THE PRODIGAL HEIRESS

Emily waited uneasily at the glass door, seeing both her parents sitting in the private conference room. She didn't want to hear of the subject again but they never failed to bring it up each time. She thought of how she was going to report her latest achievement. She had successfully sealed a deal with the upcoming Japanese company. Her father signaled for her to come in and she exhaled before opening the door. “Mom. Dad. Good morning. Heard you both want to see me. Is it that urgent? You know we could talk about this at home." Mrs Brown rolled her eyes impatiently. “Oh please, Emily. Get over yourself. Sit first before all of that. The meeting can only start when everyone is seated." Emily did her best to be at ease but she couldn't. She turned to her father. “Dad?" Mr Brown exchanged glances with his wife before saying any other thing. He just wanted the perfect way to get at the main reason they were all seated in that conference room. He cleared his throat noisily. “Yes. Your mother and I want to find out how far you have gone with the Japanese deal.” Emily interlocked her fingers nervously. She was excited that they finally cared to know what she had invested most of her time into during the period but she didn't want to sound too happy to eluded the question of marriage. “Yes, that. It was successfully sealed. I have the reports back in my office. Do you want to look at them now?" Her father chuckled lightly and waved her off. “That's not what we're here for now. We trust you to be up to the task. There's something more serious." He held her darting gaze for a while and cleared his throat before he continued. “Remember that you are the direct heir to this company, right?" Emily nodded. “Right. You do. But remember that you won't be given your full respect if you remain unmarried." She saw where the conversation was headed now. Her father continued. “There is another family who has a son with the same issue. He has been so busy with his career, so they have decided that he must get married too; so that they can have grandchildren." Mr Brown took out a file and slid it across the table to his daughter. Mrs Brown was quiet all the while, watching her daughter's reactions. Emily's eyes grew saucer round as she went through the profile of the young man. “No way!" She whispered in surprise to herself. “He's a CEO already", Mr Brown continued. “His firm is a big name too. Together, your business will be formidable. Don't you like the idea? He's also a career person too." Emily was very sure she didn't want a much of a career person like herself. They'd be too busy for the marriage, except there has to be one person to sacrifice unconditionally. And she didn't want to be the one. “Mom, Dad, I don't think I'm ready to make the decision yet. What if we don't like each other? We haven't even dated." Mrs Brown seemed to lose her calm. “Nonsense! We gave you all that time but you whiled it away. So we have stepped in as your parents to make the better decision for you. You'd have been in a stupid fashion school by now if we hadn't taken matters into our hands back in your college days." The dreamer in Emily was hurt. Severally, she had been made to realize that her parents were the ones who least understood her. “It's alright. Just give me some time to think about it, Mom." She took the file and made to leave the private conference room but her father's voice stopped her as she got to the door. “So you know how urgent it is, you have to get married before my retirement next week else we'll appoint another CEO and you'll lose your place as my daughter." Emily squeezed her eyes shut as the words stung her ears. Now, she had more than enough at stake. She had come this far with the consolation that she'd finally be able to live her dreams. She couldn't let everything be taken from her in the twinkle of an eye over a trivial thing as marriage. This was her life's work. Her fingers dug into the file. She turned to face her father. “Fine! I'll marry him tomorrow." Both her parents were taken aback by both her answer and her tone. She hadn't let herself been convinced into relationships but she had bought this very fast because she knew what was at stake. “Good choice", her father remarked. “We'll reach out to his parents immediately and make the necessary arrangements." Mrs Brown stood up from the chair and wrapped her arms round her daughter in a show of excitement. Emily's blank expression was even more resolute as her gazed which was originally glazed became clear. “I'm so happy that you finally see the light, my darling." She released her and held both her hands lovingly. “It's all for your good. Marriage doesn't hurt anyone." Emily wasn't two years old; she knew better. The number of their rich friends who are divorcees had a lot to tell about the outcome of arranged marriages, especially among the elite. “What if…” Mrs Brown didn't let her daughter complete the question. "You'll find love in marriage, Emily. And the truth is you don't wake up everyday feeling love for your spouse. But it is a mental choice.” Emily looked her mother over like she was suffering from a strange ailment. "It's alright, Mom. You should get going now. I'll see you both at home when I get back.” "Don't be like that, Emily. We love you.” Emily headed back to her office. She sat in front of her PC and stared blankly at the screen for a while. Then a thought sprang up in her head.