CHAPTER NINE

Estafania's POV

"That old man!!!!" Kina screamed

"Shiiiiii...shush!! keep your voice down'' I said with my hands on her mouth "keep it down, we are still at the office" I repeated and moved her to the far corner of the break room while looking around to see if anybody heard her

"You mean your uncle wants you to marry that old man, that has to be a joke" Kina who managed to free herself from my hands on her mouth said in disbelief

"I was as surprised as you currently are but then again I shouldn't be. I knew the vibe I was getting from that man Gustavo was not of good when he said that he will reach an agreement with my uncle

I just wish all this was just a terrible dream. He is very well into his fifties with his bald head and protruding belly which does not help his short stature in any way. No way will I ever agree to that joke of a marriage."

" Yes, do not under any circumstances agree to that ridiculous request, I mean sure he is the one that is currently in charge of your father's company and yes under the current circumstances he has some substantial power as the CEO but he can't rid you of your right as a shareholder" I looked at her without saying anything

"Wait don't tell me........he is threatening you with your shares, God that man is wicked. But is he the one in charge of your shares" she asked keenly

" You know very well how my father trusted him with everything, I don't know if it was of his own volition or if my uncle coerced him but for me to access my shares in the company,

I have to be married to a man approved by my father and in the absence of my father, my uncle becomes the next person"

" You have got to be kidding me" she said in disbelief

" Nope I am not"

"Why the hell will your father set such a ridiculous rule around your inheritance, it seems a bit unfair to you"

" To protect me......or so he thought. My father refused to believe that I have grown even though he basically built me up to who I am today. He became more paranoid after my last relationship"

" What relationship" she asked

" Hmmm.......a senior I dated in my first year in college, apparently he was only dating me because of my father. He planned with his friends to dupe my father through me,

As stupid as I was I believed everything he said to me. It felt like a dream when the most sought after boy in the school took interest in me in my first year. He graduated in my second year and tried to dupe my father through me with his sham business." I paused to breathe

" I was hurt and most importantly ashamed of myself for dating such a mistake of a man, my father on the other hand didn't want to take any other chances and future boyfriends had to be properly investigated by him.

And I think that was when he put the measures in place in case I decide to rebel one day" I finished as I allowed myself to remember my shameful past.

"But why your uncle of all people, why not just state that proper investigations should be carried out before you marry or put in a clause that will not allow the man access to it or a simple prenup"

" He trusted his brother with his own life, he never believed that his brother could do any wrong, I still have this feeling that it was him that suggested these measures"

" So what now? How do we combat this step he has taken against you" kina asked looking at me worried

" I really don't know, I could not sleep all through yesterday night thinking about what to do"

" We can just hire someone to stand in as your husband until you get the shares" Kina suggested

" Are you forgetting the part about my uncle approving of him" I reminded her

" Well you certainly cannot marry that man, cause once you do even those shares of yours will either become his or your uncle's or they share it together.

That in itself is quite obvious that even a blind man can see it coming. The only other way is to marry a man much more powerful than Gustavo and my Uncle combined together" she suggested once again

"A man much more powerful than your uncle and Gustavo together, heaven seems to be on our side Fanny" Kina said and gesturing for me to turn with her head

I didn't need to see to know it was him, the way the air in the room changed and the way he carried himself. Even without seeing his face I knew it was him.

This time he was putting on a navy blue suit paired with a shirt of the same colour, a slight difference from his usual all black attire. I don't know if it was the absence of a tie or the change in colour or the three buttons opened at the chest that captivated me most

"He's hot" I heard one of my colleagues say as she giggled with her friends, my thoughts exactly, my thoughts exactly.

"I wonder what he is doing here" I asked no one in particular

"......this is the second time I am seeing him here, maybe he is interested in doing business with us" Kina looked at me like she wanted to flog me

"Can't you see that the angels just sent you your said powerful man" she said exasperated

" What! you mean Mr McQueen, Seth McQueen. No no no......you must be kidding"

" Think about it, who else in this city do you think will be able to handle Gustavo and your uncle together. Come on babe you need someone who can protect you at the same time help you get your inheritance"

" You are right Kina but this is a crazy idea" I tried to dissuade her

" It may be but it is exactly what we need, trust me"

" Oh Kina, the more I trust you the more I realize how crazy you can be, but even if I decide to do it, how on earth am I suppose to go about it''

"Seth McQueen is not exactly an easy man to approach, haven't you heard the rumors about him and how he treats girls that try to approach him"

"You leave all your worries to me, all you need to do is follow my lead" she sounded confident, does she really know what she is saying