Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

O live's heart raced as she settled into the plush leather couch in Chaos's penthouse. The city lights twinkled beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow across the room. She tucked a stray strand of honey-blonde hair behind her ear, her blue eyes fixed on Chaos's handsome face.

"There's something I need to tell you," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "It's about why I initially contacted Gerri Wilder."

Chaos leaned forward, his hazel eyes filled with concern. "What is it, Olive?"

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for his reaction. "I hired Gerri to help me get out of an arranged marriage my parents set up for me."

Chaos's eyebrows shot up, but he remained silent, allowing her to continue.

"I was desperate," Olive explained, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I hoped Gerri could find me my true love so I wouldn't have to marry a stranger. The idea of being trapped in a loveless marriage like my parents..." She shuddered. "I couldn't bear it."

To her surprise, a slow grin spread across Chaos's face. He reached out, taking her hand in his. "Olive, you're not going to believe this."

She tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "What?"

"I hired Gerri for the exact same reason."

Olive's jaw dropped. "You're kidding."

Chaos shook his head, his eyes dancing with amusement. "My family set me up too. I was looking for a way out, and Gerri seemed like my best option."

For a moment, they stared at each other in stunned silence. Then, simultaneously, they burst into laughter. The tension that had been building in Olive's chest dissolved, replaced by a warm, bubbling joy.

"I can't believe it," Olive gasped between giggles. "We were both trying to escape arranged marriages, and we ended up finding each other."

Chaos pulled her close, his strong arms encircling her. "It seems fate had other plans for us."

As their laughter subsided, Olive nestled into Chaos's embrace, breathing in his comforting scent. A thought struck her, and she pulled back slightly to meet his gaze. "You know what this means, don't you?"

Chaos raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"We need to break off our engagements," Olive said, a determined glint in her eye. "I don't want anything standing between us, even if it's just on paper."

Chaos nodded, his expression turning serious. "You're right. We should do it together, face both our families at once."

Olive's stomach fluttered at the thought, but she squared her shoulders. "Agreed. Let's set up a lunch with both sets of parents. We'll tell them together."

As they began planning the details of the luncheon, Olive couldn't help but marvel at the twist of fate that had brought them together. She'd been so afraid of ending up in a loveless marriage, and now here she was, head over heels for a man who understood her fears intimately.

The day of the luncheon arrived sooner than Olive expected. She smoothed down her forest green silk blouse, trying to calm her nerves as she and Chaos entered the private dining room of an upscale Manhattan restaurant.

Their parents were already seated, an air of curiosity surrounding them. Olive's father, Nicholas, cut an imposing figure in his tailored suit, while her mother, Mariah, exuded elegance in a chic cocktail dress. Chaos's parents, Marco and Isabella, looked equally polished and expectant.

As Olive and Chaos took their seats, an awkward silence fell over the table. Olive cleared her throat, ready to launch into their prepared speech, when Marco spoke up.

"Before you two say anything," he began, a twinkle in his eye, "we have a confession to make."

Olive and Chaos exchanged puzzled glances.

Nicholas leaned forward, his usually stern face softened by an almost mischievous smile. "You see, we're all old friends here. And we all know Gerri Wilder."

Olive's mind reeled. "What are you saying?"

Mariah reached out, patting Olive's hand gently. "Sweetheart, Chaos is your intended partner in the arranged marriage."

The room fell silent as Olive and Chaos processed this bombshell.

"What a minute," Chaos said and looked at his parents, "You said her name was Brielle."

Olive gasped. "Brielle is my first name. But my middle name is Olive after my grandmother, so I use it instead." Her heart pounded in her ears, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She turned to Chaos, searching his face for a reaction.

His expression mirrored her own shock, but there was something else there too – a glimmer of joy, of relief. He squeezed her hand under the table, anchoring her.

"But... how?" Chaos finally managed to ask.

Isabella smiled warmly. "It was all Gerri's doing, actually. She orchestrated the arrangement years ago when Olive was just thirteen and Chaos was eighteen."

Olive's mind flashed back to her teenage years, trying to recall if she'd ever crossed paths with Chaos before. "I don't understand. We never met back then, did we?"

Marco shook his head. "Not officially, no. But Gerri saw you both at Sapphire's sweet sixteen party. You were in different friend groups, but apparently, the bond was visible to her even then."

As the parents continued to explain, filling in the gaps of this extraordinary tale, Olive felt a sense of wonder wash over her. All this time, she'd been fighting an arranged marriage, only to find that it had led her to exactly where she was meant to be.

"We need to talk to Gerri," Olive said suddenly, turning to Chaos. He nodded in agreement.

The rest of the luncheon passed in a blur of explanations and shared laughter. As they left the restaurant, hand in hand, Olive felt lighter than she had in years. The weight of the impending arranged marriage that had been hanging over her for so long had transformed into something beautiful, something meant just for her and Chaos.

They made their way to Gerri's office, both buzzing with questions. The eccentric matchmaker greeted them with a knowing smile, her silver-white hair gleaming under the office lights.

"I wondered when you two would show up," Gerri said, gesturing for them to take a seat. "I suppose you have some questions for me."

Olive leaned forward, her curiosity overflowing. "How did you know? All those years ago?"

Gerri's eyes twinkled. "Back in those days, arranged marriages between wealthy families were quite normal. But I never liked to leave things entirely to chance. When I saw you two at that party, I knew you were meant to be mates. The connection was undeniable, even if you didn't realize it yourselves."

"But why not tell us sooner?" Chaos asked, his brow furrowed.

Gerri sighed, her expression turning serious. "I don't do things that way anymore. Times have changed, and I've learned that love needs to grow organically. I set the stage, but you two had to find your way to each other on your own terms."

As Gerri continued to explain, Olive felt a deep sense of gratitude wash over her. This woman had seen something special in her and Chaos long before they'd even met and had set in motion a series of events that led them to this moment.

Leaving Gerri's office, Olive turned to Chaos, her heart full. "You know, learning all this... it makes me trust my feelings for you even more. Like the universe has been conspiring to bring us together all along."

Chaos pulled her close, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "I knew you were my mate from the moment I laid eyes on you at that gala. It's like everything in our lives has been leading us to meet."