Chapter Two

It got dark fast and every member of the family was sitting at the dining table where we usually have our family meeting.

My mom had prepared a lot for dinner, it looked like a feast.

On the table was one of my favorite dessert, apple pie. I had to fight the urge from taking a slice as the situation looked too serious for me to be thinking about food just yet.

“What’s up dad. You said there was an emergency.” Chloe, my sister who was five years older than I am said. Chloe and I used to be really close until she went halfway across the country for college and deserted her younger sister. We looked almost identical and many times people mistook us for each other. But then again if we were to be standing side by side in the same room, it would be easy to tell who is who between the two of yours.

A few differences between our features include the fact that I had a darker skin and I looked younger. Also Chloe’s hair was now a strawberry blonde color. She had dyed it from her natural dark brown hair to a orange hue.

My parents had just two children. Chloe and I.

“Yes Chloe. I have a question for you. Perhaps do you remember Seth.”

A frown appeared on her beautiful face.

“Chris? You mean Chris Storms?.” She asked and my dad nodded.

I just kept looking between the two of them because I had no idea who it was they were talking about.

“Yes Chris Storms.”

“Of course I do. That boy brought horror to my childhood. He traumatized me so much. He annoyed me and creeped me out way too much for me not to remember him. Especially with that thick eyeglasses of his and his buck teeth. You and mom even made it worse when you used to joke that we were gonna get married someday. Dude called me his wife for days. I know I never said this before but I was glad when he had to go to Greece to meet his mom. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I had seen him any much longer than I did.” She shuddered before turning to me. “Lesley trust me when I say you’re incredibly lucky to have been a child when they used to live in the house opposite ours. That boy would have scarred your childhood like he did mine. Do you know he almost cut me with a knife when I refused to let him touch my hair. He was so ugly and a sicko and was so obsessed with me. I used to hate that you made him come play in our house then. I’m just glad he’s gone now and I hope I never meet him again.” She shook her head.

“Well it’s good that you remember him very well.”

“Of course dad. No one can forget a face as ugly as his.” She shrugged.

“Well daughter, I want you to know that your mother and I weren’t joking then.”

She laughed nervously. “I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“About seventeen years ago months after Lesley was born, we had issues with the company, we went bankrupt. There was no one to help then except Samuel. He had offered to give us money for us to get the company back on it’s feet and it worked because in a few month we were even better than before. But then the conditions Samuel gave before he could lend us the money was......” he trailed off.

“To have his son marry you when he turns twenty five.” Mom completed.

“Wait, What! You didn’t agree to that did you, you didn’t sell your daughter for some cash did you.” Chloe said, I could see her trembling, she was scared and for some unknown reason I was scared too.

“It wasn’t just some cash Chloe. It was a billion dollars.”

“And you think that is enough to sell me off? You think your daughter is worth that much. How could you do something like that!” She slammed her hands on the table, the impact made me flinch. Yeah, I get startled easily.

“Honey you have to understand that we had no other choice.” Mom said. She looked like she wanted to cry.

“There is always a choice. You could have taken a loan from the bank.”

“We tried to but no bank was ready to lend us that amount of money when we had practical nothing to stand with. You have to understand that we did this for you and your sister. To provide this life of luxury that you’re living.”

“I never asked for any of it did I.” She snapped. Her eyes were already red by now, her face was slightly wet and I could see her hands shaking under the table. She was really mad and I know that because that’s how I get when I’m mad too.

I had barely spoken any word. It was clear that this meeting had nothing to do with me. It was between Chloe and my parents but I was only included just so I wasn’t left in the dark.

Silence consumed the room.

“When does he turn twenty five?.” She asked after it seemed like she had calmed down a bit.

“He turned twenty five two months ago.”

“That means they’re planning to have him get married soon.” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

My dad nodded.

“The wedding is in two weeks.”

“Fuck this!.” She got on her feet. “I’m not getting married to some loser. I’m not getting married just because you failed to save your company the normal way. I’m getting out of here.”

“There are consequences.” Mom said quickly just before Chloe could turn her back to leave. “We signed a document, documents. And it said that if we failed to fulfill our part of the contract, both your father and I would have to give up everything we own, including this house and failure to do that would lead us to prison.”

*********

Adriana’s mouth was opened so wide her jaw almost hit the floor.

“Why will they do that!.” She screeched.

“Oh keep your voice down and stop exaggerating.” Cole rolled his eyes.

Adriana gave me a look that said ‘’You can see he started it this time.”

“Hold on Anna this isn’t the time for you two to start a fight.” They could never go five minutes without disagreeing on something.

As fun as it could be to watch them bickering, most of the time it was exhausting because I was the only one who could separate them.

“That’s right.” She agreed with me. “You, me we settle this later.” She told him then pointed at her eyes with two fingers and then at Cole who was equally casting her a murderous look.

“Guys stop!.” I exclaimed.

“I feel so bad for Chloe right now. Having to spend the rest of your life with someone you hate. It’s just like my parents asking me to get married to Cole. I would rather die.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Cole said with a frown.

“Is the guy at least good looking? I mean it’s bad enough that your parents chose her husband it would be worse if they had chosen someone ugly.”

“I don’t know. I can’t remember him but from what Chloe said, he had bucked teeth when they were younger and uses thick lens glasses. I think she said his looks weren’t that great but then again that was about thirteen years ago. Anything could have happened.”

“You said his father owned a famous company right?.” She asked and her nodded. “So he must be on g****e.” She pulled out her phone. “What’s his name again.”

“Chris. Chris Storms with an extra s.” I said and she typed on her phone.

Cole sighed. “And here I was thinking I was gonna confess my dying love to Chloe some day. This just ruined all the dreams I had of us being together.”

Adriana chuckled. “Like you stood any chance with her before. Oh look it says here that he’s billionaire businessman Samuel Storms’ only son. But there are no pictures of him here, just his father and his mother.”

I stared at her phone screen and truly there were no pictures of Chris on the internet, just his parents.

“He really must be ugly for him to not have even a single picture online.” She sighed.

“I really feel bad for Chloe. I wish there was another way out.” I frowned.

“But hey look on the bright side. He’s a billionaire and that means she’s gonna be able to get anything she wants like Givenchy dresses, Hermes purse, Prada, you name it. I would take that any day anytime.”

I frowned.

“This isn’t about money.”

“I know but—.”

“And why is my baby frowning. Which one of you is responsible for the frown on her face. Tell me, who put her in a bad mood.” Zach said as he appeared out of nowhere.

“Babe.” I said and immediately went to embrace him. Staying in the comfort of his hands has always relaxed me.

“And that’s our cue to leave. See you later.” Adriana said as she dragged Cole along with her.

“What’s wrong babe?.” He asked and I groaned into his chest. He smell so good. “Is this about your sister?.” I nodded with my head still in his chest. I never wanna leave that position. I wanted to keep breathing in his air.

Does that sound creepy?

Not at all.

“Babe you shouldn’t have to be in a bad mood because of that. I know she’s your sister but you shouldn’t let that ruin your mood. I’m sure everything will be just fine. She’ll be fine. You know I hate to see you sad.”

I pulled my head up to look at him.

“I know but....” he stole a kiss from me.

“No buts.” Then he stole another and I giggled like a love struck teenager. That was what I was anyways. “Alright alright tell me are you free tonight?.”

“Well.... that depends on what you say next. What are you planning?.”

“Movie date.” He said.

“Hmmm I see.” I pretended to think about it.

“So…… are you free?.”

“Hell yeah.” I laughed and he gave me a kiss on my nose.

“You know that I love you right?.” He asked and I nodded.

“And I love you too.”