Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

NAYA'S POV

Two knocks distract me from the game I was playing, I remove my headset as Lita the head maid of my family walked in to my room

"Miss Carrington, dinner's ready"

I smile and nodded 

"Oh, thank you Lita"

I turned off the computer and was about to follow her out but she stops me

"Won't you change Miss?"

I rolled my eyes at her

"Why should I ?, I'm having dinner in my home, or is there any guest coming over?"

She shook her head,

"No Miss, but your father's home, and you know how he is...," She trailed off

But I smiled, she knew better, that this was one of the little ways I rebel against him and his ways of living like a perfect family, like we are in a reality show.

"That's every reason I should go like this don't you agree ?" I smirked and she smiled back at me.

We walked down to the dinning room and the aroma of different delicacies filled my nostrils, the maids scampared around putting all what the head cook prepared on the table, my mother was seated at the opposite end of the table in her hand was a glass of one of our classic red wine, she was dressed like the president was coming over for dinner with her golden sleek dress and her styled blonde hair.

My father, was seated at the other end and was dressed in his normal suit jacket shirt and pants and was answering a phone call, he was smiling widely which was suspicious, that means he had a good day, or just pretending to be happy so that the person over the phone would think he is.

I took my seat beside my mom, she scowls at me, obviously disapproving of my choice of clothes, but I didn't care, I watched my father as he chatted happily with whomever was on the phone.

'a new woman ?' I thought.

I started to fill my plates with some rice noodles and chicken, but then my father's call ended

"You couldn't wait ?" I heard his booming voice.

 Nathan Carrington was a man who is intimidating, strict and hella annoying to me, he tends to rule this home like we are in the Victorian era, and I'm just that child who is so stubborn and happens to hate.

" I'm sorry Father, but I am hungry" I replied eyes on the dish as I served myself some sauce, I could hear the little side talks from some of the maids but I didn't care.

 For some reason my father let go of my slip up and started eating, my mom, well she focused on her wine, we weren't that kind of family that ask 'how your day went' ours is like three different strangers forced to live together.

 Halfway through dinner, mom has finished a whole bottle of wine and was about to tell the maid to get another one.

"That will be enough for her Lita" I said stopping her from getting another bottle of wine.

"Naya?" My father called out

"Yes Father, why are you dressed like that?" 

'He noticed and ignored, but was waiting for the right time to comment and the time happens to be now?.'

I dropped my spoon on the plate and took a deep breath, I looked up to see him frowning at me, 

"Father, there's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing" I said, checking out my dress shirt and shorts, in every normal home, people were this for dinner, dressing up like you're attending the met gala for a family dinner is ridiculous and so not comfortable, I mean look at my mom, her red lipsticks has stained her wine glass, 

"You know the rules"  

"The rules said whenever we have a guest over , we don't have one" I replied, looking around to punctuate my points

"Naya, I'm tired of this little rebellious act you potray towards me in this house" his voice booming loudly, I could sense his anger but I didn't care and I rolled my eyes internally.

"That's why I'm putting an end to it, by next month you'll be getting married " 

"Who is getting married?" I asked, this brought my mom's attention

"What's going on, Nathan?" She slurred, which means she's still a bit sober but another glass would have done it.

My father cleared up his throat, which made the maids around to excuse themselves and scurry off, there was a little silence in the house until my father spoke.

 "If you've noticed the family business haven't been doing well..."

 Obviously, you've been using the money to fund your mistresses lavish lifestyles, finally you've got what you deserve.

"If nothing is done in a matter of months, we'll have to file bankruptcy, but there's a way for that not to happen, I've been in talk with the Chairman of the Carter shipping empire for a merger between the two companies, and we've enter into a deal" he said smiling

"That's good then" I replied nonchalantly, digging into my meal,

' if all was well, why the long talk'.

"We agreed for you to marry his grandson, William Carter, he's the CEO"

"Who to marry the grandson?" I asked, not understanding what he said

" I don't repeat myself young lady!" He snapped, he actually snapped at me after saying such ridiculous words.

"Well you have to cause I don't get what you said" I replied 

 "Next month you will marry into the Carters" he said punctuating each word with the gritting of his teeth and eyes filled with fury. 

" I don't care whatever deal you've made,I'm not getting married father, I won't be your collateral, I'll act like you never said something as ridiculous as that" I replied, getting up to leave.

"Seat down!!" He howled, his voice loud that the chandelier actually tingled, 

I glared at him, yes this may seem disrespectful but I don't think he deserves any form of respect from me, a man who doesn't respect his wife or daughter and calls his Mistresses in their presence, who actually watch his wife became an alcoholic because of his cheating ways, ha, he deserves no respect.

"I've left you to do what you wanted, you refused to get a degree in economics or

 business management and studied gaming technology or whatever it's called and stay in your room all day playing games, I ignored that, because that's what you want to do but I paid for your fees, you live under my roof , to thank me you'll have to do as I say" he continued.

"No father, I won't, you ruined the company, you should bear the consequences, paying my fees, living under your roof?, Isn't that what any responsibile father should provide for their children!, am I not your daughter?" 

"Naya, don't talk that way to your father" my mom scolded, she's always been like this, whenever I try to stand up to him,make him see his faults, she supports him, a man who made her like this, for the past two years it was rare to see her sober, but even drunk she keeps staying at his side.

Just thinking of this makes my eyes to sting and the emotions I've been holding up betrayed me as a single tear rolled down my face as I stare at my mom.

"Why don't you ever get that I'm doing this for you?" I croaked, hurt and so mad at her I decide to leave, as I stood up she held my hand

" Don't leave, why don't you listen to your Father, Naya" 

  But then he stood up and walked towards me and started laughing like a maniac, his laughter loud enough for the maids to hear and some came out to watch, while my mom tried to stop me from leaving.

"Look at the both of you, how pathetic you both look, like mother, like daughter, huh, Naya, you've tried so hard to grow the little wings you've got, but I'm your father, I'll always be ahead of you, here, take this" he handed me his phone with a video, and I played it.

I was short of words, my mouth hunged open.

"Watch how pathetic your mom is...,you see Naya, if you don't do as I say that video and so many others will be on every social media platform"

 My mouth hunged open, how could he say this?.

"She's your wife" I whispered, but when I looked at him I confirmed something I knew all along, he's a monster, an unfeeling monster who could sacrifice his family to get what he wants, who could sacrifice his only daughter to get what he wants.

" Oh, she is, I can tell the media that she refused to get help and use that as a way in locking her up in a mental institute, you can't stop me"

I just can't hold myself anymore,

"You monster!!!" I yelled 

He just smirked as tears filled my eyes and begins to drop, he leaves the dinner table and begins to walk up the stairs then he turned to me and say

" By the 14th of next month, you either be married to Mr Carter or be humiliated, Naya, I hope you choose well" 

**** 

THE NEXT DAY

Since the argument between I and my father I've not left my room, my eyes swollen and bloodshot, I had come to accept my fate and the fact that my father is an ass.

I'm practically sacrificing myself to save my mom, well for now, I'll be turning twenty two in nine months, and then I'll get the trust fund left for me by my grandmother, I'll divorce him and use the money to help mom. 

I reached over to my phone and saw I had seventeen missed calls from Aliyah, Aliyah is my best friend, we met in college, she was a sophomore and I was just a freshman, but we became friends after an incident where I helped her and since then we've not left each other's side, she's now a senior lawyer in a law firm and may make partner of the firm soon, I'm sure she's worried, as I've not answered or return her calls, I then decide to call her back, after a few rings she picks up.

'We're you kidnapped?' I chuckled, typical Aliyah, she's always over reacting.

'No' I croaked, my voice was hoarse cause of all the crying I did last night

'you sound like a dying frog, what's wrong?' I knew she'd notice, Aliyah's a few years older than I was and tend to be like an older sister towards me,so from the sound of my voice Aliyah could tell if I was sad, happy or angry and I love her for it, she could actually feel it. 

Once again, the events of last night filled my head and I began to sob.

'baby, are you crying?' She asked her voice filled with worries.

'can we see?, I have so much to say'

'oh, baby, my schedule is free today, let's meet at our use, by 2pm, if that's okay with you?'

'yeah, I'm fine with the time'

'okay, I'll see you there, be fine ok'

'okay, Alee, thank you'.

By two pm I was at our usual cafe down from her office, it was a cafe slash restaurant owned by an elderly woman, I think she's in her eighties, but it's been run by her granddaughter, their food was so delicious, once we discovered this place I and Aliyah never stopped coming.

I sat at our usual table which was by the left side, over looking the window and can also see everyone who stepped into the Cafe. The waitress brought my coffee and strawberry cake, but I just sipped on the coffee, I had no appetite to eat the cake, but still forced myself to, as I took the first bite, Aliyah walked in, she walked in looking hot as usual, dressed in a black turtleneck long sleeved top and a white highwaisted wide legs pants with her hair sleeked in a ponytail and copper brown glowing skin, and I wonder why she's still single, I wave at her then she walks up to me

"Hey baby girl" she greets as she kissed my cheeks before sitting opposite me.

"Hi Aliyah" I croaked, my voice failing me

The waitress came over and she ordered a glass of orange juice and some spaghetti, when the waitress went to get her order, she asked

"So what's going on?" 

I couldn't hold it up anymore, so I told her the events of last night and what my father did and said, I couldn't hold myself and tears began to fall as I explained everything, she reached out to me and I sobbed in her arms.

"I knew your father was an ass, never knew he was deranged too, an arranged marriage, this is the freaking 21st century" 

" I thought the same too, but he's headstrong about it, what am I going to do?, I'm thinking of running away"

'But if I do what would happen to Mom, I just can't imagine what that monster would do to her, even if I take her with me, would I have enough for the both of us?'.

"I'd just get married, I hope the so called William isn't a monster"

"William Carter, I thought I've that name somewhere" she replies going through her phone, 

"I knew I have, he's thirty-"

I sputtered my coffee on the table, but quickly use the paper towel to clean it.

"Talk about robbing the cradle, I'm Twenty one!!" I exclaimed, raising my hands up.

"But thirty isn't old babes, and he's hot....like really hot..." She replied, giving me her phone to see a photo of the guy.

I admit, he's an eye candy, and looks like one of those hot superheroes, with his thick black hair, chiseled jawline and eyes like that of a thunderstorm, he's a sight for sore eyes, but thirty, why would he agree to a freaking arranged marriage.

" It says here...he's been CEO of the company since twenty six, and.....oh....he has a girlfriend"

If he has a girlfriend, that means he wouldn't agree to this right...

"He has a girlfriend?"

Was that me sounding disappointed, no, I can't be attracted to him just because he's handsome in photos, what if he looks like a pig, or worse he has the personality of a pig, ha, I'm not interested in him.

" Yes, Suzanne Pierce"

"Suzanne Pierce, I've heard of that name" I stated, wondering where I did hear of the name

"Of course you have, she's that model that sued flames magazine last year for misinformation for twenty thousand dollars, I was their lawyer" 

Of course I've heard of her, although Alee was the lawyer to the defendants, she could not stop gushing about how hot and beautiful the model was, and apparently, she's my soon to be husband's girlfriend, talk about life.

"So he's dating, I've not had the chance to date any guy, and now I'm getting married to him" I complained

" Is not his fault you refused to date"

I can't believe she just said that, I mean she knows very well why I refused to date.

"Are you on my side or his ?" I glared furiously

"I'm on your side girl, I don't even know him, but look at the bright side, you got to be with this piece of eye candy for the rest of your life" she cajoled, showing me his picture once again.

Of course I'm not going to stay married to him for the rest of my life, just for eight months, when I turn twenty three I get the trust fund left by my grandmother, I'll have enough money to leave my father clutches, take my mother and leave the country, he wouldn't want to stay in the marriage either.

Aliyah continued to fill me with information about my soon to be husband, but I wasn't interested in all those things, it was the last sentence she said about an interview he did with an entertainment magazine and was asked about his relationship, which he subtly revealed he was going to marry Suzanne Pierce, and this News was about a month ago.

"So, I think he isn't on board with the arranged marriage too" Aliyah 

"I don't know, I've not met him to say otherwise" 

Right then, my phone chimed, it was a text message from my dad, that said I was to meet with William tomorrow evening for dinner.

'What a douche' I mumbled, Aliyah didn't catch what I said, she was busy searching the net for any information about him.

I guess tomorrow I'll see what he's really like, know his own thoughts on this arrangement between our parents.