So this is the second part of the previous chapter. Please, Read, Comment , Vote and Enjoy!

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Warm light flooded in from the floor to ceiling windows, the only redeeming feature of the cramped office Matthew was working from. He had been offered a bigger office after he had become a senior reporter but he had given it up in favour of the view his current office afforded.

The leaves were turning yellow from green, indicating the coming change in seasons.

Looking away from the window, Matthew refocused on the article he was working on. It was due in three days and he had barely scratched the surface of his news piece. Rubbing his hand across his face, he leaned back into the chair, resting his eyes.

"Mr. Davis, Mrs. Newman is here to see you." A feminine voice spoke from the other end of the phone.

Matthew tensed. What was Alicia's mother doing here? She had never been too fond of him, what could have brought her too him? Giving all his questions a rest, he told the woman to escort her to his office. He couldn't remember when he had began disliking Beth, he had always been around her since she was a family friend, but he had never felt comfortable in her presence.

Looking at her in person, the queasy feeling came back. It was easy to see from where Alicia had gotten her looks, Beth Newman was beautiful. She wielded attention with a light hand, asserting her power but never letting you realize the fact.

"To what do I owe this pleasure Mrs. Newman?", Matthew asked, his face an unreadable mask.

"Please call me Beth, with Alicia and Greg getting married, we are practically family," Beth had already taken the seat across Matthew. "Unless you don't want them to get married?" She asked placing her hands on her lap.

Matthew stiffened. Jaw clenching as he sat on his seat. "Whatever you are trying to insinuate Mrs. Newman....Beth, I am sure you are mistaken. They have my blessings, out of all the people at least you should know that."

Beth smiled. "Of course, I know that, after all this wouldn't have been happening had you not taken a different path. I just wanted to stop by and offer you a choice to take a different path once again, it is yours to make and none of this will leave your office"

Matthew leaned forward, shooting a sharp look at Beth. "I am not interested in making any choices" He said. His patience was wearing thin.

"I will cancel the wedding." Beth spoke.

Matthew who was getting up from his seat, came to a halt. "What?"

"I will cancel Greg and Alicia's wedding. You can date Alicia, marry her, live your life with her. I can do that, all of it, if you agree to my condition" Beth spoke, her eyes glinting. Pleased, on getting the desired reaction out of Matthew.

"I don't want Alicia. I am happy that she is marrying my brother."

"Don't take me to be a fool. I know how you look at her, I have always known about your feelings for her and I am giving you a chance to act on them."

"Alicia is not your chattel to trade Mrs. Newman. She is a person and she loves Greg. I will not stand in her way because of your delusional claims"

"Alicia will do as I say. She always has. Do you think, she will be happy with Greg? We both know that she is only doing this because Francis and I arranged it to be so. You have to do one thing and this will be over. " Beth now stood in front of Matthew. "Find out about Stacy Lewis's past, make it public. Let everyone know her truth and I will call off this wedding."

"Why don't you ask Greg about it? Why come to me?" Matthew asked gritting his teeth.

"Because Greg won't tell me anything. He is still wallowing in guilt of humiliating Stacy at the party."

"I won't do it. Like I said, I am happy that my brother and Alicia are getting married, I have no wish of becoming a part of your twisted scheme. Please leave"

Picking up her clutch from the table, Beth stood up, facing Matthew with a cruel smile. "You are lying when you say you are happy with this wedding anyone can see that. Think over my proposal and let me know your answer when you decide to accept the truth."

Matthew stared at the closed door, as Beth left, pushing past him. H eouldn't do what Beth asked him too. Besides Alicia didn't love him, she had made that much clear the moment she had chosen Greg over him. Letting out a deep groan, he dropped his head in frustration, he would just have to move past Beth's ridiculous proposal.

************

"Are we done?" Matthew asked Helen.

"Almost, just let me know who you will be bringing with you to the wedding?" Helen asked, looking at her son. She observed him with a motherly smile, a smile he could no longer bear.

"No one and stop barging into my house unannounced, for such things" Matthew replied, folding up the papers strewn across the oak wood coffee table.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and Helen had arrived at his house dragging Alicia and Greg with her. He had been on edge since Beth's visit and seeing Alicia seated across him, as Greg held her against him, nuzzling his face in the side of her neck every now and then, was making him tenser by the minute.

"You are my Best Man, you are supposed to know this stuff" Greg said, looking at Matthew. He didn't look too thrilled either at

"I didn't want to be your Best Man" Matthew replied tensely.

"Neither did I, but you are, so suck it up" Greg replied. Alicia offered Matthew a smile, which only made him grit his teeth harder. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he got up."I know more than enough. I have work to do, so if you are done, please let yourself out".

Matthew stood by the stove, staring at the boiling pot of coffee, when he felt someone's presence behind him. Turning around, he saw Alicia standing in the doorway.

"We are leaving" Her voice was soft with awkwardness lingering from their last interaction.

"I am sorry for being rude and kicking you guys out, I am just stressed" Matthew sighed. His eyes shifting to the bubbling black liquid once again. "I will try to be more enthusiastic about this entire affair, it's a big day for you and Greg" he continued

"It's fine Matthew, I don't think Greg minds that much, he is just being a bit hard right now. I think he is more excited about his upcoming trip to Paris than he is about our wedding" Alicia said.

Her face was dull and Matthew recalled Beth's words. But that couldn't be true, Alicia must love Greg enough to marry him, otherwise they won't be standing in the kitchen, three feet apart, talking about her and Greg's marriage.

"You want to marry him, right?" Matthew asked hesitating. His eyes meeting Alicia's wide eyes, as she opened her mouth before closing it again. "Alicia?" he asked her again.

"Of course I do" she said in a wavering office, dropping her gaze, "I have to get married someday and Greg is better than most men out there. He loves me." She added regaining her composure, her voice smoothening over her previous quivering answer.

"And you, do you love him?" Matthew persisted, poking her, testing her. Knowing that the answer would only break his heart.

"You have no right to ask me such questions. You were right nothing can ever be the same between us." Alicia Looked at him sharply throwing his words back at him.

"Good bye" she said before turning away and walking out the door.

Matthew heard them shuffle out of his house, his mother yelling to call her as Greg whined about getting late for his work. Holding onto the white granite counter with one hand, Matthew let Alicia's words simmer in the back of his mind, as he poured the coffee into the stained glass mug. She didn't love Greg, he knew that now.

Shaking his head free of his thoughts, he picked up his mug. It was none of his business, she had chosen her path, he reasoned with himself. But had she? Beth's proposal came back to him, her taunting smile reappearing. Before he could think about stopping himself, he texted the words he would regret later.

"I will do it" the text read, as two blue ticks appeared next to it. 

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I hope you allenjoyed reading it. Matthew is so gonna regret his choice later on. How are you all liking it so far? Are you enjoying it? Let me knowing the comments, also let me know if I should start lumping both the parts in a single chapter or continue with the present style of posting.

As usual, you can message me on wattpad or reach out on my Instagram profile,I go by spiffinglyworded. See you all, next week. 

Byeee!

Love, 

TheSarcasticBrunette