HIS OBSESSION

CHAPTER 2

Ariana shut her door behind her as she slid to the floor and crouched resting her head on her knees as she cried.

'What exactly had she done wrong to deserve this?' Not having a real family was already enough punishment, she never asked to be adopted by this family so why? Why did they always treat her like a tool. She never asked for much,She never competed for anything, she never threw tantrums. All she wanted was a family that could care for her and What did she end up with and Unreasonable couple with a more unreasonable daughter.

Delilah her step sister was a devil. The greatest blessing that had ever happened to her was Delilah departure for Australia to further her studies. She had always tormented her. When Delilah found out Ariana was bright, She made sure Ariana did all the work for her all of Delilah sketch work, competition drafts, all the materials Delilah had used was either done by Ariana or copied for her work in cases of Live representation.

Ariana had to keep up with school work while also attending to Delilah needs and the homework given to her from her special classes which she got into through Ariana's drawings and Francis' connections.

Francis never knew of this but Perla did. Ariana did sometimes wonder what Francis would do if he found out his 'golden goose' was a fake. The thought made her chuckle.

Then like as if a spirit of realization hut her she began to think. 'What exactly had she done wrong to make this people treat her this way'. A band takes it's time before snapping and there's a right amount of pressure that must be added before it snaps.

She had been pushed too long and hard and she wasn't going to take it with her head bowed down. She needed to fight back and even if there was no hope of winning. It would be enough at least to show this Family that she could fight back and the limit of her patience could also wear thin.

A sudden Lightbulb went off in her head. Perla had said something about the Khan Family and Delilah. How would Delilah feel if she was replaced by her sister. The Young Master of the Khan Family wasn't her own in the first place. They weren't betrothed to each other, so what exactly was she to he scared of. If Francis and Perla felt she could replace Delilah and get married to Antonio then Ariana would replace Delilah and get married to the Young Master of the Khan Family.

She slapped herself on the cheek" Ariana what are you thinking, The Khan Family young master. How do you even plan to get him." She looked at the ceiling " This is a stupid plan". she muttered to her self.

" No I must do this " she said again determined this time.

She picked herself from the ground and called Barlow. Barlow was her friend from her college days, he family was among the Ten richest families in Country X. He was social and knew most of the inside gist. She could trust Barlow, so she told him a briefing about her plan.

He laughed" Ariana oh my God!, You really do make my day, And how do you plan to pull this off?" He asked totally interested in the plan. Barlow loved adventure but he feared his best friend was playing with fire. From his Intel the young master of the Khan Family was fire and not easy to be thrifled with. He was cold and ruthless.

" I don't know, Somehow I guess". Ashe retorted stubbornly.

Barlow laughed again" I wouldn't advise you on that though "

"Can you just tell me how I can see him probably this week".

" I don't know much but I think he would be in the Khan Corporation mall, His grandpa wants to see the progress and he has to come. He doesn't usually go out so you have to use this opportunity well".

"Thank you" Ariana replied.

" I don't believe you could pull it off though ".

Ariana regretted thanking him, what was wrong with this pessimistic fellow. " Why are you so discouraging young man".

" Let's make a bet" He spoke after a while.

" You know I hate your bets". Ariana replied nonchalantly.

" If you could get the Khan Family young master to notice you, I'll grant your company a big Job".

Ariana's eyes widened on the offer. She had a company she owned. It was small and not really known cause she feared her parents retaliation and confrontation. She didn't want to be tagged the daughter that stole her sisters limelight. Her company was small but it landed some big jobs and it's was a stable source of income for her.

" Are you serious?" she asked into the phone after a while.

" Would I joke about something like this?"

"Then again " she spoke with a resigned sigh" of course you won't be lying cause you're sure I won't win him over".

" I guess you don't love the big project and the development of your company that much, Look who's being pessimistic now.".

Ariana felt challenged " This bet better last, send me a formal agreement, I'm not going to stick my neck out without confirming this bet".

Barlow laughed hard" Am I really that untrustworthy?".

" You're a business man, business men are never to be trusted" Ariana replied.

Barlow laughed " Alright then. Give me a minute. I'll send them to you.".

" I'm hanging up " Ariana said.

" Alright " he replied.

When she hung up Barlow was still smiling. " And who makes you smile so hard" Mrs Harris, Barlow's mom who was leaning on the door asked. She had been there for a while. " I'm assuming it's Ariana, isn't it?".

Barlow turned " Mom privacy please".

" You left your room door open, you're definitely not seeking privacy, if you want privacy wait until the weekends over so you can go back to your house as long as you're my son in my house we don't accept privacy".

Barlow sighed in defeat and fell back to the bed. He sighed again.

" You like her?" She paused for a while when there was no response from Barlow she continued " If you like her our Family can go see her parents,.we can arrange your marriage".

Barlow shot up from the bed like an arrow shot backwards " Don't!" he screamed like asif if he was a moment late his mom would actually go ahead with her suggestions.

Barlow knew more than anyone how Ariana hated been guided by the nose. She hated arranged marriages and he knew he never had a shot with her, not in this life or in the next, even if he did it wasn't going to happen anytime soon , cause a girl doesn't tell a guy she likes that she wants to chase another guy.

" Mom I don't want to marry Ariana" he spoke slowly.

" Why? You don't like her?." Mrs Harris asked confused.

" I like her" Barlow said in frustration " But just as friends" he said almost immediately as if to protect himself from making a mistake and saying trash.

His mother looked at him as though she wanted to remove the truth from his very being.

" Mom!!" Barlow whined "Please don't do anything stupid, I don't want to complicate things between us".

" What's there to complicate" she asked back." You guys aren't in a complicated relationship are you?".

" Mom please stay out of this".

" If I stay out of it, then I'll never be able to see my grandchild".

" Mom are you trying to marry me off".

" Of course, Knowing you, if I wait for you to give me a daughter in law, not to talk of a grandchild the grass in my grave would have grown too tall."

" Mom, I and Ariana aren't like that. We're just friends. I've never imagined her in a romantic way".

Mrs Harris looked at him in confusion, then frustration. " You better get yourself a wife else I'll get you one". She spoke while leaving.

Barlow sighed.He couldn't afford to spoil his relationship with Ariana. He sent her a digital contract, sighed again and closed his eyes.