BUSINESS MARRIAGE

001

Life doesn't give us purpose, we give life purpose

                                                                                             - the flash

HER

It was exactly 364 days since my mum died. I didn't really like to talk about it or think about it either. Dad was still grieving but I don't remember shedding a single tear after the burial. Don't get me wrong, I miss her more than I miss those tiny sausage rolls that were sold in the tiny cute sachets and let me tell you, that is much. A girl's love for food is true love indeed.

My dad was to hand the company over to me in 12 days, after the remembrance ceremony. I was both nervous and excited. I was beyond qualified with a PhD in engineering and a Masters degree in business. I also had one more in English Literature. No need to be afraid but I was. 

I shook myself out of my thoughts and went to meet my dad in his office. He’d requested my presence 5 minutes ago but I had to finish up a file that I was working on. As I entered his office I was hit with the strong smell of cologne. I would never understand why men wear cologne that had to be this strong. 

“Hey, dad.” I greeted him. He replied and gestured to the seat in front of me. I sat down, crossing my ankles under the seat. 

He got a file from his drawer and slid it over and then he began. "Those are the things that are needed in place for you for the smooth passing down of the company. Make sure they are ready in a week." I nodded stiffly. I hated when he used his business tone on me. It couldn’t remind me more that we weren’t as close as I wanted. 

I was about to stand up to go but he interrupted me. "I've given you a year now to mourn your mother. I didn't want to spring this on you while we were all dealing with a great loss ."

Spring what on me?

He stopped, pulled open a drawer beside him and brought out a bottle of scotch. He poured himself a glass before taking a drink from it. "When I started this company, my best friend back then also started his a few months later. We were very close, both in our personal and business lives and agreed to merge our companies in the near future. We printed and signed a contract. If our first children are opposite sexes, then they would get married to merge the two companies officially."

The papers in my hands dropped when I registered the nonsense he just sprouted. It sounded like nonsense to me. I stood up pushing the chair back in the process. I could have given a whole speech on how people are meant to marry for love and all that bullshit but my rage could only permit one word.

"No." And I turned and left.

HIM

It was exactly 212 days since I caught Kimberly cheating on me. I admit that I was a bitter man. Since that day, I took out my still burning anger on undeserving females except those in my family. I had taken over the family company four months ago and everything was running smoothly. 

My dad wanted to see me in the family house today and I knew it wasn’t going to be a friendly meeting. Don't get me wrong, I love my father. We got along well but most times, but he was an asshole.

I drove there immediately after work met him in his study. That was where he spent most of his retirement. Immediately I entered he turned around with a big smile on his face and I knew at that moment that I was screwed.

My dad gestured to the sofa opposite where he sat and I complied though I’d have preferred to stand.

“Paxton. Nice of you to finally visit your old man.” I just stared at him, no emotion showing on my face.

He cleared his throat then proceeded to look anywhere except at me as he spoke. "Do you remember Steven?" he asked but did not wait for an answer. "When I started this company, he was my best friend at that time. He’d started his a few months before so we helped each other through. One day, Steven came over to my place from work and met me looking for answers to my problems at the bottom of a wine bottle." He paused and chuckled at the memory. 

"I had just found out that one of my most trusted employees had siphoned off two point five million dollars from the company. Threw us into bankruptcy that guy did. Of course, Steven helped me out and gave me the money I needed to move on. He never let me pay him back once the company was back on its feet." he sighed, sinking into his chair slightly before he continued. "We made a promise to each other that if our first children are opposite sexes, they would get married in order to merge our companies officially. Steven was gifted with a baby girl a year and four months after you were born."

It took me a while to digest everything that he said and after that, I didn’t know when I started to laugh. I genuinely thought the man was joking. My dad did that sometimes. 

"That is the funniest thing I've ever heard." But when I looked at him and saw that he wasn't laughing along my smile dropped almost instantly. "So, what you’re trying to tell me is that I’m supposed to marry someone that I’ve never met before and be okay with it because of some stupid deal that you and your friend made in the Stone Age?"

He nodded ignoring my subtle insult. "And if I don't?" I asked in a biting tone.

He sighed again and replied "It’s a contract, Paxton. You can’t get out of it. But if you’re ready to fight it, you can kiss the company goodbye. Your cousin Michael has no qualms taking it from you."

I turn around leaving the room, my mind already made up