Chapter Text
“Are you near the cafe already?” Childe asks Alhaitham, sleepiness evident in his voice even through the call. He tried to stay late at night in LA just to make sure Alhaitham successfully meets up with the architect he hired for the construction of his and his fiance's home.
“I’ll be at the cafeteria in five minutes, I just need to park my car.” Alhaitham responds as he stops in front of the cafe where he is supposed to meet the said architect.
“Let me know if you’ve seen him. He makes a good impression so you better do the same!” Childe’s excitement wakes the person beside him. “Oh sorry babe, did I wake you? I’m talking to Alhaitham. Go back to sleep, hmm? I’ll finish this in ten minutes .” The person beside him just replies with a “ hmm” before resuming sleep.
“You even woke Lumine. Go back to sleep, Childe. I got this figured out. I’m already inside no–” Alhaitham’s words were cut off as soon as he entered the cafe. He saw a familiar blonde sitting at the corner, with sun rays hitting his beautiful face. Childe had to call out Alhaitham’s name several times before he returned to his senses.
“What does your architect look like again?” Alhaitham asks Childe to confirm if his hunch was right. Childe had told him before what the said architect looked like but he didn’t pay attention to it.
“He’s blonde with red eyeliner! He said he’s wearing a white long sleeves and sitting in the corner. You should’ve seen him already. He stands out really well!” Childe responds, excitement evident in his voice.
“Yes, I saw him already.” Alhaitham answers before he drops the call. A second later he receives a text message from Childe saying: I’m going to sleep now! I owe you a lot for this one, Alhaitham! Update me later! *winks*
Alhaitham puts his phone in his pocket. He tried to calm his heart before making his way to the said architect.
“Mr.K? Is that you?” He asks. The blonde architect was busy sketching on his tablet and didn’t notice the man approaching when he heard his name being called out. He put down his pen and was about to stand up to offer the man a seat, only to find a familiar face as soon as he shifted his gaze from his tablet to the man in front of him.
“Hayi?” was all that Kaveh could say when he saw Alhaitham in front of him.
—--
A few minutes earlier.
“Are you sure you don’t need me going with you?” a worried Tighnari asks Kaveh through a call. For the few years practicing as an architect, Kaveh would often be hit on by his clients, it has been giving him and his friends headaches. He had to change his contact often because of this. The fact that he’s married already doesn’t stop some of his clients from flirting their way to him, to the point that he had to cancel the already signed contracts and pay for the penalty. Knowing that Kaveh is about to meet a man again, Tighnari can’t help but worry about his friend.
“It’s alright. And besides, Mr. Ajax is decent, I trust that he has good judgment on people and that includes his friend and proxy.” Kaveh reassured Tighnari once more.
“Just show him your wedding ring.” Cyno who was with Tighnari chimed in on the call as well.
“Cmon, we all know it’s fake.” Kaveh chuckled. This gave both of his friends on the other line an impression that he’s okay.
That’s right. He’s married. But it is a loveless and fake marriage.
Three years ago when he applied to his dream company to achieve his dream of studying and exploring more about architecture after a slump, he didn’t expect the owner of the company to interview him himself. He was the top candidate among the applicants who applied for the position he wanted.
He was the valedictorian of his graduating batch, the topnotcher in the licensure exam and the akademiya had high hopes for him. But it all changed when he was drowned in debt. He kept a low profile for a few years to work on his own and pay his debt, so seeing his name in the list of applicants for the position intrigued the owner of the company. Seeing as he was the same young man who was once called the Light of Kshahrewar after years of keeping a low profile, the owner didn’t waste this chance to offer Kaveh a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Kaveh is overqualified for the position already, but the owner of the company just had to get in his way and offer him something else instead. “Marry my son, and I’ll give you a position that gives you access to explore anything you’d like about your profession. Just be my son’s husband for three years.”
Kaveh was given a month to decide on the offer. His mother didn’t say much about it. Tighnari and Cyno were obviously against it, the whole thing almost ruined their friendship.
“But what about Alhaitham?!” Tighnari asked Kaveh in a high pitched tone and it annoyed the hell out of him.
“What about him? Do you think I have it in me to still think of someone who already left /me/?” was the only thing he could say, while holding back his tears.
Kaveh thought it over – over and over again. Until he came up with a decision to accept the offer. But what does the company gain from this offer? His name. His name and achievements alone were enough for the owner of the company to give this offer. They wanted someone with an intriguing name and reputation to carry the company and the owner’s family name for publicity and for easy negotiation with infamous personalities. And Kaveh fits the shoe too well.
He knew he would be just used by this offer but he would also greatly benefit from it – One, he’ll finally have access to things without spending a dime. Kaveh is someone who loves to explore, him being drowned in debt has kept him from studying further about his profession and now that an offer like this has finally come to his hands – he can now attend seminars, conferences, events, meet people with big names in architecture, he doesn’t have to stay in a cramped up studio and he can do anything he wants.
Two, he’s single. It would be a good distraction for him to move on from the person who left him. It’s not like the marriage will last forever. After three years, they will divorce and he’ll be free.
Two and a half years has passed since he accepted the offer. After another half year, he’ll be able to get rid of this wedding ring on his hand. Kaveh is a patient man but never to himself. Self-patience is something he had to practice and learn for the past few years.
But after seeing the man in front of him, all the self-patience he honed over the past few years went down the drain. He wanted nothing more than to cut off his finger wearing the heavy wedding ring on his hand.