Heirs Of Deception

CHAPTER1

~Talia~

“You guys should tell me this is a big joke,” I said, as my smile instantly faded. It was surprising how one sentence could send me into an anxiety spiral.

I haven't been to my parent's house since I obtained my degree in Architecture from the university. After I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, I moved mountains to get a job in LA in a construction company.

Despite my dad’s constant pressure to return home to work in the family’s company, I chose to work in Los Angeles. I just wanted some space away from him.

The pay at Blueprint Nexus was good, but nothing compared to what I could get from my father's company. I just wanted something for myself or should I say I wanted to be seen by my dad.

My mum had called me a week earlier stating I needed to come to Atlanta. She had called me over the years to come home, but I usually came up with excuses. This particular call felt different.

Her voice felt saddened over the phone, although she tried to mask it up with her usual warm and affectionate check-in. I could feel from her voice that there was definitely something she was trying to hide but I just couldn't place a finger on it.

The only information she spared was that there was a family emergency and my dad needed me to come home.

My mind raced through with a thousand questions and possibilities after our brief conversation on the phone. I just knew I had to clear all my schedule so I could oblige.

One thing I knew was that the emergency summon for my presence was definitely not a good one, but I was not expecting such a bombshell to be thrown to my face in less than an hour upon arrival at home, especially at the dinner table.

“This is the only way out to salvage the crisis we're currently facing in the company,” My dad said with no visible emotion.

“The company is currently going through a tough time due to the investment I made with Urban Arc Creations, which crashed,” he added. “I could have sworn that that was the right cut, but unfortunately, things went left”.

I was expecting a word from my mum but none was forthcoming. She was just fixed on her food in front of her as if she didn't want to involve herself in our conversation.

“I’m on the verge of losing the entire company, and jumping on this offer from Mr Adrian is surely going to do us a lot of good,” My dad said as he took a sip of wine from his glass.

“So marrying me off to his son was the only option you could come up with ?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes on him. At this point, I had already lost my appetite and was already beaming red.

In a few seconds, my spine suddenly stiffened. My heartbeat crashed at each other. Hoping I was just daydreaming.

“Your father and I have tried everything in our power, but yet they all failed”, my mother finally uttered. “We would never want you to do anything against your will.”

She paused for a bit as her upper lips curled up “We love you, and we want the best for you”.

“So planning an arranged marriage is what's best for me ?” I quickly countered, already filled with rage.

“Talia, try and be reasonable— Stop with the unnecessary tantrums,” my dad said as his face became distorted as if he was not expecting me to counter.

“Take it easy on her, honey. You don't expect her to take the news lightly.” My mum said while rubbing her hands on my dad's shoulders.

Growing up, my father had always made major decisions in my life. Ranging from how I should react to things, the friends I should keep, the college I should attend, to which career I should go into. The list is endless.

I had always felt that it was his way of showing love to me considering the fact I was an only child. Initially, I had no problems with his overprotective nature towards me, but I started feeling uneasy about it after the incident with Tariq.

Tariq was a scholarship student who transferred to my school in our 5th grade. He had recently moved to Atlanta with his family a few months after the passing of his dad. His father had suffered a brain tumour over the years and had gone for a series of surgeries which fell abortive till he finally died.

At the time, I considered him as my best friend in elementary school. I never knew he saw more to our friendship, or was that my way of just being oblivious about his whole actions towards me?

In the morning he usually waited for me at the playground in the middle of the school so we could proceed to class together. He helped out with most of my schoolwork; we went for lunch breaks together.

We did literally everything together at school. He made life so easy for me and I totally couldn't imagine high school without him.

One day, I invited Tariq to our home for lunch after school. Before that time, I had told my mum about the invitation which she obliged and promised to make my special meal for us.

Surprisingly my dad made a fuss when he got back. He threw Tariq out of our house. He said he was of a low background and was just friends with me so he could leach on me.

He saw to me cutting off all ties with him by going as far as transferring me to another school when he found a love letter addressed to me from Tariq.

He found it in one of my notebooks I forgot at the study when I was doing my assignment. My father beamed with so much anger. I never knew the letter was there, if I had, I guess I would have been more careful.

I can't let my dad keep buzzing me around for my entire life. I definitely need to put a stop to this.

“I can’t, and I won't go ahead with this marriage”, I blurted out as I directed my gaze at him. “I'm not some side piece you own.”

He made no reaction as if he hadn't heard what I just said as he reached for his pocket to fish out his personal cell to see who was calling.

“It’s Mr Adrian calling”, he said as he turned the phone over to my face so I could see the caller ID “We had scheduled a dinner at his place for Friday night so you and his son could get acquainted”.

He shoved his chair back and stood up. “This has already been finalized, so you need to start acting accordingly” His deep voice rumpled as he raised his left eyebrow.

He then proceeded to his room to answer the call. I turned to my mum’s direction and narrowed my eyes at her but she avoided my glare.

“Really– ?” I snapped at her as perspiration filled my forehead.

“I didn't know how to put myself up to telling you such news. It was just best to hear it from your dad,” she said and inhaled and exhaled deeply.

“You should have at least given me a heads up. I feel ambushed, Mum”. I said as I stormed back to my room.

I bit my tongue so hard that the taste of copper fill

ed my mouth. At this point, I knew it wasn’t a request from my dad but a command.