The Billionaire That Stole My Heart

-ELYNA "Why? How? This is a joke right?" I screamed uncontrollably towards my dad, as news of my arranged wedding was told to me. "You know my situation, our situation, if I didn't do this we would lose everything within the next 3 days, besides I'm doing this in your best interest," stated my dad, who inexplicably surrendered to the ultimatum given to him by Hugo Dubois, a billionaire, which consists of collateral containing 30 percent of my dad's company's shares as well as his only child, me, on an arranged wedding before the deadline date set by the state, for the company's bankruptcy filing. "No, No, No…What about my feelings and aspirations in life? Raphael? I'm still in a relationship with Raphael, dad!" My dad's visage changed from a passive into an aggressive visage, uncontrollably trying to tame a flame of fire in him but couldn't. He stared into my eyes and shouted at the top of his voice with gestures flying all over. ''Raphael, seriously? Will Raphael save our family business? What has he done for this family? I've warned you to stay away from that guy but you don't listen!" exclaimed my dad as he left my room, out of desperate anger. "I love Raphael, and there's nothing you can do about it. We both love each other!" I exclaimed as my voice reached its highest vocal cord, as I expressed my love for Raphael, my longtime boyfriend. "Elyna, listen to your dad, it's in the best of our interests as a whole. Look at my condition, I need medications and regular treatments, you know? Mr. Dubois is a well-mannered and wealthy young man. He will take care of us, and especially you." Jeanne sympathized with me, as she tried using her motherly warmth to my distraught reaction to the life-altering news. "Mom, how can you say such a thing? You know my love for Raphael? I've been with him since my high school days. There's no way I'm leaving him for someone I don't even know, just for financial reasons, really? This was Dad's fault. How can I be part of this deal? His company is in danger, not mine." Thumping his feet theatrically and emphatically loud as he enters the room. "Hey listen here Elyna, whether you like it or not, you are getting married to Mr. Dubois, on Friday, end of discussion, Jeanne watch her" commanded my dad with an authoritarian demand, as he leaves the scene and embarks on a journey to meet Hugo. "Why, mom, why? What did I ever do to deserve such treatment, why?" I expressed inconsolably as tears soak across my face as I sink into my bed sheets. "Ely, Ely, ne pleure pas, venez ici," expresses an affectionate Jeanne as tears fall from her hazel eyes as she joins me on my bed, and cuddles me within her warmth reassuring me that it is in my best interest. "Even if you do not want to do it, please remember us. Where will we live? Our home will be repossessed, where will we live? All our assets will be repossessed as well, which source of income will feed us? My condition worsens day by day as these problems mount on top of each other. Marrying Mr. Dubois is of great help not only to your dad or me, but mostly towards you." I jump out of bed with aggression as I hear my mother's words. "How is Raphael beneficial towards me? It sounds like you and dad are putting your selfish needs over my existence," I exclaim. "Do you think Raphael can take care of you? He can't even take care of himself. How do you intend to spend your life with someone like that? Stop being a child and grow up!" my mother, Jeanne, responds with agitation. "I love Raphael, mom. Even though he is not wealthy or financially stable, I still love him. My love is not based on financial needs," I express tearfully. "The best thing you can do now is to think logically and prepare for your wedding on Friday. With Mr. Dubois, there's no turning back, as contracts have been signed, and trying to deviate would lead to imprisonment of us all," my mother says with no emotion on her visage as she steps out of the room with her walking stick. I thump my back on the bed with great force as my hands find their place on my face. Tears roll down as I come to terms with my new arranged reality of being Mr. Dubois' wife. "This can't be it, no way," I utter unconsolably, just before an adrenaline rush vitalizes my flesh as I think of informing Raphael of my new reality, hoping for a possible escape plan. I stretch my hands across the bed in search of my phone and direct my search for Raphael's contact. "Brr, Brr...Brr, Brr, argh why isn't he picking up his phone?" I rush to quit the call and message him. "Babe, call me as soon as you see this message, we need to leave Paris as soon as possible," I type anxiously, fidgeting my fingers as I wait for Raphael to respond as evening darkness slowly sets in. Three hours go by, and no phone call or message has been sent by Raphael to my contact. "Elyna, come and prepare dinner for us tonight," my mother yells from the living room. "Elyna?...Elyna?" she questions as she grabs hold of her stick and sets her sights on my bedroom. As she enters the room, she finds me still in tears and anxiously fidgeting my fingers. "Elyna, didn't you hear me call your name?" "Uh, no, Mom," I respond confusedly. "Come downstairs and prepare dinner for me and your dad. Crying won't change the situation; you have to accept your new life," my mother says as she leaves the room with the door slightly open. "Okay, I'm on my way," I respond respectfully as I am still processing my potential new reality. Just as I step out of my room, my phone vibrates on the bed, and I rush towards it, unlocking the phone and anxiously murmuring the text shown on my screen under my breath continuously until I pass the unlock phase, "Raphael, message from Raphael."