Talon (Ashes & Embers Book 4) Read Online Free
Author: Carian Cole
grab a towel and dry my hands. "How's everything going?"
"Very well! I have good news for you," she says, and my heart immediately starts to beat faster with anticipation. "We have found a match for you, if you are still interested and available to take part in the marriage experiment?"
"Oh wow. Yes!" I say a little too excitedly. "I definitely still want to. I was afraid since some time has passed, maybe it wasn't going to happen."
"Not at all, we were just combining our best efforts to team up the couples we felt would be best together."
"I'm so excited I feel dizzy. So, what happens now?" Slightly rattled, I fall onto my old, lumpy couch and my cat immediately jumps up next to me, proceeding to rub her forehead up and down my arm.
"I just spoke to your match and he is also on board. We would like to set the wedding date three months from now. That will give everyone enough time to plan and get things together. Kimberly will be in touch with both of you to go over all the details; she will be the liaison between you and your groom. You will not be able to speak with him directly in any manner, so her job is to shuffle information back and forth between you both—such as the guest list, menu choices, the cake, everything."
"I can't believe this is really happening."
"It's really happening," she singsongs. "The team and I are so excited for you and the other participants. You have all been so patient and so incredibly honest. You have each been invaluable."
"Well, thank you . The fact that you may have found the man of my dreams is just mind-blowing."
"No thanks needed. As we discussed, all the expenses will be paid for or have been donated by the various sponsors that have been so gracious to work with us. Just a reminder, we have asked for all receptions to be small with only forty guests. After the wedding, of course, all living expenses are your own. Kimberly will provide you with a guideline sheet of what we expect from each couple, such as moving in together, the mandatory video chats, and your written journals. I do have some legal paperwork I need you to sign. You can either stop by my office or I can send it via courier for you to sign and send back."
"Legal paperwork?"
"Yes, it's essentially stipulating that we are not responsible for any expenses after the wedding, legal fees if you decide to divorce, medical bills if you get pregnant, and we cannot guarantee your marriage will last forever, that sort of thing. You are more than welcome to run it by your own lawyer. We want you to feel one hundred percent confident and safe."
"I'm sure that won't be necessary." As if I can afford a lawyer.
"Also, all participants have been run through vigorous background checks, and to the best of our knowledge and findings, there are no red flags. If any participant ever feels threatened or unsafe, they are to call one of us immediately."
"Okay."
"And lastly, we do ask that the participants do not date others over the next three months while we are preparing for your wedding. The last thing we want is for one of the applicants to end up in a relationship prior to their wedding, leaving their match without a partner."
"Oh my, that would be terrible!"
"Indeed. I know this is a lot to swallow, and I'm sorry I'm talking very fast. I'm calling all the applicants today, so it's been a bit of a crazy day. Everything will be detailed in the paperwork, and Kim will have discussions with you and your partner as we move forward. You can get in touch with her or me anytime if questions arise. She should be reaching out to you by the end of the week."
I swallow hard over the excitement building in me. "That sounds great. Thank you so much, Dr. Hollister. I'm really excited about this."
"We are too. Have a great day, Asia. We'll talk soon."
I disconnect the call in a daze and pick up Pixie, planting a kiss on her furry little head.
"I'm getting married! You're gonna have a daddy!"
In three months.
To a stranger.
Chapter
"Very well! I have good news for you," she says, and my heart immediately starts to beat faster with anticipation. "We have found a match for you, if you are still interested and available to take part in the marriage experiment?"
"Oh wow. Yes!" I say a little too excitedly. "I definitely still want to. I was afraid since some time has passed, maybe it wasn't going to happen."
"Not at all, we were just combining our best efforts to team up the couples we felt would be best together."
"I'm so excited I feel dizzy. So, what happens now?" Slightly rattled, I fall onto my old, lumpy couch and my cat immediately jumps up next to me, proceeding to rub her forehead up and down my arm.
"I just spoke to your match and he is also on board. We would like to set the wedding date three months from now. That will give everyone enough time to plan and get things together. Kimberly will be in touch with both of you to go over all the details; she will be the liaison between you and your groom. You will not be able to speak with him directly in any manner, so her job is to shuffle information back and forth between you both—such as the guest list, menu choices, the cake, everything."
"I can't believe this is really happening."
"It's really happening," she singsongs. "The team and I are so excited for you and the other participants. You have all been so patient and so incredibly honest. You have each been invaluable."
"Well, thank you . The fact that you may have found the man of my dreams is just mind-blowing."
"No thanks needed. As we discussed, all the expenses will be paid for or have been donated by the various sponsors that have been so gracious to work with us. Just a reminder, we have asked for all receptions to be small with only forty guests. After the wedding, of course, all living expenses are your own. Kimberly will provide you with a guideline sheet of what we expect from each couple, such as moving in together, the mandatory video chats, and your written journals. I do have some legal paperwork I need you to sign. You can either stop by my office or I can send it via courier for you to sign and send back."
"Legal paperwork?"
"Yes, it's essentially stipulating that we are not responsible for any expenses after the wedding, legal fees if you decide to divorce, medical bills if you get pregnant, and we cannot guarantee your marriage will last forever, that sort of thing. You are more than welcome to run it by your own lawyer. We want you to feel one hundred percent confident and safe."
"I'm sure that won't be necessary." As if I can afford a lawyer.
"Also, all participants have been run through vigorous background checks, and to the best of our knowledge and findings, there are no red flags. If any participant ever feels threatened or unsafe, they are to call one of us immediately."
"Okay."
"And lastly, we do ask that the participants do not date others over the next three months while we are preparing for your wedding. The last thing we want is for one of the applicants to end up in a relationship prior to their wedding, leaving their match without a partner."
"Oh my, that would be terrible!"
"Indeed. I know this is a lot to swallow, and I'm sorry I'm talking very fast. I'm calling all the applicants today, so it's been a bit of a crazy day. Everything will be detailed in the paperwork, and Kim will have discussions with you and your partner as we move forward. You can get in touch with her or me anytime if questions arise. She should be reaching out to you by the end of the week."
I swallow hard over the excitement building in me. "That sounds great. Thank you so much, Dr. Hollister. I'm really excited about this."
"We are too. Have a great day, Asia. We'll talk soon."
I disconnect the call in a daze and pick up Pixie, planting a kiss on her furry little head.
"I'm getting married! You're gonna have a daddy!"
In three months.
To a stranger.
Chapter
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