What promise?

Xavier was out with his friends on a boat cruise, that Monday morning when he got the call from him father. Who could judge the grandson of a wealthy billionaire for going on a boat cruise on a Monday morning while other people are working their asses off to make ends meet. Xavier's ends were never separated to begin with.

"We need to talk. Now!" His grandfather had sounded commanding over the phone, leaving Xavier speechless for a brief moment.

"Did you hear me?" Mr Smith asked

"Yes, grandpa, of course. Do you want me to come to the office?" Xavier asked trying to sound composed and less busy not knowing the sound of the boat engine in the background already gave him off.

"Actually, seems like you're busy. I want you at the apartment by 4pm sharp. Today."

Mr Smith ended the call and sighed. As much as Xavier had his head in the business, he was also someone who loved to have fun at any point in time. He never missed the opportunity to party. Never in his life had he ever rejected and invitation to party.

Mr Smith was well aware of Xavier's refusal to settle down and he knew it wasn't going to be easy to convince him to get married to Celine but he had a secret weapon which he had kept for a while and now was the best time to pull it out.

On the night of his twentieth birthday, Xavier had gone out with a group of friends and had engaged in illegal car racing. They kept driving at full speed without any control whatsoever. They were all drunk and still driving mad fast.

Xavier had gotten so drunk his vision wasn't clear again and he had hid a woman who was trying to cross the road. The woman had looked left and right and didn't see any cars coming. But the moment she got to the middle of the road, Xavier's car came out of nowhere and hit her.

Xavier was too drunk to notice he had even hit someone instead he drove on to the finish line. It was his opponent who noticed and drunkenly called 911.

The woman had passed on before she could be taken to the hospital and hence Xavier was arrested for murder.

He was only twenty and so scared, his grandfather had been disappointed in him and had refused to help him out of the situation.

"You are getting what you deserve. How could you be so careless?" Mr Smith had said to his grandson. He was very mad at himself for letting the boy have so much freedom. If he hadn't let him, something like this wouldn't have happened.

Xavier was detained in a cell and was to be arraigned before a court but he had asked his grandfather for a favour.

"Grandpa, please help me out, just this once and i promise to pay you back whenever you need me to. I'll do whatever you want. Please Grandpa"

Xavier had pleaded, so his grandfather considered his plea and pulled some strings behind the scenes. At the end of the day, the most punishment Xavier got was a week of community service.

Ever since that incident, Xavier never sat behind the wheels again. Instead he got himself a new chauffeur. Getting behind wheels brought back memories he tried so hard to forget.

Now was the time for his grandfather to get back his favor. As the wise men would say, a promise is a debt.

At 4pm sharp, Xavier walked into the room and met his grandfather already seated on his chair. The chair was his grandfather's favorite, it was hand carved by his dad while he was in high school and it was one of the few things that reminded them of Xavier's father around the house.

"Hi Grandpa." Xavier said sitting opposite his grandfather. "Hope everything is fine?"

During the drive home, he had been wondering what was so important that his grandfather wanted to talk to him about urgently.

"My dear grandson, I have good news" Mr Smith said. " I found you a wife!"

Xavier gave his father a side look and then burst out laughing. "Come on grandpa, is this some kind of joke? I think I was quite clear about the fact that i was never going to get married? What's this nonsense you're saying about finding me a wife?" Xavier asked out of surprise.

"I'm not joking and I knew you'll say no. Which is why I'm not giving you an option. Remember child, a promise is a debt."

"What promise?"

"The one you made while you were behind bars five years ago! To do whatever it was that i wanted. This is what I want"

"But grandfather why are you doing this. I don't want to get married and that's final. I'll make it up to you regarding the promise" Xavier said abd tried to walk out.

"SIT DOWN!!" Mr Smith bellowed. Xavier had almost forgotten how much he had been scared of that voice while growing up. He sat back down almost immediately.

Mr Smith lowered his voice.

"You don't want to commit to one person, because you are scared. But what is life without risks son? This girl i picked for you is the best version of a perfect woman and I'm really sure you'll like her" he sighs "think about it, even though it's not an option. You're getting married and it's final!" Mr Smith stood up and left Xavier sitting.

"You're only doing this because you want you lineage to continue. Think about my feelings too" Xavier murmured under his breathe as his grandfather walked up the stairs.