Just because you don’t want to

Bella's Pov

I could only sit in silence as I stared out the window in the back seat. Of course my father would make me sit in the back even though this car was most likely bought with my money. If not my money than the money my mother put in their join account. So technically it was still my money no matter how you looked at it.

"I was actually worried you couldn't make it." My father sighed breaking the silence that I was enjoying.

"As soon as my father heard you needed a new dress for Bella he rushed to the opportunity to help out." Lucas said with his deep voice that should not have caused butterflies to make me feel funny.

I grabbed ahold of the sheer fabric willing my mouth to stay shut. I looked down at the black ball gown I was now wearing and signed internally. It was perfect and I hated them for this. They most likely knew I would love it and that’s why they chose it.

"So how are you getting along at the company with Theodore?" My father asked completely changing the subject and making this car ride even more dreadful. He never shied away from talking about my company.

"Honestly I could do without him." Lucas stated. My chest tightened and I grabbed ahold of even more of the fabric. The silk that was under the sheer fabric was the softest material I had ever felt before. It made me question if my dresses were actually real or knock offs.

"Soon you'll be taking over and you won't have to worry about him." My father stated nonchalantly. I gnashed my teeth and slowly started to count to 20. “1, 2, 3.”

"I've actually been paying attention to performance reports and I've noticed that Theodore is failing to let go of some of the long term employees even though there are more qualified candidates." Lucas stated with hint of annoyance.

"Theodore is not fit to be the CEO." My father stated like he knew anything about running a business. He was not the CEO and he would never become the CEO.

"I know. My fathers actually been recruiting qualified college candidates that are at the top of their classes in computer science and marketing." Lucas stated nonchalantly.

"Computer science and marketing?" My father asked lowly. "Yes. I was thinking that we could rent out the energy devices at a daily and monthly rate." Lucas stated confidently.

"Rent them out?" My father asked seeming just as surprised as me. Why would we rent them out when they were paid for in full. Not to mention that people had to pay for the maintenance and updates when needed.

"I have a few people on my team that have been tweaking at the device and they found a way to make it like an energy beacon that can push out energy without it having to be plugged in. If we made appliances and electrics connect to them than we could take away the wires all together. We would make billions." Lucas stated like we already didn't make billions.

I stiffened at his words though. My grandfather became the richest person in the world because he found a way to create clean energy without needing a power source. The device he created took away the need for a power plant and all you had to do was have it installed to your house and it would collect energy from the sun or the humidity depending on where you lived.

My mother had told me that multiple people tried to convince him to make it wireless but in order to make it wireless it would need more energy which would result in it affecting the weather. So he went against it and since it was his patent nobody could copy him without being put in jail. So we had nothing to worry about, until now that is.

"People would love that." My father stated enthusiastically. “You can't do that." I blurted out before I could stop myself.

My father and Lucas both turned their attention towards me. I could see through the rear view mirror the way my fathers brows slightly pinched together due to annoyance.

"Sweetheart what did I tell you about interrupting me while I'm talking business?" My father asked slow and deliberately. I ignored his blatant warning because I would not allow them to mess with my company.

"The device is mine. My grandfather gave it to me and nobody can alter it without my permission, not even the current CEO." I stated confidently. I knew my mother told me I needed to keep quiet until I married the guy she set up for me but how could I? I couldn’t allow them to have any type of hope. I needed to squash it before it grew.

"Once we get married." Lucas started but I was quick to stop him before he wasted his time.

"Even if we do get married, that will change nothing. I am the only one that can legally change the device and I won't allow it. Ever." I stated smugly. I couldn't stop the smile that left my lips. They didn't have the power that they thought they did over me.

My father was staring at me through the mirror like he was trying to figure out if I was lying or not. "Ask Theodore or one of your lawyers if you like." I added not caring that I was poking the sleeping bear.

"I take it your mother taught you this." My father asked lowly. "I don't recall. She could've been the one, I'm not sure." I stated with a slight shrug of my shoulders. We both knew it was my mother but I didn’t have to entertain him, even if he was my father.

"You know maybe we shouldn't get married." Lucas stated with what sounded like suppressed rage. I paused before a smile formed. "If you don't want to than I don't mind. I'll marry someone else off the list." I stated nonchalantly. I would love to marry the person my mother intended for me to marry.

"Sweetheart you don't mean that. Lucas was trained to run the company." My father stated with annoyance.

"He wasn't the only one." I mumbled a little louder than I planned to. I stiffened as I watched a small smirk form on his lips. The way he kept staring at me through the rear view mirror had me squirming.

"We chose Lucas and that's who you're going to marry. Nobody else on the list is qualified." My father stated with a tone that told me I should drop this while conversation.

I tried to keep my mouth shut but the small smirk that formed on my fathers lips took away all my resolve. I couldn’t even stop myself from blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "My mother didn't chose him. She chose someone else and her choice vetos yours."

"Where is your mother at so she can tell me who she chose?" My father inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I, I don't know but she told me and that all that matters." I rushed out as a blush formed. I couldn’t help but feel flustered. My father sighed as he shook his head.

"Sweetheart just because you don't like Lucas doesn't mean that you can try to chose another name off the list. It doesn't work that way." My father stated with faux softness.

"I, I didn't chose the name. My mom did." I stated with a little desperation laced in my voice. I knew what he was trying to do and I felt powerless to stop him.

"Than who did she chose and did she let Theodore know?" My father asked with a raised eye brow. I couldn't tell him who she chose. I didn't need him to try to form a deal with them so that they would turn on me. I mean my mom trusted them but it was hard for me to say.

"Hello, hey. I was wondering if Bethany told you about anyone else that Bella might be qualified to marry." My father inquired as he spoke into the phone. My chest tightened as I glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

"No, Lucas is the only one that I was told about? Why?" Theodore asked through the speaker.

"Bella just doesn't want to marry Lucas and I wanted to see if there were any other candidates." My father stated as he looked at me with a pointed gaze.

"Oo I see. Well tell her that Lucas isn't bad. She just has to give him a chance." Theodore stated warm heartedly.

My eyes welled with tears as I realized that my mother left me with nothing because everything she told me was now useless without her here. Nobody would believe anything I said and my father would make sure of it.

"Okay well we'll see you soon. Bye." My father mumbled before he was hanging up the phone. He thought he won but he was wrong.

"I won't marry anyone than." I declared as I turned towards the window. Either my mother returned or the company would hit a stand still once my uncle retired.