Everything, and Her

He had everything, and her. And by the time he had left Peter’s residence, he was a happy man. No once could stop him now.

“We have a wedding to plan,” Was the first thing he told Benjamin the moment he hit the road. “We only have two days.”

Nothing ever surprised Benjamin when he worked for a man like Wade that had him do the most bizarre things. But this one, had to be the top on his list.

“I didn’t actually think you’d be able to win him over,” he said. Without checking his thoughts.

“I wouldn’t have started all this if I didn’t think I’d had a chance.”

“How did you do it?”

Wade chuckled to himself. “Let’s just say every man has a price, even the toughest of us all. Wade had managed to dangled the right thing in front of Mr. Peter’s eyes and watched him gobble it all up.

With no more than a day to spare, preparations for his wedding began even when he hadn’t met his bride to be. That wasn’t any concern of his, he had no plans of getting to know her, or love her.

For all he wanted was to take the one thing Peter treasured the most, and that was his only child. His wife, who Wade hadn’t know was rumored to have died at childbirth. She was his only family.

Unknown to Rose, her life was about to be changed for the worse. If she had known in some way, she wouldn’t have rushed home with Mary.

The excitement she had experienced a couple days ago still made her face flush whenever she remembered the details of that night. Even Ms. Mary had heard it more times than she was willing to listen.

According to Rose the young man had been her prince charming, which made it a complete shame that she wasn’t able to find him after because she hadn’t been bothered to know his name at the very least. A big mistake on her part.

For the night had taken an unexpected turn. By the time she had woken up the next morning he was gone. But not without leaving breakfast and a chauffeur to take her back home.

To Rose he was the only kind man left on earth. Which made her pray every morning that they would magically cross parts again.

The sour mood when she entered the house went unnoticed by her. She left Mary to sort the grocery and went to see her father.

“We’re back,” she said the moment she walked into his room. “The strawberries we found were not fresh enough, so we opted for pineapple. Ms. Mary will bring them up shortly.”

It takes a minute for her to realize he was not responding. “Papa?” she called out, walking further into the room.

Her smile beginning to fade away, she walked out to the balcony. She was surprised when she saw him seated there.

After the railings had started to rust, Rose had warned him not to go out there for fear that he could one day fall through. The strange expression on her father’s face stopped her from nagging him about his safety.

“Papa, did anything happen?”

It was only then that Peter heard her. “You’re back,” he said as he straightened up on the chair he was sitting on. “How did grocery shopping with Mary go?”

“There were so many people at the store, Mary said it’s the reason she hates shopping close to the weekend. But you allowed me to go with her so she didn’t mind.”

The smile he always reserved for her was nowhere to be found. “You look worried Papa.”

Schooling his expression into a blank one he said, “It’s nothing for you to worry your pretty head over.”

Still, she couldn’t help it. Not when a feeling of doom was trying to blanket them both. Walking over, she sat at his feet and looked up at him. “We got you pineapple.”

He hummed.

“The strawberries were not fresh enough.”

He hummed, again.

“Papa…” she reached up and cupped his cheek forcing him to look at her. “You know you can tell me whatever is wrong. We promised to always rely on each other.”

Peter blinked severally. The last thing he wanted was to cry in front of her. He had hoped to keep the news from her for as long as he could, but Wade had given him no choice.

“Whatever I tell you,” he started, putting his palm on top of her hand. “I need you to believe that I would never abandon you.”

“I know you’ll never abandon me Papa, but why are you talking like this?” Her eyes were already clouding with tears. Something must have happened when she gone.

“And I’ll never do anything that will put you in harm’s way.”

“You’re making me worried-”

With a deep breath he finally looked at her, stroking the back of her palm that was still on her cheek. “You got a marriage proposal today.”

“That hardly seems like a reason to worry. We both know I’m not ready for marriage. Besides, I’m not going to leave you all by your self.”

“You don’t understand Rose.” How was he to explain to her that he basically handed her over to a stranger, all in a bid to save them both? “You’re getting married tomorrow”

Her hand fell from his face in shock. It couldn’t be that she heard him right, “I’m getting married? Tomorrow?”

For some reason all she could do was laugh. “Are you trying to prank me again Papa? It’s not going to work this time.” She started to stand up. “I’ll prepare the fruit for you, come down when you’re done laughing at my expense.”

He held onto her hand before she could walk away. “This is not a prank Rose.”

She noticed then that he didn’t share in her laughter. Looking properly at him now, she saw the lines that were edged deep around his mouth, and it made it seem like he had aged a couple years more.

“I’m getting married?”

He looked at her, his heart feeling like it was shattering into a million pieces. “I was left with no other choice.”

Falling back to the floor, she tugged at her hair in frustration. “What do you mean no choice Papa?” She could easily the fear that was laced with worry in his eyes.

“Believe me, there was nothing else I could do.”

“You’re not making any sense, I need to know exactly what happened.”

“My Rose, I can’t take care of you anymore.” He stroked her head. “But he will, I made him promise.”

“Who?”

“The man you’ll be marrying.”

“Papa-”

He stood up abruptly. “Come here.” He stretched out his hand and she took it.

Without any other word he led her out of the house and into the garden. The sun was already bidding them farewell, casting a soft glow on both their skin.

In it’s prime the garden had been home for rare flowers, their colors brightening up the day. Tending to them had been his wife’s favourite thing to do, she had planted them all by herself. And it hurt watching them wither away.

But now, he could save what was left of it.

“Do you remember when you used to play here as a kid, you’d always soil your clothes and make Mary so mad she almost pulled out all her hair.”

Rose managed a small smile. “I really was a naughty kid.”

He stopped in front of a swing that Edith, her mother, had made when she had started the garden, in hopes of enjoying the evening there with her child. She never got to.

“The best kind that any parent could ever ask for,” Peter added as they sat down.

“Papa, you’re making me anxious. What really is going on?”

With a deep exhale he answered, “I sold the company.”

She stood up abruptly, heart hammering away in her chest. “Why would you do that? It’s our only source of income.”

Unable to face her he looked away. “Not anymore. We filed for bankruptcy a couple days ago.”

“How did I not know about this?”

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

“This is bad-” she paced in front of him. “Is there no way to save it? It’s the company you and mama started, we can’t just let it go.”

“That was why I came to the conclusion that you get married to the man that bought the company. He offered to leave it in your name, that way the company will belong to you.”

“I don’t understand-”

He took her hands, getting up. “You’ll be the owner of the company on paper, all he wants is to have full control of the finances.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Why would he go through the trouble of buying the company if he’s not interested in the ownership?”

“I wish I had the answer to that Rose.”

There was no way out of this mess for her. The company was all her father had of her mother, it wouldn’t be fair for him to let go, not when she could do something about it.

Never had she been faced with such a difficult task. “If I marry him, he’ll let me have the company still?”

Peter nodded. “I hate that I have to ask this of you Rose. But it’s also the only way I can protect you. There’s nothing left to offer you but a failing estate and a sick father. With him you will be taken care of, he promised me.”

“And you take he will honour his promise?”

“I know he will.”

Distraught he pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you the world Rose.”

She rubbed his back, letting the tears in her eyes fall now he couldn’t see them. “I’m more sorry for not taking better care of you. If I had learned business maybe I would’ve been able to safe your company and the house-”

“Don’t blame for yourself for things that were out of your control,” he chastised her. “He might be ruthless on the outside but he’s a good man, he’ll take care of you better than I ever could.”

Sniffing she decided to accept her fate. How funny, this morning all she could think about was her Prince Charming and if they’ll ever meet. Now? She was about to get married to a man she has never know.

“When is the wedding?” she dared to ask.

“This weekend, he wants to start the paperwork.”

She pulled away, “There’s not enough time.”

“I know child, but he wouldn’t budge.”

“How then will I get to know him? At least I need to see what he looks like, so I know who I’m signing my life over to.”

He squeezed her hand. “He’ll be joining us for dinner, he hopes to introduce himself then.”

The only marriage Rose had imagined herself in was with her Prince. The thought of being able to bump into him in future and possible rekindle their love was the only that had kept her so happy.

Now, it was all crushed. Even if by some miracle she ran into him, it would be useless. She was off limits now.

Maybe she would kill her husband, unhappy wives did it all the time in dramas. Sad thing she couldn’t even hurt a fly, she would have to endure it all.

It would help her dad preserve what memory he made with her mother. It was their little baby project after all. It was all up to her to keep it in the family, instead of letting a total stranger take it all.

There was also the freedom if she thought about it from a positive perceptive. All she had ever wanted was to leave the walls of her family home and make something out of herself.

All those years she had lived as her father’s daughter. What she only wanted was to live for herself but even that might be impossible at this point. She would have to try, being a wife should be less restricting than being a good daughter.

As time counted down she found herself becoming nervous. There were now bags under her eyes as Mary struggled to style her hair.

“Whatever will I do if I find my prince charming again?” she asked Mary, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

“Child, I think you should be more worried about your husband to be, being a good man.” She applied more conditioner on Rose’s hair and started to work the knots from the tip.

She slapped her forehead with more force than she had intended. “I really should have asked for his name. If only he hadn’t charmed off my wits and made me lose my common sense.” She squealed in anger with herself.

“Sit still child, we have barely an hour to get you ready.” She tried to run the comb through her hair again but Rose slapped the comb away and fell into the bed.

“If only he’d appear here and steal me from my intended groom,” she groaned.

“That only happens in romance novels my dear, let’s be realistic.” She went to sit beside her on the bed. What a poor fate that had befallen her, Mary thought. “Tell me, what was he like?”

“Oh Ms. Mary, he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever met!” She said, a dreamy expression on her face. “Being with him felt like floating in the sky.” She sat up abruptly and took Mary’s hand. “His hair is so soft, even more than mine. The minute he held me I never wanted to let go.”

“Poor child,” Mary said as she stroked the back of her hand.

Rose had kept most of the explicit details to herself. Not that she was afraid Mary would judge her. She was more concerned that Mary would forever see her as her little girl and forget that Rose was a grown woman now, with certain needs.

“It feels like he has ruined me for any other man,” she muttered, but more to herself. “How ever will I be able to love my husband when my heart belongs to another?”

Pulling her closer Mary whispered into her hair. “At least I’ll be there with you, I’ll help you get through it all. I already have a plan on how to make your husband fall in love with you.”

“How does him falling in love with me solve anything?”

“Hush sweetheart. A man that’s in love with you will do anything in his power to make you happy. Cheer up! He might turn out to be more charming than your beloved Prince.”

With a pout she got off the bed and sat back at the vanity table. “I doubt it.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“But what happens to Papa if you leave with me. There will be no one by his side, I’d hate for him to be here all alone. The house is already sad as it is.”

“Maybe he needs the time alone. He never was able to properly grief your mother, this could be his chance.” Mary started on her hair again. “The sadness never left his eyes after he lost your mother. But he also couldn’t let himself feel the loss because he had to be strong and raise you.”

Rose had never really thought about it like that. “Maybe you’re right. But I’ll like for us to visit him on the weekends so he’ll know he has a family beside him.” She might be getting married, but her father and Mary will be the only family she’ll ever know.

At exactly 6pm Rose put on the dress that had been laid out for her and went down the stairs. The man was yet to arrive and her anxiety was at an all-time high. She was forbidden to help with dinner so all she could do was sit with her unwanted thoughts.

Mary was still in the kitchen and her father hasn’t come out of his room since he broke the news to her. He felt to ashamed to face his own daughter.

Her feet was barely on the last step when the front door sprang open with a knock. The flower vase she was holding fell from her hand and shattered into a thousand piece.

Rose has never particularly believed in miracles, she wasn’t even religious to begin with. But before her was the evidence that a power higher than her was working in her favour.

Standing in front of her was her Prince, there wasn’t a better fairy-tale than hers.