Arranged Marriage

“I can’t believe you, dad!” Dane exclaimed. He just got home from the company when his father started talking.

“What is your problem with that?” Darren asked his son while his eyebrows were knitted together. He couldn’t believe the kind of reaction he got from his son. “It sounded like you are a loser here. I just want to remind you that Gertrude Jimenez is not an ordinary girl. She is the sole heiress of Jimenez Group.”

Dane sighed heavily as he tried to calm himself down. He didn’t want to lose his respect for his father despite what he was telling him at that moment.

“Dad, you cannot just decide about this matter. You cannot tell me who I should marry,” he said in a calm tone.

But those words didn’t do any good.

“What did you say? As long as you are here in this house, I am the one who will decide! How can you say this to me after raising you alone?” His father continued. The anger and bitterness in his voice couldn’t be hidden.

But Dane was used to it. Whenever he wanted to go against what his father wanted, he would use these lines for him to succumb.

His father raised him alone when his mother ran away with another man. He didn’t get married even though there were a lot of women who were chasing him. His focus was all to him and the company he started. 

His father really worked hard to be able to have the life that they had now.

But, Dane shook his head.

“No, Dad. I know that I have been following everything that you wanted but I guess, this time, I cannot do this!” He insisted.

“You do not know what you’re talking about. You are still young. I thought you were already mature when it came to thinking after you took over our company but all along, I was wrong.”

Dane didn’t know what exactly he should feel after what his father said. Why was he being so unreasonable?

“Dad—”

“Enough,” his father said. “If you do not want to marry Gertrude then prepare for the worst.”

“Are we getting bankrupt?” He couldn’t help but ask. Though based on the recent financial review he had with the company, they were doing okay. So, that was impossible.

“You don’t get it, do you?” His father said again as he looked at him directly. “In business, it is not enough that the company is doing good. If you want to stay in the industry, you should work with connections. Jimenez Group is the best connection that we can have in the circle.”

Dane didn’t know what to say. He knew that his dad was right but what about him? Would he always think about the company’s sake? Was that all that matters to him?

“I am sorry, son. I know that this isn’t good for you at first. You feel that I am trying to manipulate you but this is for your own sake as well. I do not want you to go back to the mud where we were before,” his father couldn’t help but become emotional.

He took a deep breath as he shook his head.

“Dad, please let me think about this.” Dane turned around and left without even waiting for his Dad’s answer.

He knew that there was no way that he would be able to change his mind.

Gertrude didn’t know how to react after her grandmother and her father spoke. They were in the study room at that moment.

The only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock. Because of the deafening silence, she could clearly hear her heart. It was throbbing so fast. She didn’t know if it was because of the excitement or the nervousness she felt after she heard what would be happening.

“W— wedding?” She repeated to make sure that they heard them right. Her heart was pounding so fast inside her chest.

Her grandmother nodded and then she went near her. She grabbed her hand.

“Dear, I know that we haven’t asked for your opinion before making the decision but I hope you understand that as the sole heiress of the company, we just wanted the best for you.”

She smiled slightly. She knew her grandmother and father very well. And she couldn’t deny to herself that it was not a problem with her at all because she would be married to Dane Ford.

It felt like a dream come true for her.

No one knew that she was secretly in love with the man but she didn’t know what could be the man’s reaction if he found out about the marriage that their family was planning for them. The man had never noticed her even if they were in the same circle.

Though she loved him, she didn’t want to be with him because he was forced to. She didn’t want her relationship with him to be just like a business deal and instead of a marriage contract, they would have a business contract.

But if Dane would willingly marry her, she would make sure that she would do her best for their marriage to work out.

“Are you okay, dear?” Gerry Jimenez’ voice brought her back to her senses.

“Yes, dad. I mean, I know that you are doing this for my own sake but what about Dane?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Don’t worry about him. His father will be talking to him. This has been already planned since you were kids so I do not see the wedding not happening,” he said which just made her nod.

“Alright, dad,” she just said.

“Okay, you can go back to your room and do whatever you are doing.”

The Ford Bar

“You’re what?” Ron, Jessie and Phil exclaimed almost at the same time after he told them about his father’s plan.

Dane shook his head.

“Seriously?” Jessie asked again. The disbelief was registered all over his face. “He can’t do that to you, man.”

“I know but…”

“But you owe him your life and he raised you alone. He didn’t re-marry anyone because he wanted to give you a better future. Bro, but life is not all about the Ford Group,” Ron said.

“Exactly, what I am thinking. I just don’t have the heart to go against my father. He is already old and I really do not want him to get angry,” he exclaimed.

“So you are going to marry that woman?” Phil asked.

“Who is she again?” Jessie turned to him and then he took out his phone from his pocket. “I will go ahead and look for her social media account.”

“Gertrude,” he simply answered.

“Gertrude?” His three friends’ eyes almost popped out when they heard the name of the woman who was meant to be his wife.

“Yes, Gertrude Jimenez,” he continued.

“You gotta be kidding, bro!”

“Gertrude is a hottie!”

“Go, marry her,” Jessie exclaimed after the reactions he got from Ron and Phil. “I know that your dad just wants to be on the safe side. Gertrude is not an ordinary girl. She is the sole heiress of their multibillion company and it’s still rapidly growing. I understand your old man, bro. Even if you die one hundred times, your wealth can still sustain you. Even hundred generations after you if you and Gertrude got married.”

“I agree. Your dad is really smart,” Ron seconded. “Besides, you will not be on the losing side here, bro.”

Dane took a sip of his drink and then looked at the three of them.

“You know what? This is the same conversation that I have with my father. You can say that I will have financial security and my future generation. But marriage isn’t just about money,” he said in a low voice. “There should be love in there since the two of you will be building a life together. I just can’t really marry her or anyone because of that.”

Dane leaned back in his chair with a serious expression. He never thought that he would be in that kind of dilemma. It never came in his mind that his father would be trying to manipulate his personal life.

“Bro, I know that this is a tough decision to make,” Jessie sighed. “Just hope that Gertrude has the same perspective as yours. If that's the case, I have a strong feeling that there will be no wedding that’s happening.”

Those words lit up his hope. Dane nodded his head as he hoped that the woman had no interest in marrying him. That was the only escape he had in his mind.

“Alright, let’s have a toast!” Phil chimed in and raised his glass for a toast.

The clicking sound of the glasses was heard.

“Wish you all the best, bro, with your marriage,” Jessie jokingly said which made the four of them laugh.