Chapter 2: The announcement
1483 Words
My heart nearly stopped when I turned around and saw Raymond Anderson standing behind me.
Up close, his presence felt even more intimidating. His dark eyes were fixed on me, sharp and suspicious, like he was already calculating something.
“Eavesdropping usually leads to unpleasant discoveries,” he said calmly.
My pulse pounded in my ears.
I had heard everything.
Every single word.
But admitting that would only make this situation worse.
So I forced my expression into confusion.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping.”
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
“No?”
“No.”
I folded my arms, trying to look as calm as possible.
“I was looking for my father.”
Raymond studied me for a long moment, clearly deciding whether to believe me or not.
The silence stretched.
Then he asked quietly,
“How much did you hear?”
“Nothing.”
His gaze didn’t soften.
If anything, it became more intense.
“You’re standing outside a private conversation.”
“And you’re standing here too,” I shot back.
His lips twitched faintly.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“My father is the one having the conversation.”
“Well,” I said dryly, “my father is the one being kidn*pped into it.”
That almost made him smile.
Raymond leaned against the wall beside me, crossing his arms.
“You look nervous.”
I frowned.
“You look suspicious.”
“I usually am.”
“That must be exhausting.”
His eyes flickered with something that looked dangerously close to amusement.
But it disappeared quickly.
Then he asked again,
“Are you sure you didn’t hear anything?”
I shrugged.
“Should I have?”
He watched my face carefully.
Like he was trying to catch a lie.
My chest tightened under the pressure of his gaze.
But I refused to look away.
After a few seconds, he sighed quietly.
“Good.”
I blinked.
“Good?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Raymond straightened.
“Because whatever they’re discussing probably isn’t good news.”
That made my stomach twist.
He had no idea how right he was.
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Raymond turned slightly.
And then both our fathers appeared.
My father, Lucien Gerald.
And Victor Anderson.
Victor stopped when he saw us standing together.
His sharp eyes moved between us slowly.
Then he smiled.
“Well,” he said smoothly, “that saves us time.”
Something about the way he said it made me uneasy.
Raymond frowned.
“What’s going on?”
Victor ignored the question.
Instead, he glanced toward the ballroom where the gala was still in full swing.
“Come with us.”
Raymond didn’t move.
“For what?”
Victor’s expression remained calm.
“For an announcement.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What kind of announcement?” I asked.
My father looked slightly uncomfortable.
Victor, however, looked perfectly relaxed.
“You’ll see.”
Raymond looked irritated now.
“I’m not interested in mysterious announcements.”
Victor’s voice hardened slightly.
“You will be.”
A short silence passed between them.
Then Raymond sighed sharply.
“Fine.”
He turned toward the ballroom.
I hesitated before following.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
As we entered the ballroom again, the music continued playing softly and guests were still chatting and laughing.
But Victor walked straight toward the stage near the center of the room.
My father followed him.
Raymond and I exchanged a confused glance.
“What is he doing?” I whispered.
Raymond’s jaw tightened.
“Something I’m probably not going to like.”
Victor stepped onto the stage and took the microphone.
The music slowly faded.
Conversations quieted.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward him.
My chest tightened.
Victor smiled confidently.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending tonight’s Anderson Foundation Gala.”
Polite applause filled the room.
Raymond crossed his arms beside me.
I could feel the tension radiating from him.
Victor continued speaking smoothly.
“Tonight we celebrate success, innovation, and powerful partnerships.”
More applause.
Then he paused.
His eyes moved toward Raymond.
And then toward me.
My heart skipped.
“There is also another partnership we are proud to announce tonight.”
Murmurs spread across the ballroom.
Victor’s smile widened.
“A partnership that will unite two of the most influential families in this city.”
My breathing grew shallow.
Beside me, Raymond suddenly went very still.
Victor gestured toward us.
“I am proud to announce the engagement of my son, Raymond Anderson…”
Gasps filled the room.
Then he finished the sentence.
“…to Blessing Gerald.”
The ballroom exploded.
Applause.
Cheers.
Camera flashes.
People began whispering excitedly.
My ears rang.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t think.
Raymond looked just as shocked as I felt.
Then his expression darkened.
Before anyone could react, he walked forward and grabbed the microphone from his father.
The room fell silent instantly.
“This is a misunderstanding,” Raymond said coldly.
His voice carried across the entire ballroom.
“You didn't tell me this was your plan, and even if I knew I would never agree to it.”
A ripple of shocked whispers moved through the crowd.
My throat tightened.
“Me too,” I said quietly.
People stared at us.
Victor didn’t look concerned at all.
In fact, he looked mildly amused.
“Are you sure about that?” he asked calmly.
Raymond turned to him sharply.
“What are you talking about?”
Victor folded his hands behind his back.
“Last week we gave both of you some documents to sign.”
My stomach dropped.
Raymond’s eyes narrowed.
My father spoke quietly.
“They were presented as corporate authorization forms.”
Victor nodded.
“They were.”
Then he added casually,
“They were also marital consent documents.”
The room went silent.
My mind went blank.
Raymond stared at his father in disbelief.
“You tricked us.”
Victor tilted his head slightly.
“Not tricked.”
Then he gestured toward the cheering crowd.
“Secured.”
My chest tightened painfully.
I remembered those papers.
My father had asked me to sign them quickly before leaving for a meeting.
I hadn’t even read them properly.
“Oh my God…” I whispered.
Raymond looked furious.
“You forged our consent.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“You signed it willingly.”
I felt like the floor had disappeared beneath my feet.
The applause started again as guests began congratulating each other about the “beautiful alliance.”
Raymond suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Come with me.”
Before I could react, he pulled me through the crowd.
People tried to stop us.
“Congratulations!”
“What a wonderful match!”
“When is the wedding?”
Raymond ignored them all.
We finally reached a quiet hallway outside the ballroom.
He released my wrist and ran a hand through his hair angrily.
“My father has completely lost his mind.”
I leaned against the wall, still shaking.
“What just happened?”
He laughed bitterly.
“My father happened.”
I looked at him helplessly.
“So… we’re just supposed to accept this?”
Raymond looked at me then.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I sighed.
“Relax.”
He stared at me.
“Relax?”
“Yes.”
“Blessing, they just announced our engagement to an entire ballroom of billionaires.”
“I’m aware.”
“And you think I should relax?”
I nodded calmly.
“This marriage isn’t real.”
He blinked.
“What?”
Raymond leaned against the opposite wall.
“We’ll turn it into a contract marriage.”
My heart sank.
“A fake marriage?”
“For appearances,” he said.
“That’s insane.”
“Not really.”
I stared at him.
“You’re serious.”
“Completely.”
I shook my head slowly.
“You expect me to just go along with this?”
Raymond’s expression remained calm.
“Our fathers want a powerful alliance.”
“And?”
“And we’ll give them one.”
My stomach twisted.
“But on our terms.”
“What terms?”
Raymond crossed his arms.
“A contract.”
My throat tightened.
“A contract?”
“Yes.”
“A marriage contract.”
I looked at him in disbelief.
“You’re planning our marriage like a business deal.”
“That’s exactly what it is.”
Something about his calmness made my chest ache.
“And when the deal is finished?” I asked quietly.
He answered without hesitation.
“We divorce.”
My heart dropped.
Just like that.
Like the entire thing meant nothing.
Raymond pushed away from the wall.
“So,” he said calmly.
“Do we have a deal?”
- Writer
