CHAPTER 2

Shay's POV

By the time I reached home, our butler quickly tells me that my parents and my siblings have already left for the event. I rushed to my bedroom, took a quick shower, slipped on a white formal dress and a pair of new high heels, did my hair and makeup in a hurry and drove to the place where the business event is taking place. It took about twenty minutes to get there, and as soon as the valet opened the door for me, I quickly jumped out of the car and speed walk inside. My parents and my siblings were just standing up ahead in front of a bunch of reporters and journalists taking pictures with their camera flashes barely blinding them.

I joined in line next to my older sister Shelby and they gave me a side glance before looking back to the cameras and smiling. I followed them inside the hall and we sat in the front row, making sure to keep a good posture with a smile on our faces just like the "perfect" family we are. After the MC made the introductions, a few of the board members from my father's company took turns going up on stage to present to the guests how good our business is running, our perfect never-ending profits and other new international business partnerships. Basically, this event is just another one of those times that my father wants to show the rest of the world just how good of a businessman he is while it boost his ego at the same time.

Straight after the main event, we went into another huge empty room for a quick family photo-shoot. There's just a couch where my parents were seated and the rest of us stood from the back in line from oldest to youngest. I plastered a fake smile on my face and looked towards the camera, waiting for the photographer's cue.

"Are those my new Jimmy Choo heels?" My other older sister, Shanelle, whispered angrily at me.

"No, they're mine." She scoffed and cast a glance down at my shoes.

"Stop lying, that is a limited edition Jimmy Choo shoes. I swear to god, if I find out that those heels are mine-"

"They're not yours!" I sharply whispered back, causing my mother to glance back at us with a hint of annoyance in her eyes.

Shanelle sharply jabbed my arm from the side and I closed my eyes in frustration and tried to focus on the camera. She may be a year older than me but sometimes she acts as if she's a lot older than any of us that she can just boss me around and drop comments of anything about me that makes my blood boil in anger. My nails dug into my palm so hard that I don't even care if it starts to bleed, as soon as the photographer says that we're all good to go, I released a low sigh of relief and followed my parents out to our car to start heading back home.

******

My father rarely speaks to me when we're at home, let alone looks me in the eye. Same thing he does with Shanelle who always talk without thinking. He only talks to Shelby and Shawn about everything regarding our family business. The tension in the house when we got back was different from the rest of the days. It was almost like we were expecting something big to happen and when dad took off his suit jacket and threw it angrily on the floor, that was our cue to escape to our rooms before he vents out on us.

"The monopoly strategy, are you kidding me?!" He starts to yell at Shawn.

Shelby and Shanelle went upstairs immediately but I remain standing by the foot of the staircase, looking back at my brother the only person stable enough to accept dad's anger all the time. Since he was recently appointed as the new CEO of Falcon Group, my father didn't wanna retire just yet because he wants to make sure that Shawn is capable enough of running the company by himself never mind that Shelby is also working alongside Shawn in taking care of other business affairs. I was never close with my sisters, Shawn is the only person in this house that I can rely on and he would do anything for me.

"I took care of it dad."

Dad took a closer step towards him with both his hands on his hips and a furious look on his face.

"Then why the hell did it show up with the marketing performance with only 5 percent?! Do you think 5 percent is perfect enough to be included in the marketing chart?!"

Mom placed her hand on Shawn's shoulder and started saying something in a low tone to dad.

"I don't give a damn! By tomorrow, I need that number erased or you and your marketing team will have a problem."

He yelled back at Shawn before storming away. I always feel sorry that Shawn is only one who is mostly pressured but, there's nothing I can do to help him. His problems with dad is just their business and my mother never fails to remind me that every time I try to interfere. I slowly made my way back to my room and took a shower before getting ready for bed and looking forward to another day of work tomorrow. When I walked out of my bathroom, I was surprised to see my mother standing inside my room with her arms folded and eyes set on the floor. I continued drying my hair with a towel and went and sat at my vanity without saying a word.

"Why were you late tonight?" She asked with a stern voice.

"My yoga classes took longer than I thought, sorry."

She turned around and glared at me in the mirror.

"Sorry is not gonna cut it Shay. This type of events is very important that we all show up as a family, do you get that?" I slowly nod my head.

"Yoga classes and whatever activities you do nowadays can come later. Anyway, clear your schedule for tomorrow afternoon. I set up a date for you to meet a very handsome and successful man who might be your future husband someday."

I turned around in my seat and frowned at her. She can't be serious right?

"What? Why mom? I told you, I'm not ready for this type of things yet."

She made a 'tsk' noise with her tongue and slowly strolled back towards the door.

"Don't be ridiculous Shay, you're nearly 25 which is the perfect age to get married. Just like I did, and don't worry, he's not the only one in line. So just meet the guy and see if he's your type."

I stood up and chuckled in disbelief.

"Why me? Shelby and Shawn are almost reaching their thirties yet you're not forcing them to get married!"

She opened the door to my room and looked back at me with a straight look on her face that just makes me feel even more frustrated than ever.

"That's because they still have a lot to do first for this family. You on the other hand, not so much."

With that being said, she walked out of my room and slammed the door behind her. I ran my fingers through my hair and groaned angrily. I can't let this arrange marriage thing happen. Not now when I'm still working on my plan to walk out of this house for good without any look back.