Charles Alejandro was at his hotel when he received the report that his chosen bride had finally arrived home.
He was eager to see Nancy, as his parents had been pressuring him to settle down. Being their only son and a likely future president, he faced expectations. He had many enemies, both personal and inherited.
Earlier that morning, Charles had been at his company before deciding to visit his hotel in the afternoon, intending to meet any attractive woman there in the evening. It was no secret that he loved women; as a powerful man in AJ City, many young ladies knew him and wanted to be with him.
Charles was a 30-year-old black man, very attractive, tall, and muscular, with short black hair. His mother constantly pressured him about marriage, showing him photos of women she had selected for him. However, Charles wasn't interested in any of them, preferring his promiscuous lifestyle, much to his parents' disapproval.
“Charles! You need to stop hosting different women and bringing shame to our family. You're the president's son, and you need to act respectably for once. How do you feel knowing that almost half of the city's women have seen your nakedness?” his father asked him in the sitting room on the second floor, sitting on a black couch.
Charles smiled and replied, “Not half, father. How could I possibly sleep with almost half of all the pretty ladies here? There are too many for me alone, and you know this.”
Seeing that his father wasn't smiling, Charles knew it was best to turn serious as well.
His father replied, “Then you need to marry, Charles. Or else, I will seize every right you have and find someone competent to take over my wealth.”
“Hmm..." Charles frowned as his father warned him with blazing eyes and exited the sitting room. He went downstairs to meet with his guests.
His mother stepped out of the elevator and walked into the sitting room to be with him.
She asked, “Charles… I don't understand why you're afraid of marriage?”
“Hmm, I'm not afraid of marriage, Mom,” Charles replied, taking a cigarette from his trouser pocket to light it. The truth was he hadn't yet found a woman he loved.
To him, most young ladies were cheats and gold-diggers. He had seen plenty of young women wanting to be with him, forgetting they had boyfriends or fiancés. He didn't want a cheap woman as his wife. Finding the right woman who matched his choice of a bride had been difficult.
“Then what's the problem, Charles? You haven't accepted any invitation that your father or I have offered. Do you want us to choose a bride on your behalf, marry her, and bring her here for you?" his mother asked.
“No, Mother. I'm not interested in an arranged bride. Most young ladies are cheats and pretentious. Once they see that I want to marry them, they pretend to be nice and jump at the offer. So no..."
Charles shook his head, took a drag from his cigar, and puffed it into the air.
His mother frowned and replied, “No, Charles… That's when you leave a responsible young lady to marry a prostitute like yourself..."
“Mum..." Charles stared at his mother in shock and shook his head as he met her smiling gaze.
She was a 65-year-old black woman, standing in front of him in her long blue native gown, as she was a traditional woman.
First Lady Kira Alejandro approached Charles, seated on the black couch, and said, “Here, Charles… I have these three photos of women for you to see who among them you like. Their families are well-respected and part of your father's political party.”
“Mum..." Charles couldn't believe his mother was already holding three photos, waiting to show them to him at any opportunity.
His mother approached him again and showed him the photos. She said, “Here, Charles, take a look.”
“Hmm..." Charles finally accepted the photos from his mother's hands.
Charles held his cigar to his lips, wearing a black top, black leather trousers, and black boots. He loved dressing in all-black clothing.
He stared at the first photo. She was a cute, black-skinned lady with a round face and flat nose, her big brown eyes shining seductively in the outdoor photo. She wore a simple pink crop-top and blue jeans.
Charles frowned, holding his cigar to his lips, and slid the photo to see the next woman. His eyes fell on a woman with blue eyes.
She was cute, with a round face, sharp nose, sparkling blue eyes, and rosy dimples on her chubby cheeks. Her plump lips were enticing, and her long golden hair glittered, making his jaw drop in admiration. She wore a white singlet top in the selfie.
Staring at her slender neck and slightly exposed bosom, Charles gulped, feeling his muscles tense with desire. He didn't know how long he had been staring until his mother asked, “Charles… Do you like her?"
“Mom..." Charles snapped out of his trance.
He met his mother's smiling gaze.
Charles held his response and slid the photo to see the last woman.
She was beautiful, a yellow-skinned young woman, but more chubby than the second. She didn't catch his eye or make his heart race like the second woman did.
Charles swiped back to the second photo and handed the other two back to his mother, asking, “Who's she, Mom?"
First Lady Kira Alejandro smiled and replied, “She's Nancy Marlon, Senator Logan Marlon's only daughter.”
“Hmm..." Charles hummed, finishing his cigarette.
His mother said, “I see you like her, Charles. I'll arrange with my assistant to send a marriage proposal to her family and let them know you've chosen to marry their daughter.”
“Okay, Mom, but is she around? I'd like to see her face. Does she really look like this photo? You know many young ladies edit their photos to look cute and attractive,” Charles asked, continuing to stare at Nancy's photo.
His mother smiled and replied, “I don't know, Charles, but I'll call her family to find out if she's around. Once she is, we'll proceed with the wedding ceremony.”
“Okay, Mom,” Charles smiled, not rejecting the topic of marriage.
He wanted Nancy; every fiber of his being wanted her.
Her lips, he wanted to kiss her photo, but he suppressed his urge, waiting for his mother to leave.
Charles stood up from the couch and went to his bedroom on the third floor, taking Nancy's photo with him.
One month later, he went to his luxury hotel over the weekend, hoping to find a cute lady to distract him from thinking about Nancy as he awaited her return. But none of the pretty ladies moved his heart or made him want them like he wanted Nancy Marlon.
“Boss, our security men implanted in her father's security team just called to inform us that your chosen bride has returned to the city and is at her family home,” his personal assistant, Dennis Richard, informed him over the phone. He was in the presidential suite of his hotel.
Charles replied, “Prepare the car. We're leaving now for her father's mansion."
“Alright, boss,” Dennis answered. Charles immediately dismissed the pretty lady with him, feeling irritated and seeking no pleasure. He only wanted to meet his chosen bride, his heart's desire. He exited the top floor of his hotel and went to his parking lot, wearing a black suit and red shirt.
Charles approached his car, and his security men opened and closed the door for him as he got in. The car drove to Senator Logan Marlon's residence.
