BOUND LOVE

The Deal With The Don

It was normal not to see Caspian during the holidays. It seemed as though he dreaded coming to the mansion. For someone who had a bride waiting for him he seemed not so interested in the whole affair. He barely saw her or spoke her and she respected his decision.

She went about her life smoothly at the mansion, the Don had paid for her to attend a prestigious private university not too far from town, so she didn't need to stay at the university campus, she simply went back home after the day's classes. She was very serious with her academics, she graduated with honors after four years studying business administration, a course chosen for her by the Don himself. "You need to be able to help Caspian with managing the family business" he said to her.

All went well for a while, she had now grown into a beautiful young woman, At twenty one years of age, she looked really young. She got to spend more time with her father now, seeing that he was getting older, the Don had reduced his work at the factory, giving him more time to rest at the mansion.

It was during these times that she got to see how old her father really was. All the years of toiling and hardship had really taken it's toll on his poor body. He couldn't work as much as he used to and his eyesight was getting poorer by the day. The Don had promised several times to assist with her fathers eye treatments but he seemed to always not have to time or remember the issue.

Although her father had saved up money from his salary as a factory worker, it still wasn't enough to pay for some of his surgeries. It was as though the Don's hand of kindness didn't extend towards her father.

She on the other hand didn't have a job, so there was no way for her to support him. The Don had made it clear that she shouldn't work anywhere, except he had a job for her in any of his companies and that she didn't need to work anyway since she had everything provided for her.

Seeing her father looking so old and fragile, she began to worry about what would become of him when she was finally married to Caspian. Would they still live at the mansion? Or would they live in their own home as a couple?

These were the questions she wished she could ask Caspian but he was ever hardly around and even when he was he didn't give her more than a glance.

Her worry grew for her father, how would he cope without her presence at the mansion? Would there be any care for him if she were to move out? Would Caspian allow her father live with them if eventually they were to live somewhere else. He doesn't even give any concern for her, why would she even consider that he would care much for her old man.

As the wedding between her and Caspian drew near her worry increased. What would become the fate of her father when she officially becomes Mrs Caspian?

One evening, while she was sitting by her balcony she heard the Don's car pull into the garage. A thought came to her like a flash. What if she speaks to the Don concerning her father?. Afterall she's agreeing to marry his son who she barely knows. Even though she didn't have a say in the matter, she had still gone ahead obediently with everything the Don requested including seeing a fertility doctor and taking fertility treatments to ensure she was fit to conceive children when the time comes.

She stood up not allowing herself anytime to think or back out, she headed straight for the living area hoping to catch the Don right before he acended the flight of stairs to his bedroom.

She was quick enough to meet just as he was climbing towards his room. "Good evening Don" she greeted firmly. Not expecting to see her that evening, he was quite surprised that she was standing there. "Evie, how are you today"? He asks her, looking at her with a faint smile. "Very well sir" she replied. "I would like to have a word, I don't know if now would be convenient"? She proceeded.

He looked quite tired, she observed and added "I could just speak to you in morning" she said attempting to go back to her chamber. "Oh it's ok , I can spare a few minutes" he said heading back to the living area with Evie following closely.

Don dropped his suitcase on the wine shelf, pouring himself a glass of white wine from an expensive Italian brand. He sat down on one of his expensive couch facing Evie who was sitting across from him.

He had never seen her in such a serious mood. She would always just take instructions from him and proceed to do whatever it was she was assigned. That was one of reasons he saw her to be the perfect wife for his son. He wanted someone who was loyal and didn't have any reason to question judgments. And Evie was just the perfect girl. He was quite curious now , eager to know what she had in mind.

"Go on, I'm listening". He urged her. She moved uncomfortably in her sit, like she was trying to find the perfect position before she began talking. "It's about my father" she started. "What about him" he prompted.

She moved again this time looking really uneasy. "I wanted to know what happens to him after I and your son become a couple"?

He looked at her for a moment, not seeming to understand what her question was. "I just need to know that that he will be well taken care of when or if I eventually i need to move from here." She continued.

He smiled a little. He didn't look quite old for his age . He was a very tall man with a lot of muscles and beards that looked properly combed and trimmed. He was over sixty but still carried himself as though he had just turned forty. "Well I think you know the answer to that already. I have done nothing but take good care of you and your father since the moment you stepped into my home" he answered revealing a set of properly arranged white teeth.

She didn't seem quite satisfied with his reply so she proceeded "My father is old and his health is deteriorating, I need something to assure me that whatever happens he would get the best possible health care. I know you want this marriage for your son more than he does" she paused observing him closely "I am willing to go through with it without any reluctance whatsoever. "But I need some assurance from you regarding my father". She stopped, taking sometime to catch her breath and regain her composure.

He looked more closely at her now, observing how well she had grown over the years. She was no longer the little shy Evie that could barely speak some years ago, she was now a fully grown woman , at the perfect age for child bearing, he thought. "Well what do you want Evie"? He asked impatiently.

She looked him in eye now, determined to give it her all. "I want you to sign an agreement that as soon as I and your son are wed, my father will be placed in the best retirement home in Atlanta, and will be well taken care of for as long as I remained married to Caspian ". It was now or never she thought.

He was quiet for a while, not speaking, just watching her. He didn't know she had it in her, this bravery she just showed. "Little Evie" he thought.

"I am doing you a favor here" he began. "You should be grateful for this opportunity". "Not many young women will get this chance you have" he said sternly. "You wretched souls are all just opportunistic thieves" he continued bitterly.

"Well I could just disappear before the wedding" she was firm, not letting his tone scare her. "There are many young girls who would gladly replace me". She said, daring him. She was getting fearful now, afraid she might be taking this too far, but she didn't allow her fear's show.

Still watching her, he thought. "How dare this poor little peasant", he was getting angry now. "Giving me demands after everything I have done for her and her peasant father". He dropped the wine glass he was holding on a silver lined glass stool, and stood up from the comfy couch. He knew he couldn't let this wedding flop, he had planned this for far too long and was finally getting close to his goal. Although he had imagined she might bail and runaway right before wedding day. "But this might also be good" he thought as he walked towards the large window facing the beautifully decorated drive way.

"Now I have a way to be sure that she doesn't back out of this, and of course to keep her with Caspian for as long as possible" he thought to himself. "Well she brought this upon herself" he grinned wickedly turning back to face her. "You'll get what you want" he told her. "But only on the terms I'm going to give you".

"You will also sign an agreement that you cannot divorce Caspian, and in the course of your marriage, you must bear a son who will carry on the family name". He paused.

"The moment you decide to leave the marriage, I will withdraw your father from his retirement home and you will have to pay back all the money I have spent on you, on your education and on your father". We went back to his sitting position.

"And if you are unable to pay back, then you will never see your father again".

His words were quite heavy for her. How could she pay him back even half of the money he had spent on her and her education, that must be a fortune! She was very uneasy now. If she agrees to this, it means she can never leave Caspian. She thought for a long minute. "Well it shouldn't be so hard" she thought. "I would just have to be in a loveless marriage and be the good wife for as long as I can". "But will it be that simple"? She asks herself.

"Why is the Don hell bent on me marrying his son"? She was scared she might be getting herself into something more deadly. She decided that she was going to agree to it, this was the only way she would be able to guarantee that her father receives the best care possible. She should be able to sacrifice her happiness for him.

"I will agree to this" she said looking back at him "But I just have one question, why me"? She asks looking calmly at him.

He doesn't give her a response, he just stands up, walking firmly to the wine shelf, he picked up his suitcase and headed towards his bedroom.

She sat there for a long time, not knowing how to feel about what just happened. "Could she be signing herself up for danger"? Only that this danger happened to be a tall, young handsome, rich one. It didn't matter now. She was already in this, and she didn't see herself backing out anytime soon.