Chapter Text
“Alexandria, come in here a minute, would you?” Alexander Woods calls from his study as Lexa walks by the room, having failed to creep by unnoticed.
“Yes sir?” Lexa questions, ignoring her urge to sigh as he doesn’t so much as glance up at her.
“In here, we need to talk,” he orders, pointing to the seat across from his desk as he moves papers around his desk.
She’s silent as she takes her seat, watching as he finally looks up, taking his reading glasses off.
“It has been a while since you dated,” he states, folding his hands.
“I have been focused on work,” Lexa lies, her jaw twitching to the side in frustration.
He sighs as if her lack of a dating life plays an inconvenience to him personally.
“I have allowed you plenty of time to get out those silly feelings you’ve had for girls. I let you run around here with that girl for months, but it is time to grow up now. You are twenty-three and need to start thinking about providing for this family.”
Lexa clenches her jaw to prevent herself from talking back, knowing it won’t end well for her.
“The Woods name must go on, Alexandria. You have taken no interest in finding a husband, so I found one for you.”
“Father, you-”
His cold green eyes cut her short, a twitch of his eyebrow daring her to talk back. She looks down to the floor, clenching her jaw.
“I know you care deeply about work,” he states, picking up his glasses, “I have been blessed to have a daughter who truly cares about the company in the same way I do. However, your mother and I came together to have you, and I expect you to do the same with your husband.”
“So you have already found me a husband? Without my knowledge or thoughts on such a thing?” Lexa questions, working hard to keep her voice even, even as she’s raging inside.
“There are many factors at stake here Alexandria, I expect you understand. He is the son of a brilliant man who passed away a few years ago. His mother is very happy with the arrangement.”
“So you used me as a bargaining chip? And his mother used him?” Lexa questions in anger before she can stop herself.
“Don’t get that tone with me,” he growls, leaning across the desk and grabbing Lexa’s chin roughly, forcing her eyes to meet his “You are my child. You are lucky to be here, got it?”
“Yes sir. Sorry sir,” Lexa states monotone, forcing her face into a mask of indifference.
“Good,” he states, sitting down and putting on his reading glasses, “Clarke will be here tomorrow night for dinner. I expect you to win him over,” he orders, opening a folder and looking over the papers.
“Yes sir,” Lexa nods, standing up, and heading to her room.
“And Alexandria?” he says, stopping her at the doorway.
“Yes, father?”
“You will not have any more of those homosexual thoughts. You are going to start a family, if not with this man, then I will pick another. I know Cage Wallace is searching for a wife,” he warns.
Lexa clinches her jaw at the thought, offering her father a single nod of understanding before heading to her room.
She sighs as she enters her room, tears finally filling her eyes as the reality sets in. She’s going to be married off. If not to this Clarke, then to Cage. A shiver runs through her at the thought, the way his eyes crept over her, even when she was younger. He’d jump at the chance to marry her and pump her full of children. He would have no problems with her tears, and might even enjoy them.
A sniffle leaves her, tears clouding her vision as she presses her face into her pillow, thinking of her future. Nothing more than a baby machine for the highest bidder, something she’s hoped to avoid by spending so much time in the company, trying to prove her worth as more than just a woman to be married off. A sob escapes her, as she realizes it’s never going to be enough.
“I’m being married off? An arranged marriage? It’s the twenty-first-century mom, it doesn’t happen like that anymore.”
“Clarke,” Abby sighs, rubbing her forehead, “You’ve left me with no choice.”
“An arranged marriage Mom? What the fuck?”
“I’m done providing for you to continue to get drunk and high every day, Clarke. This is for you. A wake-up call,” Abby states, “Your father-”
“Don’t fucking talk about dad. You’re already fucking-”
“Your father wouldn’t want his son to live like this,” Abby pushes on, ignoring Clarke’s comment, “You’re having dinner with Lexa tomorrow night at their estate. Wear something without a stain on it,” Abby orders, turning on her heel and walking out.
Clarke growls, looking down at herself to find a huge stain in the middle of her shirt.
“This is fucking stupid,” she growls, ripping her shirt over her head, “I’m not even a fucking guy, and you’re going to have me marry a girl? Fucking stupid,” she mumbles to herself, heading to her room.
“No, I am a guy. I’m perfectly fine as a guy, right? Right,” she talks to herself, pulling on a clean shirt before heading to the mirror.
She sighs, taking in her appearance. Her blonde hair is messy and unkempt from days without brushing it, it falling in waves near her ears. She reaches up, feeling the dark curls of hair covering the majority of her face. She hasn’t had the energy or will to shave in about a month, and you can tell.
She sighs deeply, heading to the bathroom to do just that, shave. Leaving behind a clean face, she frowns at her chin, then her forehead, growling as she turns away from the reflection.
Heading to her bedroom, she finds what she wants quickly. She pulls out her baggie and her favorite pipe, packing it with ease. Picking up her simple blue lighter, she puts the pipe to her lips and lights the end.
She sighs in relief as she sits down, waiting to feel the effects, taking another hit.
“You better not be high when you meet her either!” Abby yells from the kitchen, smelling the weed easily.
“We’ll see,” Clarke hums without care, taking another hit.
“Clarke!”
Clarke sighs as she stops, turning towards the living room, still in only her fluffy white robe, fresh from a shower, rolling her eyes as she yells back, “What?”
“I laid out an outfit for you, go change. I’m driving you over,” Abby yells from the living room.
“I know how to dress myself and I can drive,” Clarke yells back, continuing her way to the bedroom.
“Don’t you dare smoke while you’re in there!” Abby yells.
Clarke chuckles to herself, noting that her pipe is missing, no doubt Abby having taken it and hid it somewhere within the house. She sighs, taking in the outfit her mother set out for her, slightly disappointed to find it’s what she had decided on wearing the night before.
She changes quickly, not bothering to check herself in the mirror, knowing she won’t enjoy what she finds.
“You look nice,” Abby states as she enters the living room.
“It’s okay,” Clarke states, running a hand through her hair.
“It’d look better if you cut your hair though,” Abby states, standing up, and grabbing the keys from the table.
“I’m not cutting my hair, and I’m able to drive myself,” Clarke states, grabbing her own keys from the hook near the door.
“Clarke,” Abby sighs, “are you-”
“I’m sober Ma, swear,” Clarke holds up her hand, “Scout’s honor.”
“You got kicked out of scouts for making out with Finn,” Abby deadpans.
Clarke shrugs, “It made it more fun, that’s for sure.”
“Clarke.”
“I’m good Ma. I’ll be back later. I’m crashing at Rae’s tonight, so don’t wait up.”
“Don’t mess this up Clarke, please.”
Clarke rolls her eyes, “Whatever Ma. Love you,” she says over her shoulder, heading out the door.
“Alexandria! Hurry up, he’s almost here,” Dana Woods yells from the bottom of the stairs.
Lexa sighs, looking at herself once more in the mirror. She runs her hands over the sides of her dress, smoothing out the wrinkles in the black fabric. It’s a simple black dress with small straps that show off her cleavage, with wrinkles at the waist to accentuate her slim figure as it flows down to just below her knees. She rolls her eyes at the heels she’s been forced to wear, but they do make her legs look even nicer, she’ll admit.
“Alexandria!” Her father’s voice booms, bringing her out of the moment.
“Coming,” she yells, heading towards her parents.
“You should’ve done something with your hair,” her father notes as she enters the room, sitting in his leather chair in the corner.
“You look beautiful,” her mother assures, pulling her hair over her shoulder, musing the dark locks.
“Thank you, mother,” Lexa states, not bothering to comment on her father’s response.
“Hopefully Clarke will enjoy it,” Alexander states, focusing back on the book in his hands.
“I’m sure he will. You-” the doorbell goes off and Lexa is thankful it interrupts whatever she was about to say, Alexander, heading to the door, opening it to reveal Clarke.
“Mr. Woods, nice to see you again,” Clarke greets the older man at the door.
“As it is to see you,” he answers, moving to the side of the doorway, “Please come in.”
“Thank you, sir, your home is beautiful,” Clarke states, knowing exactly how to butter people up from her time working with her father.
“Thank you, may I introduce you to my beautiful wife, Dana, and my daughter, Alexandria.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Clarke offers a smile, taking Dana’s hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it.
“What a charmer you are dear,” Dana laughs, far too high pitched.
“Come along dear, let's give the children time to talk,” Alexander all but orders, barely touching Dana’s shoulder to guide her out of the house.
With the parents gone, both of them take a deep breath, happy for their prying eyes and ears to be gone.
Lexa offers a small smile, swallowing her nerves.
“Uh, Gustus made us dinner, if you want to eat,” she offers awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck.
“Fuck yeah, I’m starving.”
Lexa’s brows raise in surprise at the change of demeanor in the stranger, having gone from professional to laid back in seconds.
“I’m sure Gustus will enjoy your enthusiasm,” Lexa says, green eyes trailing over the man before her, calculating in her head as she guides the way to the kitchen.
“I’m always down for some good grub,” Clarke explains, offering a carefree shrug as she follows the woman, blue eyes taking in the strong calves and plump behind as Lexa leads the way.
“That was really good,” Clarke states as she plops down onto the couch, surprised at how comfortable the dark leather is.
“I figured from all the noises you made,” Lexa says, offering a small smirk to show she’s teasing, pushing to see if Clarke will accept such a thing as she takes a sip of her glass of wine.
“Been told it’s sexy that I’m vocal,” Clarke states, chuckling as Lexa chokes on the wine.
“I uh,” Lexa studders, surprised at the comment, cheeks flushing.
“Not your cup of tea?” Clarke teases, licking her lips as she watches the brunette collect herself, speaking quieter and leaning in to push further, “Are men even your cup of tea anyways?”
Lexa’s eyes widen before she can mask her surprise, her face falling into one of indifference.
“I’ll take that as a no,” Clarke says, leaning back into the couch.
Lexa clinches her jaw, schooling her features as she speaks, “I’ve had a past, but I’m ready to settle down with a man now.”
Clarke’s brow raises in suspicion, looking behind the couch, checking to see if Lexa’s parents have re-entered the room. Finding nobody, she turns back to the woman on the couch across from her, blue eyes studying the scene before her. Lexa’s lack of eye contact, the gaze focused on Clarke’s shoe, the small patches of makeup covering spots of Lexa’s skin. Clarke no longer thinks they’re hiding pimples.
“Is the room bugged?” Clarke questions.
Green eyes snap to blue, surprise once again written in them. She doesn’t answer, only shaking her head no.
“Then I’ll be honest with ya, Alex-”
“Lexa,” she corrects softly, eyes falling to the ground again.
“Lexa,” Clarke sighs, dipping her head to catch Lexa’s eyes, “I’m not one of those guys, alright? I’ll get out of this, no worries, alright?”
“No,” Lexa shakes her head, fear creeping into her voice, causing Clarke’s brows to raise again in surprise.
“I mean, no, please,” Lexa collects herself, clinching her jaw, eyes closing, “I just mean-”
“Your dad already has someone worse picked out?” Clarke guesses.
Lexa doesn’t say anything else, looking at the black dress shoes on Clarke’s feet. Clarke sighs again, easily sliding off the couch and onto her knees in front of where Lexa’s sitting, putting her hands on Lexa’s knees to stedy herself. Blue eyes look up into green.
“I want you to listen to me, right now, right here, Lexa,” Clarke whispers, looking up at the woman she meet less than an hour ago.
Lexa takes a deep breath, looking at the shaggy haired boy in front of her, willing her heart to quit racing.
“You are in control of this relationship. You have control of this. You tell me, what we’re doing. If we’re leaving tonight and never seeing each other again. If we’re going to get married and play the part. If you’re actually deeply charmed and in love with me already-”
Clarke grins at the small scoff of laughter from the brunette, enjoying the sound, as she looks into watery green eyes before continuing.
“This, us, is whatever you want it to be. Got it?”
Lexa nods, blinking back her tears at the kindness of this blue eyed stranger.
“I like the second choice,” she whispers, confessing her truth.
“Alright baby girl,” Clarke says, giving Lexa’s thigh a reassuring pat, standing up, “Then I will go buy a ring.”
Lexa nods, eyes closing as she accepts her fate, the best outcome is still not a good one. Lexa stiffes as Clarke leans down, invading her personal space, even without Lexa opening her eyes.
One hand gently grabs Lexa’s upper arm as Clarke leans down so she’s facing away from the door as she whispers “ Your parents just walked in, I’m going to kiss your cheek,” and does just that, a small peak to her cheek.
“Looks like you two have hit it off,” Alexander voice confirms what Clarke just said to be true.
“My apologies, sir,” Clarke says, standing up and adjusting her shirt, offering the man a charming smile, “I didn’t hear you two coming.”
“Nonsense, enjoy,” Alexander states with a wave of his hand, as if Lexa is a tray of candy left out for guests.
“I was just telling Lexa I had to run, I’m helping my friend Raven with a report for her job tonight,” Clarke says, taking a step back from Lexa and towards her parents.
“Looks and brains? Sounds like you might be a perfect match for our little Alexandria,” Dana, Lexa’s mom, says, hanging on her husbands arm.
“Hush Dana,” Alexander shushes her, shrugging her off in favor of offering a hand to Clarke.
“I’ll take any compliments I can get,” Clarke offers expertly, taking Alexander’s offered hand.
“My wife is a romantic,” Alexander says with a roll of his eyes.
“It seems like she’s won with you,” Clarke says with a smile, ignoring the turn of her stomach as she lies through her smile.
“I’ll be sure to be in touch, my boy,” Alexander states, giving Clarke a good pat on the back as she finally makes it to the door.
“Of course. I’m going to go find a ring worthy,” Clarke jokes, letting the door close behind her, hoping she lied well enough to spare Lexa of any questioning.
“This is going to be fun to explain,” Clarke mumbles to herself as she climbs in her car, headed to Raven.