CHAPTER FIVE

BENEATH THE FACADE

Behind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secrets awaits.

Emily's POV:

“What deal?” he asked

“You know what I'm talking about”, I retorted as I cleaned up the mess he had created on the floor, fresh memories from the early hours of this morning replaying in my head.

***

The previous night, after tossing and tossing, not able to get any sleep, I decided to snack on anything my hands could lay on.

I was on my way to the kitchen when I noticed, a ray of light coming from the room my father had set aside for his official duties, which was opposite the kitchen. Curious to know what he was still doing by 3:00a.m or if it was the same reason why I wasn't finding sleep.

I made for the door, and held the handle ready to open it, when I heard something that had caught my attention.

My eyes widened as I stood frozen behind the door, eavesdropping on my father's conversation. His words had pierced through me like a knife and my head was about to explode with the shocking realization of why my father wanted me married to Ethan at all cost.

“I’ll make sure she's married off to Ethan Kingston latest by the end of the month,” he said, his tone low but firm. “I’ll do everything within my power to make her marry him.”

“And once she's married, I'll make sure she signs over her shares of Oceanus Oil and Gas to me. Add it together with the money from Billionaire Ethan Kingston and I'll be very rich again.”,he said laughing hysterically.

My mind reeled as I processed what I had just heard. My father's company was failing but that was not the only reason he wanted me to marry Ethan. I was being used as a pawn to secure my father's financial interest. I seethed with resentment as I felt I could explode any moment with my anger rising.

Realizing, I still held unto the door handle, a part of me wanted to barge in and confront him, but the part of me that said it could wait till morning won.

And now was the right time to voice out, about everything I had heard earlier this morning. It took everything in me to keep myself coordinated and even eat the meal he had prepared for me. I wasn't a fool, I too had my plans.

“I heard everything you said earlier this morning”, I said my gaze not leaving him.

“How could you Father?” I demanded, my voice trembling with rage. “How could you use me like this? You claimed you loved me. You're not trying to hide it, are you? You're not just marrying me off for the company's sake, it's for your selfish interest!”,I spat out angrily, another fight arising again.

I watched him stare in horror, as I recollected the incident of the morning to him.

Sooner, it was my turn to be shocked

“Well, you're a valuable asset”, he said calmly and unremorseful.

I felt like I had been punched in my gut. “An asset?” I repeated, my voice shaking with anger, about to break into tears again.

“That's all I am to you? A piece of property to be used and discarded?”

“Emily!!! Stop making a fuss out of this, you’ve been dramatic all morning, just cut the act”, he blotted angrily.

I just stood stunned there, watching him unfold the versions of himself, I never knew existed. Or rather, that I was too blind to see existed.

“You're not even sorry, are you?”,I spat, my anger boiling over. “You're not sorry for using me, for manipulating me, for treating me like a pawn in your game.”

I wondered why I was surprised because his selfishness was what brought about the company's failure. My mind flashed back to the contract with Petrocorp group of company. They were the biggest Oil and Gas company at the time, even now. They were looking for other big companies to partner with.

My father had believed so much that the contract was going to be awarded to his company. He was very sure because he had an informant feeding him with information about the contract.

According to the informant, my father's company was the most eligible for the contract, except that the informant had lied.

He had taken multiple loans to enhance the prospects of his winning the contract, trying to impress the awarders of the contract. He had invested in the company but the investment had failed. The problem began when he used the company as a collateral and few months later, the bank were on his neck disturbing him to pay but he had not been able to gather the money.

He began selling stocks from the company and because he was urgently in need, the stocks had been bought at a ridiculous price. He had no choice than to put the company up for sale, where he had found Ethan Kingston as the biggest bidder.

All those were now history, and I needed to face the present.

I paced round the room, feeling my dad's unremorseful eyes trail round me, wondering what I was up to and asked again.

I paused, took a deep breath and tried to calm down, thinking about my next move. I knew I couldn't escape the marriage entirely, but I could negotiate the terms.

I was about talking but hesitated for a while, still thinking about the deal, weighing my choices, what I could make out from the deal when my father asked again

“What about the deal Emily?”

“If it's about marrying Ethan Kingston”, he said, his voice firm but controlled. “I'm afraid the deal is contingent on one thing: your marriage to Ethan”.

I felt a surge of anger and resentment, but I knew I had to keep my emotions in check if I wanted to negotiate. I took a deep breath and met my father's gaze.

“I understand that the merger is important, father,” I said, my voice calm and measured. “But surely there must be another way to secure the deal without sacrificing my happiness.”

My father raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Sacrificing your happiness?”he repeated.

“Emily you're not some romantic fool who believes in fairy tales, I'm sure by now you know that love doesn't exist. This is business. And in business, sometimes you have to make sacrifices.”

I felt a sting from his words, I know I had agreed to the marriage multiple times, but I refused to back down.

“I understand that, father,” I said, my voice firm. “But I'm not just some pawn to be used in your business deals. I'm your daughter. And I deserve better than to be married to a man I barely know.”

My father's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward.

“You'll do what's best for this family, Emily,” he said his voice low. “And if that means marrying Ethan Kingston, then so be it.”

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the extent of my father's determination. There was no plea in his eyes, the time for it had passed. It was now a command.

My eyes locked onto my father's, a fierce determination burning within me. I had made my decision, and now it was time to negotiate the terms.