Chapter 14

Juliano's POV

My door knocks upon me as I stand up from my bed. It must be my father or Margot, no one knocks my door unnecessarily.

I opened the door and my father came into view holding a glass of water. He prefers water to any liquid. Walking back to my room, he follows behind as the guards bow and stay by the door.

Entering the room, I sat on the bed, removing my slippers.

Still clutching his glass of water, he sits on the sofa across from me. One of his arms flings to the back of the sofa. His legs are apart. He appears relaxed, nonchalant even, as he twirls the water in his glass.

“You are thirty, Juliano”. He said looking at me, laying emphasis on the ‘thirty’. I already know where this was heading.

“I'm aware, you're planning a surprise party I guess”, acting nonchalant, I walked over to my table picking up a glass of wine as if I didn't know what he was about to say.

I've been dodging this conversation for months.

Returning to my position, I sat down facing him.

“You're the heir of this family and you have to take over the company permanently. You need to get married”, he said

“I'm not ready for marriage, the next few years might give me a change of mind”, I protested, the sound of my glass making a cracking sound on the table.

“There’s someone I'd love you to meet. Her name is Cindy. She's my friend's daughter, a singer in the USA. She has been attracted to you since you were about 4, you two are childhood friends . It's time for you to start your own family so we can give a head start to the next successor of our business.”

“I'll never be an advocate of betrothal. I'm not ready for any commitment ”.

“I have options for you, it's either you get married to her, I have other business partners with daughters of marriageable age, or you sort this out yourself. Think about this”.he said, sitting upright.

He's getting too interested in this conversation. “It will make our business grow if you get married to a business partner family” he dropped the bombshell.

“I don't want to marry someone all in the name of business.”

“You want a marriage out of love”, his voice taking a hard edge. “Rich families marry into rich families to keep their wealth. That's how we keep our business alive.”

“Marriage is not business. I'll decide what I want for myself”, giving an all around stern aura.

“You handle million dollar deals like shooting fish in a barrel then treat marriage as if it's a broken toy”. I sighed in exasperation and looked at him. He was sitting comfortably on the couch like a judge that wants to give a final judgement.

“You need to get a partner, Juliano. You're the only heir of the family.”, deep frown etched between his eyebrows

“I need more time, father”, I said with a defeated voice. Arguing with him was pointless.

I didn't inform him about the LIAS group networking event. There's no cogent reason for him being so interested in that company.

“I’m giving you the grace of three months. Do it first or I'll do it for you”, he commanded.

“So,you expect me to meet someone within three months, fall in love and get married”, my voice fades away to a lul.

“You know where to find me if you make your mind”, he said and got up from the sofa giving me a longside glance and walked out.

I watched his retreating figure as he marched out of my room. I collapsed back into the bed feeling a headache coming on.

The door closed with a quiet thud but the echo of his words stayed in my room.

My father doesn't make empty threats. I stood up looking worried as I picked up the glass of wine.

Ever since I broke up with Aver, Dad has never bothered himself with me. He always said he respected my decision and could never meddle in my personal affairs. Now here he is, singing different tunes.

I opened the glass door that leads to the balcony. As I paced right and left, resting on the rails, left to think about what he said.

Confusion replaced blood in my veins as I paced left and right from my closet to the balcony. I know dad loves mom so much. I witnessed how much he loved and took care of her, especially in her last days. I wanted to witness a marriage like theirs and dad, making me get married to a stranger like this would definitely ruin that. The marriage I dream of is going down the drain.

Three months determines my marriage life, my lifetime commitment.

Aver and I were close to getting married and making preparations already. She comes to the mansion to stay whenever I'm around. My family wasn’t bothered about her financial status. I have to provide everything she needs since I felt it was my responsibility, it wasn't an arranged or contract marriage. Spending money on her was not an issue with me. She was my long time girlfriend. She didn't disturb me about seeing because of my schedule. Just facetime and texting most times if I'm out of town.

Not until I planned our proposal under the pretense of her birthday party and everything got revealed.

The proposal was all set up already until I looked up at the CCTV and saw her kissing a guy at the door. They entered together hand in hand like couples. She thought I was out of town. It was supposed to be a surprise but I ended up being the one who was surprised. If she hadn't betrayed me, I wouldn't be left in this claustrophobic situation. I later realised she always threatened to fire my workers after we got married.

What if I get married to someone else and she ends up being wayward. I settled in a chair at the balcony staring at the huge buildings of Italy.

Regarding Cindy's career, will she agree to this?

A surge of heat rushed through my body.