Bond To The Mogul

My ears heard the words but my brain couldn’t process it. Dad had been talking for close to an hour and all I could hear was “marriage, “as soon as possible”, “I’m sorry”. “What do you mean dad”? I asked. “You’re joking right? Okay you got me”. I said with a thin smile. “No I’m not honey, please you have to understand, It’s the only way, it has to be done”. He said with a note of finality. “When?” “By the end of the month. He’s a good guy I promise, you won’t lack anything and you’ll be well taken care of, That’s what’s important”. dad said. “That’s what important dad? What about my happiness? Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” I asked close to tears. “It does, and that’s why I’m doing this, For all of us. You need to understand anna, you’re no longer a child” “But dad...”. “Enough! I won’t speak on this matter again”. And with that he stormed off. I buried my head into my pillow and sobbed. I was just rounding up my morning coffee when dad came and informed me of my “engagement/marriage”. Honestly, I didn’t really give a s**t. I’d been waiting around for him to retire so I could take his place but he kept telling me I wasn’t ready yet. I had had a short drinking and womanizing phase when I was fresh out of college that dad would never forget. So if Getting married to the girl he chooses is my ticket to the top I’ll f*****g grab it. Hell, I could even marry ten wives if he wanted. The only issue now was breaking it to Ashley, my girlfriend of 4 years. Honestly why I had been with her that long surprised me. She was beautiful no doubt, but she was clingy and loved me a little too much. I sent her a text to meet me at my place after work. Her reply came almost immediately. I put down the phone and sighed. I rounded up with work and drove home. It was a nice studio apartment just west of Chicago, it was one of the most expensive flats in the block and I took pride in it. Ashley’s car was already parked on the driveway and the lights were turned on inside. I made a mental note to ask her to return the keys. I unlocked the front door and got in. “Hey baby”. Ashley said with a wide smile, hugging my waist. “Hey” I replied. “Have you been here long?” “Not that Long babe” she smiled. She was wearing my bathroom with nothing underneath. “Look I need to talk to you, it’s serious” “I don’t want to talk, let’s go upstairs” she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. “No I think it’s better we talk now” I breathed. “I’m getting married”. The silence that met me was so heavy a knife could cut through it. “What do you mean? You mean us? Me?” She asked her voice shaking. I took a deep breath. “Not you, Someone else. My dad thinks it’ll be in the company’s best interest if I marry her.” “Ba-be” she stuttered. “I don’t understand you? Marry who? We’ve been together for four years, you can’t just do this to me, I love you”. She was getting hysterical now, she grabbed my face and started kissing me. “Let’s fix this together, I can talk to your dad, I can’t lose you”. She yelled. “Look you need to calm down okay?” “Calm down?” she screamed. “Don’t f*****g tell me to calm down” she yelled grabbing the collar of my shirt. I pushed her away. “Get yourself together Ashley, I think you should leave.” “I’m not going anywhere until you fix this”. She screamed in my face. “Suit yourself” I replied and left for the bedroom. It was a little after 2 am when I heard the front door click. The next day I woke up and had my morning coffee which cecelia the housekeeper had already made. As I was dressing up for work I saw a text from dad saying he’ll come by the office later. “What was it now?” I groaned. By the time I got the office it was a little after 9am, the stupid traffic had held me down. I had barely settled into the files on my desk when dad walked straight in. “Hey son” He said, coming up to me. “Good morning dad” I replied, turning my gaze back to the open files. “I can see that you’re busy and I won’t take up much of your time. I was thinking that we should have dinner with anna and her family” “Who’s anna? I asked feigning ignorance. “Your fiancé of course!” Dad said with a frown. “Anyways I think it’s a good idea to bring us closer” he said expectantly. “How close could we get, I mean we’re already getting married for f**k’s sake” I thought in my head. I looked up and he was waiting for an answer. “I’ll try” I said with frown. “I know you will son” he replied touching my shoulder. “I’ll let you get to it now”. And with that he walked out. That evening, I found myself seated at a long mahogany dining table, looking at the perfectly arranged cutlery, the warm chandeliers throwing an intimate glow all over the room. Anna sat across from me. She had not said a word since she had arrived, sitting very stiffly, her face displaying no altercation of emotions whatsoever. At the head of the table, Mr. Coleman engaged my father in polite conversation about mergers and partnerships. My mom contributed from time to time, with a smile towards my direction, as if that alone would make everything all right. I took the wine glass momentarily to my lips, letting the bitter taste linger in my mouth before I sneaked another glance at Anna. Beautiful, no doubt, long dark hair, beguiling hazel eyes adorned with delicate features that could easily be fitted into a portrait. But the air about her seemed to remain oblivious, as though she were tightly bound in a mortal world from which there was no escape. “Anna, darling, don’t be so quiet,” her mother chided, patting her hand. “You’ll be seeing too much of him shortly; might as well start talking.”