Kings and Castles

3. Leah

After taking the decision to go home, I called my Dad and booked the next flight to New Orleans. The three and a half hour flight was extremely uneventful, and I arrived in the morning perfectly on time. Before getting here, I knew that what I missed most was my favorite restaurant for brunch and I headed straight there from the airport to pick something up before going home.

I was a block away from the restaurant when a man not much older than me stepped into the road lost in his phone. You’d think with how well he’s dressed he’d know how to cross a road, or at least have someone following him around. Before I’m able to shout, look out, my driver swerves to the right, barely missing him. My heart is racing as I compose myself and check for any bruises. Luckily, I always put on my seatbelt in whatever vehicle I find myself in.

I unbuckle myself and open the door to step out, but I’m starstruck by the most gorgeous man I’ve set my eyes on. His blonde hair is clean cut at the sides but slightly disheveled on top, most likely due to the wind. I remember he could have gotten me seriously injured and anger built up inside me.

“Why weren’t you looking around? Does someone have to tell you to look left and right as well as to wait for the green light before crossing?” I shouted. “I apologize,” he said. His voice is deep but soft. I felt my anger dissipating at his tone of words. “Umm..okay” I managed to speak. “I hope you’re not injured” I told him while looking from head to toe. “I’m perfectly alright just shocked, this definitely isn’t how I expected my afternoon to go. I hope you’re okay. You seem fine”, he continues talking, and I can’t get enough “your driver, is he okay?”

As if he heard himself being mentioned, he exited the car and began talking about damages and insurance. The blonde stranger quickly took out his business card and gave it to the driver, telling him he'd be compensated and apologizing for any inconvenience caused. If only men behaved the way he did. The world would be a much better place.

Before I was able to talk to him more, he told me we'd be meeting soon enough and began walking to his destination. I didn’t even get his name. How are we supposed to see soon? I got back into the car and direct my driver to my destination, also apologizing for the situation I had no hand in. His car was fine though, so I didn’t know what exactly he wanted. “Just give me ten minutes please, I’ll be out as quickly as possible”, I told him before entering the shop.

As I open the double doors, the smell of coffee, cakes and sandwiches hit me. I really missed this place. I go to the counter and place my order for their famous hot chocolate, a Caesar salad bowl and a chicken sandwich. I felt a tap on my shoulder as I was waiting for my lunch and turned around to be face to face again with the blonde stranger. “ I hope you’re not stalking me”, I told him with a hint of a smile. “ Can you still say it’s merely a coincidence that we are meeting like this twice in one day?” he tells me. “Maybe it is,” I say before collecting my order. He left for the first time without even mentioning his name, so I can do the exact same thing.

I turn to leave, but not before he places another of his business cards in my hand. “I know I’ll see you soon but just in case you miss me before then, give me a call”, he tells me. He heads to the counter and makes his order. I placed his business card in my pocket before leaving the restaurant, still lost for words. The drive to my Dad's house is quiet as I reminisce on the events of that morning.

As we pull into the driveway, I notice his car is parked, which means he’s around. I’m not sure if I’m ready for our interaction just yet, so I quietly get out of the car, pay my driver and enter the house.

The place is eerily quiet, which is expected. The large entrance is all too familiar. With difficulty, I dragged my box up the stairs to my room. Before I was able to get to the door, I saw my father's head pop out of his study two doors down from my bedroom.

“Aaliyah you’re back” he calls out. He hardly ever calls my full name, so this is a surprise. I knew I couldn’t avoid him for too long, so I put on a tired smile, dropped my box and headed towards him to greet him properly. “Hi Dad, I didn’t know you’d be around. Where’s Trev? Does he know I’m back?” I reply, he tells me that Trevor went on a business trip, and he’ll be back next tomorrow. “ There’s a reason I told you to come. I'm going to need you at my office in twenty minutes. No questions asked”, he tells me.

This was expected, maybe not immediately, but it’s always been business first with him. I didn’t expect anything less. I turned back and headed into my room with my luggage. As I entered, I notice the room had been cleaned in preparation for me coming back. At least I don’t have to think about that.

I finally removed my coat but not before placing the business card on my desk. It reads Oliver Castle, CEO of Castle Inc. I wonder why his name sounds so familiar to me. It seems I’ve heard it before. I quickly browsed his name and multiple magazine sites show up. ‘Most sought after bachelors’, ‘Forbes’, ‘ Top ten most handsome billionaires’. So someone this big of a deal almost got run over by my taxi this morning. What a joke. I quickly lock my phone, head to the shower and prepare mentally for what my Dad has to tell me.

I dressed up in slightly more comfortable clothes and head to his study. I knocked twice and enter inside. There he is sitting and reading a book. He looks up at me and tells me to sit down. “Leah, there’s no other way to tell you this, but I made a promise to your mother before she died that I’d find you the best husband to marry, and I believe the time has come”. My heart drops to the ground. Marriage? I have just finished school, I haven’t done anything in my life yet, and he wants to sell me off? Even in my wildest dreams I can’t imagine this being the reason my Dad wanted me back. “Dad, you know it’s not possible, I’m not ready. I can talk with the suitor, but I can’t marry someone I don’t know”, I tried to tell him with tears pooling in my eyes. “Remember when your mum was on her deathbed, she made you promise that you’d listen to me because I only want what’s best for you. Marry this man, Aaliyah. The deed has already been done. Only your signature remains”, he tells me.

I remember the promise I made to my mum and I know I have to keep it, but not before I enjoy my last few nights of freedom. “Okay Dad”, I finally replied. After minutes of thinking, I signed the paper. I don’t believe my Dad would want to bring harm to me. But I also believe he’s under duress because he’s had zero interest in my love life before now, and I’m ready to uncover the truth, but I’m not entering a marriage with a random stranger before I have the time of my life.

I think back to the card on my desk as I leave his office. I know exactly how I want to spend my last few nights of freedom. I’m sure my Dad was expecting a lot more pushback from me, but I won’t put him at risk because of petty feelings. I fully expect to get out of this marriage before it comes to fruition. I remember that I didn’t even get the name of my husband to be before dialing the number given to me by Oliver.