Chapter 4

TAY

My brothers and I sat around the dinner table in our parent’s mansion. Mom said she wanted to tell me something important. She clears her throat and we all look at her.

“Um Tay? Your father and I have decided that it’s time for you to get married. You are not getting any younger, and I want to see all my children happy before…” I cut her off.

“Mom, don't talk like that. You are not going anywhere.” I knew mom was running out of time, but I was in denial about her illness. For the past three years, I have been bringing specialist after specialist for her case. They all say the same damn thing.

‘Sorry, Mr. Payne, but there is nothing we can do about your mother’s case anymore.’

As if I wanted to hear their apologies. Honestly, I don’t think I will survive another loss of someone close to my heart, not again.

“Tay, will you listen to me?” Mom pleas and I nod.

“We met with Grace and Joe. The Fergusons last month and they have agreed that as soon as their daughter, Olivia graduates you two will get married.” Mom informs.

“Mom, why would you do that without consulting with me first? I’m in a relationship, remember?” Nate chuckles. Andrew smacks him at the back of his head.

“Don’t tell me about that brat. She is not wife material. All she cares about is her damn face and popping pimples.” this time Nate and Andrew chuckle.

These two love seeing Mom scold me about Ria.

“What? It’s funny, isn’t it, Andrew?” Nate nudges Andrew with his elbow and he shakes his head.

“Okay, now back to the serious matters. Olivia has agreed to marry you. Tomorrow they are coming here so that you guys can meet.” Mom informs excitedly.

“How old is she?” I ask and bring a glass of orange juice to my mouth.

“Twenty.” I spit the juice back into the glass, and Nate burst into laughter again, throwing his head back, causing him to lose balance and end up on the floor. Andrew chuckles next to me, playing with his food using a fork. 

“Oh my God, Nate, are you okay?” Mom asks, worried.

“Yes Mom.” he chuckles and gets up and sits back on the chair. I take a napkin and dry my lips.

“You are kidding, right?” I ask Mom.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“What the fuck, mom? What am I going to do with a teenager?” I ask, horrified.

“Language.” Chris scolds.

“Sorry, but…” Mom cuts me off.

“No, can’t you do this for me? My wish before me…”

“Now, this is emotional blackmail.”

“Please? I will ask nothing of you anymore.” she gives me a begging smile.

“Mom, you know I will do anything for you. I will go to the ends of the world to make you happy and if marrying this Olivia will make you happy then I will marry her.” I say without even having time to think about my decision.

‘What the hell am I getting myself into?’ I ask myself. Mom moves from her side and gives me a tight hug like her life depends on it.

The rest of the dinner is full of laughter as we play chess for the rest of the night.

****

A phone ringing snaps me back to reality. I look at the caller ID.

It is Danny, my assistant.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Um, sir….”

“Danny, I don’t have all day listening to your mumblings,” I lose it.

“It’s about the contract with the Japanese,” I hear him taking a deep breath.

“Yes?”

“We...we,”

“Speak up, I don’t have all day. I have many things to do.” I snap.

“We didn’t get the contract,”

“And why is that?” I ask calmly. 

“I...I didn’t submit the file on time,” he confesses.

“What the hell, Danny!” I stand up from the couch. I can see Olivia at the corner of my eye, standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m sorry, sir. It slipped my mind,” Danny says with an apologetic voice.

“I cannot believe this. When I give you something to do, you do it, I don't run a school where you forget your homework at home and you get detention. I run a fucking company and excuses are the last thing I need.” I yell. Anger is slowly reaching its peak. Thinking about the billions I have just lost makes me feel like I'm losing my mind and I throw my phone against the wall.

I push my hair out of my face to calm myself down. I sigh and put my jacket on—place my laptop into my black leather bag, and grab my car keys from the coffee and walk to the door that leads to the garage—a BMW in beeps and I make my way to it. I’m a lover of exotic cars and love collecting them. I place my bag into the passenger seat, hop in the driver’s seat, buckle up, and drive out of the garage and into the long driveway. 

I call the office as soon I pass the gate.

“Payne Corporation, how may I help you?” Lucy, my other personal’s assistant, asks.

“Lucy is Tay. I need you to get me a new iPhone; I'm on my way to the office right now.” I order, my eyes still glued to the road.

“I will get right on it, sir.”

“Tell Jack I want that report I asked him to put together about Olivia Ferguson today.”

“Yes sir.” I disconnect the call and focus on the road.

After what seemed like an eternity, I drove my car into the Payne Corporation lot. I get out of the car and walk to the elevator. Lucy is standing next to the reception table, holding a cup of coffee and a box of what seemed like a new phone I asked for.

“Morning, Mr. Payne,” Lucy says with a bright smile on her face.

“Morning Lucy.” I greet her back, and she hands me a cup of coffee. We head to my office as she keeps telling me about my meetings for today. Danny is standing next to the elevator with the most horrified look I have ever seen in my life. I don’t want my employees to fear me, but I don’t want them to slack on their job as well. Many people depend on me, and I have my fair share of enemies who would love to see my downfall like my Uncle David. I get he is new to the personal assistant thing, but I can't keep losing money. I will deal with him later.

“M... morning, Mr. Payne,”

“Morning, Danny.” I greet back and head to my office. He expected me to fire him on the spot, but I’m not that cruel. I know he has a family to feed.

The rest of the morning goes by with back-to-back meetings, and before I know it, it is lunchtime. Someone knocks on the door.

“Come in.” I take off my jacket as the door opens. Donald, my cousin, enters-the son of David Payne, my biggest enemy but he and I get along very well.

“What brings you here?” I ask as I approach him.

“Is this how you greet your dearest cousin?” Donald pretends to be hurt, and I pull him into a hug. 

“Thought we could have lunch together?”

“Of course.” we head to the cream couch, and he unpacks the bag, places the container (by Tupperware) full of food, and two bottles of orange juice on the small black table. 

“So, how is your case going?” I ask and take a sip from the bottle.

“Good, that bastard will be in jail soon.” Donald is a lawyer for abused women, and he does it for free. He never told me why he chose this path and I never asked but am proud of him.

“Have you visited the foundation?” Donald asks. I started the Payne foundation after my sister’s death for abused women since she died at the hands of an abuser, she called a ‘husband’. I built a place where they could call home, a place where they won’t be judged or be mistreated.

“No, but I will make time during the week.” I tell him, and my phone buzzes.

Ria.

Hey babe, I’m at your house having lunch with Olivia, Nate, and Nana. Do you want me to wait for you? The text read.

It’s a reminder that I have to get rid of her.

I place the phone back on the small table at the same time a knock is heard at the door. Jack enters with a file in his hand.

“The information you wanted.” he hands me the file.

“Thanks,” I say, and he walks out of the office.

“What is that?” Donald asks.

“It is information about my fiancée.” I tell Donald and he leans in to look.

“That’s your fiancée?” He asks, pointing at the picture of Olivia.

“Yes why?” Donald clears his throat and shakes his head.

“N...nothing.” I look at him one more time and read the file.

I thought she was joking when she said she skipped a couple of grades in high school. Her work is impressive; she used to get total A’s. They thought it was useless to keep her with other learners when she was far away from them with a massive gap, and it makes me wonder how much her IQ is.

This is interesting.

After reading the first page, I place the file on my desk and eat my lunch. Donald and I finish our lunch, talking about the good old days. After a while, I say goodbye to him and get back to work. I meet with the Japanese trying to convince them to give me one last chance and by the time they finally agree- it is noon, and I am tired as fuck.

I grab my things and make my way to my car in the underground garage. I take off my jacket and place it on the passenger seat. 

The drive back to the house is quick.

I find Olivia and Nana in the kitchen. Olivia is drinking coffee and Nana is busy cooking. I kiss Nora on the cheek. “Ms. Ferguson?” 

Olivia just nods and takes a sip from her coffee mug. How badly I wanted to hear her voice.

“You had a long day?” Nana asks.

“You don’t want to know.” I place my briefcase on the stool and my jacket on top. I intentionally brush my arm with Olivia’s while I take a seat next to her. Nana hands me a cup of coffee and I wrap my hands around it.

“How was your day, Ms. Ferguson?” I know that if I say ‘Miss Ferguson’ she will respond.

“There’s no need to be so formal, you know?” Olivia says in an annoyed tone. I will do anything to hear her sweet, angelic voice.

“Now, are you going to tell me how your day was?” I ask in a demanding voice.

“No.” she gives me a straight answer.

“It is hardly to hear a person ever saying no to me,” I say and take a sip from the coffee mug.

“Looks like I’m going to be the first one then.” Why does she always have answers to everything?

“We will see about that.” I take the last sip and place the coffee mug on the kitchen counter and grab my things.

“Nana.” I nod at her and walk out.

“What does he mean by that?” I hear Olivia asking Nana. I rush over to the staircase.

I throw my jacket and briefcase on the bed, undress, and head for the shower. The hot water relaxes my tense muscles and after a while, I wrap my waist with a towel. I grab another towel to dry my hair, brush my teeth, and make my way to the closet. My phone buzzes on the bed, and I check the message. It's about tomorrow's meeting.

I dress up in my blue ripped jeans, put my phone in my back pocket, and walk out of the room holding my t-shirt.

I pull the t-shirt over my head while padding down the stairs and walk to the dining table to have dinner with Olivia.