Chapter 2

Elias POV

The last thing I expected from my father when he told me he had something important to discuss with me. That afternoon, my father summoned me to his office.

"Father, you said you had something to discuss with me" I said as I entered his office 

"Yes son, have a sit". He said and I went to sit in the chair in front of him. My father first paused, he did not say anything for a while then he began.

"You will be getting married to Vincent Blackwood in a month time" my father said. That name made my chest tight but not for the reason most people think. Vincent looked cold, calculated and cruelly brilliant to the outside world but I see him differently.

I saw him as someone who was captivating, sharp edges and always determined. He was a kind of man who you could never get close to but you can't look away from either.

I have always had a thing for Vincent since high school, he was everyone type. I always lingered in the corners, watching from a distance. He never noticed me until one day. He approached me and I was so happy but he told me I would regret what I did.

I was surprised because I had never spoken to him before. After that, everything changed, whenever we were in the same space, he always gives me the icy looks and I got to find out he hated my guts I just don't know the reason why.

And now, we are getting married. I knew he won't take the news likely.

"It has been finalised, Marcus Blackwood already agreed to it" my father said while looking at me.

"Why is this marriage happening?" I asked my father.

"It is to merge our two companies together, so we can be the most wealthy companies in the world and your marriage to Vincent is a proof that we won't back out" my father said.

I was having mixed feelings about this, I was happy and at the same time, I was terrified. Vincent Blackwood hated my guts and now I am getting married to him?.

"Look son, I know I should have asked for your opinion before deciding this but this is a really good deal and it will help us go a long way, I know I sound like I am selling you out for my own benefit but that is not true" my father said.

I thought about it, my father has always wanted the best for me and my sister and he has never asked me for anything. I feel like I owe this to him. 

"Okay father, I will do it" I told my father. He just smiled at me and came to hug me.

"Thank you son, and if after a year you want to get a divorce, I will allow it" he said. I just nodded and left his office. I went straight to my room and went to my bed. My mind went back to the first time I ever saw Vincent Blackwood.

A few years back when we just moved here, I am my twin sister, Lena started in a new school. That day, when I entered my first period, I sat at the back because I did not like attention then the class started. After a few minutes, Vincent entered. When I saw his face, it was love at first sight for me. 

He was 6'5 tall, he has sharp, symmetrical features, high cheekbones, a well outlined jawline, a straight nose, his cool golden blonde hair that is always perfectly styled. But what made my fall in love with him more, was his eyes.

His eyes were my weakness, his eyes were hazel but with flecks of gold and green that shift depending on the lightening. When we made eye contact, my whole world stopped. 

I have loved him ever since but he did not feel the same way for me, all he felt for me was pure hatred. I got up from my bed and went to my closet, I took the box that I have hidden deep inside my closet. That box held my secret.

All the pictures I took, all the portrait I drew of him, everything about Vincent Blackwood was in this box. Then I took a canvas and started painting another picture.

Drawing has always been a part of me, it has been something I have always loved doing because it makes me feel connected to the world. I tell my feelings through my drawings.

I started by sketching his face, I started with his hair, then to his nose, then to his pump lips, then his eyes. When I was done sketching, I started to paint them. I remembered every details about him even if we don't see each other. So it was very easy for me to draw him. I could draw him with my eyes closed.

When I was done, I looked at my drawings and kept them with the rest, I knew that was the closest I could ever get to him. I then packed up all my stuff and hid them back. I went into the bathroom and took a shower.

When I was done and I got dressed, I went to my bed and started scrolling on the internet. Then a knock came through, it was my twin sister, Lena .

My sister and I are like most twins, we are really close but I just could not tell her about my secret crush on Vincent Blackwood.

"Hy" she said while coming inside and climbing my bed.

"Hey" I replied her.

"So, what did father talked to you about?" She asked.

"Well, it seems like I am getting married next month " I told her. She did not react, she just stayed calm.

"I'm sorry, what? I did not quite get that" she said.

"I said I am getting married, and that to Vincent Blackwood " I said. Lena was shocked.

"Why the hell is father telling you to get married? And that to Vincent Blackwood?" She asked.

"He said it was to grow our company better " I replied 

"So he sold you like you were nothing?" She said angrily.

"Calm down Lena, I actually agreed to it" I told her. She looked at me like I had grown two heads.

"Are you nuts? Why will you trade your life and future for somebody else benefits?" She asked.

"I just wanted to do something for father, that's all" I replied. She just looked at me

"This has nothing to do with your crush for Vincent Blackwood, does it?" She asked. My head whipped like the speed of light, I looked at my sister surprised.

"H.....ho......how did you know?" I asked her.

"You think I won't know about it?, you are my younger brother Elias, I know everything about you " she said.

"We are literally twins" I told her

"But I came out first" she agured back. Then she became serious again.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked looking at little sad.

"Did you feel like you could not trust me, or you could not confide in me?" She asked.

"No Lena, it is not like that, believe me, I have always wanted to tell you but I was scared of how you would take the news" I told her truthfully.

"Elias, I am your twin sister, you can always tell me anything, I won't judge you, okay?" She asked .

"Okay" I replied back. Then she hugged me.

"So how exactly did you find out?" I asked her

"Well, I knew since high school, I noticed the way you always looked at it so I figured you had a thing for him and your drawing confirmed my suspicions " she said 

"My drawings?" I asked.

"Yes, your drawings, the ones you keep hidden" she said.

"How do you know about them?" I asked her

"I found them by chance one day when I was looking for a hoodie in your closet " she said

"Sorry for snooping around " she begged 

"It's okay, the cat is already out of the bag so no problem " I said .

"But what are you going to do about Vincent? You know he does not like you, how will you survive this marriage? Lena asked.

When my father told me we could divorce after a year if we want to, I felt kind of sad to be honest and I know Vincent will jumb on that offer with an opened hand.

"Father said after a year if I want to get a divorce, I can get a divorce, that it won't affect anything" I told her.

"Okay, just know that whatever you decide, I am always on your side, I have your back always " Lena told me

"I know Lena, thank you " I said and she left.

I just laid on my bed and tried to think of how everything will turn out but I decided to forget about it for now and focus on the present.

The next morning, my father said I should go and deliver a document for Vincent, that it needed his signature. 

I was not ready to meet him yet and to make things worst, we were going to be alone. I tried to tell my father that I could not go but he said it will be a great way for us to know each other better before the wedding.

I changed to a white shirt and blue short, then I wore my scandals. I went to our garage and brought my baby out.

My car was my everything, it was a graduation gift from my parents to me and I loved it. It was a black BMW. Everything about it just screamed beautiful. I opened the door and entered, then I calmed my self down, then I put on the car and the engine roared to life.

I backed out of the garage and headed straight to Blackwood enterprises. When I got there, I took the elevator to his office straight. While I was outside his office, I took a deep breath before I knocked on his door. I waited for a response before I entered.

"Come in" I heard him say. At that point, my heart was beating really fast. I put my hand on the handle of the door and opened it. He did not look up from his laptop, he was busy typing that he did not notice me coming inside.

"Hy" I said. Immediately, his eyes met mine and his face changed to something else, hatred.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned. I walked closer to him and handed him the file.

"My father said this needed your signature" I said.

He just took the document and signed them and passed it to me. I turned around to leave when he started talking.

"I don't know how you did it for my father to approve this wedding but let me get one thing straight" he said while standing up and walking towards me.

"This marriage only last for a year, after a year, I will never have to deal with you or see your stupid face ever again" he said with so much venom in his eyes.

"There won't be love in this marriage or should I call it an arrangement" he said. Tears filled my eyes but I did not let them drop, I don't want him to see me as someone that is weak.

"I know, I know you hate me and I know there can never be love in our marriage or should I say arrangement" I said and walked out.

When I got to my car, all the tears I was holding in came running down. I don't know what I ever did to him to deserve all this hate. I just started my engine and drove off.

I went to my favourite stop where I could cool myself down, it was a Clift, I just laid on the ground and looked at the sky. I stayed there for a few hours until I decided to go home.

Our father decided to announce the merging of the company together with our marriage before the wedding.

There were carmeras everywhere, flashing and clicking. Vincent gave a fake and forced smile, while I just looked lost. I have never been one that likes attention, so this attention I am getting was making me feel uncomfortable.

The next morning, the news had already carried everything, but some where just nasty comment like,

"Business or pleasure? What is going on between Vincent Blackwood and Elia Hale, a sudden marriage? What are they hiding?

I just laid on my bed, tired from all the attention and tired of everything in general. I just hope that one day, Vincent will see me for who I am, not just a pawn to merge our companies, but just as Elias.