001

RAE

“What the fuck are you talking about?!” my eyes widened in shock as I stared between the three of them waiting for them to say something

I had a long and horrible day at work, all I wanted was to clock out and be in my bed without any noise. At least get few hours to myself before I have to get up again and repeat the same damn circle but instead I was met with a news worse than disturbance.

I kicked my shoes by the door and began to drag my legs to my room when I saw my mom and my brothers all seated in the living room.

“Hello” I greeted lazily and kept on moving

“We have been waiting for you to make dinner, why did it take you so long to get back?” Jimmy my immediate brother asked

“I’m tired I can’t” I said through my teeth not taking a glance at them, it was exhausting and there was so much I could take but I wasn’t going to let them get to me today.

“So you expect your brothers to starve?” Mother’s voice cut through the air

“They can find something to eat, I had a long day” I shot back, trying to keep my tone in check but the irritation in my voice was clear

I worked day and night tirelessly, fending for the family and keeping food on the table but I’m still expected to come home and cater to grown-ass men who couldn't take care of themselves. I was super tired that there was nothing, not even the long lecture from my mother that would have made me go into the kitchen and prepare dinner for anyone.

“It is alright mom, would take care of ourselves” Josh my eldest brother said

“Whatever” I mumbled under my breath

“Rae we have something to discuss,” he said

“I’m exhausted, let’s talk about it in the morning” I groaned turning to face them

“You should hear it now” he said

“Can’t it wait? I haven’t slept a wink all through yesterday. I have been working shift after shift, I even picked up an extra shift so I could pay the light bill before they cut it off” I breathed out exhausted as hell

“Have a seat Rae it is good news” my mother said with a smile, I shared a look between the three of them and they all had the same weird smile on their face which for some reason made me unsettled

“I’m listening” I said with scrunched brows, the only conversation we ever had was about money and having bills to pay. So as curious I was about what they wanted to say I was more scared that it would be another money thing I had to pay for.

“Take a seat,” Jimmy said

“I’m fine just go ahead” I insisted

“Well The Alistairs reached out to us” Josh started by saying

“Yes the same Alistairs of Ace Group” Jimmy beamed happily when he saw the confusion written on my face

“What? Why would they reach out to you?” I asked confused by what they were saying

“Well to cut the long story short, they offered us a merger deal with our company,” Josh said smiling happily, I looked into their eyes intently waiting for them to laugh or say it was a prank or anything but they didn't

“Mom” I turned to my mother to say something

“It isn't a joke Rae, it is real” my mother laughed

I have never been more confused in my life, and it could be told from my face. It was scrunched up in confusion as I tried to break down what I was told. It didn't make any sense. Ace Group wasn't just any random company, it was the biggest company in the country and one of the biggest in the world raking in billions of dollars every month with many subsidiaries, it was owned by the wealthiest conglomerate family ‘The Alistairs’. Meanwhile, our company was nothing, with no value or even a fucking worth thanks to my brothers.

My father left behind an electronics company and a real estate company that was well-to-do. At least one could say we had a pretty luxurious and comfortable life but after Father passed everything was gone in less than a snap. My brothers took over the company and ran it straight to the ground, leaving us in debt and misery. So it made no damn sense to me why any company would be interested in dealing with scraps, but worse this wasn't just any company it was Ace Group. Maybe I was the only one who thought critically but it was off, extremely off at that.

“Why would they want to merge with us?” I asked

“Does it matter? They offered a really good deal” Jimmy said, he was always blinded by money that wouldn't allow him to think anyway

“We are talking millions, you don't have to go back to that shitty job anymore,” Josh said

“But why? Didn't you ask questions? Where is the contract we have to look through properly” I started to say

“Maybe there is a business deal we don't know about, we have to contact Dad’s lawyer to ask questions” I added

“You can only dream, there is nothing like that trust me everything is gone” Josh laughed

“Aemond Alistair and Dad went to business school together. This is him doing us a favor we should be grateful” He added

“It just sounds off-putting,” I told them

“Well the deal is done, the Knights are freaking back” he laughed

“You already signed the contract?!” I asked angrily

“Of course,” they said in unison

“Without me? Without asking what I think?” I asked with furrowed brows

“It is business, what do you know about it?” Jimmy asked laughing

“You should be thankful to us” Josh added and I just stared at them in disgust, they always undermined my opinion and treated it like it didn't matter all my life. Maybe I should be happy about the contract for the fact that I wouldn't have to work to feed all of them. I could finally work for myself.

“Suit your fucking selves” I hissed and turned to leave

“Rae don't speak to your brothers like that” Mother warned but I didn't care

“Before I forget to there is one more thing,” Jimmy said laughing

“What is it again!” I swiveled my gaze to them

“Well just a small thing-” he started

“You have to marry Axel Alistair” Josh completed his statement

“Excuse me?!!” I asked shouting at the top of my voice