Forced Love

Chapter 6 – A fathers Love

The morning passing slowly, I found myself thinking of only one thing, Noah. Hiding behind a legitimate business, I could see the accusations thrown around by too many reporters and blogs for it to be slander. Noah was apparently some kind of criminal or mob boss, though the idea seemed still quite laughable. It seemed like he himself stepped into the spotlight a year or so ago when his father died. Many of the most recent articles from back at that time, it was like nobody dared to write about it any longer. Imagining it being something like the movie the Godfather, I almost laughed at myself for the thought popping into my head as I dismissed them.

Nothing as it was on television, Noah did not seem like the type to be a criminal. And if it was all true now, surely in this day and age he would have been caught or imprisoned. Not only that, but all the blogs failed to mention what this alleged illegal activity was. Pushing the thoughts from my brain, I focused on the present issues at hand. Finding myself sneaking into father’s office after he took off to the company. I went through all the files I could get my hands on before finding his laptop. Document after document, I must have been looking for hours as my body grew heavier with each one.

Bile burning my throat as every document came into vision. The debt and loans were so high it was near impossible to pay off. The repayments so large, we were a sinking ship. Loss of revenue through the property market taking a turn, we were beyond crippled. Barely able to pay our own staff, the business would go under in the next three months. Our situation worse than I had imagined, I read through the most recent deals as fathers gambles and high risk ventures to get us back on track, failed. The money gruesomely tight, my stomach clenched painfully as I snuck out the office and back to my room. My eyes landing on the ugly dress each and every time I entered, I found myself bagging it up asking the staff to return it. Normally just adding it to my wardrobe where it would remain unworn, I knew my mother and sister spent enough for the four of us, and some. A minuscule amount comparatively, I could not help but feel anxious needing it returned before I could even think about the reality of our current situation.

Understanding what my father and mother required of me, I knew my father only wanted to see me protected for this exact reason. Even with Julian and Noah, I still had serious doubts about the company surviving. Knowing what I needed to do to secure what I could for the family, I reached into my wardrobe and pulled out an appropriate dress for tonight.

The dress black, it was tightfitting around the boddess as the skirt hugged just as tightly to my thighs with a split running the length to the floor. Making sure to take every care when I got ready, I clung to my chest as I looked at myself in the mirror. Feeling like an invisible chain were shackled to my body, I sucked in a breath of courage knowing and hearing noises in the foyer as Julian showed up to take me to dinner. A maid at the door conveying a message from mother to hurry along, I knew she was trying to set us off before Noah arrived keeping himself and Julian separated.

Unpackaging a small perfume Julian had gifted me months ago, I took one last deep breath as the scent burnt my throat painfully. Turning and taking perfectly measured steps as to no wrinkle or stretch the dress, I stood at the balcony atop the stairs as Julian stood speaking with my mother and father filled out in a designer suit with blue trimmings below. “Julian!” Forcing an air of excitement into my voice, I inwardly cringed as his eyes snapped up to my own with an expression so elated that I could not even describe it.

Julian almost frozen in place, I kept hold of his gaze as I ever so carefully moved to the first step. Steadily and slowly taking the banister in hand, I used my other to hold the material of one side of my dress delicately lifting it to reveal an ankle and higher thigh line. Lowering my eyes to watch my steps, I slowed myself down even further making it seem difficult as Julian did not hesitate to stride to the bottom of the stairs.

My chest almost painful in embarrassment, I continued as I lifted my eyes to his smiling with a slight curve of my lips as I stopped part way up the stairs. Julian swiftly moving toward me, his eyes almost gleamed as he took my hand without prompt so confidently. Heat pulsing from his hand, he almost choked on his words. “You look stunning Olivia.” Chewing on my lip, I allowed Julian to guide me safely to the bottom of the stairs as his eyes did not waver from my face. My eyes finally lifting to my mothers, I could see the disapproving look in her eye toward my dress as she pursed her lips in annoyance. Noah floating in the already open front door, I had to swallow harshly as his eyes set upon me like daggers.

Suit perfectly crisp, I found myself standing still as Julian’s hand moved to my lower back once again guiding me forward. Stopping just before my parents, I tried to ignore Noah as my mother welcomed him it warmly. Watching my father’s almost weary face lightening as I moved to his side and out of Julian’s grasp. “What are you wearing!” Lassa’s voice sounding over our greetings sharply, my mother’s eyes shot open wide at the tone giving Lassa a pointed warning with her eyes. My own eyes taking the opportunity to look at Noah, his own were still set firmly on Julian’s arm as he took up position on my other side sliding his hand to my back once more.

My mothers voice laughing out to break the tension and explain the fact that Julian and I would not be joining them for dinner, I took a moment turning to my father. His hands collecting me from Julian, it was not a common occurrence as he whispered in my ear gently. “You are such a good girl Olivia, I’m so proud of you.” Feeling Noah’s gaze still on me, my body burned as I smiled as much as possible for my father. Lassa trudging down the stairs in her dress, I prompted and quietly meant leave before we made contact with her. Between her behaviour and hostility, and Noah’s eyes searing me with a discomfort, I could not explain the sensation in my chest as I gripped Julian’s hand in my own as his head lowered toward me.

“Can we go?” My whisper planting a smirk on his face, Julian drew me closer as he walked us to the door hastily respectfully begging our leave. The short path taken, I found Noah step increasing close as his hand grasped my wrist for the faintest of seconds as we brushed past without drawing attention.

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