Chapter Nine 

** Natasha's POV**

I looked at the screen of my phone again hoping that what I saw earlier would change.

But No, there it was.

Liam was calling.

“Why….. Why is this arrogant fool calling me all of a sudden?” seeing his name in the caller ID made my stomach turn.

After his first call, I had to save his number to track when he calls, so that I can decide when to pick and not.

And one of those days is now.

I swiped the red icon and declined the call. I didn't want to have anything to discuss with that arrogant bastard.

I was just coming back and one of my main reasons was to rest without disturbance. I kept my phone back on the nightstand, drew the duvet to cover myself and laid quietly.

I hadn't even shut my eyes for close to one hour when a quiet knock on my door woke me up.

Knock……knock…….knock

I ignored it at first because I just opened my eyes, I wanted to be sure it was coming from my door. Then, it came again, this time louder than the first one.

Knock…….knock…….knock

“Who is there?” I asked while stretching myself on the bed.

“It’s me… Tasha” came his deep voice from the other side of the door.

My eyes flew open wider. 

Dad? 

I sat up quickly, pulling the duvet tighter around me.

“Dad? What… what are you doing here?” I asked, already swinging my legs off the bed and walking to the door.

When I opened it, he was standing there in his usual neat shirt and trousers, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his car keys. His eyes scanned my face as if he was checking if I was sick or hiding something.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

I stepped aside, letting him walk in. He moved slowly, his eyes wandering around my room before sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“I got a call from Liam,” he began, his tone calm but with that hint of disappointment that always made me uncomfortable. “He said you’ve been ignoring his calls.”

I folded my arms, leaning against the wall. “So he called you… just to tell you that?”

His brows furrowed. “Tasha, that man is your fiancé. It doesn’t look good if you keep avoiding him.”

I sighed, looking away. “Dad, I just came back home. I’m tired and I just don’t feel like talking to him. I have nothing to say to that arrogant man and besides, I didn’t think it was a crime to not pick a call.”

He shook his head slowly. “Still, you could have at least answered and told him you’d call back. You know how people talk……”

“People like Liam,” I muttered under my breath.

He gave me a look, but he didn’t press further. “Just… try to handle things better, okay?”

I didn’t reply. He stood up after a few minutes, patted my shoulder lightly, and said, “I’ll be in the sitting room. Come join me later if you feel like.”

When he left, I sat back on the bed and exhaled heavily. Barely ten minutes later, my phone started buzzing again.

Liam.

I stared at it for a moment, tempted to let it ring out again. But something in me said I might as well hear whatever nonsense he had to say and get it over with.

I swiped the green icon and pressed the phone to my ear.

“Finally, it took you long enough to pick, princess. You decided to remember I exist.”

I rolled my eyes. “What do you want, Liam?”

“What do I want? That’s how you greet your fiancé now? No ‘hello’? No ‘how are you’? Just attitude?”

“I’m tired, Liam. I needed to rest.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Oh, you’re still as feisty as ever. Let me remind you, Natasha, I’m doing you a huge favor by agreeing to this marriage. Girls would kill for this chance, and you’re here acting like I’m some kind of punishment.”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. “Wow. The humility is blinding.”

“Don’t get smart with me,” he snapped. “You and your family know exactly what’s at stake. If I wanted, I could walk away right now and leave you all scrambling.”

“Then maybe you should,” I shot back.

There was a pause, then his voice dropped lower, almost taunting. “Careful, princess. You might regret saying that, I’m doing you and your family a favor by agreeing to this marriage, remember?”

My jaw tightened. “A favor? You talk like I begged you.”

“You think you didn’t? Maybe not with your mouth, but we both know your father’s business would’ve been crawling on its knees if not for me. You should be grateful.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “Grateful? For what exactly, your arrogance, your insults, or your habit of reporting me to my father like I’m a child?”

He mockingly laughed. “Oh, there it is. The fire in you. I almost missed it. But listen carefully, this marriage will happen whether you like it or not. And I don’t have time to play hide-and-seek with you on the phone. Next time I call, you pick. Immediately. Got it?”

I stayed silent for a few seconds, my chest rising and falling faster. “Are you done?”

“For now.” he paused, then in a lower tone “Wear something nice when you come for lunch tomorrow. My dad will be there. And don’t embarrass me.”

Before I could reply, the line went dead.

I stared at the phone screen, my fingers trembling, not from fear, but from anger boiling in my veins.

“Like.. what the hell have I gotten myself into?” I haven't even agreed yet and he didn't give me a chance to make a decision. 

I stayed in my room for a while after that annoying call. The day was slowly moving toward evening. The light outside had turned that soft orange, and shadows stretched across my wall.

Finally, I pushed myself off the bed, grabbed my phone, and opened the door. My stomach was rumbling a little. I had only eaten a small snack at Ashley’s place.

As I came down the stairs, the sound of the TV and quiet talking floated up to me. When I reached the bottom, I saw Dad and Mum sitting in the parlor.

Mum’s face lit up when she saw me. “Tasha! My baby! You’re back.” She stood and wrapped me in a warm hug.

I smiled faintly. “Hi, Mum. I came in earlier… around afternoon. I just stayed upstairs.”

She pulled back to look at me. “And you didn’t even come down to say hello? Hmm.”

Dad cleared his throat from the couch. “She was… busy.” He gave me that pointed look that only I understood—he meant Liam’s call.

Mum frowned. “Busy with what?”

I sighed and sat down beside her. “Liam called…and…”

Her eyes searched my face. “And what did he say?”

I rubbed my temples. “The same arrogant nonsense. Reminding me he’s doing me a ‘favor’ by marrying me, saying girls would kill for this chance, acting like I’m some kind of burden he’s picking off the street. Then he mentioned some lunch with his dad.”

Her brows knitted. “Ah, baby I'm so sorry that you have to go through this…” She held my hand.

Dad leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “We know he’s not easy to deal with. But please, endure it, for the sake of the family. This marriage is important. Just… keep your head down.”

I bit my lip. “Endure? You expect me to sit and smile at his insults?”

Mum squeezed my hand gently. “It’s only for now. Maybe he’ll change… or at least calm down after the wedding.”

I scoffed quietly but didn’t argue.

She changed the topic softly. “So… what will you wear for lunch?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t even thought about it, I can't believe that I will be flying down to Texas tomorrow, just because of this arrogant fool that thinks the world belongs to him.”

Her eyes lit up a little, as if distracting me was her plan. “I think something elegant but not too showy will be perfect. You can wear that blue dress with silver heels. Or… the black gown with the slit—Liam will see you and choke on his pride.”

I gave a small laugh despite my mood. “The black one might send the wrong message.”

“Then the blue,” she decided with a smile. “You’ll look like royalty.”

We talked a little longer about accessories and hairstyles before we had dinner . When we were done, I went back upstairs to sleep.

*******************

Next morning

The alarm on my phone buzzed loudly, dragging me out of sleep. I groaned and reached over to stop it, squinting at the time. 9:00 a.m.

I sat up slowly, stretching my arms over my head. Sunlight was slipping in through the curtains, and I could hear the faint noise of pots clinking from the kitchen downstairs.

I rubbed my eyes, remembering what day it was. Lunch with Liam. My stomach sank at the thought.

“Great… just great,” I muttered under my breath.

I got out of bed and padded to the bathroom to freshen up, brushing my teeth and washing my face. After that, I opened my wardrobe and pulled out the blue dress mum suggested, laying it on the bed.

I packed quickly, went downstairs for breakfast and off the airport. My mum decided to drive me and when we got there, I took the next available flight to Texas.

She looked at me “Safe journey baby, please don't ruin it. Just be the best of yourself.”

“Okay mum” I responded, not sure if I heard her last sentence.

The day stretched ahead of me, and even though the lunch was hours away, my mind was already rehearsing how to get through it without letting Liam ruin my mood completely.