CHAPTER EIGHT

Chapter Eight.

The party was in full swing but all Tia wanted was to go home.

"It is now time for the couple's dance," The MC said and Will took her hand, Tia let him lead her to the dance floor.

Tia could feel the eyes of the entire people around her as Will drew her close and they began to dance together.

Tia felt sick as she was so close to him. His grip was too strong, he led too harshly. He was definitely not the model partner.

The crowd cheered at them and more people joined them on the dancefloor. Tia was taken from man to man as the dance hitched. It was not long until she found herself in the arms of Lloyd. Tia was shocked to see him at the party, and even more shocked to be in his arms.

Her body seemed to remember him as her nipples tightened and her heart beat quickened. The dance between them was fluid and sweet. They moved together to the beat of the song and Tia wished that she was marrying him instead.

She remembered what Hera had said before she came for the engagement party. She began to ask herself, what if she was pregnant? What would she do if she was pregnant and pregnant for him too?

Tia shook her head at herself and reminded herself that it was not possible, she had seen her period, she would be fine, she was certainly not pregnant.

"Congratulations," Lloyd said to her as Tia was too shaken to reply. She did not think that she wanted to be congratulated. She did not want to accept the congratulations. She did not want to get married.

Before Tia could reply him, the pace of the music changed and she was changed to another partner. And she was back to William. She was disappointed.

"You should take dancing lessons before the wedding, I am not sure I will be able to manage this mediocre dancing style at the wedding," Will said and Tia looked away. She did not know she missed it, how she did not see how toxic he was. When she was still in love with him she was being excuses of him trying to correct her, wanting the best for her. It was clear how that all he wanted was to downgrade her and treat her as less than she actually was.

Tia looked away and managed to move with the music until they were finally done and they went back to their seats.

"The upcoming CEO of Rowling's Advertising who is also the celebrant in this great occasion, William Rowling, will give us his speech," the Master of Ceremony said and the crowd erupted in claps as William stood up to give his speech. William walked to the podium with a smile and the crowd all revered him.

Tia knew that the William the public knew was not the one that she knew, they thought he was a saint, but she knew better.

"We are all gathered here today to celebrate my engagement to the love of my life, Tia Wilson," Will said and the crowd erupted in claps and hoots. Tia could not help but scoff.

"I have known Tia since I was a child and I have always admired her, I have admired her resilience, her grace and the power that she wield beautifully. As we grew older, admiration changed into something else. I started to see her as more than a friend. When I first asked her out she said no, she claimed I was too arrogant, well I can't blame her," Will said with a laugh and the crowd laughed with him. Tia was listening to him but she was so stunned. She wondered how someone could be such a good liar.

"It took a while for me to convince her to finally take me, but it was very much worth it. Tia is a very wonderful person to be with, a good friend with a listening ear. Asking her to be my wife is a decision that I do not believe I will ever regret. I love Tia Wilson and I am so glad that she agreed to marry me. I am so willing and ready to share this journey of life with her," William said and the crowd clapped again some people were even shedding tears.

Tia was too shocked for words. She was trying to understand what was happening, what had happened. William had just created an image that could not be farther from the truth.

Did the people that were clapping not remember all the numerous women that William was with all these time? Would he claim that he was not with her during that period?

"Some people are asking what this would mean to our companies? Well, we are both just two young people in love, the decision for what we will do with the company will come when the time is right," William said and bowed before he came back to his seat.

"Fucking liar," Tia said under her breath as he sat down.

"It's what I do for a living," Will replied. He heard her and he was just amused.

The party went on in full swing as Tia was paraded around the guests and she smiled so much that her cheeks hurt. She smiled and hugged people appropriately.

Tia tried to look for Lloyd with her eyes but he was no where to be found. She scolded herself for looking for him after. There was no need for that. She did not have to look for him, he did not owe her anything what happened was a mistake.

"Tia, congratulations love, you are so lucky," some of the girls that she was friends with said. Tia could not possibly keep up with the names of the 'friends' that she had. Most of them were children of her father's business partners, just like Hera. But none of them were anything like Hera, they were all either married to men of their father's choosing, or engaged to be married.

They were all pawns in the business world, just like she was.

"Wow, that was a very nice speech Will. But like you said, Tia would need acting classes. She could not even shed a tear," Isla said to her brother after the party. Everyone was going home but Tia was waiting for her father to be done discussing with another business man. Tia was annoyed just sitting and listening to Isla the spoilt brat.

"Do you have any suggestions for her Isla? Any teachers that you can recommend?" Will asked his sister. 

"Well, I think that acting is a skill one should just pick up in life, it is really not as if she wants to become a professional actress or something like that," Isla said and Tia frowned. She could not believe that the child was insulting her in that manner.. But then again, she could believe it. Isla only insulted her because she was insulted by everyone in her own family. Isla was free to put her down because Will did it, Will did the same because her father did it. It was all her fault for her letting herself to be trampled upon. She wanted to fight back but it was already too late, it had been done.

"I understand Isla. Tia just clearly sucks at this. I wonder what she is good at," Will said and Tia could feel tears sting at her eyes, it was as a result of all the anger that she was feeling.

"You should apologize to my brother. You should apologize for disgracing him in public," Isla said to Tia and she gasped. She could not believe that Isla was asking her to do that. The sixteen year old was insulting her and no one would even defend her.

"Are you serious?" Tia asked. She was sure that it was some sort of joke.

"Isla is right, you should apologize. The media might have seen your face and it would have caused something else, thank God that it was not noticed. So apologize," Will said and Tequila shook her head in defiance.

She had enough of it for that day. She had been manhandled, mistreated and pushed that night, she had enough.

"I will not apologize. I did nothing wrong at all. I was on my own when you asked me to marry you. I am being forced into his marriage against me own will and now I should apologize because you lied and I didn't cry?" Tia asked. Her voice was cracked and she was furious. 

William smiled at her as though mocking her and nodded his head.

"Yes actually. That is the reason I want you to apologize," Will said and Tia felt like dragging her hair out of her head and screaming. 

"What is going on here?" It was her brother Ian. Tia was grateful for a familiar face and thankful that it was not her father.

William looked at Ian with a smile.

"I am actually asking my fiancee to apologize. She was not showing enough emotion during my speech," William said to Ian.

"Do you even know how that sounds?" Tia asked him and Ian held her hand. Tia took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

"Tia has no reason to apologize you. Let us go Tia," Ian said and held her hand to lead her away. They were going when Will held Ian back. Ian looked at him with the most murderous look that Tia had ever seen in his eyes.

"She is going to be my wife soon enough," Will said.

"Well you have to wait till then," Ian replied and led her out.

"Why are you even marrying this bastard?" Ian asked her as he opened the car door for her. Tia turned to him and raised an eyebrow. She could not believe that he was asking that.

"You should my father that," Tia said and closed the door.

Ian shook his head and went to the other side.

"I hope father will not be mad that I left without him," Tia said as they drove to the house.

"Where is everyone one else?" Tia asked. She was asking about her mother and other brothers.

"They have gone to their respective homes. I was just around because I had something to discuss with Lloyd Patterson, but we are done now and I said to check on you before I left," Ian said and Tia's eyes widened.

"You know Lloyd?" Tia asked.

"Yeah, how do you know him?" Ian asked.

"Oh I just hear his name here and there," Tia said and looked out of the window.

"Oh, funny thing is that he was asking about you too," Ian said and Tia flushed. That means he must be thinking about her too, that was so cute.

"I wonder why," she said and put her  hand on her chin.

"So when are you getting married?" Tia asked Ian to change the subject.

"I will leave the getting married to you Tia. Besides, it is not my turn yet," Ian said with a chuckle.

"Oh, so it is by turns now?" Tia asked. and then she saw a pharmacy, Hera's words came back to her.

"Can we stop at the pharmacy? I want to get something?" Tia asked pointing the pharmacy to Ian.

"Oh what is that? Are you sick?" Ian asked. He looked very worried.

"I am fine, I am good. It is just girl things. Just park, I will be right back," Tia said and Ian parked. She jumped down from the car the moment it was parked. She knew that it was the best time to get the kit, because she would be barely be able to leave the house without the knowledge of her father and it seemed even William these days.

Tia walked into the store and asked for pregnancy kits. "I want like five of them, different types," Tia said. She wanted to be sure of the negative result, so that she would not be worried ever again.

"What do you need a pregnancy test for? Are you pregnant? Is that the reason for the wedding?" Ian asked and Tia shook her head. They had been busted.

"That does not even make sense you would not need a test then. What is it then?" Ian asked and Tia took the tests and went back to the car. She was not going to tell him anything.

"Drive me home," Tia said. Ian looked at her long and hard before starring the car.

"If anything is wrong Tia, do not hesitate to call me," Ian said and Tia nodded. She did not know that she would be calling him much sooner than expected.