Chapter one
Ariella 's pov.
I laughed. Hard. Not the 'today is your birthday and my family is so great' kind of laugh, but more of the 'what the hell is happening' kind of laugh – and not the good kind. My father's serious face only fueled my amusement, or so I thought.
"You're telling me that my life is being decided by a contract?' I asked, still chuckling, though the sound was starting to feel forced.
"My father's expression remained stone-cold. 'Ariella, it's a business arrangement. Nicolas Blackwood comes from a wealthy and influential family. This union will secure our family's future.'
"'Oh, wow, how romantic,' I said, dripping with sarcasm. 'Being sold off to the highest bidder. I'm so grateful.'
"My father's face reddened. 'Ari, listen... I know this isn't ideal, but I was desperate. I didn't expect things to turn out this way.'
My mother intervened, placing a calming hand on his arm. 'Dear, let's not discuss this now. Ari's birthday isn't the right time.'
"No, let's discuss it now,' I said, my voice rising. 'Let's talk about how you're willing to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of family business."
My father's eyes dropped, and he looked defeated. "Ari, I... I didn't know what else to do. I made some bad deals with Dimitriv Volkov and got on his wrong side. I, I was in deep trouble. I couldn't pay back the millions, and I thought everything was over."
He took a deep breath. "That's when Arnold stepped in, paid off the debt, and saved us. But there was a condition... He wanted our families to be tied together through marriage."
I looked at my father like he had switched to another language. The whole situation was hilarious but I did not have it in me to laugh.
"You did what!!?" I questioned, my voice barely a whisper. He could not be referring to "The Dimitri Volkov", the infamous leader of the most notorious and deadly underground mafia terrorizing the city. No. He must be mistaken, he has to be, but the sinking feeling of dread increased as I looked at my father's ashen face and as my mother 's face too grew pale.
"What on earth did he do to the boss to have made him furious? I wondered inwardly, and most importantly who was this Arnold my father spoke of with such bitterness?
The thought of my father in such a situation almost melted some of the fury I felt towards him at that moment. Almost.
I was about to fish for more answers but my mother beat me to it.
"Who is this Arnold.... Graham? "she asked tiredly, already fed up with the whole drama. Not that I could blame her, this wasn't how I expected my 25th birthday evening to turn out.
"He's an old friend of mine... My father hesitated before adding, actually. We went to the same college and played together in the school's soccer club". He kept a blank expression after saying this, but I couldn't help but feel he wasn't completely truthful.
My mom must have thought so too, for she asked,"Was? Why did you guys fall out? "
To which my Dad looked extremely uncomfortable and said, "It's a long story, what is important is that he cleared all my debts and asked for a marriage between our families as a condition."
"So who is this stranger I'm being sold to"? I snapped, getting a disapproving look from my Dad, which I completely ignored. After all, he wasn't the one sold like a piece of furniture to God knows who.
"Like I said earlier his name is Nicolas Caelan Blackwood, the owner and CEO of the prestigious Blackwood International Holdings and he also owns numerous five star hotels and estates all over the states. He is the most sought after bachelor and the youngest richest CEO with a staggering network all at the age of 29....."
My father kept blowing the guy's trumpets and as he did he looked less guilty and took on a more prideful countenance.
As for me, when I heard the company's name and this guy was the Ceo.. The rest became static.... background noise that was insignificant .
Of course everyone knew Blackwood International Holdings and its famous CEO. You have to be a dunce not to. The media loved Nicolas and referred to him as the handsome cold prince due to his lack of social media life coupled with his aloofness on camera.
One thing was certain though, he had a lot of female fans and admirers fighting for his attention,including actresses and daughters of big business moguls.
He used and discarded women like one will use a clean rag then discard it when it hashad served itsit's purpose.
Men saw him as arrogant and pompous while women saw him as a challenge to conquer. It didn't help that he was blessed with devastating good-looks. With a shock of jet black hair and ocean gray eyes set into a face with bushy eyebrows and a jawline to die for, I was sure his already inflated ego would know no bounds.
As my brain slowly processed and calculated the words spewing out from my dad's mouth, I came to a very abrupt conclusion.
I was being sold off to the highest bidder...who also turned out to be a woman hater and the biggest chauvinistic asshole that ever walked God's green earth.
Holy shit.
HOLY SHITTTTTT.
Oh. My. God.... I was so doomed.
The blissful idea of running somewhere far away was discarded as soon as it came. If I ran, my parents' lives and future could be compromised and I was certain this Arnold guy was powerful enough to make their lives hell if I ever decided to go through it. I looked at my parents speechless, the réalisation that it was going to happen dawning on me.
"I'm sorry Ari,.... my. father said dejectedly, "I wish there was another way out of this mess I created". I wanted to shout, to curse him and yell other hurtful painful words at him but the words dried up my throat. I was physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted with it all.
"Come, Ari.... my mother beckoned me with her hands and her eyes pleading with me to forgive my dad and understand him like the many times I did in the past…. But not this time.
My Dad looked more diminished and dejected than I had ever seen him before. His usually slicked back salt-pepper hair now mostly grey was in disarray,his steely eyes that were always cold during any business transaction now looked sad and tired. I noticed new lines etched on his face which weren't there before and his always upright posture that served as intimidating to some of his employees now carried a slight but noticeable stoop. Graham Devereux looked ten years older than his normal 50s.
My resolve to be mad at them faltered for a second but I hardened myself and put on a blank expression hiding my inner turmoil. Looking at the man I called father from the day I learned how to say the word but now felt like a complete stranger to me, my heart broke.
A memory surfaced from the past and I suppressed it on time not wanting them to see I still had troubles with what had happened a long time ago. The last thing I needed was their pity . I refuse to be seen as a victim again.
"What month is the wedding"? I asked my voice flat.
"Nicholas turns 30 in August so the wedding will be after that"..... He replied with his face down. I would have enjoyed watching my no- nonsense father look so ill at ease and awkward, if I didn't feel like a volcano close to erupting and destroying everything on its path.
I nodded and went towards my mother to hug her goodbye, as I could not stay there for one more minute less I did something I regret. "Take care mom, I have to go".... I tried to smile but was sure it looked more like a grimace. She nodded understandingly and casted a steely look at my dad which said " you see what you've caused". I was glad that she had my back in this though there was nothing she could do to salvage the disaster caused.
I am getting married in a month, I murmured to myself and some weeks to come. It didn't ease the rising panic that threatened to suffocate me but maybe if I kept on saying it I could convince myself that the nightmare going on is my reality.
"Amara is going to have a stroke…" I chuckled inwardly, mentally planning how I was going to break down the unbelievable news to my closest and loyal bestie since high school. I sighed inwardly and headed towards the door. As I was about to leave, I turned towards my parents who were still watching me sadly and looking sorry for themselves.Ha….. You had thought they were the victims.
I saw my mom's eyes flit to the birthday cake sitting untouched in the corner and thought sadly, what a waste of good cake, but I had lost any appetite I had previously. Too bad as the cake was my favorite flavor. strawberries with a hint of chocolate and vanilla.
I second guessed taking the cake with me before deciding not to. Glancing at my father clearly wallowing in guilt didn't move me.I just didn't have it in me at the moment to care.Looking him in the eyes I said with a sad smile,
"Congratulations, Dad, you just gave away your daughter like she's a bloody souvenir". Without any more words, I turned on my heels and left.