TIES THAT BIND

EMILIA'S POV "I'm sorry ma'am, your designs are nice, but we can't fund this project", he said with a sympathetic look on his face. I pushed aside a stray strand of my long brown hair away from my face as i took my portfolio from him. This was the third company today that was rejecting funding my project, and I was beginning to feel a tiny bit of discouragement. The whole jewelry industry was becoming a sham ! Literally. They no longer accepted newly innovated designs by upcoming jewelry designers, only refurbished bullshit by already made names, making life almost impossible for people like me. Jewelry designing was an art to me that required constant innovation not recreating an already created design and calling that talent. At this rate, you could redesign my pop, and they'll call you the next rated designer of the year, Leonardo da Vinci, the third my ass. I got up right after mumbling a thank you and stepped out of the company, wiping the droplets of sweat that I felt on my face. I walked over to my Benz and unlocked it to get in when I felt the vibration of my phone in my pants pocket. I entered my car and then answered the call. "I'm i speaking with Miss Emilia Romano please ?", a high-pitched feminine voice asked over the phone. "Yes, speaking ?" "I'm the personal assistant of Mr Hensworth the executive member of your dad's company. An urgent meeting has been scheduled for today unfailingly and your attention is needed" She spoke softly and too slowly for my liking. I gripped my car wheels tighter as i exhaled lowly before replying "Yea sure, I'm coming right away" "Thank you ma'am", she said before the line went dead. Like i haven't already been through enough today, cut me some slack at least. I ignited my car and drove off to my dad's office where i worked as the AMD(Assistant Managing Director). I got there within a couple of minutes and walked straight to the boardroom to attend their so-called important meeting. " Good day Miss Romano" Mr Hensoworth greeted me casually on entering the boardroom and i bowed slightly in accordance before taking my seat and the meeting began. 1 hour later of excruciating boredom "So what's the whole point of this ?" I suddenly asked, coming off as rude though i didn't mean to. "The company has gone bankrupt" a man whose name I don't know, seated on my left, said. So to say that, they took an hour of numerous presentations of different company stocks just to say the company was bankrupt which could have been said at the very beginning ! Working at my dad's company wasn't something i wanted for myself but due to the fact i couldn't get my jewelry business to start and didn't want to take advantage of family's connections i was stuck here. The news shocked me, though i had sensed it but i thought we could hold off for a while so that i could get my jewelry business running and fund the company's stocks, but it's too late now. The company was bankrupt. I palmed my face in exhaustion. "This can't be happening". We had no other means of survival. The company was everything; what were we going to do ? Mum and dad would freak out when they hear this news, s**t ! " Miss Romano, should we use the funds left to purchase more stocks or fund the failing ones ?" Someone asked and i barely saw who asked as i raised my head from beneath my palms. "Nothing should be done with the little funds left. We'll hold on for a while before making a move. This stage is critical", I announced before leaving the boardroom. The situation was worse than i actually thought it was. I got into my car feeling and looking all stressed throughout the drive as I drove home contemplating what was the best way to disclose the news. I got home in a short while and then took deep breaths to calm my nerves. I got into our family's Mansion and was met with both my parents pacing round the living room. " Emilia you're home !" My mom echoed on seeing my entrance, gaining my dad's attention. "What was the board meeting about ?" I looked at them both with weary eyes, thinking of how best to say this. "The company has gone bankrupt" I ran a hand nervously through my hair as i disclosed the news. My mom's eyes widened with shock. "What! How?" "The stocks dropped rapidly and now the company's bankrupt", i explained. All the while, my dad said nothing, he just stood quietly. The company was his sweat, his pride, we were what we are in society today thanks to his efforts and company. Taking a seat on the couch, he finally spoke up " The shareholders had nothing to say ?" "No dad, they weren't even present at the meeting." I know he must be worried about what would become of us if the news of The Romano's going bankrupt was to get out, the disgrace would be tremendous. I left the living room to go up to my room as the tension in the atmosphere was too heavy you could actually touch it. Waking up the next morning seemed like a lot of work as my head banged terribly. I barely had any sleep yesterday. I was busy drafting methods by which I could somehow remedy the whole situation. Last night, the bank and shareholders called and demanded their money. And my dad was worried sick, still worried, but I've gotten the money to pay them off after much difficulty. I sold one of my designs to an unknown buyer online yesterday, and he paid me just about what's needed to clear the pending debt which I'd done without my parents' consent because they wouldn't have agreed to it. After having my bath, i headed downstairs to see my mum happily discussing things over the phone and my dad sitting on the couch holding an envelope. I greeted "Good morning mum, morning dad", and they responded with such a warm smile. I thought they would have been all sad and gloomy, but they were so excited and happy, especially mum as she discussed over the phone. " Any good news, you guys seem so excited " I asked, taking a seat across my dad. Sitting up straight, he focused his attention on me "This came in today for you" He passed the envelope to me which i eyed suspiciously. I blinked, confused " What's this ?" "Open it up and see, dear" I looked at the fancy designed envelope weirdly before ripping it open and pulling the card inside out. Stunned, "Is this a joke ?" I asked, staring at the card in disbelief. Taking a seat next to me "No honey, you're getting married to Enzo Lombardo" My mom said while running her fingers through my hair. Fuck me !!!