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Iraised my eyebrows.A wife??That seemed kind of fast. Before my inhibition kicked in, I let my curiosity type the question.
Cinderelly369:While I can definitely appreciate the transparency, isn’t that kinda…fast, given everything?
Charming123: It’s because of everything that I’m looking for a wife.
As I puzzled over that, he continued.
Charming123: In the ultimate helicopter-mom move, my mother has written it into her will and estate that I cannot take over the family business and assets unless I am already married or get married within three months of her death. I’m nowhere close to getting married; I don’t even have a girlfriend. So I’m in a bit of a bind.
Cinderelly369:Seems so. Any luck finding someone to take you up on your marriage proposal?
Charming123:No, and it has not gone over well when I explain it. In fact, I was surprised at how not-well it went over. Women have been chomping at the bit to get access to my family’s estate, but now that I actually need them to, they don’t wanna have anything to do with me!
Ibit my lip.Do women really say that to him outright?
Despite my curiosity, I figured it wasn’t a question I could ask right away. I let it go.
Cinderelly369:I can only imagine. That must be difficult.
Charming123:Yeah. So why are you on this app? You seem young and fun. Younger than an old man like me, anyway ?? I see you’re 25, just barely out of college.
Itapped my finger to my lips, thinking of the right answer to his question. I put my phone away, exchanging it for my keys, and headed into the house.
By the time I got inside, took my shoes off, and hung up my coat, Nathan had messaged me three different times. I felt my smile grow wider as I read each message in turn.
Charming123:I’m sorry, that was probably a really inappropriate thing for me to say.
Charming123:No one would believe that I grew up in the age of the internet.
Charming123: I promise I’m not a dirty old man.
Igiggled at the last one. I was pleasantly surprised by the Nathan Hemingway presented before me. When I saw him in town, laughing and joking and generally being…well, charming…he always seemed put-together and somewhat untouchable. But this version of him was delightfully awkward. And it put me at ease.
Cinderelly369:No worries at all, Nathan. I’m just coming home from work, so I was walking into my building. To answer your question, though I am young, I wouldn’t say I’m fun. Or at least, my friends wouldn’t exactly call me that.
Ibit my lip, once again at a crossroads. Do I address the elephant in the room, the bomb that he just dropped about having to get married inthree months?By him checking out my profile, did he think I was a suitable match for such a whirlwind marriage? Was he expecting me to bring it up?
Biting the bullet, I took the plunge.
Cinderelly369:Circling back to your earlier statement, about getting married in three months…does you talking to me mean that you think of me as a prospect?
Charming123:Yes. You’re the first normal girl I’ve met on this app. Or, at least…the first girl who didn’t immediately run away screaming at the idea of me having to get married in three months.
Ithought about this for a minute, taking my time to respond. Every sentence mattered, and I suspected that Nathan was in a more sensitive state, given that his mother had just died not even three weeks ago and he was now expected to get married. I didn’t know much about him, but already, I felt the urge to care for him.
I flopped on my couch, slouching as I thought of the best way to approach this conversation.
Cinderelly369:Three months or less is a short timeline for anyone to get married. If anything, it would have to be a mutually beneficial contract kinda marriage. Like a marriage of convenience.
Charming123:“Marriage of convenience”? What’s that?
Cinderelly369:It’s just that—a marriage that is convenient and beneficial for all parties involved. Usually, a prenup or contract is involved, and the couple (or their lawyers) set the terms. Think of the regency era where two families would agree to marry off their children so they could have a partnership of sorts.
Charming123:You seem to know a lot about these marriages of convenience…have you been in one before? ??
Ipaused again, trying to come up with a way to explain why I knew so much about this without telling him that I was obsessed with romance novels, and TV shows and movies that had this very theme. But before I could respond, he answered.
Charming123:You know what, it doesn’t matter. You seem perfect for this kind of thing, knowledgeable about it and all. Why don’t you and I get married and try it out?
