Her perfect match

It was a Saturday evening, and the atmosphere in the room was thick with anticipation as Avery and her mother sat around the elegantly set dinner table. Tonight marked a significant occasion, and despite Avery's internal resistance, there was no escaping it. Her "perfect match" was on his way.

Avery had begrudgingly allowed herself to be transformed into a vision of elegance. The black dress she wore hugged her slender figure, the intricate lace details adding an air of sophistication. The capped sleeves and a soft V-neckline left just enough skin, while her soft waves of hair framed her face, enhancing her natural beauty.

Every part of her appearance had been perfected—perhaps too perfect for a meeting she had no interest in.

Her mom beamed with pride, but Avery remained indifferent, her thoughts far from the evening’s purpose. Her phone, confiscated by her mother to ensure full attention, left her with nothing but her growing impatience. She glanced around the room, irritated that time seemed to drag on.

Then, they arrived.

The sound of approaching footsteps finally broke the monotony, and a man and a woman took their seats across from Avery and her mom. Avery kept her gaze down until a gentle nudge from her mother forced her attention upward.

"They’re here, darling," Mrs. Downs chirped, her voice overly sweet.

Avery reluctantly looked up and was met with a sight that stirred something within her, though she immediately masked it with disdain. The man across from her was undeniably attractive and this irritated her.

His strong jawline, perfectly styled dark hair, and a pair of mischievous hazel eyes—similar to her own—exuded confidence. Dressed in a tailored navy suit that highlighted his athletic frame, he was polished to perfection.

Yet, Avery still found his charm infuriating.

"Sorry we were late," the man apologised with a charming smile that Avery immediately distrusted.

His mother chimed in, her tone casual, "My dogs wouldn’t let me leave, so I had to make sure they were settled before coming."

Avery blinked, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. “What kind of excuse is that?” she thought.

"Oh, that’s...understandable," Mrs. Downs responded awkwardly, trying to keep the conversation light. "No need to worry about the delay."

The woman, Mrs. Park, turned to Avery with a warm smile. "You must be Avery. You look… quite familiar," she said.

Avery nodded, offering nothing in return.

Her mother quickly jumped in. "Avery, this is Mrs. Emma Park and her son, David Park. Say hello, dear."

"Hi," Avery muttered flatly, her tone void of emotion.

An uncomfortable silence followed, broken only by Mrs. Downs’ forced explanation.

"She’s just feeling a little off tonight, you know...those womanly issues," she added, lying to ease the tension.

Mrs. Park offered a sympathetic smile. "Oh, I’ve been there. No need to worry, dear."

David, however, leaned forward, his tone soft and irritatingly understanding.

"I’m sorry you’re not feeling your best. We can always reschedule if you prefer."

Avery’s irritation only grew. His kindness felt rehearsed, fake. It felt like he was a devil in sheep's clothing.

"It’s fine," she replied curtly.

Dinner proceeded with an awkward silence, the clinking of silverware the only sound filling the room. Avery sipped on her pineapple juice, finding a momentary escape in its sweetness. But the peace didn’t last long.

Mrs. Park cleared her throat, commanding the attention of the table.

"Well, let's get down to business, shall we?"

Avery felt her eyes narrow as Mrs. Park spoke, turning to Mrs. Downs with a sly smile. "I think they look good together. Don’t you agree, Mrs. Downs?"

"Absolutely," Mrs. Downs eagerly agreed.

Mrs. Park leaned in. "We should arrange a few dates, let them get to know each other better. What do you say?"

Before her mother could respond, Avery cut in. "That’s a bad idea."

All eyes turned to her, confusion spreading across the room. "A bad idea?" she asked, surprised by Avery’s bluntness.

"Yes," Avery replied confidently. "There’s no need to waste time getting to know each other. Let’s just get straight to the point."

David raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"The point...meaning marriage?"

"Yes," Avery said firmly. "Let’s get married. Skip the dates. We can get to know ourselves late.”

The boldness of her statement hung in the air, and David leaned back in his chair, clearly amused. "That sounds like..."

"A bad idea?" Avery interjected, expecting to corner him.

But to her surprise, David smirked and said, "No, actually. I was going to say it sounds like a great idea."

Avery blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. His unexpected response left her scrambling to regain her composure.

"A great idea?" she echoed, her tone disbelieving.

David’s smirk deepened, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Why wait? Let’s get married as soon as possible."

Avery, not one to back down, crossed her arms. "Fine. Eight weeks."

David’s grin widened. "No, not eight weeks."

“Eight weeks? That's too short to plan a wedding,” Mrs. Downs interjected.

“That is something money can handle,” Mrs. Park said, signaling Mrs. Downs to let the kids continue their conversation.

Avery's brow furrowed. "Then when?"

He leaned in, locking eyes with her.

"Seven days. I'm sure you can handle it. Let’s get married in seven days."

The audacity of his challenge left Avery speechless, her mind racing as she tried to gauge whether he was serious… or messing with her.