Chapter Eight: A Day To Seal The Deal

Graham stretched his neck forward through the transparent barricade to the VIP section of the exquisite lounge. He adjusted his sunglasses as his eyes met with the very ones he was trying to see.

He walked in confidently with his head up high and raised a defiant chin as the Harris couple stood up to acknowledge his presence.Amelia followed him closely behind but unfortunately she couldn't mirror her father's confidence because she knew she had more reasons to be worried.

“Mr Dinkins,it is a pleasure you honored our invitation”.

Pamela Harris said with a pleasant smile that eludes her eyes,the revelation had destabilized her system that she had to rush out in the middle of a pedicure.

“Thank you”.

Graham responded curtly disregarding her pleasant approach.He sat on the sofa opposite the Harris couple and Amelia sat beside him still burying her head staring intently at her swollen legs.

Dickson Harris got the message clearly,his son had made a huge mistake,one that could destroy the cordial relationship he was trying to build with the Dinkins that could elevate his business.To handle an impudent asshole like Graham,he had to be on the top of his game.

“Miss Harris,I am sorry my son caused you such distress,” he said, turning to Amelia who had been quiet all the while.

She hadn't even bothered with exchanging pleasantries with them, Amelia was overwhelmed,she had never met them before so it was difficult for her to relate with them especially on a disgraceful situation as this but Pamela didn't seem to like her meekness,it interpretes to sauciness in her dictionary but she kept her opinion to herself leaving the men to taking the lead.

“I…we …..we both were…”

“She is quite overwhelmed Mr Harris,I will have to do the talking here”.

Graham cuts in sharply feeling dissatisfied with his daughter’s annoying stammer.Amelia had always been reserved but she wasn't a coward either,he had raised his two girls with self confidence but unfortunately the training eludes her at the moment.

Pamela shifted uncomfortably in her chair and her countenance darkened but Graham ignored it,he wasn't here to banter words with a defiant woman, his precious daughter’s future is at stake here.

He was about to commence with the discussion when a strong tantalizing fragrance filled the air and Drake walked him.Amelia couldn't help but look up at him.

The gleaming of his well put together hair, expensive shirt with polka dot tie and his overall composure intimidated her,he didn't look like the troubled man that showed up at her doorstep that morning,his overall aura radiates of power and domineering authority.

That moment; she felt envious of his composure.

“I am sorry that I am late,it took some time to close the business deal”.

He exchanged pleasantries with Mr Dinkins who looked unimpressed.He treated him like a criminal he had to sentence to a jail term.The Harris couple exchanged knowing looks, Amelia's eyes ravaged through Drake's athletic body frame,her mind drifting off the messy situation they both had created through their lust.

“I will be blunt,Mr Harris, we aren't here to discuss the sexlife of two adults but the messy outcome of it”.

Graham’s blunt remark made Amelia shrink more,her carelessness was to be blamed,her naivety.She had gaslighted Drake into sleeping with her in the first place and also not using a contraceptive pill afterwards was her mistake too.

“I already suggested to Amelia that we keep the baby”.

Drake said summoning all the courage he could muster against getting intimidated by Mr Dinkins whom he knew was a tough opponent to win against.

“And my daughter? Discarded right?”

Awkward silence ensued in the room,the tension grew by each passing second, Graham held Drake's unwavering gaze,even Pamela was looking gloomy and Dickson —-amused.

He had watched his son close too many multibillion dollar deals but he had never seen him this challenged.Since his wife's demise.He had closed his heart to love which had been worrisome to him but right now,his instinct tells him, Amelia wasn't a mere one night stand to the pig headed widower.

“I am not forcing myself on him dad!”

Amelia's pained voice echoed in the room, breaking the coldness that had swept the room earlier.

“You should have thought about the consequences when you decided to quit your wedding just to end up this way”.

Graham couldn't hold his anger,he truly loved Amelia and it hurts him to make her sad but his integrity and family name is the talk of the internet at the moment, starting from the day Amelia had jilted her fiance at the altar.

“I cannot marry her Mr Dinkins,I am sorry”.

Drake's condemnation pierced Amelia's heart,it should be her line of refusal,not his.A part of her acknowledged Maya's fear for her,the emotionless widower had no slightest affection towards her.

She had misjudged the situation when they met,took his kindness towards her for likeness,it turned out to be wrong and it hurt her.

“Then you forsake being my heir,” Dickson said plainly.

He gave his son a piercing stare and an unmistakable understanding passed between them.Just as his father wanted,he had spent most of his years working for uplifting Infinity company while competing fiercely with his brothers for recognition.

Was he going to forsake all that for just this?.

“Dickson,I do not think we should be discussing this here, he said…..”

“Pamela,I am dead serious,” Dickson cut short her defense of her son.

Amelia had to fight back the tears threatening to evade her beautiful face.She looked over at Drake again, and wondered where the man that gently made love to her in the gleaming moonlight was,all she could see was a man who didn't see a woman in her.

She adjusted on her seat and with firm determination made up her mind,she wasn't going to be an object of ridicule by an obnoxious man still immersed in mourning his late wife.

Amelia concluded she couldn't drag his affection with a dead woman .Drake's stoic eyes focused on her face and he opened his mouth to declare his decision.

“I will abort the ….”

“I will marry her”.

They both said coincidentally.