Ever been invited to a rich people event and ended up stealing the spotlight?
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Hardin's unexpected arrival shocked everyone including Tara's mom, Irene and also Archie, as well as his mom who were on their way inside.
He wore a matching black suit to Tara's strapless dress, they stood side by side, anyone would mistake them for a couple. Hardin was way too goodlooking.
He stunned everyone.
"Nice to meet you Mr Montesino" he stood his ground, though deep inside, he was scared.
"Hardin Cruz?! Weird name for a man like you," Tara's dad wasn't yet convinced.
"Dad, go easy on him, tonight his here as my guest"Tara intervened.
Where Archie stood, he burned with jealousy. He clenched his fists like he'd hit someone in the next few minutes.
Tara had already made a move and introduced Hardin to her father, what would be next, their marriage proposal?
"Uncle, good evening" he approached Tara's dad, shoving Hardin aside.
"Welcome back from the long trip uncle"
"Archie, you've grown so much, nice to see you again," Tara's dad was fond of him, after all, he'd watched him grow up along side his children.
Was he trying to show Hardin that he was the one who'd have her dad's approval to date her?
"Dad, we should eat, the food's getting cold" Irene interrupted the trio. If Archie was involved, she wanted to also be involved.
"Sure, let's head inside" Tara's dad led the way for them to the dinning table, but Tara and Hardin stayed behind.
"Such a stunning young man, Tara where did you find him?" Archie's mom suddenly asked Tara, checking out Hardin.
"Uhmmm, he found me auntie, but you should head inside, they're waiting for you" Tara quick got rid of her.
"HC, are you okay? My dad's one tough person to please..are you sure you want to stay?" Tara asked him, her voice full of worry.
She'd thrown him into a lion's den and there was no way out now.
"I won't give up. Your dad will eventually approve, and I'll prove to him that I'm the best option for you" Hardin replied, extending closer to her... towering over her.
He bent down and whispered in her ear...
"We already signed a contract, you won't get rid of me so easily, by the way, you look so gorgeous tonight"
She was happy to hear this..
"Come on, let's head inside"she led him inside the house, to where the others were.
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Tara sat at her usual seat, Hardin on her right and Archie on her left. Irene was the next, then her dad in the main seat, her mom and Archie's mom on the opposite side.
Tara had goosebumps, the last time she ever had dinner at this table, she pulled the table cloths and poured everything on the floor, because they'd denied her the position of COO in the company.
Such bad memories!
"So, Hardin Cruz!" Tara's dad begun his usual intimidations.
"How did you meet my daughter?" He asked.
"Sir, we met at the most difficult moment of her life when she needed me the most" Hardin replied head on, as everyone listened closely, not bothering to talk in between, including her mom.
"Do you really want this job, or do you just want to use her for her money?" He asked, not even considering Tara presence.
"Dad!..." Tara wanted to say something, but Hardin stopped her.
"Mr Montesino....I don't plan on using your daughter for her money, for all you want she can even keep it, all I want to do is keep her safe and I'm willing to lay my life down for her" Hardin's answer left everyone speechless.
The look on his face said it all, he was serious and meant what he'd just said. Tara didn't expect that either, Irene was more envious of her, how could she have two men willing to lay down everything for her.
What did Tara have that she didn't??
"We'll see about that" Tara's dad said, before he shifted his focus to his food.
He still sounded like he wasn't convinced.
"Tara, try this...it's your favorite right" Archie said, serving Tara without her permission.
"It's fine Archie, thank you" she replied,
Was it now a competition on who'd make her happier?
"Mom, what you said earlier" Irene whispered to her mom.
"Don't worry, I talked to your dad" she replied, before she brought up the conversation.
"Uhmm, hun, you said we'd discuss the engagement during dinner"
"What engagement?" Everyone else at the table wondered.
"Right, Mrs Eden, my wife and I were suggesting, that it's about time that we became a family and have our children married" he said to Archie's mom.
"Mr Montesino, I was wondering when you'd ask...my son has been wanting to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage" Archie's mom wasn't specific...but it was obvious on who she was talking about.
"Irene right?" Tara's dad asked, he seemed to be the only one who didn't know about it.
"Mr Montesino, not Irene, my son clearly likes your youngest daughter Tara, you should have noticed it by now" She replied, staring at Tara who'd now lost her appetite.
Did they want to discusa her engagement without even consulting her?
Hardin was the other person at the table hoping for things to go wrong.
"Mrs Eden, you've got it wrong, my Irene is the one who your son should be asking for her hand in marriage" Tara's mom tried to correct the issue.
"What are you talking about auntie, my mom's right, I like Tara not Irene" Archie joined in.
"Either way, I won't accept this engagement, Irene is the one who should get married since she's older than me" Tara gave her point of view, straight to the point.
She wasn't afraid of anyone, finally Hardin could relax and breathe.
The dinner had now become an argument.
"Everyone, quiet down please" Tara's dad stopped the arguing.
"Mr Montesino, I won't allow my son to marry someone he doesn't like, if Tara won't agree then the discussion about marriage should end there" Archie's mom was also final on her words.
"But auntie, Tara is a rookie, I'm the best option for your son, I promise, I'll be a good daughter in law" Irene pleaded with her.
"What's going on here?" Tara thought to herself.
"I'm sorry Irene, but Tara...." Archie's mom tried to say but Tara cut her off.
"Auntie, she clearly wants to impress you, and you should give her the chance.." Tara stood up in anger,
"And you Archie, stop clinging onto me when I clearly don't like you, you should marry someone else" with that, she stormed off, Hardin following behind her.
"Tara! Get back here!" Her dad stood up and tried to call her back, but she didn't bother looking back.
Atleast she hadn't poured their dinner in the floor
"Let her go, she'll come around" her mom said. They were now used to her tantrums.
"Mr Montesino, your youngest daughter clearly has no manners," Archie's mom complained.
"And to think, I wanted her for my son...fine, I'll approve the engagement of my son with Irene"
"But mom, Tara is the one I want to marry .." Archie was helpless in this situation.
"What's decided is decided son, I won't repeat myself" His mom's words were final.
It turned out, the engagement pushed through, that same evening... Irene got engaged to Archie.....and with their parents' approval.
What kind of life awaited Irene, who didn't know that Archie was obsessed with Tara and would do anything to have her....