literature

Arranged Marriage 1

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In his office at Hillwood University downtown, Miles Shortman, a renowned Anthropologist and worldwide explorer alongside his wife, was a professor there at the University teaching Anthropology, was having a strange meeting with one of his business rivals, Big Bob Pataki. Next to Miles stood his wife.

Miles was as civil as can be with the Patakis, but sometimes, even he had a hard time biting his tongue, as did his wife, Stella.

"All right Bob, what is it you wanted to see me about?" He asked the man who stood at the other side of his desk.

Big Bob, a tall giant business man, slick grey hair to the side, standing a bit taller than the man in front of him; one black thick eyebrow, a frown on his face, his frame was bulky. The man's body language spoke in volumes: Strong, Prideful, ignorant and arrogant and stubborn. He looked like the kind of man who always got what he wanted no matter what; this had made Miles all the more worried.

"Miles." he shook the man's hand firmly before pulling away and gave his wife a quick nod. "I must discuss some important business with you."

Feeling nervous inside, Miles did his best to hide it and faced the businessman across his desk with confident and curious eyes. "What do you want to discuss?" He cast a quick glance toward Stella, who was watching Big Bob intently as possible as she kept her composure.

"May I?" he gestures to the chair, Miles nods and both men sit down and regarded each other. Bob smiles as his eyes lands on a picture on top of Miles' desk. "Your son, Alfred?"

"Arnold." Stella corrected him, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.

"Arnold right, right" He pulled out his cigar, lighting it and taking a deep inhale. He opens his mouth and let out the smoke, leaning downward and giving Miles a smirk. "Let's get down to brass facts your son Archie…is how old now?"

"He's nine years old, Bob." Miles answered.

"You know my younger daughter is about the same age as your son." He took another puff before leaning back in his seat. "It's why I decided that your son will be engaged to my Helga."

Miles and Stella's jaws both dropped and their eyes widened at once that the timing was almost comical. They had not expected such a proposition, especially from Big Bob Pataki of all people. His daughter, Helga, though they had only seen her a few times, had never met their son Arnold.

"Mr. Pataki,." Stella said very seriously. "Exactly what brought this on, and why do you want to put our children through an arranged marriage?"

"I need my brat of a child to disappear forever; she is an abomination that has been a sore in my thigh since her mother had her. My Olga has been the only child I hold great respect and honor for. I can't put her in foster care otherwise I'd lose my image. We wouldn't want that would we?" He lean forward and grab the picture of the little football headed boy, his chubby face and long blonde hair blowing in the wind, he held a pail and shovel, behind him was the most beautiful sand castle, he had won the contest and was wearing a huge smile. "This little... proposition is non-negotiable, Miles." He turns to give Stella a look "Stella." Turning back and hitting the butt of his cigar, making the ashes fall on the carpet. "My Helga needs to be gone from my life so I'm using your son as the excuse. The rules are simple, no one must know they are betroth, they will be married at the age of sixteen, I will give my consent to get rid of her."

"Why should we heed your demands?"

"Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey, watch it bucko, you wouldn't want me to destroy your old man's boarding house, would you?" He smirked seeing their faces whiten. "Remember you may be rich but that stubborn old coot and his old lady would never move from their home. I own that home." He opens his jacket to obtain a folded paper; showing them the deed that he own the entire block.

Unable to formulate a simple sentence, Miles read the deed over, proving very much indeed that Big Bob Pataki did own the entire block. Stella read it over his shoulder, her lips parted slightly as she read the documentation excerpts to herself. Her hand came to her husband's shoulder then, shaking a bit. He looked at her then with a worried glance, realizing now that they were being blackmailed. No bullshit was thrown in, just the pure honest truth, the whole ugly truth with no care behind it. They could not believe that Big Bob's own youngest daughter, through no fault of her own, was being put through this blasphemy.

And they knew that if they refused, or even went to court, it would only end up in disaster.

"I can get rid of them so fast, all I have to do is punch a few numbers on my cell phone and your parents home is gone, of course I can go much further and send them both into the funny farm. The choice is always yours" He put back the contract and took out another one laying it on Miles' desk. "Just sign this document and you won't have to worry about them." He lean back in his chair. "See, I can be a nice guy"

Now looking at the contract, again Miles and Stella exchanged glances, worried and sorrowful. Blackmailed or not, they had to protect their family. His hand shaking, Miles took his pen, muttered a soft apology toward his son, despite that he wasn't present, and then gingerly signed his name on the dotted line.

Flicking his cigar, ashes coated more onto the carpet. He gave them both a smile "That wasn't hard, was it?" He still had the picture of their son on his lap, taking the contract from them and putting it back into his business suit. With his Cigar he burn two holes into the picture of their son. He lift the picture up looking through it. Arnold's eyes were burnt from the cigar, Bob look at the Shortman behind the photo, his eyes replacing Arnolds. "You act as if I said something about wacking your family or something, this isn't all that bad. Your son gets to married a woman and I save my own image for the public...everybody's happy"

Stella's lips drew back into a thin, angry line, and her eyes narrowed. But Miles placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her from lashing out, which by God he wanted to do too, but there was nothing more they could do about this.

"Is there anything else, Bob?" Miles asked, a light edge in his voice.

"Heh, of course."

Stella clenched her fists, and again Miles touched her hand to calm her down. She did, and looked at the business man with stern, serious eyes.

"Then get to the point and tell us what else there is to discuss, Mr. Pataki. Miles has to teach a class in less than an hour." She said.

He turns his eyes towards Stella then back at Miles. "You picked a strong woman Miles however she isn't bright is she? I could cut her tongue off for being such a hellcat." He finally gave the last puff and put on his cigar by using the arm of the chair, burning a hole on the fabric. "The little brats need to get to know each other at least so the public can believe that they knew each other for years and accept the whole sudden marriage. Every summer I will drop off my brat to spend the entire three months with you until she marries Alfredo."

"Arnold." Stella hissed.

Bob shrugged. "Whatever."

"Bob...no, Mr. Pataki, I would appreciate that you wouldn't speak about my wife like that. But I guess you can't understand how hard this is for us, and how Arnold will feel." Miles said seriously. "But...for once I can agree to that, it would be better for our kids to get to know each other before getting married."

Stella nodded reluctantly. "All right, we'll have her over for the summer."

She and Miles exchanged glances once more and nodded with a silent promise to one another before turning their attention back to Big Bob.

"Good" he stood up brushing his suit. "It was a pleasure to meet you Stella, I am so sorry for whatever I said to irk you the wrong way" of course he said it more of a mockery then a real apology.

"Miles." he nods his head before exiting the office.

As soon as he was gone, Stella pounded her fist onto the desk. "That...that miserable bastard! Putting his own daughter through an arranged marriage, blackmailing our family, putting OUR son through an arranged marriage also...just to protect his image? This is mutiny! Illegal in all fifty states!"

"Now, Now Stella let's be grateful he's not out trying to hurt our son. Besides he did say for them to be married but once the public is gone they can always get a divorce couldn't they?"

Stella thought about that, considering what he was saying. It was really just meant to be a public show. Arnold and Helga get married, everyone knows of it, and then when it all dies down, they divorce and go their separate ways. It sounded like a good plan, and would work better, and Big Bob would likely not care about what Helga does after the arrangement was complete.

"...You're right Miles, I think that might be our best solution. There is the off-chance they could fall in love..." Her voice trailed off.

"And what would be so wrong about that? it's not the girl's fault her father is an As-" The secretary buzzed his phone. "Professor Shortman, you're going to be late and make sure not to forget your planner."

"Thanks, Maggie." he hung up the phone and sighed.

"I'd better get going too." Stella said, taking her purse. "We'll tell Arnold and Phil and Gertie about this tonight, okay?"

"Yes" he embraced her and placed kisses on the top of her head. "Don't worry, things will get better." he leaned down and gave her a tender kiss, reminding her of the love she held for the man before her.

Stella felt relaxed and warm inside as she kissed him back, placing her hands on his strong shoulders. "I believe you, Miles." She murmured upon pulling back.

"We'll do what we can to make the best of this. Besides...I think little Helga Pataki could use a caring family to lean on."

"Let's hope she isn't like her father."

XXXXXXXX

"I don't want to get married, Bob! Criminy, I'm only nine years old, and I don't need some stupid boy to marry one day! I'll bet he's ugly as heck and wants me for my money!" Helga Pataki yelled in the backseat of the limo.

"PIPE DOWN BACK THERE!" Bob roared, feeling another headache coming on. "You're marrying him and that's final!"

"And I say no way José!" Helga shot back. "I'm not marrying some desperate shrimp! Forget it! NO! I refuse to succumb to this blasphemous mutiny!"

"Hey...where did you learn those big words?" feeling confused since he recalls her being a nine year old. Don't nine year-olds think about stuff like toys and barbies?"

"Well gee, I don't know, BOB, but I happen to go to school and oh yes, have private tutors, HELLO?"

"Hey don't take that tone with me girl, I'm the boss and whatever I say goes...GOT IT?"

"Whatever, Bob." Helga crossed her arms over her chest and stared grumpily out the window. This was not turning out so well.

Helga was a pretty temperamental, loud and brash young girl. She had blonde hair often done in pigtails, blue eyes, and wore her usual attire consisting of a pink sleeveless dress worn over a white t-shirt, white shoes, and a pink bow perched on top of her head.

"Now, there's the house."

Helga raise her eyebrow up "Um...Bob, if this is the little Shrimps house then why did we take a limo?"

Bob turned around. "Because we had to get there somehow girl, use your noggin"

"But he lives a block away"

"Just mind your own P's and Q's missy, now let's go"

"Whatever." Helga rolled her eyes and got out of the limo with her father. She looked up at the Sunset Arms boarding house with curiosity and mild disdain, just as she was taught.

XXXXXX

"Mom...do you think, um..." Arnold was feeling quite nervous, his hands were shaking as he tried to put on his tie. His mom just giggled and helped him. "Why do I have to dress up and what if she doesn't like me." he sighed. "I really don't want to be engage to someone I hardly know"

"That's exactly why we're meeting her today, and spending the summers with us until you two get married." Stella explained, correctly tying his tie. "I know it won't be easy honey, but just be nice and mind your manners, you should be fine."

He gave his mother a nervous smile. Gosh I really hope she likes me. He felt so nervous he felt like going to the bathroom, his stomach had bubbles and he felt a bit faint. I don't want to do this but my parents knows what's best for me so maybe I should just try to be friends with her.

"There you go." Stella groomed him a bit, fixing his uncooperative hair, brushing dust off him, and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "You're going to be fine, Arnold. Don't worry."

"Thanks mom, I really hope...I make a good impression" he blushed while saying that, feeling a bit shy talking to his mother about...well this.

"She'd have to be crazy not to like you." Stella winked, and stood up. "C'mon, let's go downstairs and get ready to meet them."

"Yes mom." he put his sweaty hands inside of his jacket pockets. I wonder what's she like.

XXXXXX

Downstairs, Miles opened the door to Big Bob, and his youngest daughter, Helga.

"Mr. Pataki...and Helga. Come on inside." Miles stepped aside to let them in.

He looked up to see Stella coming downstairs, followed by a shy and very nervous Arnold.

The two kid's eyes met, Emerald vs Sapphire. Both held their breathes as they stood their froozen. the mood was broke when Big Bob spoke. "Well Girl, go say hi" it was a direct demand.

"Yes, Bob." Helga sighed, and turned her attention back to the boy before her.

She wasn't normally into crushing on boys...but wow, he was so cute. Not that she was ready to loudly admit it of course, her pride didn't allow it. But she studied him, surprised at his football-shaped head. But in honesty, she found it to add to his charm, it suited him. Sure his hair was stuck up and pointing in all directions, but she kind of liked it that way. She wondered if it was stiff as it looked. The boy looked shy and nervous, and his green eyes glimmered with patience, warmth, and yet anxiety and shyness. His eyes were nice...

Helga shook her head again, and extended her hand. "Hi."

Feeling butterflies in his stomach, he took a hold of her hand, bent down and kissed it. "Hello Miss Pataki" with pinkish cheeks at is own actions that her mother told him to do as soon as he met the girl he'd be engaged to.

Helga's eyes widened and she found her cheeks getting hot. Was she blushing? Patakis don't blush! "Er...y-yeah...J-Just Helga is fine...Arnold." She spoke his name with uncertainty, like she didn't even know what to say of it.

"It's nice to meet you, Helga." Stella chimed in sweetly. "I'm Stella, Arnold's mom, and this is my husband Miles."

"Nice meeting you, Helga." Miles gave a smile.

"Um...nice meeting you guys too." She said nervously.

"Here's your stupid heavy bags, what did you pack rocks?" He drop the bags down not caring what he might have broken.

Helga let out a growl of annoyance, grabbing for one of her bags, only for it to be taken by Miles.

"I'll take them to your room, kiddo." Miles offered.

"Uh...yeah, sure." Helga said, looking away, and by that she was looking back at Arnold.

There was something about him...sure, he was cute and had a strange appearance, but why couldn't she tear her eyes away?

When he looked back at her, she immediately averted her gaze, blushing. She looks so pretty when she blushes. His eyes downcast to the floor, cheeks heated, rubbing the back of his neck not knowing what to do. His mother had nudge him from behind and that's when he remembers. "Um...Helga would you like to see the room your going to sleep in?"

Play it cool Helga. He's just a boy. ...The boy you're going to marry one day. Yeesh, talk about awkward. "Yeah sure, lead the way." She said finally.

He lead her upstairs to her room leaving Bob to talk to The Shortmans.

"I'll be back in three months" he handed them his business card. "Call me if anything." with that he turn and shut the door.

"Doesn't even say goodbye." Stella sighed. "Whatever, the less we see of him, the better, anyway."

"I have a feeling he might not come back in three months. That poor girl." Miles shook his head sadly.

XXXXXXX

Upstairs, after having shown her her room, he brought her to his room. Arnold press a button on his remote, the couch popped out. the stereo started to play some Jazz music. "So this is my room."

Whoa...this shrimp is loaded! Helga thought in amazement, taking in his room. It was really cool, with a skylight for a ceiling, a high-tech sound system, and a couch that flipped in and out of the wall. That's so cool.

"Mm, not bad at all. Interesting." Helga said nonchalantly.

"Thanks a lot. So how does your room look like?" he ask sitting on the couch.

"Back at our mansion? Eh, you know. It's not much. Fancy wallpaper, big fluffy bed, some high tech stuff, toys, books... Ya know, it's where I spend most of my time." Shrugged Helga.

"Oh, I don't have much here because I don't like to buy a lot of things, I guess it's because I'm simple"

She looked around his room again and shrugged. "Simple for a boy who's almost as loaded as me. But I digress. Where do you go to school, anyway?"

"P.S. 118, where do you go?"

"Some private school downtown. And I have private tutors too."

"Gosh Helga, that sounds really cool. I go to a public school because it's the same school my father went to."

"Whatever floats your boat, I guess. And it's okay, but man, the constant lessons on how to act like a 'lady' are really redundant and stupid. If I wanted to sit like I was a stick and walk around like I had books on top of my head, I'd have to be my sister Olga..."

"Why do you have to learn that?"

"My private school is an all-girls school and I swear are trapped in the Middle Ages, thinking we're proper ladies of high society, or Princesses. There are extra classes where we gotta learn all the manners being a lady. It's stupid. What happened to just being yourself? Oh wait, a lady being a free-thinker? Unheard of!"

"Wow, Helga that sounds so terrible, I like the fact that you're such a witty and smart girl. Your so...so...sophisticated, brilliant and witty." he felt himself blush more. I never met anyone like her, oh sure there are many pretty girls but there's something about her that makes me want to get to know her better.

Helga's eyes widened and she blushed considerably. "Um...well...thanks, Football Head. That's uh...nice." He just complimented me... No one's ever done that before... What's going on? Why is my heart pounding like this?

"You're welcome Helga, would you like to watch some movies with me?" he walks to his collect by his bed. "I have a lot of movies but I'm sorry I don't have any romance movies."

"Heck, are you kidding me? Gimme horror, action, mystery, horror, thriller and suspense, heck even, comedy, ANY DAY!" Helga grinned. "Romance can kiss it! ...Okay, fine, some I've seen aren't SO bad, but whatever! Pop in something good."

"Oh that's great, I was worried I didn't have any good movies for us to watch. I do have a few..." he blushes and looks away shyly "Disney movies."

"Disney, eh? Ha! That takes guts, hair boy. Please tell me you have Beauty and the Beast. That's one of my favourite movies...well, ever."

"Really? mine too and yes I do, I also have Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo, Bambi, Toy Story, Aladdin, and more...I have a best friend name Gerald and I never watch them with him. I'm...scared he might laugh. Back when we were kids we use to watch disney movies but since he turn eight Gerald stop wanting to." Why do I feel so comfortable telling her all of this? would she laugh at me?

"Heh, looks like your friend Geraldo doesn't appreciate the fine art of Disney. That's a shame. Well pop in one of them, surprise me." She sat on his couch in a very unladylike manner.

"Okay." I feel so excited! It's been a while since anyone has actually watched a Disney movie with me. Sure it's kind of kidish but who cares as long as your enjoying yourself and having fun. He popped in the movie Beauty and the Beast. As the movie trailer started he turn back towards Helga. "Would you like some popcorn and a bottle of Yahoo soda?"

"I'm impressed, Arnoldo. You're not bad in treating your future wife pretty good. Yeah, gimme some. Can't watch a good movie without popcorn and the scrumptious sweet taste of Yahoo soda." She gave a little smirk.

A blush appeared on his face and he felt his stomach twist and turn. That's right...she's going to be my...my...future wife. "O-Okay Helga, I'll be back in a few minutes." with that he had left.

...

They were both eating popcorn while watching another Disney movie, The Tramp had just finish fighting off the rest of the dogs to save Lady. Helga and Arnold were both so into the movie they didn't notice anything until their hands touched after grabbing some popcorn. "Oh I'm sorry."

"Nah, forget about it." Helga shrugged, blushing a bit and looking back at the movie.

In the movie, Tramp and Lady were both on their date, the song played. Arnold gave a small yawn. He then felt something against his shoulder. Turning his head and seeing Helga now laying on the couch, her head resting on his shoulder. Awkwardly he lift his arm, she snuggle closer to him now completely asleep. He smiled down at her sleeping face. Maybe...being engaged won't be so bad.
Broken Rose here! We're now going on to a new expedition into the jungle where danger larks in every…oh wait….wrong story… XD Fluff, romance, Aww moments and...well...just read it! Lol!

NintendoGal here! :D What's up? Well today we have a different but just as cool treat for you. Arnold and Helga being BETROTHED! OH MY! What will come about? O.O Read and find out!

We do not own the characters. This is just fanfiction.

Enjoy the latest BrokenNintendo Production! Chapter Two will be out next week.
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littlelionalexr's avatar
I can already tell this is gonna be a doozy! I'm excited!!!! I REALLY REALLY hope I see more! :D