Betrothed To My Enemy

"I'm so tired," I groaned as we walked into my house.

"Me too," Katherine sighed.

"Really, you guys? We have only been out for five hours. You're acting like babies," Peyton said, rolling her eyes.

"Five hours is too long!" I dramatically sighed.

"When are you going to tell Daniel that you love him?" Peyton asked as we entered the house.

"I'm meeting him tonight, and then I will tell him," I smiled at my friends.

Daniel Taylor and I have been best friends since we were little. I always had a crush on him but never told him about it, but I think now that we are both older, it's time to tell him how I feel about him, and hopefully, he feels the same way.

As we entered the living room, I noticed my mom and dad sitting there on the couch, and from the looks on their faces, I could tell something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Mom?" I asked, concerned.

"We are sorry," Dad said when Mom broke into tears.

"Peyton, Katherine, can you please excuse us? We would like to talk to Brooke alone for a minute," Dad asked them, guilt written all over his face.

"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" I asked again, walking closer to her.

"Brooke, what we are about to tell you might upset you, and before we tell you, your mom and I want you to know that we love you so much and we did try to do it another way," Dad started to explain with tears in his eyes.

Uh oh, this sounds serious.

"Honey, you have to marry Martin to save our company," Dad finally let it out.

My eyes widened at his words. "What do you mean marry Martin?"

"Years ago, Martin and Daniel's grandfather helped your grandfather build this company on one condition: that our firstborn and Mr. Taylor's firstborn should get married for us to keep the company," Dad said, looking down.

"What! You knew about this all these years and kept quiet? Mom, you watched me fall in love with Daniel! Why didn't you tell me?" I screamed at my parents for the first time in my life.

"We didn't know, Brooke. We only found out this afternoon when Mr. Taylor came over with the documents," Mom explained, holding my hands.

I listened to them explaining it to me. Marry Martin. Can't divorce until five years are over? That's all I heard as I stared at my parents.

Martin Taylor is a dangerous man. He hates me to the bone—don't ask me why—but whenever he sees me, he treats me like dirt under his shoes.

"This is bullshit! You know he is a dangerous man!"

"Watch your language, young lady! We are aware of how dangerous he is, but we also know that he won't let any harm come to you!" Dad said, getting frustrated.

"Isn't there another way?" I asked, hoping that they’d say yes.

"I'm sorry, baby, but the agreement states that it has to be Martin and you," my mother explained.

"I have to see Daniel. I can't talk to you right now," I said before storming off.

I knocked on his penthouse door, wishing he was there. After a few more knocks, I decided to go to his office when the door opened.

"Brooke?" I heard him ask behind me.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a moment, please?" I asked him.

"Yeah, uh… sure, come in."

He stepped aside, letting me go in. That's when I noticed a girl wearing only panties and what looked like Daniel's shirt. I turned around to face Daniel.

"I'm sorry, this is bad timing. I will talk to you later," I said, walking up to the door.

"Brooke, please stay and tell me what's wrong," Daniel stopped me.

I gave him a tight smile. "It's not important. I will talk to you later, I guess."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, see you later." I turned the doorknob and disappeared.

He doesn't love me, like I should have known. I'm just glad I didn't tell him how I really felt about him.

I got into my car and drove around town to clear my head. I should consider marrying Martin. What's the use of crying over a man who doesn't return my feelings?

"Mom! Dad!" I shouted out when arriving home.

"Oh honey, you're back," Mom said, hugging me.

"Yeah, sorry for leaving like that. Where is Dad?"

"In his study, like always," she replied, letting me go.

"Can I talk to both of you?"

"Sure, come, let's go to your father."

We entered my father's study and I saw him working on his computer. "Honey, our daughter would like to speak to us," Mom said, placing her hands on his shoulder.

"I... I will marry Martin," I finally said as I watched my parents' shocked faces.

"Are you sure, Kate? If I remember correctly, you were mad this afternoon," Dad said, looking at me skeptically.

"Yes, I'm sure, Dad." I gave him a small smile.

"Alright, I will call the Taylors and let them know. Be ready for dinner tonight."

I nodded my head before going to my room.

Yes, I still live with my parents. It's just that I don't like being alone. Sounds stupid, I know.

"Peyton, can you guys come over tomorrow morning, please? I want to tell you something," I said as soon as she picked up her phone.

"Yeah, sure, girl. What's wrong? You just left this afternoon without a word to any of us."

"I promise I will tell you everything tomorrow, and I'm sorry about this afternoon," I told her before hanging up.

I got dressed in a little black dress, leaving my hair down before putting on some black pumps. I decided to wear light make-up and spray some perfume on before going down.

"Here she is. Brooke, do you want anything to drink?" My dad asked as soon as he saw me.

"Hey everyone. Yes, a glass of red wine, please, Dad."

I looked around and saw Daniel with the same girl I saw at his penthouse standing next to each other. My mother and his mother were busy placing cutlery on the table, and Mr. Taylor was talking to Martin, but his back was turned away from me.

"Hey Brooke, I would like to introduce you to Kerin. Kerin, this is my best friend Brooke," Daniel said, smiling at Kerin.

"Nice to meet you," I said, sticking my hand out, but she just stared at it like I had some disease.

"Alright everyone, dinner is ready. Please come and take a seat," Mother announced, smiling at Dad.

My dad and Mr. Taylor each sat at the head with their wives next to them, Daniel and his girlfriend sitting next to each other, Martin and I—yeah, we sat next to each other—and my little brother Jason sat next to me. He is six years old and I love him to bits.

Dinner went quietly except for our fathers, who talked about business.

Daniel and Kerin were whispering to each other.

Martin was quiet the entire time, only giving me death stares. Yeah, buddy, I'm not happy about this either, but hey, I'm doing this for my family.

"Alright guys, let's move to the lounge where we can celebrate the good news," my father announced before standing up.

"Please raise your glasses to the future, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. May both of your lives be long and happy together."

Daniel looked at me with a frown before mouthing "WTF?" I just rolled my shoulders before looking at my father again.

Daniel came over to me. "Can we talk for a second?" he asked, looking at Martin.

"Daniel, we will talk later. I'm not in the mood to talk now," I explained, not wanting to explain to him why I'm doing this.

"Brooke, why are you marrying my brother? Is he threatening you?" Daniel ignored me.

"No, no, Daniel, he's not. I'm marrying him because I love him. I have always been in love with him. I didn't know how to tell you." I lied, hoping he would drop the subject before I cried my heart out to him.

"You know you could have told me, Brooke. We are best friends. I would not have stood in your way."

"I know, and I'm sorry," I smiled at him.

"When is the wedding taking place?" Kerin asked loudly, looking from me to Martin.

"Next Saturday," was all he said before getting himself another drink.

Wait, did he just say next Saturday?

I looked at my mother for answers, but she just smiled like she won the lottery. We are definitely going to talk after everyone leaves.

"Will you walk with me?" Martin asked, standing in front of me. I looked at our mothers smiling at us.

"Yes, come on."

We walked to the backyard. "I have some rules you have to obey when we get married. You don't tell me what to do; you're not going to be a nagging wife seeing this is just a business contract. You won't say anything if I sleep with other women, and most importantly, don't fall in love with me!" He said all of this in one breath.

I looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Look here, Mr. Scary! Don't flatter yourself. I won't fall for a jerk like you. And secondly, I don't care how many women you sleep with, but just so you know, you won't be getting anything from me. I don't want any of your fuck hoes' diseases on me!" I whisper-yelled at him.

This fucking idiot makes me angry!

"That makes two of us!"

Oh fuck, I just said it out loud.

"Oh, one more thing—please wear decent makeup to our wedding. You look like some Barbie doll with that makeup of yours!"

He said before storming into the house.

"Motherfucking asshole!" We aren't married yet and I want to kill him!

I went back inside after I cooled off. "Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, thank you for a wonderful evening, but I have to get up early tomorrow morning," I fake-smiled at them. The sooner I get out of here, the better.

"Please call us Jasmine and Dean; we are going to be family after all," Mrs. Taylor politely smiled at me.

"Yeah, um… Thank you for the lovely evening," I said a bit unsure, hoping they would let me go.

"It's alright, dear, we understand you have a lot going on with your business," Dean said, hugging me.

I quickly said goodnight to everyone, and as I hugged my mother, I told her, "I want to have a word after they are gone."

She just nodded, letting me go. I walked up the stairs to my bedroom. God, why didn't they tell me I'm getting married to that dick next Saturday?