Wrecks and Desires

Chapter Two

I stared at the number as it connected to voicemail before signing and returning my attention to the small crowd in front of the grave. Vanessa crept up to me and placed an arm on my shoulder.

“ His line is still not going?" She asks as I nod, she looks around and observes the scenario.

“ It's his best friend's funeral, the least he should have done was to show up" she mutters as I blink back tears. It had been one week since Tristan's death, and the disappearance of Connor and Hugo.

I was scared shitless, what if something bad also happened to him?, where was Hugo when he called me? The detectives who discovered the body said it was found in an alleyway and Hugo had been called first before me, but left the station after he was questioned and before I could get there.

They said it was a gang fight gone wrong and no traces were left after stabbing my brother. I was pissed at everything. My father who was acting like nothing went wrong, my boyfriend who had just disappeared without a word to me, The gang who murdered my brother and even the police who couldn't investigate it.

I watched as my father approached me when the crowd dispersed and immediately put a frown on, he was the most cruel man I had ever met.

“ You couldn't even investigate your Son, Tristan still believed in you, how could you? How could you rush to bury him? Like as if he didn't exist!" I shouted, drawing a few stares at our direction, he didn't seem fazed as he took off his shades.

“ It's a tough world Chloe, Your brother being involved in a gang is enough trouble to my Company and..." I stare at him in disbelief and anger.

“ Is that all you have to say? At this moment what you're most concerned about is your...your company?! You're a monster! I regret having you as my father!" Vanessa drew me closer to her as she rubbed my arms reassuringly.

“ You don't speak to me that way young lady! Get ready to pack your things, we are leaving New York when the dust settles" he said and walked out while I turned to Vanessa.

“ How could he..? I don't understand" tears streamed down my face as I turned away blocking my nose with my arm and trying to stifle my cry.

“ Everyone has their method of coping with grief, your father might be to put it behind him, it'll soon hit him, you have to be patient with him" I shake my head as I walk to the cobblestone where Tristan was laid.

RIP

Tristan Larson

1992-2014

I knelt close to it and caressed the letterings while Vanessa stood a few inches away, giving me the privacy I needed.

“ I'm so sorry..." I whispered, swiping away tears. “ It must be so cold in there. I'm sorry you had to go through this alone, I'm sorry I left you..." my words choke me as I continue swiping my tears.

“ I'm sorry you couldn't meet....I don't know what to do, I wish... I wish you were here Tristan, you could have told me what to do, I wish Connor was here... I..I don't know... I'm so sorry" I started crying uncontrollably and Vanessa came close and pulled me into a Hug.

“ I'm here for you Chloe, I'm here for you" I hugged her tightly cause suddenly it seemed as if everyone had deserted me.

8 Years Later

I knock down my work files as I stand abruptly staring at the man sitting across me in disbelief.

“ You can't possibly be serious! What? You disappear from the role you were supposed to play in my life and now you want me to save you? Save your company?"

“ This marriage has to work, Chloe, it's the only way, my company would be going bankrupt in 2 months and he's the only one willing to merge with us...." I threw a flower vase and watched it shatter as I pulled my hair in anger before facing him.

“ Haven't you ruined my life enough? It's been eight years! Eight years since we lost Tristan, after mother you changed, it was always your company, never once did you care about us and your ignorance caused Tristan's death and now what? You want to ruin my life now? I'm a Doctor! Don't I have a say in my own life? ...."

“ Before you forget, I made you into who you are! Don't forget Chloe, you owe me everything!"

“ Please Dad, I don't even know him, I don't love him, for once, consider my opinion" I knelt holding his legs, tears streaming down my eyes while he stood and walked past me without a glance.

“ You don't have a say in this, my secretary would drop the files on him, make sure you learn everything about him, He's a perfectionist, no mistakes" he said as he left.

All through my life I had heard of contract marriages and how they all ended, in as much as I and my father despised each other, I never thought it would be something he would subject me to. I cried more when I remembered Connor, this wouldn't have happened if he were here, we would have probably been married now, he was my life, my everything, before he vanished off the face of the planet.

“ He's a monster!" Nessa exclaimed, dropping her cup of coffee with a thud, spilling half of the contents on the table. I sighed and leaned back into the seat.

“ He's not going to change his mind, he already sent the files" I said as Nessa glanced through it again.

“ Bryce Quiller? He's a billionaire but that doesn't cut it! There's no picture even, he could be an alien for all we know!" I looked at her like she had grown two heads.

“ Really?"

“ Sorry, I just had to lighten the mood, but seriously, does he think you're a commodity or what? And this Bryce, why would he ask for you in exchange for merging with your father, no offense but the company is folding, have you seen the stocks?" I rubbed my head, I had forgotten Nessa was now a lawyer.

“ No offense taken, my father is none of my business, I'm more worried about the fact he wants to sell moms art gallery to save his company" Nessa's face contorted to horror.

“ He can't do that! According to Article..." I held up my hand.

“ Not now Nessa please" I said as her mouth shut before we both glanced at the file infront of her then back at each other, I sat upright immediately.

“ Are you thinking..." she starts and I nod with a smile.

“ Are you crazy? You're actually going to ruin your life...?"

“ I'm not ruining my life, here, look at it this way, I draw my own conditions for both my father and Bryce, they have no option than to oblige, I get moms gallery, I get to open my own clinic, no one stops my independent life, it's simple, I do things my own way".

“ And you agree to the marriage, sounds plausible but do you think Bryce would agree to It? Your father is the one at his mercy".

“ If Bryce wants a contract marriage with me to save a penniless company, believe me he would have things he needs to benefit from the company" I look at the file “ and this marriage" I add, Nessa holds my hand.

“ I want you to be happy, after Connor...I don't want you to go back to your life before" I smiled as I held her hand reassuringly.

“ I'm never going back to that hellhole again" she smiled and leaned back picking up her coffee again, drawing my attention to her finger, I gasp.

“ You!!... Oh my God Nessa!, he engaged you!" I squealed, a few people glanced at our direction but I didn't care. She smiled as she set down the cup carefully this time and examined her finger.

“ It's pretty isn't it? I wanted you to notice it yourself" she said as I stood and hugged her tightly.

“ I'm so happy!! How... When am I meeting him? How did it happen? I need details".

“ Whoa easy...I'll be picking him from the airport in a few weeks time and ..." My phone rings, cutting her off, I glanced at the caller id and felt my heart stop, Nessa looked at it and realization dawned on her.

“ You haven't told anyone?" She asked and I shook my head, Falling into my seat, she sat too as we both got lost in thoughts.

“ This is messed up" she whispers and I couldn't agree less.

I sigh as I stare at my beautiful bride's reflection in the mirror, wondering for the umpteenth time if I was making a mistake. Vanessa walked in with my bouquet and stopped at my solemn face.

“ You don't have to do this you know, we could run away" she said and I laughed as I turned to her.

“ Really Nessa?"

“ I'm really serious right now Chloe, you don't have to get married to a stranger just because your father wants you to" she said and I shrug and stand.

“ How do I look?" I asked for the bouquet.

“ Bryce had better treat you better, it's not everyday you get a gorgeous bride" she said as I laughed feeling a bit more at ease, the door opened and my father walked in with an envelope which he handed to me.

“ It's the lease agreement and transfer of properties to you... Your mom's gallery among other things" he said as I glanced through it making sure the proper signatures were everywhere before setting it down.

“ Thank you for doing this, I .. really appreciate" he said and I wondered the point where we both fell out, he was once a man I doted on, I nod as he goes to the door and stops.

“ Everyone is waiting, I'll have to walk you down the aisle" I was about to decline but Nessa held my hand and shook her head. I looked back at him and nodded, he smiled and left while I turned to Nessa.

'We're picking him from the airport tomorrow right?' I asked, referring to her fiance, she nodded as she put the finishing touches on my face and hair.

“ You got this," she said with a bright smile while I took a deep breath and left the room.

The slow music played as I walked down the long aisle, my hand in my fathers hands and my mind in turmoil at what to expect in this supposed marriage of mine. There was little crowd as Bryce wanted a quiet wedding with no questions. It amazed me once again at how I had agreed to get married to a man I had never met.

Even from the Aisle, I couldn't make out his features. Nessa sent me a reassuring smile which I returned before returning my attention to the man who stood at the altar checking his wristwatch and glancing at me with an annoyed expression. He looked like he wanted to be everywhere but here and somehow my heart dropped at the thought.

I bent my head as my father stopped me in front of the priest before going to join the congregation. Bryce turned to the priest willing him to start the ceremony as soon as he could. There was no doubt he was very handsome and hot judging from his exquisite side profile but I didn't want him to see my face and read the nervousness in it, however, I finally looked up when they started saying the vows. My heart beat increased when the priest turned to me.

“ Do you, Chloe Larson, take Bryce Quiller as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, till death do you part?" I became silent as I waited for his words to sink in, I looked at Nessa in the crowd and back to the man who can't even look at me. I finally opened my mouth to talk when he turned and looked at me and my words got stuck in my throat.

I couldn't believe who I was staring at, I always saw those icy blue eyes every night before I slept. I stepped back in shock while he continued staring at me in annoyance and confusion. I opened my mouth again to talk but could only say one name.

“ Connor?"