ESTELLE
“I’m glad you could make it, honey.” My father kissed me on the cheek before he went to my mother. Of course, I didn’t come alone. I needed someone I trusted as my plus one for tonight’s dinner.
Gustav Bladwyn, the Chairman of Connect Technology and E-commerce Company, or CTEC, to everyone who had a fortune of three billion dollars as of tonight. He was always dressed to impress. Even women as younger as my age fell for him.
“Cut the formality, Dad. I know exactly what this dinner is all about.” I went to the chair to his right. Then I realized he was alone. I expected to see Klayton and Tyrion, but it looked like they were fashionably late, or this was supposed to be a family affair.
“Am I missing something?” Mom sat across the table and asked Dad. “Don’t tell me our guests are late?”
“No guest. It’s just us, as a family,” my father replied as he placed the table napkin on his lap.
“We are not together. Are we really calling this family when it was over years ago?”
“It’s all right, Mom.” I smiled tightly at her.
The dinner was served with a starter. This suddenly reminded me of the dinner I had with Linden. Nevertheless, I still wanted this night to end well before we threw every plate on the table to my father.
“Let’s have dinner peacefully then,” I announced.
“It’s just your mother who thinks I have a hidden agenda.”
“I’m sure you do. The night is still young, Gustav.”
My father paused with a sigh before taking a bite of the food on his plate.
“You do not seem surprised that I’m back.”
“I always knew you would get tired staying away from home. One thing you can’t leave behind is your business. How’s the new design going?”
“I’m supposed to see the final designs on Monday,” Mom said. Regarding the new skincare and baths, the test was successful.”
“So in a few months, it will be ready if there are no setbacks. I’m also working on baby bath products, but it will take time. You know babies and kids have more delicate skin than adults.”
“I’m proud of you, Estelle. I hope you know that. But you can leave the job to your mom and the production department. Your job is to please the stockholders.”
As my brow raised, I shared a look with my mom. What was going on? The reason why I was in this trouble was because he didn’t support my dreams. Now, he was proud of me?
“Thank you. It means a lot, but you’ve known me to be directly involved with the company products.”
We were already in the middle of the dinner, but nothing eventful happened, making me more anxious. I didn’t want surprises for tonight or any shocking events. I wanted to leave his house without any anger in my chest.
“You barely touch the dessert. I thought you liked it.”
“It’s actually delicious, darling,” Mom told my dad. I ignored the bitterness in her tone.
“It is.” I took a sip of my wine. I didn’t want the alcohol affecting my head. The dark chocolate parfait melted in my mouth, and the seeds had a good crunch.
After dinner, I still felt a knot in my stomach. When we went to the family room where I’d spent most of my childhood days, it also brought good and bad memories.
No matter how I tried to block out their voices when they were fighting, it was just too loud. As a kid, it affected me mentally and emotionally.
Sometimes, I asked myself if there were still true love, if there were still long-lasting relationships, and I couldn’t just let Linden wait. He was so optimistic, loyal, family-oriented, hardworking, and damn, that man could cook.
Dad and Mom opened a topic about the new venture of CTEC. I barely paid attention, but it has something to do with artificial intelligence.
I grabbed the newly served wine on the table and sipped it. “I’m not marrying Klayton.”
They stopped and looked at me.
“Why?” Judgment brewed in his eyes as quickly as he threw his question at me.
“Why do you still believe in an arranged marriage, Gustav, when we are the great example that it didn’t work.”
“Well, those who spent a decade together and still divorced. What do you call that?”
“Does she really have to share the same fate as us? Give her time to live her life. She’s enjoying what she’s doing, making money, getting rich, helping thousands of people. Why do you have to be so cruel?”
“Am I cruel now?” Now they began fighting.
I rolled my eyes in disinterest as I toyed with the wine glass.
“You’re always cruel. What is that you see in Weston? Money, influence, connections? What about after they get married? Is he going to treat my daughter right? I heard he takes home women every weekend at his penthouse.”
“It’s because he’s still young and single. He will change once they get engaged. This arrangement has been done since forever.” He threw a glare at my mother.
“Jesus.” Mom huffed and emptied her glass before she stood at the corner.
“What punishment can you do if I defy your demand, Dad? Another blackmail? Well, I’m buying—”
“You don’t have that kind of money, dear. Your assets are all in Star LLC. You can buy Weston and my shares unless you have seventy million dollars in cash and counting. And that’s just us. How about SEAN Inc.? You will also lose their trust, and when it happens, you will lose your seat as the Executive Chairman.”
I looked away. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I was being hostage by my own doing. I didn’t tell the whole story to Linden because I was ashamed of admitting that the quick growth of my company blinded me. I signed the contract of marrying Klayton. Once I turned twenty-five, I would be engaged to him three months from now. Or I would return his father’s investment with 30 percent interest on the latest revenue.
“Is there a way to revoke the contract?” my mother asked.
“No. The only way she can do it is if she pays back, and she would lose fifteen percent of her share, making Weston the major shareholder. So it’s better she sells it if she would just lose by paying that amount. My advice from the beginning is to marry him.”
“Unless Klayton is the one who backs out with the marriage,” I added, giving me an idea, but knowing Klayton, I didn’t think it would work for him.
“You can just call your lawyers that you were mentally incapacitated during the contract signing, and your father would be your witness.”
“Do you want me to lie?” Dad asked my mom.
“For once, do something right for your daughter, for God’s sake, Gustav.”
“She’s making this difficult for herself when she knows she has no choice but to marry Klayton.” He turned to me. “You’re turning twenty-five, Estelle. Commit to what you signed up for. You will get engaged by the end of this month.”
“I’m going home.” I rose to my feet and picked up my bag. “I have three months to have fun.”
Thankfully, they didn’t stop me. I met Quinn outside the car. Judging by my face, he knew what happened inside the house didn’t end well.
“Take me somewhere but here.”
“I know just a place.” He drove silently, and I didn’t ask where to go. I trusted him.
I rested my head and closed my eyes because I began to have a headache. It wasn’t the wine. It was my life that I realized I had just sold my soul to the devil and got hostage by my own ambitions and stupidity, and I knew there was no way of redeeming it back.
I didn’t know how long it passed when Quinn slowed the car down and eventually parked.
I straightened in my seat. “Where are we?”
“Restobar. They have good burgers here.”
“I don’t think I can eat anymore for tonight.”
“Come on. You should try it.” He literally dragged me out of the car.
“Fine.”
When we got inside, it wasn’t that bad. The smell seemed mouthwatering, and I hadn’t had burgers in forever.
“Let’s go. We have a table at the corner.”
“Really. Do you need reservations, too?”
“Nope. Guys are here.”
“Who?”
“Guys, you’re late,” Sax just called us out, waving his hand.
Crap.
“Oh, boy.” The man I should have been avoiding just got up from his seat and walked toward us. He smiled, really smiled at me.
At the corner of my eye, Quinn left and said, “I’m hungry.”
“Hey, beautiful.” He cupped my head and pressed his lips into mine in a quick but toe-curling kiss. Oh, my God. This man wouldn’t just give up.