CHAPTER ONE

BENEATH THE FACADE

Behind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secret awaits.

CHAPTER 1

Emily's POV

I knelt in front of my father sobbing loudly, as tears streamed down my eyes and mucus from my nostrils.

“Father you can't do this to me, there has to be another way out. You can't sell me off like some sort of property. I'm human, your only daughter at that. I have emotions, I'm entitled to my life. You promised to always make me happy ever since mom died”. I sobbed loudly, my face swollen as I had been crying for a long time.

I had lost my mom at a very tender age of five, that was many years ago but I recall the events that unfolded on the day she died vividly, as my dad had always told the story.

It was a black Thursday, the 20th of December,1990, a few days to Christmas when my mum died after hours of child labor. My mum had suffered several miscarriages and my father rejoiced when she had carried her last one to term, but my joy and that of my father was only short lived.

***

“Doctor, is there anything else that can be done, my wife has been in labor for over 5 hours now. She's dying” those were the words of my father as he paced the waiting room.

“Sir, we're trying all our best, we can only keep trying. We cannot consider going through a caesarian section due to complications that would affect the baby, so we can only keep trying” The doctor in charge of my mum pleaded as he walked away.

And two hours later, the cry of a baby was heard. My father and I jubilated but our joy was cut short as the doctor broke the news of my mum's death. We had lost her eventually.

How was he going to take care of the baby all by himself? was the look he wore on his face.

He cried as he looked down at the innocent child he carried in his arms. She had given him a beautiful baby girl, and the child looked just like my mother. But the baby died a few days after as well, due to complications.

It was a great loss for both of us but somehow we managed to survive. We learnt to live on our own.

Ever since then, it was just my father and I. My father had chosen not to remarry because he feared no woman would love me or take care of me as my mother had done. We had lived through that phase of life together. We had celebrated good days and mourned bad days together. He was all I got and to think he would marry me off to just anyone, broke my heart and saddened me the more. The pain I felt was like an arrow hit my chest, it was too much for me to bear.

“Emily darling”, he said, and jolted me from my reverie. I could hear the hint of frustration in his voice, as he pulled me up and drew me closer. You know how much I love and will always love you.

“Please don't be selfish, put this family and the company into consideration too. Nothing else can be done. You know I would give out my last, just to ensure you're happy. But this is beyond my power. My hands are tied too. Billionaire Kingston made his mind up already” he said, as he drew me into a hug. Resting on my father's chest, I dissolved into more tears. I lay there on my father's chest where I fell asleep eventually.

***

I woke up the next morning and left for work. I worked as a teacher in a school. Though, I had this affection for children, and even loved taking care of babies but it was never part of the plan to work in a school setting.

I only took the job when my father's company began declining in profit.The company wasn't bringing profit any more. I had to work elsewhere, as I formerly worked in my father's company. No nearby company had a vacant post, so I had to resort to teaching.

It wasn't so hard finding the perfect school to work, as my late mother’s friend owned a school. She had been kind enough to let me work without any experience.

The teaching job was tasking and demanding,as I managed a class of thirty students with no assistance. But as for the children I was enjoying their company. They helped me take my mind off the saga with my father's company.

“Miss Emily, are you well?” Ace, one of the kids asked, his eyebrows raised in concern and his hands on my neck, checking my temperature.

“I'm fine sweetie, just had a long night.” I replied, my knuckles grazing his cheeks.

“Miss Emily, you look unwell. Do you mind a day off? I could help talk with the school administrator, I'm sure she wouldn't mind, she would understand”, he probed

“I'm okay sweetie,” I insisted, as I played with his curls and tickled his hair.

I wondered how he could summon up courage to talk to the school's administrator. It was his boldness for me, anyways kids of these days have a thing with audacity.

Seven-year old Ace wasn't the best student in my class. But he was my favorite. He was very caring and considerate. He always had my best interest at heart. After all Ace suffered, coming from a home of divorced parents, somehow he still managed to mete out love to others.

I had learnt a lot from the kid within the short time I had spent. I had every reason to love too, I always reminded myself.

I stood up and gave the children a few sums to solve and it was time for them to go home. I dismissed everyone and stayed behind for the daily meeting, which always took place after school.

Where I worked, at HEAVENS LIGHT Montessori school, the staff had to meet with the school administrator at the close of each day. The meeting was held to discuss the challenges we had during the day, with any child. I liked the idea, because it gave us the avenue to speak up on any issue we had before it got out of hand.

The meeting most times lasted for an hour. After the meeting that day, I dragged my feet slowly home as I was returning to my worst nightmare again. My house was just a stone's throw away.

***

I got home, took a shower and decided to rest a while. I had had a long day at work, and all my body ached.

***

I woke up later in the evening and started preparing dinner, before my father returned from work. I played the role of all social staff after all of them were laid off. Due to my father's inability to pay their salaries. “All of these are a phase, they'll surely pass away”, I muttered to myself reassuringly under my breath.

***

Mr Caleb's POV:

“Oh God, I never imagined it could get to this stage. That the ex-billionaire would sign his daughter up,to be used as a collateral for his company. God, where did I go wrong, I did everything right and yet I end up in a mess as this. Poor Emily, I wonder what she thinks of me now. She may probably see me as selfish. What kind of father gives out his daughter at the detriment of her happiness, all in the name of saving his company.

“Maybe I should decline Billionaire Kingston's request and go to jail instead. No, no but Emily’s happiness is my happi-”. I was cut short by my personal assistant who had been knocking on the door for a while now.

“Sir is everything alright, I've been on the door for awhile now”, Mr Ken said as his brows raised in concern.

“I'm okay, you should be home now?” I said expecting an answer in return

“But Sir, you asked me to prepare the handover documents by the close of the day. It's ready sir”, he replied.

“Oh the handover documents, it must have skipped my mind. I’d check it out tomorrow. Thank you, you should be on your way home now. Remember no other staff should be aware of this whole process”, I warned my assistant, pointing my index finger towards him in a warning sign.

“Of course sir”, he replied as he bowed his head in courtesy.

***

Emily's POV

After setting the table for my father and I, I paced around the living room.

“No, father must not go to jail. He has sacrificed a lot for me. He didn't know any other woman aside from mom. I’ll make this one sacrifice for him. Even if it means me giving up on my dreams”.

“Maybe I'll find happiness in my new marriage. Maybe he just sounds tough, he might be a good person. He might not be that bad. I’ll learn to love him. We’ll make love and bear beautiful children”.I smiled and wrapped my arms around my chest reassuringly.

I was jolted out of reverie by the horn of my father's car. I looked at the time. It was fast. “Father, must have had a long day at work, poor man”, I thought to myself as I hurriedly ran to open the gate.

“Welcome father”, I hugged him jumping like a child that had just been given candies.

“I’m tired darling”.

“We're meeting someone by the weekend, so get yourself prepared”, he said, as he gave me a slight hug and walked away.