman out?

Just then Andrew stepped out and closed the door.

Ben quickly approached him. "Boss—"

But before he could complete the sentence, Andrew instructed him, "Get me some water."

Ben rushed towards the counter and grabbed the nearest water bottle.

Taking the bottle from his hand, Andrew strided towards the nearby couch while Ben followed him.

Occasionally taking a sip from the bottle, he was sitting on the couch staring at the ceiling for ten minutes now. Neither did he say anything nor moved.

Ben couldn't understand what was going on. He had never seen his boss behave like this. Why would he leave his office and sit in the waiting lounge? It didn't make sense.

Andrew on the other hand was trying his best to process everything that had happened inside his office.

historical

Was he really about to marry Rachael? Was he even ready to be her husband? Will he be able to give her the life her father thinks he can? Will he be able to keep her happy?

He had always been very confident in whatever he did but this was different, it felt different. This was the first time he was doubting himself.

A part of his heart assured him that he was ready but the other half warned him that he was not. The two distinct feelings intertwined, making him feel very anxious.

But irrespective of what he was feeling, there was one thing he was very sure of—he wanted to marry her. He didn't want to let this chance slip.

"Boss, is everything okay?" Ben anxiously asked. His anxiety level was now as high as Andrew's.

Gulping down the last sip of water, Andrew got up. "Go home and bring all my documents. Call the lawyer and ask him to make arrangements—I am getting married today."

...