Chapter 3: Trying to marry me off?

Shawn's POV

I got out from my beautiful black baby…. And by that I mean my gorgeous Bentley car, to behold the mansion that held so many bittersweet memories. 

It was truly a sight to behold, majestic in every way. Once upon a time I called this my home and it was for a while when my mother was still alive and the house was filled with boisterous little children and smiling parents. 

Back then Freddie and Katherine were the only playmates I had and their mum never treated me differently especially because of my father's wealth. She even had a very close relationship with my mum and I knew her death affected her greatly, well at least now they are both in someplace better than this. 

Now this mansion was nothing more than just bricks and wood to me. It still looked elegant and beautiful, making everything around it seem small and insignificant. The flowers around the building were meticulously trimmed but it looked dull, like it lacked any soul or passion, just like a sad work of art. 

The huge pillars that stood tall now looked down on me menacingly, strong and steady since I could remember. It held the mansion in place and had little bit of design here and there. 

The whole building was white, it was the only thing that mum and dad agreed on and even Angela could not change that, even though I'm sure she wanted it painted purple or sky blue and any colour that she argued would "make the building look more lively". 

Dad didn't bulge on that, and for me that was the best decision that my dad ever made after my mum died. 

As I took slow steady steps towards the huge door I suddenly felt like a 10 year old again. Only my father had this effect on me. No matter how much I try to deny it, it was obvious that I wanted to please him, I wanted him to be proud of the man I was becoming and indirectly every decision I made was a step towards that. 

My father was never one to throw words of compliments or appreciation without care, and so far no matter what I did it was never good enough for him, still I did more. 

I was so funny, I hated myself sometimes for being like this. I could not bring myself to understand why a man who showed so little love to me held so much power in my life.  

I wanted to be free of his shackles, of this obligation to family but he was the only family I had and the moment he summoned me to the mansion I found myself running to him as usual. 

I knocked firmly on the door, it was a huge door but I knew there were probably a bunch of servants doing Angela's bidding inside the mansion and one of them must be close to the door.  

Just like I predicted in no time the door opened to reveal a small woman with a warm smile. She was wearing the staff uniform; a dark blue gown with a white long sleeve shirt inside. 

The gowns usually reached the worker's knee but because of this woman's particular small build, it was almost reaching her ankles and she didn't mind it. She was advanced, not too old that she was unable to work but old enough to have some grandkids if she started giving birth early.

Her dark hair was hidden under a loose cap worn by female workers, as per Angela's orders, but a few strands of her hair revealed some strands of white hair here and there. 

"Good day, Master Blackwell," she greeted with a little bow and that smile still plastered on her face, this time though it was wider and it revealed her teeth, which were a little bit brown and one canine was missing. 

I'm sure she must have seen me before, I on the other hand meet a lot of people everyday so it's kind of hard to keep track of everyone. 

I stepped into the mansion as she made way for me. 

"Good day," I simply replied. 

I didn't really know how to address her, she did not have on her name tag, which I'm sure she must have lost somewhere and she would get an earful if Angela were to find her that way, but it was no concern of mine. Nothing in this house was any business of mine and the faster I left already the better. 

"Where's my father?" I asked. 

"Oh he's in the study master Blackwell, let me go tell him of your arrival," she volunteered. 

"No need," I said abruptly, stopping her in her tracks, "I'll find my way to him," and I left her before she even had the chance to object. 

I knew this house even if I wanted to forget about it and I did not need anyone treating me like some guest. I was his only son and I did not need any permission to meet my father. 

The study was situated a great distance from the other rooms in the mansion, secluded, just the way he wanted it. 

He was a man that thought little about anything else but money and power. The only one that could piece his cold heart was my mother and ever since she died no one else mattered to him, not even his trophy wife and definitely not me. 

Finally I walked to the study, the door was closed but I knew he was in there, cracking his brain for more ways to make more money, not like he was going to take it with him to his grave or anything. 

I hesitated for a little while, sighed and lost the in ward battle I was fighting as I finally knocked gently. 

"Come in," he said from behind the door. 

He didn't even ask who it was, but I guess he already knew I was the one, somehow he could decipher these things. It was one of his many talents and one more reason for me to loathe him. 

I opened the door and stepped into the room and the smell of his cigar was the first and really the only thing that welcomed me because I could still see my father's figure looking out the window, cigar stick in hand, without even turning around. 

It was a large room with a high window and it was like a mixture of a mini library and a work area. Father liked to read, he read about politics and history and stuff like that, sometimes I wonder if that made him more cold instead of kind. 

I closed the door behind me and walked in with even strides, like the man he wanted me to be.  

"Good day father," I said as I stood a few distance from him. 

By this time I was quite sure he already knew I was the one, still I had to say something. I could not stand the uncomfortable silence but it was something that he relished. 

Finally he turned around and gave me a quick up and down look as if assessing my clothes, my style, my posture, everything about me, looking for a fault, searching for something to complain about. 

"Hello Son, good to see you," he said finally as he began pouring himself a glass of whiskey. 

I wish I could say the same about him but there really was nothing good about seeing him. I've given up a long time ago of having anything close to a loving father-son relationship with this man and I knew the only reason I was here was because of business. 

He looked up at me and realised that I wasn't going to give him a friendly reply, nodded his head curtly as if it was as expected. 

"Please sit," he said, using his hand to direct me to sit opposite him like the proper business meeting this was. 

To be honest I don't really know why he asked to see me but if it was for business as usual then a call would have been sufficient, at least it has worked that way between us for a while now.  

I refused to sit like a good boy at his bidding, instead I chose a much safer seat on the study couch, creating a lot more distance away from him.  

He watched me closely, his face stoic and emotionless, showing not even a glimpse of what he felt. 

"What's going on dad?" I asked. 

Yes I still called him dad, I don't know why but I still do. Maybe some part of me still hoped that someday he would be the kind of father I had always hoped, but that part of me was buried deep down in the list of things to not rely on. 

He sat down, fished out a blue folder from the papers on his table and threw it towards the edge of the table closer to me. 

"Read it," he commanded. 

I eyed him for a moment, wondering what could be in that folder, probably a new business deal, but why was he acting more distant than usual? 

I stood up from the couch, took two even strides, grabbed the folder and opened it while still standing. His gaze was on me, studying my every move but I didn't care, what was in the folder was more intriguing. 

As I opened it I found myself looking at the profile of none other than Isabel Anthony, sole heiress to the Anthony empire. 

I knew about her, her family was part of the rich circle and they were close with my dad. I didn't know much about them though. Sure I've seen them around, they were wealthy and very vain people but that's all I knew about them, nothing else intrigued me about their life. 

Isabel Anthony was a pretty girl, the folder had a list of her hobbies and educational background, and a few other details they deemed necessary. There was also a picture of her with her blonde hair styled prim and proper, like all the other rich girls that I knew.

I already knew what this meant, even though I never imagined that my dad could use me this way for his business. I knew he was capable of a lot of things but this was a new low even for him. 

"What's the meaning of this?" I asked.

It was a rhetorical question, I already knew the answer but still I wanted to hear him say it. 

"It's quite obvious son, you are to marry Isabel and arrangements have already been made towards that," he said as a matter of fact. 

"What?" I asked, like he just spoke Spanish. 

He looked at me for a while, as if trying to comprehend why I was acting this way. Did he expect me to just sit back and watch him sell me all for the sake of his business?! 

"The Anthonys have already agreed to the arrangement and it's for the good of the family business so I thought it fit to inform you," he continued calmly like it was business as usual. 

"I can't dad, I can't marry this girl," I replied firmly. 

I wasn't going to let my father dictate something as important as this for me. He had a lot of control over my life already but this was the only aspect that I will definitely not let him have. 

Who I choose to spend the rest of my life with, to be the mother of my kids, was up to me and it certainly was not going to be Isabel Anthony or any choice of my dad. 

"Why can't you?" He asked. 

"I already have someone else, and it is she that I want to marry," I replied. 

That was a lie. I was currently single and did not have the slightest intention of marrying anyone right now, but my dad doesn't have to know that. 

All I knew was that I was definitely not going to marry Isabel Anthony and that was final. However I'm sure dad has done his homework on me and knew I was single. The smirk on his face proved it. 

"And whom might that be?" He asked.

"Katherine, Katherine Paul, she's my choice and that's final," I blurted out. "If that's all, have a nice day dad," I said as I walked out of the study. 

I groaned internally at the mess I have just made by dragging Katherine into this. I wasn't thinking that's for sure and now there was no way out of this. 

I had to marry Katherine or at least make it look like we were in a serious relationship, but first I had to let her know about this ridiculous plan of mine. 

She owed me anyways, I sent her the money a few hours ago as planned and I'm sure she would still be in shock about the amount, I made sure it was huge. 

Little did she know that she was about to hear more shocking revelations. Oh poor Katherine, why did I have to drag her into my family mess?!