Chapter Five 

**Natasha's POV**

I walked out of the airport feeling defeated. I walked past my father's car but had to be called back. 

There were tears in the gate of my eyes but I managed to hold myself from breaking down. Dad stared at me, maybe he felt the stench of failure all around him. He fixed his gaze at the windscreen as the car jerked into motion.

"Tasha, if you don't want to..."

"Dad, I'm fine" I smiled and shrugged.

An hour later, we arrived our mansion. I stepped out of the car and headed to my room. I fell on the bed and started sobbing. My hands clenched the bed sheet as I gritted my teeth in anger. This wasn't how I envisaged my life, I wanted to get married to the love of my life, then go for a vacation somewhere in Bahamas or Maldives. But now, it wasn't happening. 

I've ended things with Lucho and know I'm about to be given away to an arrogant man who obviously was still attached to his father's strong. I heard a knock and the door of my room was slightly pushed open. I knew it was my mother and I regretted why I didn't lock up the door.

She strikked slowly and sat at the foot of the bed, she stared at me as she crouched on the bed.

"Baby, I'm sorry that it has to be like this".

I just laid limp and stared at the shiny bulbs on the ceiling.

" Tasha, talk to me".

I groaned in frustration and stared at her, my eyes were bloodshot. "Mom, what do you want me to say?"

"Do you actually want this?"

I shrugged, "Not like I have a choice, do I?"

"Damn!" she cursed within her breath.

"Mum, I'll be fine" I tried to console myself.

"Will you eat dinner?" she asked.

I shook my head, "Definitely not a mood.”

She nodded and stepped out of the room. I tried to steady my beating heart but it seemed my chest would rip off. I decided to call my friend, Ashley. 

I reached for my phone. Slid into my contacts and 

dialed her line and waited for the phone to ring. The call was answered and I cleared my throat.

"Babe, I'm fucked!".

" Talk to me, what happened?" She asked.

"Apparently, the only solution to my Dad's problem is for me to get married".

" Jesus Christ" A gasp escaped her mouth.

I shrugged, "I can't seem to wrap my head around it. All the dreams of me getting married to the love of my life is gone. I can't believe I'm fucked for life".

" There can be room for divorce" she replied.

"No room, definitely no room for a divorce. I am loosing my mind and...".

" Calm down babe, we can think of something. 

The both of you can make a deal, the dude might not be interested in the marriage".

I smiled, "That dude is arrogant and practically tied to his father's apron strings. I don't think he has a say.”

We spoke for a while until the call was ended. 

I got up, pulled off my clothes and stepped into the bathroom. As I was bathing, I heard the soft creaking sound of the door in my room. I stepped out of the bathtub, wrapped a towel around my body.

" Dad?"

He blinked, "I need to talk to you in the sitting room".

I nodded, slid into my night wear and walked out of my room. The rails were unusually cold and felt like death. I saw my parents sitting solemnly with grim look on their faces.

"Ethan just called. He has spoken to the FBI chief and they have struck a deal. My accounts will be unfrozen before the end of the week. A day has been set for the court marriage".

My heart skipped but I tried to maintain my breath, "Dad, when is it?"

"Next two weeks. You should be in the Gustavo’s mansion by next month as..." His voice broke.

"As?" I raised her eyebrow, waiting for the worst.

"As Mrs Gustavo" He concluded.

A bitter smile spread on my face,  "I'm fucked".

" I'm sorry Tasha, I'm sorry that you have to pay for my sins".

I sniffed, "Getting married at twenty five, that wasn't the plan".

My mum stood up from her chair and moved to me, "Life doesn't work according to plan, my daughter. Most times, we marry for duty and trust me, love doesn't grow over night. It takes consistent effort to make that happen".

I chuckled, " It's easy to talk about it.  I'm getting married to a complete stranger".

"Your Dad was a stranger when I met him, with time, we grew to understand and appreciate each other".

"At least you didn't marry Dad against your choice" I snapped.

She stared at me, the smart and pretty girl was now a shadow of herself.  "Tasha, we will find a way around this. I gave Ethan your number, his son would call...".

"Who am I getting married to, again?"

"You are getting married to his son" he replied.

I nodded, "Okay, I needed to be very clear about it".

I got up from the chair and turned to my parents with a smile, " Good night mom and Dad".

"Good Night my Princess" mum responded.

"I'll never forget this. I will never forget this sacrifice" dad said.

I shrugged, "It's the least I could do for us, for our happiness".

I climbed through the stairs and walked into my room. I fell on the bed and closed my eyes, hoping that sleep would come. I kept blinking through out and staring at the shiny bulbs. I got up, walked over to the switch and turned the light off. I went back to the bed and fell on it.

" God have mercy" I gasped.

***********

The Next Morning 

The light filtered through the huge window and flashed on my face. I blinked and instinctively stretched my hands to block the sun rays. My phone beeped and I stretched my hands blindly towards the stool and picked it up. 

I stared at the caller, it was a strange one. I swiped the green icon and waited for the caller to speak.

After some seconds of silence, I decided to speak first.

"Hi, I'm trying to be polite right now. I wonder why you will call and stay silent" I said.

The caller took a deep breath, "I believe your Dad has told you everything.”

I raised my eyebrow, " Told me what?"

"That we are getting married next three weeks and that's on the last Friday of this month precisely.” 

"Damn" I brought the phone and stared at the screen. I brought it back to my ears with a chuckle, "What a funny way to introduce yourself".

"How do you want me to do it. Your Dad has a problem and I am helping him solve it.”

"Excuse me?" I swung my feet off the bed. "That's harsh, so you are doing me a favour right?"

"Certainly.”

"Funny how you can't detect the sarcasm in my tone" I said with a smirk.

"I'm Liam Gustavo, your husband to be. And maybe you should mind the way you talk to me.”

I laughed cheekily, " My Lord, I'm sorry.”

"Stop with the sarcastic replies. Why I am in this is just to help your family. If I had disagreed, your father would have been chilling in jail.”

I felt offended by his statement but I let it slide.” So, I guess you called me to remind me that your family is doing me a favour right?"

"Not really, remember the wedding and don't be late.”he said and ended the call.

I could feel the arrogance and disrespect in his tone. I'll be getting married to an asshole, beautiful!

I got up from the bed and stepped into the bathroom. I heard a knock on the door and I knew it was my mum calling for breakfast. After a brief shower, I changed into a loose top and a baggy trousers. I stepped down the stairs and sat down.

"Liam called" I said.

Mum adjusted on the chair, "Mr. Ethan’s son?"

"Yeah, he's an arrogant bastard" I slammed, "He kept on reminding that he is doing us a favour.”

Dad chuckled, "He is rich. His dad is a Mafia boss with connections, so what do you expect?”

I scooped the pasta into my mouth and munched it," That doesn't still give him the right to say thrash or speak to me anyhow.”

She cleared her throat, "So, when will we be shopping for the wedding?"

I shook my head, "I need a private wedding, please. I have a feeling that I may not last in that marriage and we don't want to drag the attention of the public to ourselves.”

She smiled and reached out for my hand, "You will, please? For all our sakes.”

I took a deep breath, " Mum, you are trying to make this look easy. But the more I think about it, the more it scares me.”

"Marriage can be fun" she replied.

“When you are with the right person, not this arrogant bastard,” I snapped and stood up immediately. The thought of this whole marriage thing alone was irritating me, but I didn't have any option because I wanted to help my family.

“Where are you going baby, won't you finish your food?” Mum asked.

“I’m okay mum, I just need to be left alone.” I answered while heading to my room.