Chapter 2: Not happening

Daisy

Everything seems to go well these days.

My job has been relaxing to a degree. I love the feel of walking down each aisle, running my fingers along the spine of books and feeling like I have the world at my feet.

Some parts of my life I wish would stay hidden which is why I ended up in central London.

It's busy and I more than likely have a higher chance of getting hit by a car than ever seeing my father again which is a disturbing bonus if I might add.

"Daisy doo" C.J. shouts as I head through the door. It's September which in London means the weather is short old. Thankfully we had a good summer but now it seems like the rainy season is about to hit.

Big time.

"Yeah?" I shout back. We share a 2 bedroom place and half all bills which works well for us. C.J. works at the doctors as a mental health nurse whereas I work at our local 3-floor library.

"You have a package. It's a big package today" she says which is still bizarre. Yesterday I received a bracelet in the mail. Expensive and engraved with my name written on it.

"You open it," I tell her. I didn't find it weird yesterday because I was expecting my A****n delivery but then it showed up later that night so today I am feeling weirded out.

"Okay," she says hesitantly.

She opens the box and slides it over to me.

"What is it?" I ask because I daren't look.

"By the looks of it, it's a box of roses?" She says but her answer seems to be more of a question.

I'm looking through the box when our buzzer goes off.

"I'll get it," she says as she walks over to the intercom in our apartment.

I glance down at the box once more and pull one Red rose from the box.

God, I hate red roses.

And there's a whole box of them on my Kitchen counter. I don't drink but right now would be a perfect time for a shot of vodka maybe even whiskey.

Neat.

"Uh- girl, you have a visitor" C.J. states as she comes into the kitchen with 4 massive men.

I raise a single eyebrow, taking in the front man's very expensive suit. His brown hair pulled back in a small man bun, his brown eyes that stare back at me and his hands clasped together in front of him.

"Can I help you?" I ask not showing the nervousness that's sitting on the tip of my tongue.

Show no weakness

Show no fear.

Show both emotions when they leave.

Scrap ideas number 1&2 because idea number 3 is looking to be a very good idea.

Just not yet.

"Are you Daisy?"

"I am," I say and then add on the "Are you the mystery 'Let's be nice and send gifts?' Cause if you are...It's creepy"

"Daisy" C.J. hisses as she stands next to me but the chuckle that leaves one of the men who steps up front.

He's the same height and possibly bulk as the first guy who spoke, he's also got tattoos on his hands as he stands there staring right at me. His hair is shorter than the other man's but they both have the same facial expression, same eye colour and same everything.

Twins.

"Do you not like them?" The second guy asks and I can now tell who is in charge here.

"The bracelet is nice, Thank you for that. Maybe take the roses home with you though. Red roses are bad luck for me."

They are only bad luck for you because of Danny.

Ah. Danny. The cheating Ex who placed a dozen roses on our bed and then slept with another woman.

Not expecting me to be home early either so that was a bonus.

"You don't like roses?"

"I don't like surprises so can you please tell me what the hell 4... okay 5 grown ass men are doing standing in my tiny ass apartment?"

"You don't get to ask questions here Love"

"You're in my home" I retort back. My body now flaming with annoyance.

"You know a Jerry?"

"Oh for Christ's sake. He owes you too?"

His brow raises a bit before smiling down at my 5 foot 4 height.

He has at least a foot on my tiny height.

And more power. Both physical and mental.

"Oh he owes me more than you can imagine but that's why I'm here" he says with a voice so calm and collected it terrifies me.

"I don't have the kind of money you're probably after okay."

"I know. You don't know anything about me, but I know quite a fair bit about you Daisy Harrison. But that's where I come into it. Your father basically sold you. To me. I get to do whatever I see fit with you or he dies" he says in that tone once again.

The shivers run down my spine at the thrill of it. If he thinks I'd save Jerry's ass he can think again.

"And you propose what?" I ask swallowing the lump in my throat.

"A marriage of convenience."

"A what?"

"Your hand in marriage for his life. He assures me you are capable of doing it and helping him out" His Italian accent sends happy goosebumps down my spine I swear.

"He's delusional is what he is. Do what you want to him I don't care"

My admittance throws him back a bit which is bizarre. Surely if he's done his research on me and my father he would realise that I have nothing to do with him and that all the hospital trips I went to were never an accident.

Broken arms.

Fractured leg.

Black eyes.

Dislocated fingers.

Glass shards stuck in random places of my body.

The nightmares I still get at the age of 24.

The hospital f*e I'm still paying for which is still a lot.

The fear of being around a drunk man.

Not so bad anymore because therapy works and most of the techniques I use are resourceful but even the mere thought of being around a drunk person makes me feel sick.

The social worker that took me out of my home only to place me back into it 4 weeks later because the system saw me as too old.

Pieces of my life taken at the hands of him.

"And what's that supposed to mean Daisy?"

"It means, Jerry isn't my responsibility. I don't owe him anything. If he owes you then you go to him and you take it from him by money or whatever it is you do, I don't care" I say as I walk to the sink and place both my hands on it trying to steady my breathing.

Heavy footsteps fall on our wooden floorboards and when I lift my gas I can see his reflection from our kitchen hen window.

"The chapel is booked for four weeks time Daisy. I expect to see you there. My plane will be waiting on the private tarmac 2 days before and I expect to see you with your suitcases and every single belonging you own. If I don't I will come and get you myself"

"I don't want to be held a prisoner for the rest of my life because of him" I mutter quietly. My heart is pounding so heavily that I feel as if it might explode.

"You'll never be a prisoner being my wife. Financially you will have everything you want"

"And emotionally?" I ask because I don't want to feel unloved. I've never been told that someone loves me or misses me. My mother ran off when I was 6 and since then my father has been my enemy and worst nightmare.

"Emotional . . . I will be faithful to you but I won't love you."

I don't say anything as I walk to the front door and hold it open for them. Holding back my tears and my fear until the door is fully shut on the last man.