HER HUSBAND TO-BE

  "Gina!!!" The voice of Vincent, the younger son of the Washington family, filtered into her ears.   She lay on the bed idly enjoying her time alone. A sweet smile of happiness sat broadly on her face.

  Vincent barged into the room without bothering to knock. He scowled at her peaceful figure.

"Hey, didn't you hear when I called you?", Vincent accused rudely with a sharp pointed look.

    Gina rose from the bed with a pretty smile on her smooth face. " No, I didn't", she replied calmly.

"Father wants to speak to you". He hissed at her and walked away. She sighed and slowly rose.

    She walked like a lamb to her closet and selected a pair of denim jeans and a crop top. Being the only daughter of Washington's home was tiring.  Surrounded by six men and being the only female, it pulled a lot on her.

    She groaned loudly. Her eyes were droopy and weary. They looked like they needed some minutes of shutdown. She dragged her feet out of the room.

    The house was a two-storey building ---- one of the outdated houses in Washington DC. She climbed down the stairs and walked into her father's study room.

  A huge bulky figure stood with his back against the door. He wore a white shirt and black trousers.

"Father..." She said to announce her presence. He grunted and slowly turned around. Gina gasped and bent her head low. 

Her father, Mr Washington, was the sole owner of an uprising business organization, WASH. He had a dwarf fish statue, a rotund stomach, and a youngish appearance. He was in his mid-seventies. His lips upturned in a smirk and a dark smirk descended on his face. A swift slap hit Gina's face. She gave a low wince and held her cheek, which was now scorching red from the slap.

"Why are you just coming now?" He asked, indignated.

"I'm sorry, father," She apologized, fighting back the tears welling up in her eyes. She never dares to cry in the presence of her father.

"Gina..." He called calmly and held both her shoulders. With the tip of his fingers, he jerked her face up.

"You have to help me," he spoke tenderly, releasing hot breaths. Gina was astonished to hear her father asking for help from her ---- a mere female, as he always called her.

"Me?? How can I help you, father?" She asked breathlessly. He smirked and strutted to his table. He leaned on the table and wrapped his lips in a sly smirk.

"My organization needs help", He started in a low voice. It is slowly going down the drain.... It might soon go out of business as the competition is increasing every day". He said gently, scrutinizing her face closely.

Her lips tightened a little. " To help my organization, Gina... You have to get married". He dropped. She gasped with wide eyes.

"But... Father.... ". She tried to argue. He raised his hands, and she bit her lower lip and bent her head low.

"No but's and Is's Gina.... You are getting married ".

"Why father?" Gina asked in a thin voice coated with tears.

"We need help from other bigger firms... I sought help from a big organization. I can only get this help if you agree to this marriage".

Gina swallowed hard," Who is this man?".

"You shall find out when you see him", Washington said with a smirk at the corners of his lips.

"Father.... I have so many dreams and desires...." I can't just get married to anyone.... At least, I need to see the man...know more about him", Gina queried with her chest thrust out.

"Do not argue with me, Gina,"  Mr. Washington raised his voice.

"Father..... I can't agree with this... Does my choice not matter?". Gina questioned with tears at the brim of her eyes.

"It doesn't, Gina" Mr. Washington drawled, smiling crookedly. 

  Gina finally broke down. Her heart shattered at that instant. 

 Her shoulders sagged. She had given up. She wanted to kick against it, but it was of no use. "Your marriage is in two weeks' time" Mr Washington echoed in a deep baritone voice.  

The words rang continually in her ears. Her eyes stung, but she sniffed in the tears and looked at her father's eyes.  

She felt the world swirling around her. She felt betrayed and downcast. "You can go Gina....". " I will place a call across to your groom... He will be here to pick you up" Mr. Washington said with ease.

Gina swallowed hard and faced him with a straight look, "I won't get married to him". She said through her teeth and ran all the way out of the study.   

   Mr. Washington's eyes narrowed as he watched Gina leave his study. He knew she was his key to securing his legacy.   His own father had built WASH from scratch, and he couldn't stand and watch it falter.   

His health was declining. He only hopes and prays that Gina will give in to the deal. He exhaled and reclined on his chair.

•••••

After the meeting with her father, Gina returned to her room.     

 She sighed sadly. She fell back on her bed with a tired groan. A look of defeat sat boldly on her face. She folded her fist tightly around the blankets and sucked in her breath. "I wish mother was still alive", she mumbled silently.  

 All of a sudden, she was being given away for marriage. Her consent wasn't even sorted. She shut her eyes and forced herself to take a short nap.

  The nap gave warmth and serenity to her body. She felt at ease when her eyelids finally shut down in light slumber. She forgot the discussions she had earlier with her father. But her sleep was suddenly cut short.... She kept hearing her name in her sleep.  She tossed around the bed with a low groan.     

  A hand grabbed her arm roughly, and she whimpered from her sleep. "This girl, your disobedience will ruin everything"She heard her father's large voice say.

She jumped from the bed at that instant, sleep disappeared completely from her eyes. "F.... Father?? " She called him confusedly.

" Where are your shoes?? Where are your clothes?? Why do you look tattered?? Why is your hair scattered all over your face??........" Her father asked thousands of questions at once. She had to plug her ears with two fingers. Her father began to breathe rapidly, placing his hands on his chest.

He staggered backwards, crashing into her dresser. "Father??" She ran to him and held his shoulders. "Why were you shouting?" Gina asked with concern and felt his temperature. It was slightly hot.

"You are getting hot already" Gina whined and led him to her bed. She helped him to lay properly on the bed.

"Why are you not dressed, Gina?" He asked, but this time calmly.

"Why?? Do I have someplace to go to?? " Gina asked for clarity.

"What are you saying, Gina?? " Her father flared up.

"Your HUSBAND TO BE is here!!!" He yelled, and his blood pressure shot up.   She nibbled on her lower lip and threw her gaze down. He began to gasp rapidly for breath.

"Father?? "Gina yelled in fright and grabbed a jug and a glass, “You are unwell, father... You shouldn't stress yourself too much," She said concernedly and handed the glass filled with water to him. 

"Please get dressed, and don't keep your groom waiting." He groaned and laid back on the bed.

"I don't want to get....... "

"Are we doing this again?" Mr. Washington asked sarcastically with his hands placed on his fast beating chest.

"Gina, please do this for me....for the family... You don't want us to suffer, right? " He cooed gently and calmly.

"Okay Father", She nodded hesitantly.

Slowly, she walked to her closet. She dressed up quickly and began to leave her room.

"Please be polite”, he warned. She hummed a reply and strolled into the elevator that took her down to the bottom floor where her prospective groom was waiting for her.

"Hi..." She said timidly, holding up the hemline of the long blue dress she wore.

     She beamed broadly at the back view of the man standing at the base of the stairs. Her pulse raced wildly when the man slowly spun around to face her.    

Her chest tightened when her eyes met his green hazel eyes. 

His rugged good looks made her heart flutter. She ran her eyes slowly down his body.  

 His face had a well-sculpted chiseled jawline. He had a muscular and athletic body structure, a towering height and an overwhelming elegance that swayed her off her feet.  

 His dark hair cascaded down his face, covering the left part of his face. With just one finger, he flicked the dark wavy hair behind his ear.

   His green hazel eyes held a scorching glare that made her breath hitch uncontrollably.

"Are you Regina Washington?" He asked huskily. Gina's soul stirred at the sound of his voice. A certain kind of aura flowed through him ---- an aura of power and authority.

"Come with me" he said in a bossy tone.

   What?? Just like that!!! Gina yelled at herself, still standing transfixed. Her eyes hung low, her hands dropped by her side. 

"Would you stop ogling and come along?" His husky voice came again, making her feet move slowly down the stairs.  

 She looked up into his face. It was blank. His eyes darted blankly down her body. His stares were icy, harsh, unfriendly and cold. She wanted to lash harshly at him, but she remembered her family's business. She needs to save it.  

Reluctantly, she lifted her dress by its hemline and stepped to his side. A rich cinnamon scent filtered into her nostrils, she inhaled deeply and turned to him.   Their eyes met, but he broke the stares and walked around the car.

Gina stood in one spot looking so dumbfounded and wide-eyed. “Get into the car,” he breathed harshly, without giving her a glance.