Playing Hero

Chapter 4

Felix’s Pov

“What do you mean the profit rates have decreased!”, I exclaimed.

“Are you fucking insane?. I want a full report on last months transactions. Have them in my office by Monday or else!”.

“Can l get you anything sir?”. Claire my personal assistant asked.

I hadn’t noticed her walk in when l was on the phone with my manager Nick. I ren my hand through my hair, something I did whenever l felt fustrated.

“No thank you Claire”, I replied.

“Ok.” She replied. Claire hesitated a little before she spoke again. “Your father is here, he wants to speak to you”, Claire said cautiously.

“Tell him I’m busy”, I replied flatly.

“But sir he’s_”

Click, l heard the door to my office open.

“Hello Felix.” A familiar voice greeted me.

“Hello father” I deadpanned.

My father walked inside the office and casually sat himself on one of the chairs. I sighed in annoyance before l signaled for Claire to leave the room. She nodded in acknowledgment and left without saying another word.

“So what brings you here, father, if l may ask?”, I said without wasting much time.

I was a busy man. Being the CEO of Gray Corps kept me on a tight schedule.

“Getting straight to the point l see. Wouldn’t you at least pretend to be happy to see me”, my father laughed.

I remained impassive as l folded my arms across my chest, waiting to hear what he had to say. My father was always coming up with stupid tasks and requests for me to do. And l was always prepared for it. But nothing in the world could have prepared me for what he said next.

“You’re getting engaged.”

“I’m sorry what?”, I asked, not sure if I had heard him correct.

“It’s all been arranged, you are to meet your fiancé tomorrow afternoon and you are to discuss the arrangements as well as the date of engagement. Soon after we’ll be announcing your engagement to the public and we’ll be making the wedding arrangements from there”, my father explained.

I couldn’t believe my ears. In fact my ears had stopped working the moment my father had opened his mouth and said the word engaged. I could see his lips moving but l failed to comprehend what he was saying.

“Any questions?”, my father asked, with an air of supremacy.

“Any questions? Any questions?”, I shouted. As l could feel myself getting angry.

“Is that all you fucking have to say. I’m sorry but you can’t just show up all high and mighty feeding me bullshit and expect me to eat it. I am my own person, don’t you think l have the right to decide whom and when I want to marry?”, I shouted.

Brewing anger threatening to consume me whole. I had stood up from my chair and was now standing towering over my father. My wooden desk being the only thing that separated us.

My father remained impassive and nonchalant as he sat back on my leather chair. A chair that used to belong to him when he’d once ran the company.

“There is no point throwing a tantrum Felix, it’s already been decided and I’ve already talked to the girls family”, my father said nonchalantly.

“Her grandfather and l made an agreement and you just happened to be a part of it. Now clear up your schedule up for tomorrow. I expect you to be in Malibu by then”.

And with that my father stood up and left. Leaving me completely dumbfounded.

I was still fuming in anger when my driver came to pick me up that night. I’d left the office late. Having attempted to distract myself by throwing myself into my work.

My father had always been this way ever since my mother had left him. Telling me what to do, acting like l was an asset instead of a son. I hated how he made me feel small and powerless. Despite me being a full grown twenty five year old man. He still treated me like l was a child.

His controlling behavior got better once I had became an adult and moved out of his house. But it was undeniable that he still had some control over my life. Now, he was planning to have me marry some random girl I’d never even met.

And just when l thought l had seen all of my fathers heinous acts. However, it really didn’t matter though. I’d marry the girl and divorce her shortly after. My father said I had to marry her but he never said for how long.

“Stop the car”, I said instinctively.

My driver Ronald stopped and turned to give me an apprehensive look.

“Is anything the matter sir?”, he asked, a concerned look on his wrinkled face.

“See that lady over there”, I said pointing to a young woman l had just seen walking in the side of the road.

“Offer her a ride. It’s late and it’s not safe for her to be walking around this late. Especially with the abductions that have been taking place”, l explained, I too slightly concerned about my impulsive action.

However, it was true that the number of young girls that were being abducted was recently increasing in the city. Police suspected that it was connected to some illegal human trafficking business. Which probably explained why l was partially worried for the girls safety. Ronald nodded and l watched as he left the car to talk to the woman.

It was late afternoon when l arrived in Malibu the following day. I was tired and aggravated for having sat in the car for so long. My father had texted me the address of the woman’s house, the woman l was supposed to marry.

“This must be it”, Ronald said as he pulled the car to a stop.

I gazed up to look at the small brick house that sat at the side of the road. It looked a little old but neat, with two large bay windows that overlooked the road and a wooden porch.

“Well, we’ll get to business then”, I said more enthusiastic than l had actually felt. As l opened the door to the limo and stepped outside.

Suddenly, the door to the brick house burst open and I watched as a young woman came running out.

“Leigh wait!”, I heard someone call out to her.

But she kept running directly towards the road. Her long cherry brown hair swaying and fraying due to the harsh wind that had suddenly blew by. I watched as she stopped in the middle of the road and began to untangle her hair from her face.

“Leigh watch out!”, someone yelled.

That’s when l saw it, the speeding car that raced towards her.

“Leigh no!”, someone shouted.

I reacted fast without thinking. “Watch out!”, I yelled.

Running as fast as l could, I sprung forward and grabbed her hand. Pulling her smack into my chest, seconds before the car whooshed by.

“Are you hurt?”, l asked.

She wasn’t responding,

“Leigh!”, someone yelled from a distance.

“Is she okay?”

“Someone call the ambulance”, I heard another voice yell.

“She’s just in shock”, I said as l looked down to observe her.

That’s when our eyes met.

I almost gasped.

Her eyes, were beautiful.

They had to be the most extraordinary thing I’d ever seen. They were the most beautiful shade of indigo. Almost like a deep ocean of blue.

I unconsciously gasped, as she drew in her breath to speak.

“You saved me”, she breathed.