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Serenity Jones

"I hate you! I really hate you! You should have died with your miserable mother that day!" Alexandra yelled after me as we both walk out of my room.

I kept trying my best to ignore her as this isn't her first time displaying her madness but right now, she just crossed the line.  

I have always ignored the part where she calls me names but taking it far and insulting my poor late mother is what I won't take from her. 

Alexandra is my stepmother's daughter. I was 7 when my poor mother died in a terrible car accident and months later, my Dad married Janet, her mom.

She isn't my father's daughter because Janet brought her in with her when my Dad married her yet, she compete with me on every little thing done in this house. Starting from my father's company to my ex-boyfriend whom she forcefully snatched away from me even though, they're no longer together anymore. And now, she's asking me to step down as the CEO of the company for her. 

Why? 

Our staffs belittle her because of her position in the company and she doesn't like that. Being a manager is not enough for her.

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble my dear Alex but, if you think doing all these will make me change my mind or give in to your silly request then, you lie. I'm never going to hand over to you what rightfully belongs to me!" I spat at her with a menacing look on my face. 

I turned around to leave but she suddenly pushed me hard from the back and I end up falling on the ground. I got up slowly and turned to her with my eyes blazing in anger.

"How dare you push me?!" I asked, my voice laced with anger. 

"The question is, how dare you plan on demeaning me before those useless things that work for us?" She asked, using the same tone as mine. Before I could reply to her, she suddenly screamed and slumped on the floor as she begins crying. 

I looked at her confused until I heard a familiar voice behind me. 

It was my Dad. 

"What's going on here? Alex, why are you on the floor crying?" He questioned in a worried tone as he hurriedly help her up.

I can't believe this bitch just played a dirty game on me again and make me look bad to my Dad. 

"What did you do to her this time around, Seren?" My Dad asked, glaring at me. 

"I did nothing, father" I replied with my eyes rolled. 

"What do you mean, you did nothing? I only came to you and pleaded to go work with you in your car but you suddenly flared up. You told me never to consider myself as part of this family because Dad's blood isn't running through my vein and slapped me. All... All I ever wanted is to be called your sister, why is it so hard for you to accept me?" She lied as fake tears brim out of her eyes.

"What?!! You did all of that to your sister?" 

"Please father, she is not my sister. And, she's lying. I didn't do that to her!" I hissed. "I'm off to work, it's pointless explaining myself to you after all"

"Come back, Seren. Don't you dare walk out on your father because I'm not done yet talking!" He ordered.

I slowly turned around and met his cold gaze. I can't believe my Dad keeps taking an outsider's side over his daughter.

"Both of you, come with me now. We need to talk"

"But I have work on my desk to tend to!" I complained. 

It's obvious this isn't about work but Alex and her daughter and I'm not ready to listen to his speech on that. 

"Well, I'm not asking for your permission. This is an order so, follow me." He walks away with Alex right behind him. She turned to look at me and sneered. 

Bitch! 

We are seated in the living room for the past 2 minutes and my Dad hasn't said a word yet. 

"Dad, what is it you want to talk to us about?" Alex asked in her fake innocent tone. I'm sure, she's always trying to paint herself good before my father so he can give her all of his inheritance. 

"Whatever I'm about to say now, is likely directed to Seren but, I also need you to listen to me carefully Alex" he said, in a serious tone. 

Right there, I knew something is wrong. 

"The company is facing some challenges at the moment"

"What challenges are you talking about because the last time I checked, I'm the CEO of that company and it was moving fine. We make 60%-70% net profit every year close to the target" 

"That was the only part you knew of" He said and a deep sigh left his lip. "It all begin when your mom died. The company went from good to poor after her death, it was on the verge of crashing when a friend, my business partner decides to help. I took a loan of $850 billion from him just to make the company grow."

"The company belongs to him as he owns 75% shares in the company and-"

"What?!!! 75% shares?! Dad! How comes I never knew about this?" I shrieked. 

"Because, I told the management not to inform you about it. As we speak now, I've been able to refund only 40% out of the loan I took from him and, he's been pestering me to give back the remaining 50% else, he will take legal action"

"Are you saying, we're going to become poor now?! You don't own anything of yours? Everything we thought were yours are just for decoration?!" Alex bombards him with questions in a worried tone.

There we go again!- I thought rolling my eyes. When I said, Alex and her mother are only after my Dad's wealth, he thought I was only trying to paint them black. 

"Alex dear, it's not that easy be-"

"But we're going to become poor! How could you take such a big loan becau-"

"Can you just shut up and allow him finish explaining the situation to us? If he becomes penniless today or tomorrow should never be a problem to you. After all, he's not your father. You're not related to him" I hissed then turned to face my Dad. "What do we do now? Is he threatening to get you arrested?"

"No, but if I don't pay him by the deadline he gives then, it will be over for us"

"Do you want me to meet with him, Dad? I can talk to him on your behalf. I can ask him to give us more time so my team and I can willwork hard. I will try my best we make twice the profit we make every month and in a year, I'm sure we can meet up" I said again. 

"It's not as easy as you think. Though, I've got a way out and that's why I asked for this meeting" 

"Tell us, what's the way out?" Alex asked, looking eager to know. 

"Mr. Smith volunteered to help" 

"Wait, what?! M... Mr Smith? The same Mr. Smith we all know?! I mean, the world's richest and most successful businessman?!" Alex asked, excitement written all over her face. 

"Yes, Alex. Same Mr. Smith we all know but, his rendered help comes with a condition" 

My heart suddenly skipped the moment he said that. 

"He asked for your hand in marriage for his grandson" my Dad announced, facing me. 

Tears welled up in my eyes immediately. "W... What?!!!" 

"Please, Seren. Do this for me. Do this for your poor father. This is my only chance to have my company back in my name. Marry his grandson and hand over the company to Alex. I'm sure, she will do better"

I was hoping my dad would tell me all this is nothing but a joke- a terrible joke! And we would all laugh it off even though, the situation isn't permissible but, the look on his face tells me every single word that comes out of his mouth are nothing compared to a joke! 

He is serious! 

My Dad is about to sell me off to a rich man because of money!

"What are you saying, Dad?!" I burst angrily as I jump up from my seat. "How can you ask me to get married to a man I've never met in my entire life? Does Mr Smith know me?"

"No" he answered. "But, he's heard a lot about you. He loves how you determine you are. He sees you as a very hardworking girl and believes, you'll make a good wife for his son" he added.

"Stop saying that, Dad! Just... Just stop it!  I do not even love his son! Who in the world gets married to a man they do not love?!"

"A lot of people do that" Alex chimed in.  "And, if you don't want to marry him, I will" She announced before facing my Dad. 

"Dad, I'm ready to make you proud. I, Alexandra Jones will marry Mr Smith's grandson to save your company. Choose me and I will never let you down" 

"You heard that, right? Your precious daughter agreed to marry a stranger because of his money. Well, why am I not surprised? She's always been a gold digger, just like her mom. Like mother, like dau-" Before I could complete my sentence, he slapped me hard on my cheek, shutting me up. 

I look at him shocked as tears streamed down my cheeks. For the first time in my entire life, my Dad raised his hand to hit me. 

"I've had enough of your silly attitude! I only contain with your stubbornness and spoilt attitude because of your late mother but now, I've had enough of it!" He busted. 

"You want it or not, you'll be getting married to Mr. Smith's grandson in a week and that's it! He chooses you and you have to marry him!" He announced and walk away.