Their Forceful Marriage

She's been told

"Hey, Daddy." Kennedy greeted her father as she went into his huge office surrounded by floor to ceiling windows that gave an amazing view of the city. 

"Hi, sweetheart! Right on time. You look beautiful." Richard smiled at his daughter, seeing how she's wearing a fashionable business-like attire that made her look like the woman she is.

Richard met her halfway as they shared a quick hug before gesturing to her to take a seat. 

She sat down comfortably on one of the chairs in front of the desk opposite to her father, who was sitting behind his desk.

"So, Ricc called me. He told me you wanted to see me?" she asked.

"I see. And Reece? Have you talked to him?" he asked, assuming his son would've mentioned it to his sister considering how close they were.

Kennedy casually shrugged her shoulders "Just the usual. Went over to his and Ricc's place, found him still lying in bed at this time of the day."

"Ah. Explains why he's not picking up his phone. Well, let's talk, shall we?" Richard asked and sat comfortably in his chair.

If she was curious before as to why her father called her to his office, she became even more curious now.

"Is it something serious?" she curiously questioned.

"Hmm. You could say so." he shrugged casually.

She nervously chuckled "What does that mean?"

"It means I'm here to talk about your future." her father clears his throat.

"My future? What about it?" at this point, Kennedy was beginning to feel cautious about this talk.

"Sweetheart, the thing is… when I was younger, I made a pact with someone. I'm sure you can guess who that someone is." he looked down at his daughter gently.

"Pretty sure it's with Giordano Dukes. You always have him over for dinner, it's like you're twins." she pointed out.

Richard chuckled "Well, we are the best of friends. You're not wrong about that."

"So… what does your pact with him have to do with me?"

She looked at her father, urging him to continue with a look. 

Suddenly, he became more serious and looked at her sternly.

"The thing is that the pact has everything to do with you." he stated.

Kennedy was shocked with what her father said but soon recovered.

"Dad, what exactly does that mean? Why would I be involved in a pact you made with someone else?"

"Because you're getting married." he said bluntly.

"Married?!" she blurts out.

 Richard and Kennedy stared at each other as if they were waiting for the other to respond. Soon enough, Kennedy spoke.

"Married? Is this some kind of a joke, Dad?" she felt the need to ask even though she knows that her father was serious.

"You know I never "joke" about things like this, Kennedy." he reminded her.

Kennedy found herself breathing deeply as she listens to her father.

"Kennedy, the pact that Giordano and I made was that our kids would marry when the time comes." he explains plainly.

"But, why does it have to be me? Why not Riccardo or Reece?" she asked, wanting to know more.

"Giordano only has sons. Therefore, you are the only one who can fit into the picture. You're going to marry Giordano's first born." he stated softly, leaning his arms on his desk, joining his hands together.

Kennedy was stunned to silence. All she could do was look at her father, seeing if he was truly being serious about everything that's been said.

She swallowed slowly "I don't even know the man. How can you be so sure that he'd go through with this?"

"Giordano will talk to him. Funnily enough, I think you have met as children. You were four years old while he was six." he grinned at her, recalling how as kids, Killian and Kennedy were almost always together even though they'd just met. It's a shame they only saw each other once but, Richard wasn't about to tell her that. 

She rolled her eyes at him and scoffed "Oh my god, Dad. That was twenty years ago! We were just kids! How can we remember that?" she countered.

Richard chuckled at his daughter and got up from his chair, walking to her.

He held her hands and gestured for her to stand.

"Sweetheart, you know I wouldn't ever give you away to a man who'll hurt you. Giordano's son is a decent man, I promise." he explained softly.

She searched his eyes, knowing what he said was true. Her father can be a ruthless man when the situation asks for it but when it came to his kids, happiness is what matters.

She just had to hope that everything will be okay.

… that she doesn't get her heart broken in the end.