An Arranged Forever

Samantha Hathaway’s POV Dublin, Ireland (8PM) “It has come to the point where I have no other choice…” I cringed on hearing those words that I had always dreaded. I knew what would happen now. My whole life would change but it wasn’t an inch for the better. This was all I could think about for now. My father, Jenkins, was an excellent businessman. He knew when to buy and sell and what exactly to sell to meet his needs. He always did. But lately, he got involved in some sort of trouble. I could still remember what he told me the night it all began. It was the night of his friend’s funeral. “Nicholas isn’t like his dad, and I believe we might be in trouble,” he told me carefully. “His dad only died ten days ago and he took over then. Without letting his father’s dead body to turn cold, he has turned all his father’s friends into his enemies. He has stomped on five small companies which used to be allies of his father.” “But you were best friends with his dad. He wouldn’t do that to you,” I muttered in fear of what would happen if we became bankrupt. “I always thought so until today,” my father replied. “Nicholas reminded me of what happened five years ago when he squandered company funds to pay for a w***e’s trip.” “His girlfriend…” I corrected him. “I wouldn’t say that, Samantha!” my father exclaimed. “A girlfriend is a girl you love and whom you intend to get married to in the future. That girl only met up with Nicholas for s*x and she got paid every time. She is a w***e!” I held on here and allowed him to go forward. He smiled when he saw that his words made an impact. He didn’t fully convince me but that was not the case. “So, he reminded you of that case. What does he mean by that?” I asked shortly. “I was playing the man of discipline then,” my father shook his head in regret. “Then, he skipped schools, ran away from home, did drugs, go clubbing all night, bully, and even r***d girls. He didn’t listen to his father either.” “What did you do to him?” I dreaded the reply. “I talked sense into him and almost hit him when he was being stubborn with me,” my father closed his eyes a little. He seemed to be regretting that. “Today, he told me he would pay me back for insulting him that day. It was five years ago but that kid still remembers. I feel like a fool right now.” “If his father couldn’t discipline him, you should have kept mute too! What did you intend to gain by playing the hero?” I asked him faintly. I looked towards the ceiling and took a deep breath. “It’s late already,” he muttered. “My company is my lifeline and your inheritance. It must never fall. If the worst case scenario happens, I will need to use you, Samantha.” I seized my breath right at that moment. I wasn’t a kid anymore and I could fully understand what he meant by using me. It meant he was going to sell me off. He was going to get me married for a deal. I would need to marry Nicholas, that rich thug. *** And exactly a week after, the worst case scenario happened. Nicholas hit my father’s company and they suffered from near bankruptcy. He had bought off some of my father’s employees, sold insider secrets, disrupted and dismantled our sales systems, and brought the company distorted. My father’s company was originally worth six hundred million American dollars but when the company’s worth fell so quickly, Nicholas sent someone to offer us fifty million dollars to sell it off. My father fell sick and I had to nurse him to health. Seeing all Nicholas had done to my father, I already made up my mind to take revenge. On my father’s sickbed, he held me firmly and made me look into his eyes. “We have no other choice, Samantha,” my father muttered and I felt distraught almost immediately. “I cannot afford to sell the company for fifty million dollars when it is worth twelve times more than before. You need to get married.” “No, dad,” I attempted. “Nicholas is a bully. You said it yourself before. He does drugs, sleeps around, and bullies. I will be a victim of domestic violence if I get married to him. You know this, dad.” “But there is no other choice, Samantha,” he cried. “I can’t bear to give it up. If the company falls, I will die. You will need to choose one, my daughter. Would you save me and the company or will you watch us fall?” I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. “I can manage domestic violence,” I replied. “What happens when he gets infected with a sexually transmitted disease and he brings it to me? I am still young, dad. I’m sure you don’t need me to have AIDS.” “You’ll be fine,” he replied. “I don’t think so,” I told him frankly. “Do it for me,” he held my hand. It was a tense moment and right there, I made my decision. I nodded my head in agreement. For me, family came first. Even before my own life. *** My dad was prompt with things. He sent an official message to Nicholas for them to meet up and the latter agreed. My dad was excited at first but upon finding out that the meeting point was a party, he had mixed feelings but he had to go. I was briefed by my father’s secretary about the party. “It is a meeting avenue for global partners,” my father’s secretary started. “Ireland has grown quite well in business and frankly speaking, Nicholas Lee remains the richest man in Ireland. His company is doing even better than his father’s period since he bought smaller companies for cheap prices and his rate of conversion got better.” “Red flags?” I asked. “None, it seems all green,” my father’s secretary replied. “You will meet with Nicholas in a private place and there, you are expected to be as seductive as possible. Nicholas won’t marry you if he doesn’t find you worthy. He would rather have a one night stand.” I stopped in my tracks. “I don’t intend to seduce that thug!” I shouted. “You don’t have a choice, miss,” my father’s secretary told me frankly. “Nicholas might be a thug truly but he would breathe life to the dying company. Dress as seductive as possible and flaunt your body. You look beautiful and ravishing already and I am sure you can act less of a saint. That cleavage shouldn’t be covered always. Flaunt your cleavage and bare thighs and make him connected to your lips and tongue. It isn’t hard to seduce a man with a great s****l appetite.” This was giving me a headache already. Anyway, I attended the party with my father and like his secretary had mentioned, the party had people of essence on the attendees list. Nicholas was the only man from Ireland there. “I will confirm the meeting point with his secretary. Take a look around and familiarize yourself with some guests. You are still the heir of our company, you know,” my father whispered in my ears. It always pleased me to be reminded that I was the heir to my dad’s company. He had no one else but me. I picked up my phone and looked through the PDF my dad’s secretary sent me hours ago. It was the list of guests. I scanned their pictures with my bare eyes and moved along to familiarize myself. “Young lady…” someone called. I turned and faced an aged man. I could remember seeing him on the guests list. He was the chairman of a big company based in the United States. I couldn’t remember his name but I smiled towards him. “How may I help you, sir?” I muttered. “I just wanted to chat,” he smiled back at me. He seemed interested in me and this turned me off. I disliked old men. “Oh, I am free,” I replied. I lacked the courage to turn him down. With a smile on his face, he led me to the bar where both of us sat. We were served by the bartender. I had juice while he had wine. “My name is Andrew Rodriguez, the chairman of DR Group of companies based in the United States. It is nice to meet you,” he told me slowly. “Nice to meet you too, sir,” I replied. “Be cool with me. I don’t know about Ireland but only few care about honorifics in the United States,” Andrew told me coolly. I rolled my eyes and drank more of the juice. “I… I was attending…” I stammered. “This is your first time in a public function like this, I presume,” Andrew smiled. “No, but it’s my first time talking to a billionaire in a bar,” I replied naturally. Andrew laughed, showing off his beautiful set of dentition despite his old age. “You look ravishing, dear,” Andrew replied. “You will be the perfect match for my grandson.”