003

AXEL

I have been told what to do and how to do things all my life even at the stage I was as a damn adult I couldn't make life decisions on my own without having the input of my family telling what the fuck I could do and couldn't do. For something as crucial as picking a life partner someone I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with and come home to every day, they couldn't let me make that decision. It got to my nerves.

I was in a restaurant where I was to meet the so-called woman who was to be my wife. I have been in a relationship and throughout that relationship, my family was against it but I went ahead with it regardless even went to the extent of proposing to her and making it public but that only angered my father further and he signed a marriage contract on my behalf without my knowledge. No matter how stubborn I try to be he always let me know that he was worse, it was as good as useless trying to fight with him.

I was furious, I had to get married to a stranger just because I was an Alistair. It was almost like a taboo for a member of the family to get married to someone without a ‘name’ as they would always say. I don't know what I should classify that as a blessing or a curse, definitely a curse.

I started dating Lianna after we met at a movie premiere of a movie she was starring in, she was a top-rated actress and everyone had their eyes on her. She is the type to have heads turn at every move and that was the type of woman that attracted me. We started dating and my family was against it but as a way to rebel against my family and the dates he forced me to go for I didn't end it. I thought for once I was going to win against my father but he made me know once again that it was impossible. My position in the company was tied to marriage and I couldn't jeopardize that.

I shook my feet anxiously as I waited for the woman I was supposed to meet up with. People didn't keep me waiting yet there I was waiting for a nobody. Angrily I pick up my phone and dial my father's number. I was beyond irritated

“What is it?” his firm voice rang through the phone

“I have been here for exactly thirty-five minutes and no one is here,” I told him

“You will sit till she comes Axel I don't have time to baby you,” he said in a dismissive tone

“And if she doesn't show up?” I asked

“She would and you better be respectful to her” he warned

“This is some bullshit” I hissed

“It is a responsibility you have to carry” was all he said before ending the call

I have been told about my responsibility all my life and it doesn't seem to end.

“Everyone has a responsiblilty to play and you choosing to come as my child you must play your part” father would always say and this one involved having to get married to someone else when I had someone my heart belonged to. For the first time in my life thoughts of leaving everything I have worked to hard get and show that I was good enough continuously came to my mind but I just couldn't let go.

Just after the call ended, a girl walked in her eyes scanning the room like she was trying to find someone then her eyes landed on me and she froze almost immediately. She was the person I was to meet up with. Prior to the so called arranged marriages I had no knowledge of her existence, I only knew about her two reckless brothers who brunt down their father's company after his death I didn't know there was another child.

She looked way different than I had imagined, I don't particularly know what I was expecting but she looked way different. She looked frail and innocent like my glare could break her, her olive green eyes pierced into mine as she walked towards me, her hair was wrapped in a bun and her skin had an olive tone to it.

“Hello I'm-”

“Racheal Knight” I cut in

“Rae Knight” she corrected with a tight smile before sitting across from me

“You kept me waiting” I glared at her angrily

“I am sorry about that” she apologized, but I could hear in her voice that she didn't mean it

We both sat in an awkward silence and she didn't say a word, she just kept staring at her fingers like she didn't want to be there, trying to put on a show like she wasn't over the skies to not only be meeting me but to be chosen to get married. An opportunity many women would give anything to have.

“Aren't you going to ask anything?” I asked the irritation clear in my voice

“I don't have any questions” She met my eyes briefly before returning her eyes to her hands

“Of course you don't, gold diggers like you would do anything for money” I hissed and her head snapped up immediately like I provoked something in her

“What did you say?” she asked

“You heard me, I don't fucking repeat myself” I shot at her

“I don't want to be here,” she said in an almost whisper

“But you are here, aren't you?” I asked and she said nothing

“Are you that cheap, trying to revive that dead company? You should be ashamed” I spat at her and her face grew red in anger

“Why did you agree to it?” She asked stunning me with her question that I couldn’t find any word

“You are getting something in return also. So how are you any better than me?” She asked with a straight face

“You are a nobody you don’t speak to me like that!” I shouted slamming my fist on the table

“I’m sorry” she whimpered

“You stay in your lane, everything is for show and it would always be, fucking remember that” I leaned into her ears and whispered firmly to her making myself clear. And I meant every word that I said.

We would be strangers behind the doors and put on a performance when needed until the time was right to toss her out.