Two

Austin went to Vincent's place the following day.

 "We have a flight to catch today. We are already late and you made me book first-class for you," he said as he went in.

Vincent was still in bed with Susan. Austin closed his eyes as he went inside.

   "Susan, you need to go," he spoke out loud.

Susan yawned and got up, she wore Vincent's robe.

  "I am going to the States with Vincent. He is planning to introduce me to his parents," she said.

Austin laughed and moved over to Vincent's side.

  "Do not fool yourself. He is Vincent Delmont. He can never marry you. He is only allowed to marry the girl that is chosen for him. Besides, she must be a virgin too," Austin spoke and pulled the covers off his body.

Vincent got up and pushed Austin off.

 "What is that for?" He asked her.

  "What do you think? Susan, can you give us a moment?" Vincent asked politely.

 Susan kissed his cheek.

"Yes, Vincent. I use the guest room and get ready for our flight," She smiled and went outside.

Vincent got up and picked up his toothbrush.

"Did you have to say that to Susan?" He asked him.

  "Everyone knows this is the fifth woman you have met this month. If you are not going to take any of them seriously, then do not promise them marriage, Vincent" Austin told him.

Vincent sighed.

 "I do not butt into your private life, Austin. Do not bother yourself with me," he said and entered the bathroom. "Before I forget, I just ordered breakfast. They will be here any moment from now. Please pay for it. It cost about four hundred," he said.

Austin was shocked.

 "Four hundred dollars for only breakfast? Vincent, you need to cut down on your expenses," he told him.

After he got ready, Susan came to meet them.

"I am ready? Do you think I am outfit ready to meet your family?" She asked him, ignoring Austin's honest advice.

Vincent nodded and held her hand as they entered the car that was prepared for them.

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 "Boss, Vincent is returning today. Mr. Carter confirmed it," One of the workers, Diego, reported.

  Mr. Delmont played with his gun.

"Dear, you should not play with guns carelessly. Are you planning to shoot the only son you have with that?" Mrs. Grace Delmont asked her husband.

Delmont kissed her cheek.

 "Your son is getting harder to control and I have to teach him a lesson. He will not be able to control the affairs of the Society if he carries on with this behavior," Delmont said.

Grace came holding his hand.

  "Vincent is twenty-five. He just wants to have fun. Besides, he has Austin by his side. He will help him run the affairs of the Society. I do not know what we would have done if he were not here. He is a good influence on him," She smiled.

Delmont nodded.

  "Inform our staff in Italy to send a private jet to pick them up. Vincent should stay in our building in London until further instructions are given. Since Vincent needs straightening, nobody would be better than someone in Carter's family to tame him and make him a better person," He ordered Diego.

 Grace looked at him.

 "Do you want him to get married?" She asked him.

Delmont nodded. 

  "Yes. The council has chosen Mila Carter," he replied.

Grace's face beamed. She heard how smart and well-trained Mila Carter was and she had witnessed her behavior the few times they had met.

   "Is she not too young to get married? I mean the last time I met her she was still a child. Vincent is too old for her," She replied.

Delmont looked at her.

"The decision is final. Her father has been informed and a few tests will be taken and Vincent will do the rest," he replied.

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 Austin paid the cabbie and joined them at the airport.

   "Sir, I have received a message from your father. You and Mr. Carter have been permitted to use a private jet. You are to go to New York for something important," His secretary called.

Austin was surprised by the news.

 "What is it about, Angie? I thought he would want to punish me for what I had done", he asked.

Angie paused at first.

 "You are getting married, Sir," She replied.

Austin laughed at him.

  "It was expected though," he replied.

Susan was upset.

 "You are getting married?" She exclaimed. "I will pluck the person's eye out. You cannot do this to me," she replied.

 "The Society has chosen the family you will be married into," she said.

 "Which family?" Austin was eager to hear.

"The Carter family. You will be marrying Mila Carter," She finished.

Austin's face turned grey. Vincent almost laughed.

  "You cannot marry my sister, Vincent. That will never happen. Why did the Society pick her?" He raised his voice, causing a scene.

Two men went to them.

 "The jet is ready, sir," she said and led the way.

Austin called his father immediately after he was on the plane.

 "Dad…" He spoke.

"I know what you want to say. We cannot go against their decision. It was made collectively," Mr. Carter told him.

 "What do you mean by have made a decision? Does Mila even know that they are using her as one of their pawns? I mean of all people, why did they have to pick Mila? I know Vincent and I know he is not good for her," Austin spoke in front of Vincent.

 Mr. Carter sighed.

 "Dad, I will not let Mila marry him. You should tell the higher-ups to fuck themselves," he shouted and disconnected the call.

Vincent was drinking, watching Austin silently.

  "You make it sound as if I am not worthy of your sister," he said.

Austin turned to him.

"Because you are not," he replied.

"You know telling me I am not worthy will make me want her more, don't you? You are my best friend and I am sitting here hearing you make multiple phone calls telling them to call off the wedding," Vincent was not angry but shocked. Did his lifestyle affect the way people looked at him?

  "Maybe I have been talking to the wrong people. I am your friend, Vincent. I want you to do me a favor and call off the wedding by yourself. Mila is just a kid and when she is ready, she needs someone who will stay by her side and not someone who jumps from one woman to another," he told him.

Vincent dropped his glass.

  "She is not a kid, Austin. Stop fooling yourself. Besides, she should be allowed to make her own decisions," Vincent replied.

Austin scoffed.

 "You know that girls do not have any right over their marriage decisions. Son of a bitch!" Austin punched him.

Vincent was still there. Austin was just angry about his sister's misfortune.

 "You can get angry all you like, nothing is going to change. I will be boss soon and your sister will be at my side as my wife. That is what the Society wants and that is what will happen," He said and went to his private room.

Susan followed him behind. Austin found Susan's presence disturbing. He needed to set things right if Mila was going to

be his wife.

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Mr. Carter's wife, Martha, was angry. She was against marriage too.

 "How could you agree to this, Steven?" She asked her husband. "My poor baby," She cried.

Steven shook his head.

  "There was nothing I could do to stop it. I cannot go against them. You know it. You were born into this just like I was and you know there is no way out no matter how hard you try," He was frustrated, tired of all the questions he was asked.

Martha sat down.

  "You know the reputation Vincent has. You know the big dreams our baby has. Her life will be put on still when she marries him. She would not even be addressed with her name and she would be controlled. Steven, you need to do something about this," she said.

She moved away from him.

 "I am sorry, but the marriage will happen. I will not risk putting her life in danger because of our feelings," Steven went away.

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 "We have arrived in London, sir," the pilot announced.

  Austin got off the plane, ignoring Vincent.

Vincent got a call from his secretary.

"You are to visit Mr. Carter immediately. A car will pick you up soon and yes, before I forget, please change into something presentable. Your father will be upset if you do anything stupid," She concluded.

 "I understand, Angie," He sighed.

Vincent went after Austin.

 "It would be nice if you waited for me. We are going the same direction," He wore his glasses as he went down.

He took a deep breath.

 "London is always beautiful. Susan, come quickly, I want to show you the beautiful places here," he said and held her waist as she came.