1~ I'm not destined for this

Naomi's POV

To say life is fair would be an overstatement because all my days on earth, life has always cheated me and right now was an example of that in the form of the news I just received.

Last week, my dad was informed that his dwindling business had gone bankrupt. How he had scampered off in a bid to find a solution to the problem. So here we were, all seated in his office at home with my mouth hanging open at the magnitude of the information he has just dumped on me as my birthday gift.

I have been betrothed to one of the biggest billionaire's sons.

The news sent me back to the past and the painful reminder of the nature of my existence began to swirl in my head. 

It didn't matter that my father was the one who invited me to come stay with him after my graduation last year; I would always remain his illegitimate daughter, the product of a one night stand with a club worker.

My mom never knew she was pregnant with me but when she did, she went on a rampage looking for him, the one and only Jackson Raymond, the rich business man. When she did find him, he was getting married and for fear of being labeled a gold digger she kept me a secret until she was diagnosed with cancer. I was just ten.

He never believed her, even when the DNA test turned out positive, there was still a flicker of doubt. He was never truly accepting of me and even though he sent money for my upkeep, made sure I never lacked, my father's love was always absent.

Two years later my mom died and my father was left with no other option but to take me in, against the approval of his wife and she made sure to let me know how unwelcomed I was, recruiting her daughter's help to make my life miserable.

The first day at the mansion was hell for me and for the first time since my birth, someone raised a hand on me. That wasn't enough for my father's wife though, not until she scalded me with a hot iron which explains how I got the mark on my back.

For years I was tortured and threatened, begging with my eyes for my father to see the pain and sadness in his daughter's eyes but no such thing happened. My big break came when I finished high school and was offered admission to the University, making sure it was many states away from home.

He insisted I change location to be closer to home but I refused, never giving any reasons. A few persuasions later and when I still didn't give in, he decided to let me be.

I knew I had to come back home after graduation, so I did come back but I was frustrated by both my step mom and step sister who enabled the use of their vile tongues as they couldn't lay hands on me anymore.

"I'm really sorry Naomi, I didn't want this for you."

Naomi Treasure Raymond. 

I would never be able to understand what my father was thinking when he named me Treasure, I was of no value to anyone -maybe just a business bargain for him- neither could I fathom my mother's reason for the name Naomi, there was nothing pleasant about me. 

"I never wanted this kind of life for you but I can't go bankrupt," my father's voice brought me out of my reverie. I raised my eyes to meet him but he avoided it, feeling bad about the situation he put me in.

I know he cared about me and would never sign me up for something like this if he had another choice. I only wished he asked Angela instead.

Why me?

All my life I've been put down and when I thought I could finally break free, get a chance at happiness, this happened. 

"Can I ask just one question father? Just one question." I say instead, my index finger raised in his direction and he nods.

"Why not Angela?"

Why me father? Why me?

"Hmm ... " He began with a sigh, "You know Angela's mom will always want what Angela wants and she doesn't care if I go bankrupt. She won't allow her daughter to marry a stranger."

I could see pain and betrayal in his eyes, he was always in an argument with Angela or her mother. She never respected him and if she was wrong, her mom would always support her. They always blamed me for their broken home, they didn't have to say it out loud but you could see it in their eyes, the hate they each held for me.

"Fine dad." I forced the words out of my mouth, this was my way of repaying him for taking care of me. It didn't matter that it would cost me my happiness, maybe not everyone deserves to be happy. 

"I'm really sorry, my treasure." It was the name he gave me after my mother's passing. His large frame engulfed me in a tight hug and I let the tears drop, crying for the both of us.

I didn't want the marriage but I wasn't going to let him go bankrupt.

"No problems daddy."

Steven's POV

"What! No way father! I'm not getting married to someone I don't know."

"Well, my decision is final, Steven. You will get married and let go of your Playboy lifestyle."

My ears burned at his words, his continuous denial of Marenda pushing me off the edges. "Well, I have a girlfriend and we are in love."

"She is after your money Steven. Open your eyes, she doesn't love you." We were both currently standing in the lounge of my father's mansion, staring daggers at each other, hoping for the other to back down.

"That's because you don't know her father." I shouted at the top of my voice, our conversation always ended like this. We could never come to an agreement so long it had to do with Marenda, the love of my life.

"Well, I know sluts and money minded people and she is one."

"So the one you want me to get married to isn't money minded?" My voice held mockery and my eyebrows rose in amusement.

"Yes, they are not."

"They?" I scoffed. "You know what? I'm not getting married to anyone except Marenda and that's final."

"You will do what I say Steven or I will strip you of everything you own."

"Then so be it." I spat out without thinking, hurriedly walking out of his premises. If I had to hear one more word about this from him, I wouldn't be able to control my reactions.

I drove back to my penthouse to find the subject of our argument, Marenda. She was dressed in a red tank top tucked into jean bum shorts and multi coloured socks on her feet, sprawled on the bed, watching N*****x.

"You are back babe." She said when she heard the door open, walking up to wrap her hands around me.

"What's wrong?" She quizzed me, worry lines etched on her forehead as she took in my facial expression. I could see the love in her eyes but would never understand why my father refused to see it. 

"It's nothing Renda." I hoisted her up, till her legs were secured firmly behind my waist.

"Come on, talk to me." Her teeth took my lower lips, biting down on it gently, that was my weak spot and she knew just the right time to use it.

"Well, my dad stripped me of everything because I refused to get married to the woman he wants me to."

"What?" The force of my words sent her back, her hands slipped from my neck and I staggered a bit to support her weight.

"Yes, that's what I was saying. Who does that?"

"Yes, Steven. Who does that? You shouldn't have let him do that."

My face scrunched up in confusion and she continued, "you shouldn't have let him do that. That means you won't have money, car or even this penthouse anymore."

"I don't care, Renda. All I care about is you and that's enough for me."

"What?" She struggled in my arms and I grudgingly let her down.

"How can we get married if you are homeless?" She was moving closer to the bed now, her arms outstretched in front of her like it would drive her point further.

"We will find solutions baby." I muttered, my fingers ran through my black tresses, I needed a haircut soon.

"You want to know the only solution we have?" Her back was turned to me as her hands roamed under the blanket.

"What is it, Renda?"

"Go back to your father, accept the marriage proposal, do what he says." 

"What? Are you insane?" The shock of hearing those words blinded me to the fact that she was already putting on a Kimono, the one she dragged me with her to the stores to buy from our last vacation in Italy.

"No, that's the only way we can be together." She was removing the socks now, pushing her well massaged feet into a pair of flip flops.

"If you don't have money, I can't be with you. You promised I will never suffer and now see what you have done?"

"Renda? I thought you cared about me and not the money." I didn't want to believe my father's words but I never expected to hear any of this from Marenda.

"I do, Steven," she pulled me closer to her, her hands palmed my face. "I love you and nothing will ever change that but if we have to build a life together, we can't start with nothing. I'm jobless Steven, where do we start from?"

"Look at me Steven, you will marry her," I made to pull out of her grip but she didn't budge. "It doesn't mean you will consummate the marriage. We can still be together, you don't need to be in the same room as her, baby." 

My lips parted to render a protest but her index finger on my lips silenced me, "do it for us and our future, you can divorce her soon after."

She walked backwards until her hands located her Louis Vuitton handbag. "When you accept the proposal, contact me." She blew kisses into the air and the cat walked out, not once did she look back.