Sold off; married to the apathetic billionaire

Chapter 1 Bella “Bella, you have to do this,” my dad said without any ounce of regret. I mean, what was I expecting? He never really cared about me. I guess I was just an object of transaction to him. I turned and faced my mum with tears in my eyes. She had tears in her eyes too, she was the only one who cared. “Mom?” I said pleading, I could see the regret in her eyes. Getting no response from her, I knew the situation was unavoidable. Walking back to my room with anger, I slammed the door and fell on my bed, crying my eyes out. “Bel, please open the door let's talk okay?” My mum said from the other side of the door. “Bella?” she called, knocking again. “She's gonna be fine,she just needs some time to process it” I heard my dad say to her. Ignoring them, I walk into my bathroom. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, at least not until I calmed down. I turned on the shower for the cold water, ignoring the fact that I was already shivering, I let the cold water run down my body. The conversation I just had with my dad replayed in my head as tears began to roll down my cheeks again. After what felt like an hour, I turned off the shower and dried myself. Putting on a black polo and an ash jogger, I packed my hair into a messy bun, picked up my phone, then left my room. Walking down stairs, I picked my car key and walked straight to the door not wanting to have another conversation with anyone. I drove to spago, my favorite place to think and facetimed Maeve. She has been my support system since I was 18. She became a CEO at 22 in her growing company and I always admire her for her ability to be independently successful. She is the only person on earth that knows all my problems but always finds a way to say funny things that make me forget them, and right now I really needed to talk to her. “Hey girl, wassup” she beamed immediately she picked. The smile on her soon faded when she noticed how I looked. “Maeve, my dad gave me out as an offer to expand his company. He said I'm to marry Jayson Peterson and I can't object to it as it has been signed. Maeve he practically sold me for his company and now I have to marry and live with a man I do not know” I explained to her as tears rolled down my cheeks. “I know who he is though, '' Maeve said out of nowhere. This is what I meant when I said she always says something funny. “We all know who he is, Maeve, and you know what I mean,” I said. Everyone in Los Angeles, even across the country, knows who Jayson Peterson is. A ruthless billionaire. Most people say he is apathetic because of how he lives and reacts with people around him. How am I supposed to live with someone who is devoid of emotions? I'm sure the rest of my life would be hell. “Bella!!” I heard Maeve shout from the other side of the call and I turned back to my screen. I must have spaced out. “I've been calling your name bel. You don't have to over think this okay.. it's gonna be fine, you'd actually get used to him once you are married” she said trying to comfort me. Would I get used to him though? “Bel, you should be thankful that at least he isn't old or ugly” she teased wiggling her brows. “You were given a young, handsome billionaire. What more could you ask for? No one is perfect love, but you can work him to perfection” she added. I guess she is right, I mean I could try my best and if it doesn't work I'll just have to live with a zombie. With that conclusion in mind I smiled at Maeve and thanked her for the words of comfort and encouragement. We spoke for a few more minutes then said our goodbyes as Maeve had a guest in her office to attend to and ended the call. I got back home and saw my mum standing at my room door, her eyes bloodshot red. Hearing my footsteps she looked at me and gave a weak smile, she must have cried a lot. My mum and I share a closer relationship compared to my dad and I. She has done her best as a good mother, supporting me in whatever I do and even backing me up. She was the reason I got to work as a managing director at dads company and I'm forever grateful to her. “Mum?” I called as I walked closer. “Bel I'm really sorry, can we talk?” She asked. I opened my room door and we both got in and sat on my bed. “Bel I know this is going to be hard for you, but your father had already made up his mind and I couldn't convince him. You know how greedy for wealth he can be '' she explained, at this point I wasn't even bothered anymore because deep down I knew a day like this would come but i didn't expect it to be this soon. “It's fine mum I understand, you don't have to worry too much about me okay,” I said, giving her a small smile as tears kept rolling down her cheeks. My mum worries too much about me and it breaks my heart whenever I see her cry. I moved in and gave her a hug. “Has the date for the wedding been fixed?” I asked her, wanting to know if I still had more time to spend with her or not. “Yes love, it's next month” she replied and I sighed in relief. “And you have to go on 3 dates with him before the marriage” she added and I froze. “Three dates!!? Why?” I asked, wondering why it is specifically 3 dates. “Because that's what he wants, and it would also help you get to know him more before the marriage” she replied I stayed silent because I knew that wasn't the actual reason. And when she noticed, she decided to spill. “It's for the press,” she confessed. “Your father wants the press to see you two together before the marriage to avoid side talks concerning the company’s expansion ” she added. Typical Dad. He would always use things to his Favour, not even considering any other person. “Do I still get to maintain my position at the company after the marriage?” I asked my mum. “Yes hunny, you can still work there” she replied, and I sighed in relief. The last thing I want to be is a housewife. I hugged my mum goodnight and went to bed, taking a mental note that I have a date next week.