Chapter 3

I follow her up the stairs and stop outside her door which is slightly ajar. I can see her cry and hear complain about why I seem to care more about Emma.

I turn away and just leave the house. I try to avoid this house as much as I can. Honestly it's not that I choose Emma over her or prefer her over Selene but she's more familiar and not suspicious.

Selene just appeared out of nowhere when grandma brought her to the family house sometime after Grandpa died.

I trust Grandma explicitly on everything but when it comes to this girl that came out of nowhere, from this small village in the outskirts and comes to this city to marry as a way for me to inherit the company completely.

~♡~

"I welcome all of you to the reading of Jack Black will," the family lawyer Mr. Dominic O'Connor said.

During the meeting Grandma walked in with Selene a girl grandma and grandpa had taken in as she was the grandchild of a friend of hers a few years back when she was just 16. Everyone is wondering why she's attending a family meeting. I could see as my aunts and uncles started talking about her. I know they were scared of how her attendance would affect the family. I even know my dad wants me to marry his bestfriends daughter Emma. I know he isn't pleased that Black enterprise just left Grandpa's hands and ended up in mine without him or siblings getting a taste of power.

The solicitor started with Grandma, how he left her is own personal investments and the family house with shares in the real estate part of the company and some voting shares in the campany.

He began to read out the assets that were given to my dad, his siblings and spouses. Most of what went to them are houses, cars and paintings. i know this displeased them.

Then he went into what went to his great grandchildren before going to us his grandchildren.

My cousins just like their parents got houses, cars and some money. It was then my turn.

"Alexander will get my shares and voting rights in the Black Enterprises, he also gets the black Black airplane company and all the planes" everyone gasped in shock, anger and indignation but the girl Grandma came with just looked at me and whispered something in grandma's ear.

"He'll also be managing my shares on behalf of his Grandma in the Thompson, Howard and various other Enterprises."

"This isn't fair!"

"He's too young to get such level of money and power,"

A lot of my uncles spoke out in anger and indignation but my father smiled, I didn't like this. I know he's making plans to make my life difficult.

"Moreover, your grandmother Mrs. Black has decided to have an early will and is leaving everything her husband gave her during their marriage, all the property rights, shares in companies to Mr. Alexander Black on the pretext that he marries Miss Selene Wade." Mr. O'Connor says.

Everyone started yelling and asking Grandma why i have to marry her and why she wants to give it to me and not them. I wasn't happy about the idea of marrying some strange girl but I decided it's best I marry, in some way I think it's Grandma's way of protecting me from the evil plans My father would make in hopes to control and I know she especially hates Emma and father would make me marry her.

I know for a fact that I'm better off marrying this Selene and not risk being controlled before I get a proper foothold in the company.

Everyone quieted down when grandma told them to and they all sat there looking at me, waiting for my response, I can see dad is looking red and uncomfortable with anger because his plans are clearly being disrupted, I look to the girl I'm to marry.

I must accept, she is beautiful with her dark brown hair and blue eyes. She is so tiny, most likely 5'3 and petite almost on the verge of malnourished.

She has cute elven features. We continue to stare at eachother, I can see she is a bit apprehensive to hold my gaze but I watch her gaze hardens when she gains a little confidence to hold it as if to challenge me.

I like her.

"I will marry her." I say as I continue looking at her.

Her cheeks turn this pale pink before her whole face turns red and she looks down.

~♡~

It's been 2 months since we got married and I won't pretend or act like I made her life easy.

it's for the best, if everyone knew I had any snippet of interest in her, her life would get even more complicated. it's best she's seen as a forgotten wife.

I walk into my office and Emmet starts telling me of the meetings I'll be having this afternoon.

I had the meetings and when I finished I went into my office.

" Is the investigation complete?" I ask Emmet. I have been investigating the company employees in search of my uncles and fathers people. I never want to work with people who were taking advantage of my grandfather illness to steal money with my uncles and father to make their pockets full.

"Yes, sir. Here." I read through documents, some people here I had suspected them but having this document confirm it for me still is unpleasant. Some of the people on the least are a shock, it seems I'll have to go through a mass cleansing.

My father and his siblings really took advantage of my grandfather illness and me being abroad to mess with the companies books.

Ever since I got married a week after the will reading, I have been spending most of the past two months of my marriage in this office and Selene would bring me lunch and dinner but ever since her run in with Emma three weeks ago, she hasn't been here. Instead it's been Emma who's been bringing me food as a way to carry favor with me.

Honestly, I worry that this life is too much for Selene, she's always been a delicate and sweet girl.

Even when grandma just brought and everyone would mistreat her, she always been shy and timid. Never talking back but suffering in silence. I understand grandma had me marry her to protect her but I need a strong woman, who will not hide.

A woman who will stand tall at my side, I don't need a woman who locks herself to cry when she has a run in with my family, a woman who's side I need to be at all the time to protect her from people's harsh words but a who will fight back and earn their respect. My family is dangerous, any sign of weakness and they will swallow you whole. The only reason none of them have messed with her is because she has grandma's protection and mine, but when she's gone and I'm too busy with the company..

Who knows.

Emma on the other hand has the fire but all she is is my father and her own parents puppet. Not worth it.

Some many things to consider but if I were consider being stuck with my enemies puppet and Selene, I would choose her thousand times over.

My calendar shows the Howard family benefit later this evening, with how my conversation went with Selene earlier, I doubt she'll be attending and Emma already asked to go with me.

'Ting'

I look down at my phone and see a message from Emma asking what time I'm picking her up for the benefit, I text her 9pm.