Arvil stood up slowly in response, straightening his back as he did so. He looked at Daisy, raising an eyebrow at her. Why, he wasn’t sure.
It was a rather awkward experience, but Arvil had dealt with awkward experiences before. The only difference was… those moments were with company presidents and vice presidents. Not the parents of the woman he was pretending to be engaged to.
About halfway through dinner, Annalise set her fork down and folded her hands in her lap. She looked across the table at the supposed couple, fixing them with a curious look.
“You know… I just thought of something,” she started slowly, her gaze traveling to Arvil. “Wasn’t there just something on the news about you and a woman? If you’ve been engaged for seven months, what are you doing messing with someone other than my daughter?”
Arvil paused, his fork a few distance away from his mouth. His eyes went to Daisy before a slow smile made its way to his lips.
“I didn’t realize you paid attention to the media, Mrs. Riley,” he smiled tightly, not letting her words break his composure. “If I were to utter a word to another woman, does that mean we’re having an affair?”
Daisy held back a groan at the conversation. Her mother, skeptical as always, just had to bring that up… Go figure.
“That’s not what it looked like,” Annalise said with a shrug. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but most people don’t speak with their mouths barely centimeters away.”
Arvil chuckled. Annalise was certainly something, wasn’t she?
“You know, for someone who maintains such a high position, you sure listen to the media,” he should be choosing his words carefully, but there was a cold look in his eyes. “The woman you speak of is my cousin. She’s new to the public and the city, so people like to make assumptions. I took her out so she could become familiar with how things work over here.”
Annalise continued to look at him carefully, a calculating look in her eyes. After a moment, she nodded slowly, a wry smile making its way to her lips. “Good. Then that’s all I have to say, for now.”
“Perfect,” Arvil responded with a dry smile, silently daring the older woman to make another assumption. He wasn’t hesitant in being forward and bold. “But for someone who seems so protective of her daughter, you were rather excited in marrying her off to a man who only thinks of her as a breeding animal. I’m not sure how to wrap that information around my head.”
Annalise narrowed her eyes for barely a moment before raising her eyebrows. "A breeding animal? I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. I would never marry my daughter off to someone like that. Her father and I did suggest that she marry someone, though. Not someone who would treat her as such, thkugh."
"Did you know your daughter and I met the man you selected for her?" Arvil continued, tilting his head to the side, the smile never dying from his features. "That man looked at my woman like she was a prize–a possession just for the sake of showing off and possibly warming his bed. I'm afraid I don't like people looking at my fiancee like that. I'm also afraid I don't like people pushing her into something she does not want, regardless of who they are. I apologize if I'm being a bit too rude, but I don't take kindly to my future wife being ridiculed, though she can very well take care of herself."
Even Daisy raised her eyebrows at this. Where has that come from? The man barely knew her, and yet he was defending her? Granted, they were supposed to be in love, but still. You'd think he would just do the bare minimum to get by. That's what Daisy was doing, anyway.
After a moment of stunned silence, Thomas chuckled and gave the other man a wide smile. "Very good answer. Thank you for that. As for forcing her into a marriage with him, I would not have allowed it. But you'll have to excuse my wife. She doesn't always know what's best."
Arvil could clearly see that even without Thomas bringing it up. Maybe it was because of his upbringing. His parents had married for love. They expected the same out of him, so he had no desires of doing that any time soon.
"I'm merely saying what any man would," Arvil responded smoothly, returning the older man's smile. "Daisy's happiness matters most to me. I'm hers until she no longer needs me. Though I do hope there's never a time she wouldn't need me."
Thomas nodded, pleased. This was the kind of man he wanted his daughter to marry. Someone who loves her and cherished her. Someone who wasn't afraid to stand up for her.
"Well, you certainly have my blessing—" Annalise huffed, and her husband took her hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. "—I look forward to attending your wedding."
(Stock up for her? xD)
Arvil offered Daisy a look, the cold expression from his eyes melting away as a warmer look took over. It was a bit difficult maintaining the act when the word 'marriage' was spoken, but it wasn't anything Arvil couldn't handle.
"I'm glad you think so," he responded politely. "Although Daisy and I have decided to wait a little while before marrying due to certain… issues, I do hope our wedding goes smoothly."
Daisy let a smile take over her lips, again playing the hopelessly-in-love fiancée. "It will be worth it, though. Just to marry—" she had to pause before saying that word so she could speak it without choking. "—the man I love."
Arvil let out a laugh, chuckling before looking at her father.
"Maybe we should eat together more often," he said in a teasing way. "Daisy hardly acts like that around me. She certainly proves it in other ways, but I much prefer her telling me she loves me."
Daisy frowned, half-playfully and half-annoyed. "I am like this all the time, thanks. How have you not noticed?"
"Lies," Arvil snorted. "You spend most of your time trying to rile me up."
"Oh? How so?" Daisy questioned, raising her eyebrows curiously.
Arvil looked at her and merely winked, mischief dancing in his eyes. He turned his attention away from her back to her parents.
“You know, I’ve never heard of her childhood stories,” he crinkled his eyes in amusement. “I’m really curious.”
Thomas grinned, earning a glare that said, Don't you dare, from his daughter. He ignored her and began to speak, anyway. And speak he did. Her parents told story after story, until they had finished eating and moved into the living room.
Arvil had a blast. Hearing Daisy’s embarrassing childhood stories really lit up his evening.
He leaned back against the couch, one leg thrown over the other, his arm over the back of the couch around Daisy. He leaned against her like a lover would, enjoying the way she tensed against him.
“I’m thankful for you inviting me,” Arvil spoke to her parents. “I enjoyed the day.”
Daisy snorted quietly. Of course he had. He’d gotten to hear embarrassing stories about her as a child.
“Well, thank you for joining us, Arvil. It was wonderful getting to know the man marrying my daughter,” Thomas said, standing to shake the younger man’s hand again.
Arvil shook his hand again.
"I'd love to stay, but I can't leave my company unchecked for long," he said, smiling. "I'm pretty sure I have a lot of files ready to be looked over."
“Well, come again any time. It was a pleasure meeting you,” Thomas said with a grin as he let go of Arvil’s hand.
Annalise hummed, nodding. “Yes, it certainly was…”
“I should probably head out, too,” Daisy mused, standing as well. “Essays don’t write themselves.”
"Did you drive?" Arvil questioned Daisy, tilting his head as he walked over to her. "Here, I mean. On your car."