CHAPTER TWO

EDWARD

“I want this report completed by the end of the day.” I slammed the poor excuse of a report on the desk and glared at the man who kept standing there looking stupid. It has only been a week since he joined and my patience is running thin.

“Do you understand?” He flinched at my harsh tone.

“Yes, Mr. Dan.” Just then, the door to my cabin opened and my father walked in followed by our lawyer. If I were to go by my father’s expression, it was something concerning. I shifted my gaze back to my assistant still standing in front of me.

“Leave!” He quickly got hold of the file and scurried out of the cabin.

“Dad?” I called out to him, so he could spill the beans already. He and Mr. Davis took the seats opposite me. 

“Edward, Mr. Davis is here to read your grandfather’s will.” It wasn’t something I was expecting. Granddad passed away about a month ago and his will had not been brought up since. I leaned back in my seat and loosened the tie around my neck. This was it, a lifetime of wealth will be passed to me. 

“I am busy right now, Dad Can't it wait?” I pretended to not be interested. He sighed before glancing at Mr. Davis who had quite a serious expression.

“I am afraid not”, my eyes twitched as I mentally clawed at all the possible conditions they might put forth. I nodded and looked at Mr Davis to proceed.

“Mr Dan, your grandfather had included in his will that you get to inherit Dan Realty and all other smaller firms provided you settle down.” He stopped for a quick second to judge my expression before continuing. “You are required to get married.”

I stared back unblinking at the expectant faces of the two men seated in front of me. “I am not in the mood for some jokes right now!”

I looked between the both of them who maintained their serious stances. It was true. Granddad would often advise me on how I should settle down, and start a family, and to think that he put his condition in his will was not too absurd but my mind was in denial. I had no time for women now. 

My dad exhaled. “He is not joking. Your grandfather wrote that he wants you to settle down with a decent girl of your choice and provide a family for Anna.” 

I still had not grasped the seriousness of the situation considering I wasn’t feeling the helplessness that I should drown in at this moment.

I was still searching for words when Mr. Davis spoke further. “If not fulfilled, after your father, it goes to Anderson.” My head shot up in a microsecond almost giving me a snapped neck. Anderson, my cousin? That was bullshit. I had been working since I took my first step just to inherit everything my family owned. 

“Anderson? You must be joking” Our lawyer warily shook before I slammed a fist on the table, making him flinch in his place. I was out of my seat and walking towards the window, absolutely clueless as to who in their right mind would do that.

“Was he in need of some kind of medical help and we overlooked it?”, I asked.

“Edward!” My father sounded offended.

“That would explain this will because this is the most ridiculous fucking thing I have heard in my life.” While Dad looked exhausted, Davis looked scared. Scared of me? The only scary thing there was that will.

“Grandad wrote this?”. I asked again. Was I hoping that I would be offered a different answer, something like they had planned the April fool’s prank though it wasn't even April yet? Probably.

“He did”, Mr. Davis shifted awkwardly in his seat and the urge to throw him out of the cabin was too much.

“I don’t get it, Dad. Why do I have to marry? Anna has a family. She has me. She has you. She has Emma. Grandma. This is her family.” I reasoned but the shake of his head told me that he was anything but convinced.

“The little girl needs a mother in her life. Since you couldn't keep her mother” I shut my eyes in annoyance. This single statement has always felt like a blow to all the efforts I had put in for Anna over the years.

“She does not. I am the only parent she needs in her life.” Even as I said it, my confidence faltered a bit. I had gone out of the way to be the best parent to Anna yet a weak voice lingered at the back of my mind which claimed otherwise. 

Dad slightly tilted his head to the side while staring right at me. “You know it yourself.” He sounded confident like he had read my earlier thoughts. “I am serious. Son, I know how much you have tried to always be there for Anna but like every other child, she needs a mother. That is a void in her life. I can see it, I'm sure your grandfather did too.”

I pressed my fingers against my forehead and walked back to my seat, leaning. Even if Dad was right, I was not ready for a wife. I had not given relationships and dating a single thought after her. And here we are talking about marriage. 

“I need time to think about it.”

When I raised my head, they were still sitting in front of me with grim expressions like there was something else I was yet to learn about. The thought alone was dreadful.

Mr. Davis drummed his fingers on the desk before letting it out. “You have one year before you settle down.” I could feel an approaching headache and undoubtedly, it was going to stay for a while now.

“There is a deadline?.” My voice came out icy. Dad hesitantly nodded and I honestly wanted to bang my head against the wall but settled for a humorless chuckle. I was anything but amused. 

“And what else? Does Granddad need me to impregnate my wife with a dozen kids? Would he like that?” One might consider it aggressive sarcasm but honestly, I was skeptical. At this point, I wasn’t putting anything past him to put it in his will.

“No such thing mentioned”, Mr. Davis shrank a little under my glare while Dad glanced a worried glance at me, probably thinking I was losing it. Well, I wasn’t too far from it either.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Both of them were on their feet and in the next moment out of my cabin, leaving me in turmoil.