CHAPTER 1.
1319 Words
AVA'S POV.
The trees swayed from side to side and the flowers danced to the music of the wind. I stood in the middle of the dancing flowers enjoying the cool breeze on my face. It cooled my senses and relaxed my nerves. Even the smile on my face was proof of my enjoyment.
I plucked out one of the dancing sunflowers and held it against my nose, breathing in the sweet scent of nature.
I loved everything about nature.
"Miss Ava," Mia's voice sang out, almost flowing away with the wind as she hurried towards me.
"What is it, Mia?" I asked freely, returning my attention to the sunflower in my hands.
Mia breathed out a bit. It seemed like she had been having trouble looking for me again, which is a surprise to me. I expected Mia to know by now that anywhere there is nature, there is me.
Sounds cliché, I know.
"Sir Anderson is looking for you" she informed me, and I frowned in confusion.
"Why is father looking for me? Didn't he say he had an important meeting to attend today?"
"I don't really know, miss Ava, but he is back, and he is asking for you. Mr Smith is also with him."
A delightful smile grazed my lips at the mention of the so-called Mr Smith. Excitement took over my being and I found myself unconsciously throwing away the sunflower in my hands.
"Let's go!" I eagerly told Mia and we both hurried away from there.
The walk from the flower garden to my family estate was a five-minute walk and in no time, Mia and I had returned to the Estate. We passed through the smaller back gate as it was closer to the mansion than the main gate.
The estate was a wide piece of land mostly surrounded by nature. There is a sugarcane plantation and a potato farm on the estate which is taken care of by the farmers who work for my Dad. My family ran a sugar manufacturing company that is passed on from generation to generation until it was finally handed to my Dad.
The company can only be run by males in the family, but since my Dad only gave birth to me, my future husband would do the work.
Speaking of future husbands, Mr Smith was seated in the living room having a conversation with my Dad. It seemed to be a very intense conversation because they were talking in rushed whispers. MY Dad stopped talking at the sight of me.
Mr Smith glanced over his shoulder and our eyes met, brown on green. He smiled warmly and stood up. His brown eyes sparked at the sight of me.
"Hey princess"
Without hesitation, I ran forward and jumped into his arms. He caught me right in time, laughing joyfully.
"You jerk! I missed you so much" I mumbled against his chest, enjoying the scent of his strong perfume.
"I miss you so much too, love, it's just that I've been very busy with meetings and some business matters."
I pulled away from him, glaring at his handsome face, "so busy that you couldn't drop a call?"
He made an apologetic expression. "I am going to make it up to you. I promise". I did not look convinced, so he added, "I will take you out on a date tomorrow. We will spend the entire day together. What do you think?"
At that, I finally smiled "You had better keep your promise this time."
"I will, princess" he said, gently kissing my head.
Father cleared his throat loudly. My excitment at seeing James has completely blinded me to my father's precense.
We both stared at him and I noticed there was this weird discomfort in his body language. "If you guys are done, can we talk about the important stuff?" He pushed up his glasses even when they weren't falling, and I instantly knew something was wrong. It's a nervous habit of his.
"What important stuff are we talking about?" I asked, glancing from my Dad to my fiancée curiously. They both had these expression on their faces that made me feel like they were hiding something. Something bad.
James sighed and held me close. "Have a seat love. We will tell you about it."
I settled on the couch beside James and Dad took the other available armchair by the side. The atmosphere seem tense for some reason.
"What is this about?" I asked again, feeling scared.
Dad was the one to speak first. His dark brown eyes were fixed on mine and I saw sadness in their depths.
What could be going on?
"Honey, I believe you know how much I value our company?" He began in a desperate tone, as if trying to make me understand something even though he had said nothing at all.
"Of course, Dad. You have worked so hard to keep the company going. I know that more than anyone else." After my mom died, Dad became a complete workaholic. He put a lot of effort into running the family business and that's why we are the best of the best in Kingstone.
Dad nodded gladly, "Yes my dear. I worked my butt off to keep the legacy of my fathers before me, but the sad news is that, my efforts are not enough" he gulped loudly, "our company is on the verge of going bankrupt. Ava"
My heart stopped and, for a second, I could not breathe. Bankrupt? "B-but how is that possible Dad? You put so much work into keeping the company going."
"I don't know! Every day, we keep losing money". He ran a hand through his graying hair in frustration. "I have done everything I can to save it. I've collected loans from a lot of places but none of them helped. Ava, we are doomed!" Dad looks seconds away from shading tears.
"Oh God!" I mumbled, still in disbelief about the situation.
"That is not all, Ava. It is almost due time that we pay up the loans or else we will lose our estate and everything we own. Even the company"
I shook my head in dismay. Fear was already taking root in my heart. "That can't happen Dad. What about the farmers and employees? They will all lose their jobs. A-and where will we stay? Dad, we have to do something about this."
"Calm down princess," James comforted, patting my back gently. "there is a solution to all of these"
I stared at him with hope, "and what is the solution?"
They shot each other a weird look again and there was a short moment of silence before James spoke again. "A few days ago, Mr Edwards reached out to your Dad. I am sure you know about Mr David Edwards."
I nodded. He is a multi-billionaire who owns the largest stadium in our town. He also runs big companies in different parts of the world.
"What does he want?" I asked them in confusion. We have no business with Mr Edwards.
James fixed me with a meaningful look, "he wants to make a deal with your Dad. He is willing to help us with enough capital to pay off the loans and help bring our company back on its feet." James took a deep breath and I figured that isn't all. "But, on the condition that you marry his son Noah Edwards"
Silence fell around us as I took in the information. I had a hard time comprehending what James had just said. "What?" I questioned, barely above a whisper.
"You have to marry the billonaire's son, Noah Edwards Ava. Only then can we save the company and everything else."
Okay, now what the hell is this talk? Marry the billonaire's son when I'm engaged to James and also hearing this from James himself?
They must be out of their minds!
- Writer
