Chapter 1
1300 Words
Los Angeles is a beautiful city of make-believe where dreams are birthed, made and broken and the boundaries between reality and fantasy a blur.
Like a shimmering image, Los Angeles sprawls across the southern California landscape. It's towering palm trees and art deco skyscrapers a testament to it's enduring allure.
In the exclusive enclave of Beverly hills reside the Parkers, one of Los Angeles most esteemed and affluent families.
With a fortune estimated in the billions, they have built a business empire that spans real estate, entertainment and technology.
As one steps into the Parkers sleek, modern villa in the Hollywood hills, the feeling of been enveloped in a world of refined elegance is all encompassing.
From the curated art collection to the meticulously manicured gardens, every detail reflects their impeccable taste and boundless resources.
Brian Parker was the 29 year old sole heir to the Parker family, a witty, self aware young man who always knew how to work his charms.
He had always had a wild streak. His strings of high profile romances, public intoxication incidents and rumoured dalliances with scandalous women had made him a fixture in the gossip columns. Yet despite his bad-boy image, Brian's vulnerability and deep-seated insecurities hinted at a more nuanced character.
His dilemma presently was being forced by his parents to choose between getting married to one Katrina Jones, a total stranger at best, settle down and start breeding like rabbits or forfeit his inheritance! How do the two even manage to compare?? A mighty outrage, that was what it was to him!
And even right now, his mother Ella Parker was nagging him on the same distasteful topic.
If it had been Henry Parker, his father, that sat nagging at him, he would just zone out and let Henry's words wash over him like a soothing rain, devoid of meaning but he couldn't mete out same treatment to his beloved mother, Ella Parker.
Ella Parker, the matriarch of the wealthy and influential Parker family was the epitome of a doting mother and wife.
Her slender frame, porcelain skin and delicate features gave her an ethereal quality as if she might shatter like fine crystal at any moment.
Her husband, Henry and son, Brian were deeply devoted to her and their love and care help sustain her through the toughest of times.
"Brian, I know you are just pretending to listen to me but I really need you to consider what your father has told you". Ella told her son.
"Mom, I'm still young. What's the rush to marry now? Can't I have my inheritance without tying myself down to a woman?" Brian replied.
"Brian, you are young but not so young anymore. Don't you want to give me grandkids that would keep me company in this lonely place?"
"You are kidding, right?" An amazed Brian retorted "Mom! the villa is teeming with servants and moreover you have dad and me, how can you say you're lonely or say this place is lonely?"
"You called them servants right? What form of rapport am I supposed to have with them? Your dad is a busy man. Yes, he makes time for me but the feeling of having grandkids around can't be the same and you, you're hardly ever at home" She rebuked him.
"Dad is compelling me to get married to a complete stranger! Asides from the fact that I'm not ready to marry at all, I am forced to choose between marrying a total stranger and forfeiting my inheritance. This is simply unfair, mom!"
"You are conveniently changing the topic, right? Okay, instead of getting married to the 'stranger' your father has chosen for you, would you prefer to choose a wife for yourself instead?" Ella asked softly.
"You of all people, should know that dad wouldn't permit me to marry a woman of my choice"
"He would if I allow it. If you are to choose for yourself, would you get married within the time frame set by your dad?"
"If I'm allowed to choose my bride myself, I will get married" Brian replied
"I'm not joking here. I'm very serious"
"I'm serious too, mom. I have this uncanny feeling that dad just wants to have total control over me by choosing this particular person for me"
"Your father isn't like that. Do you hear me?" She asked.
Brian shrugged indifferently.
"Now, back to the main topic. The girl you choose to be your bride mustn't come from a wealthy family provided she has a good background and she is of good character. Remember that your dad will run a background check on her"
"That requirement is high for even me, mom. It's wild girls that rock my world not quiet and shy girls" Brian said with pride
"Oh, is that so? Then there's nothing left to say. You can tell your dad that you've decided to forfeit your inheritance"
"Mom, I know dad was just joking about the part of me forfeiting my inheritance, right?"
"Brian!" Ella sounded stern "This conversation is over. I will not have my own son run me around in circles. When you are ready to abide by my instructions, you can come to me, if not, don't bother looking for me" And with that she stood up and left for her room.
"Mom, mom, mom, I'm sorry" Brian kept calling out to her but she refused to either answer or look back at him.
He ran and caught up to her, held her hands and said "Mom, I know I can be a pain sometimes"
"Not sometimes, you mean all the time" Ella retorted.
Brian laughed and said "Mom, you know I hardly make promises but I will make this one to you. I shall search for a girl, not from my current circle of friends but a good girl from a good background and of acceptable character to be my bride. Happy?"
"No! I'm not happy" Ella pouted
Brian became bewildered "What else is left, mom?"
"You forgot the part of giving me grandkids"
Brian was amused, raised one hand and said "Okay mom, you win. I, Brian Parker, on this day solemnly swear that, on getting married as dictated to by my honorable mother, Mrs. Ella Parker, I shall with immediate effect take the assignment of giving her grandkids very seriously. So help me God"
Ella laughed lightly and swiped him on the chest "Stop messing around kiddo"
"Mom?"
"Hmmm?"
"How are you going to stop dad from forcing his choice on me and making him accept my own choice?"
"Don't worry your head about anything. It's for me to tell you 'get set' and for you to 'go', okay?"
"I trust you, mom"
"This discussion has taken it's toll on me. See me off to my room so I can get some rest"
Brian became alarmed "But you do look pale, mom" He called out to the head maid "Benita! call up Dr. Wilson.Tell him to come over right now!"
"Yes, young master Parker" Benita answered.
"Benita dear, don't bother Dr. Wilson" Ella said "You too, Brian, you don't need to disturb Dr. Wilson. This is nothing a good hour of rest can't resolve"
Brian looked worried "Mom"
"I'm fine Brian, I promise"
Brian wasn't convinced but he didn't say anything more.
His phone rang on his way back from his mother's room. He grimaced when he saw it was his father calling.
On answering the phone, he heard his father's booming voice "Where are you, Brian?"
"I'm at home, dad"
"I want you to meet me up at the The Hotel Bel-Air in fifteen minutes"
"Am I permitted to ask why"
"No, you are not. I shall be waiting for you at the restaurant. Don't be late" And Henry hung up.
- Writer
