Bound by Love, Free at Last

Chapter.2

The Brown family Estate. Inside the study at night.

It is a beautiful room that is brightly lit, Ella is standing at a corner of the room, while her father Charles Brown is sitted at the head chair in the study. Grace Brown is also sitted at one end of the mahogany table close to her husband, there is a visible tension in the room.

Charles (persuasive) All of this is not only about you, Ella. It is also about our legacy. Our family company is shaking from the very foundation, your grandfather built this company.

Ella (Tensed and Angry) so you think if you sell me off like i am a pawn, it will save the company.

Grace (trying to please Ella) we are not selling you my dear, we want to secure your future, Adam Orwell plans to invest into the company but he want to marry you so he can start a family.

Ella ( Nods in disagreement) but he does not want me, he desires to be in charge of every one, and you want to trade me for his check?

Charles ( Looks unperturbed) well, if our actions will stop thousands of our workforce from losing their employment, then it is okay.

Ella ( looks disgusted) this is unbelievable, coming from you.

Grace (softly, but stern)

We spent money to send you to the best schools, your life was full of every pleasure that money can buy, now we demand you to give your best for the company that provided the money for those expenses.

Ella (.Stubbornly) I don’t love Adam, so i will not marry him. Richard is the one i love.

Charles (sharp) are you talking about Richard? That artist that stole artefacts that is worth millions of dollars.

Ella (Startled)

What artefacts are you talking about?

Grace (Emphatically) Adam ordered his men to do a thorough check on Richard, they discovered that some rare artefacts that were missing was found with Richard.

Ella: (her voice shook) that can not be true, Richard does not steal.

Charles:There is a concrete evidence we have the security cameras, plus the witnesses that will implicate him.

Ella (quiet for a moment) do you intend to blackmail me?

Grace (definite) we want to give you a choice

Charles: You must get engaged to Adam in a weeks time,then be married to him by the end of next month, if you refuse, we will send Richard to jail.

Ella: (had tears in her eyes, her voice shook) how can you destroy someone that is innocent, ruin your only child's happiness, so you can protect your company.

Grace: At times we sacrifice sometimes to get the desired result.

Ella: (She steps forward) what you are doing is not sacrifice, you are just greedy, cruel and desperate.

Charles: It is called survival.

Grace (coldly) whatever you tag it the choice is yours, if you choose Richard you cease to be my child, no child of mine will watch her family's legacy end in ruin because of sentiment.

Charles

Ella: (Stood helpless and hopeless staring at her parents with anger)

:( After some minutes of silence from Ella) think about what we told you, the engagement will take place here next week, while you and Adam will be wedded next month.

Charles and Grace walks out, they slammed the door behind them. Ella stood in the center of the room in confusion, she knew they meant everything they said.

END OF SCENE.

Scene 2. . ..Ella’s Decision

Ella spent the whole night in her room thinking about what her parents told her, she was unable to sleep, her mind was consumed by different thoughts. She could not let her family’s company, their legacy to fall into ruin.

But she also thought of the possibility of leaving Richard, she has grown to love him in just some few weeks of knowing him, Richard had captured her heart in a short time, and her heart will break if she leaves him.

But then, Adam Orwell is now in loomìng very large in her affairs. He is powerful, influential and will not leave her alone. The only thing that will calm him is if he possess her, by marrying her, he will achieve that or he will destroy Richard.

Scene 3 Richard’s Studio

The next morning, Ella drove straight to Richard’s studio, her hands gripped the steering wheel so tight as she drove that her knuckles turned into white colour.

Richard was in his studio painting on a board, with canvases, his brushes and paints by his side when Ella walked into his studio without knocking.

As usual, his face lit up when he saw her, but he frowned when he saw the look on her face. Ella, what is wrong with you? Richard asked, his voice full of concern.

She moved close to him, she fought back the tears that wants to flow freely. “Richard... I have made a decision concerning my life she told him with a trembling voice.”

“What is the matter? What decision have you made, his hands reached out for her.

Ella (Stepped back from him) my father's company is on the verge of bankruptcy if urgent huge investment is not made into it. The only person now who can invest the kind of money it needs is Adam Orwell. He is the only one who can save the company from ruins.

Richard ( looked alarmed when he had the name) how come your father’s company is in ruins, what happened that only Adam Orwell can save it.

Ella ( She sat on a chair, a bit calm) my father made some huge investment which failed, and you know the recent fall in the stock market, all of that affected the company, Adam Orwell is willing to inject money into the company but on a condition that i must marry him.

Richard ( his face fell, his eyes were filled with disbelief.) “but Ella, you can not marry him. Not for the company, at all.”

Ella (Determined) Richard, Adam investigated you and discovered that artefacts worth millions of dollars that were stolen was found in this studio. He plans to unleash the authorities on you if i insist on staying with you. He will destroy you if he succeeds to send you to jail.”

Richard ( He grabbed her hands) those artefacts were planted here by Michael Cullen, a fellow artist that is jealous of me. The police had investigated and discovered that it is a setup, i have no case to answer. You can not marry Adam Orwell, what about our love, what we share together.

Ella ( Sheds unstoppable tears) Adam is so influential to turn the case against you. My father's company needs to be saved, they want to disown me, i can not lose you to jail, or lose my family, and the company that took many years to build.

Richard’s voice cracked as he spoke, “Please, Ella. Do not leave me to marry him, don’t do this to me.

Ella: (Her voice was broken) I can not do this any longer, Richard. I am so sorry, marrying Adam is the only option for me now.

(Ella turned to go, but the door swing open violently as two of Adam's men walked in like a heavy storm that crashed into the room.

Man 1: (His voice is gruff, cold) You have heard what she said, Richard? She is leaving.

Man 2: (He snarled at Richard) And never to return, now loosen your grip on her hands fast or we will unleash hell on your body.

As he spoke, the two men moved menacingly towards Richard in a commando fashion.

Blackout.