Chapter 3
1121 Words
Jason's POV
I waited till I was away far away from the restaurant before I let the smile drop from my face.
I glared at my father, but he wasn't even looking at me, being engrossed in his tablet.
I stormed out of the restaurant, fuming with anger and frustration. How dare he try to force this marriage on me without even discussing it?
And with Mara Walker of all people, the same girl I've been….my heart clenched just thinking of it.
This was wrong. This was so wrong.
I had only learnt about the marriage in the parking lot of the restaurant just before we alighted, or I would have fought him till he dropped it.
Reaching the car, I slammed the door shut and glared out the window, clenching my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. Father got in and started driving, but I refused to look at him. An uncomfortable silence filled the air.
When we reached home, I marched straight to my room and slammed the door. I paced around angrily, my mind racing. This was supposed to be my company. I had worked so hard for this, coming up with ideas and running things behind the scenes since I was 10 years old. It wasn't fair that dad got to be the public face of it all.
I heard a knock on my door but ignored it, too lost in my rage. It was probably the cook coming to call me for dinner. A few minutes later, there was more knocking and she called out.
"Master Jason, dinner is ready."
I yanked the door open and yelled "Leave me alone!" She let out a small squeak and scurried away with tears in her eyes.
Good.
The truth was, while I enjoyed fooling around with different girls, I had no interest in actually marrying anyone. Especially not Mara Walker. Sure, she was gorgeous, but her beauty only irritated me for some reason.
Maybe because she was too perfect, too untouchable. I just wanted to break through that flawless facade and see the real her.
She had the blood of those murderers, how could she be as good as she pretended?
My breath became heavy as I thought of the event. It had been so long ago, but it still shadowed my life like it happened yesterday. Hell, I had never let go of it even one day since that day.
My thoughts wandered to the locket I kept hidden in my drawer. I opened it now, gazing softly at the photo inside - two people that I had made many memories with in eight short years of life.
I missed them so much. It had been twelve years since they passed, but the pain was still as fresh as ever.
Lost in memories, I didn't hear dad come in until he placed a hand on my shoulder. I snapped the locket shut and whirled around, eyes blazing.
"How could you do this without even asking me?" I demanded.
He sighed wearily. "Jason, be reasonable. This marriage will be good for the company-"
"The company is as much mine as it is yours!" I cut him off, voice rising. "I came up with the ideas, I helped grow it from the ground up. You have no right!"
"Lower your voice," Father said sternly. "This is about more than just business. I've seen the way you look at the girl when you think no one notices."
I froze, heat rushing to my face.
"And I went through your phone too," he said.
My jaws fell open.
"What?" I sucked in a sharp breath, staring at him.
"I saw her pictures there. What are you doing with her pictures on your phone if you hate her so much?" he asked.
Because I want to be reminded of my agenda every time I look at her. But of course, I couldn't say that. He would never approve.
"She's hot, that's all," I spat. That much was true. My jaws fell open the first time I saw her. And I had wondered how something so immaculate could come from the blood of a criminal.
"I have no interest in marrying her though, no matter how hot she is,." I said when I saw a knowing smile stretch my dad's lips.
Father arched a brow, clearly not convinced. "Whether you like it or not, this marriage is happening. Mara will make a fine wife and partner. You're both young, give it time."
I saw red. Before I knew it, my fist connected with the wall with a loud crack. "No means no, damn it!" I yelled. "You can't force me into this!"
Father's face hardened. "Watch your tone. As long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say. The marriage is set for after your graduation." With that, he turned and left, shutting the door firmly behind him.
I let out a wordless cry of rage and swept my arm across the table, sending everything crashing to the floor.
It wasn't like I couldn't afford to live under my own roof. Hell, I had more money than I could spend from writing so many groundbreaking programs.
And he wasn't even my real dad!
Breathing heavily, I paced around the mess like a caged tiger.
Well, then, if living under his roof meant I should take his s**t, then I don't see the need to live under it any further. The first thing tomorrow morning, I'm finding a nice lodge on campus.
But the thoughts barely soothed me. I knew the man. He was more stubborn than a bull.
This wasn't how things were supposed to go. The company, my future, was slipping through my fingers. He was taking more control of the companies than I liked and there was nothing I could do.
Or was there?
A thought occurred to me and I booted up my laptop, bringing up the program I'd been secretly working on for the CIA. With the right modifications, it could become a bargaining chip, something to make my father reconsider.
I smiled grimly and got to work, channelling all my anger and frustration into my coding. By morning, I'd have something spectacular to show him. Something he couldn't say no to.
Maybe, something that could get me into government circles. And then, I might be able to twist the terms of the contract I had gone into eleven years ago.
And Mara Walker? Well, if she thought I was going to make this marriage easy for her, she had another thing coming. I wasn't going down without a fight.
This was a war as far as I was concerned, and I intended to win.
- Writer
