A Chance At Love

Chapter 1.

Sara Prentiss drove into a compound and pulled over at an enormous parking lot where other luxurious cars were parked. She turned off the car engine and grabbed her black purse from the other seat before alighting the car and shutting the door. She flipped her golden brown hair to the back and stared at the gigantic mansion before her. She sighed, licking her lips and walked briskly towards the door. She rang the doorbell and it took a while before the door opened, revealing her mom, Elizabeth Prentiss.

" Oh my god, Sara! " She said cheerfully.

" Hi, mom. " Sara said, grinning and they both hugged each other.

" Oh, darling. It's good to see you. " Her mom said, caressing her hair and Sara smiled, pulling away.

" It's good to see you too, mom. "

" Come on in. " She urged and Sara walked into the house while her mom shut the door behind.

" How was your day at work? "

" Oh, hectic. " Sara responded and her mom smiled.

" Well, I hope you are hungry cause I made your favorite. "

" Actually, I am famished. "

" Common then. " Elizabeth urged, walking over to the dining and Sara followed behind.

They got to the dining and her mom began to dish out the food.

" Here. " Her mom said, advancing her own portion to her.

" Thanks, mom. " Sara mumbled, picking up her cutlery. " Oh, it looks so yummy. " She said, taking a scoop said and she hummed, shutting her eyes as she chewed on every last bit before swallowing down.

" You like it? " Her mom asked, pouring her a glass of wine.

" It's so good. " She responded and Elizabeth smiled.

Sara dropped her cutlery, grabbing her drink and her brows creased when she saw her mom dishing out a third portion of food.

" Who is the third plate for? " She asked.

" It's for your dad. He is joining us. " Her mom responded, setting down the plate.

" Well, that's a surprise. " Sara said, taking another scoop of her food and her mom said nothing as she took the seat opposite hers.

Soon footsteps came approaching and Sara's gaze turned to see her Dad, William Prentiss walking into the dining room.

" Hi, Sara. " He said, pulling out a seat for himself.

" Hi, Dad. " She said back watching him seat down.

" I see you already started without me.." He said, glancing at his wife.

" Well, I couldn't wait. Mom's cooking is the best. " Sara said and he nodded, picking up his cutlery while Elizabeth did the same.

The trio ate in silence. A silence that wasn't near comfortable to Sara because of her parents who kept staring weirdly at each other and she knew immediately that something was up.

She licked her lips, adjusting in her seat and she gently cleared her throat, gaining both thier attention.

" Do you two have something you wanna tell me? " She asked and like they have been doing for a while, her Dad gave her mom a look that she couldn't quite interpret.

" Uh... When are you going to get married, darling? " Elizabeth asked and Sara blinked, surprised by the question.

" Married? That's a very sudden question, mom. Why do you ask? " She questioned and her mom shrugged.

" Just want to know your thoughts on settling down. That's all. " Elizabeth responded and Sara brows furrowed finding her mom's statement weird.

" Well if you must know, marriage is the least of my concerns right now. The only thing important to me is the company. " She responded.

" Getting married should also be your concern, Sara. You are not getting any younger. " Her mom said.

" Your mom is right. You need to get serious and stop changing men like you do your clothes. " Her dad seconded and Sara rolled her eyes, cutting out a small size of the steak.

" It's why they are called flings, dad. It's nothing serious. " She said, taking a small chunk of meat into her mouth and she dropped the cutlery, chewing lightly on it.

" Well, your flings or whatever needs to stop before it ruins the company's image. " He said and Sara pulled a bitter smile, swallowing the last bit down her throat before grabbing her glass of wine.

" I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about. I know perfectly well how to not mix my social life with business and talking of business, the company is thriving, Dad. I have been doing a fine job and I think we can all agree on that. " She said, taking a long sip from her drink and her dad said nothing as he grabbed his drink as well and taking a sip from it.

Elizabeth immediately cleared her throat..

" All your dad is trying to say is that you have to settle down, Sara. " She said and Sara shook her head.

" I don't understand, since when have you guys been so interested in my love life? " She questioned and her dad glanced at her mom.

" I see you haven't told her yet. " He said and Sara's brows creased.

" Told me what? " She asked, glancing at her parents.

" You need to get married, Sara and not just to anyone but to Ryan Scofield. " Her dad replied.

" Ryan, who? " She asked, lifting her brows.

" Ryan Scofield. You two would definitely make a perfect match. " He answered and Sara scoffed unbelievably.

" You want me to get married to a stranger? " She questioned

" He is not a stranger. His father and I are very close. He is like family and Ryan is not only handsome but he is also very successful like his father. I don't see a big deal in it. "

" Are you kidding me? How is trying to coerce me into an arranged marriage not a big deal? " She asked, her voice evident of anger.

" It's not. You both will meet and get to know each other and the good thing is, you are both from very respectable families so I am sure you two will get along. " He replied and Sara shook her head, not wanting to believe her ears.

" It's not happening, Dad. I am not meeting any goddamn Ryan or whatever his name is nor am I getting married to him. "

" Sara, calm down. " Her mom said, placing her hand on hers but she pulled away immediately.

" Calm down? Really, mom? Of all people you should know that I never was interested in marriage and now you are trying to force me into one? "

" This is for your own good. " Her dad chipped in and she turned her gaze to him. " Marrying him will make you look more responsible and fit enough to take up the position as the CEO of the company. " He added and she shook her head, standing up.

" Where are you going? " Her mom questioned.

" I am not going to sit here and listen to this nonsense. I can succeed in the company with or without getting married. " She said, turning on her heels and walking away from the dining.

" It's either you get married to him or you forget about the company, Sara. " Her dad said and she halted abruptly on her heels.

" What's that supposed to mean? " She asked, turning to him.

" It means your brother, Jake will become CEO instead. " He responded also standing up.

" What!? " Sara questioned, wanting to believe she heard wrong.