ENTWINED DESTINIES: Contract of Hearts

CHAPTER 3

Fiona’s POV:

It's been three hours now. I had been tossing around my bed for three hours and still couldn't sleep.

The company and everything kept me awake. My dad had given up everything to build up this company from the ground up until it became one of the best companies in the city.

He wouldn't want to see it go like this and I felt obligated to do something about it.

I was scheduled for a meeting with the bank manager in a few hours and hoped to be able to reach an agreement.

If I could not make that happen, we would be losing our company and the house. Yes, I had only found out when I got home that Dad had mortgages on the house too.

"Fiona, who are those high men and what do they want?" Thomas had asked, scared.

"Honey, they are from the bank. Do not let me bother you, okay? I'll be meeting with the manager tomorrow and by then, they will all be gone." I assured him.

Honestly, I think I was trying more to assure myself than I did him.

"They'll be gone tomorrow?" He asks.

"Yes, I will try to make sure they go," I repeated.

"They all look scary." He notes.

I quickly stood up and closed all the windows so he didn't have to see their faces.

"Now, you do not have to see their scary faces anymore, do you?" I ask.

"No," He answered with a smile.

"Let's get you to bed," I say.

"I can't sleep, I miss dad." He complains.

"I miss him too. But do you think that Dad would want you awake by this time?" I ask.

"No, Dad would want me to be sleeping." He replies.

"Good. So, even though you do not feel like sleeping, you have to try for Dad, okay?" I say.

"Yes, I'll do it for Dad" He agreed, and off he went to his room.

Morning came quickly and I took a warm bath. I muttered a silent prayer and I dressed. This meeting had to work out.

I made it to the bank one hour before the meeting time to ensure I was in the manager's office at the exact time.

I couldn't risk this, and staying at home wouldn't help me either.

"Miss Fiona Lawson, the manager will see you now." The receptionist had announced.

"Thank you," I said in almost a whisper.

My nervousness had tripled, my heart rate doubled, and I could feel my knees going weak. It was almost like I had lost all power within me.

"Come on, Fiona. You have to do this, you can do this. It's just a meeting." I said to myself as I followed the receptionist who was leading me to his office.

"Did you say something?" The receptionist turned to me and asked.

"No, yes. I mean, yes, I did say something, but not to you." I answer.

"Oh, okay. Well, here is the office, Good luck." She says with a smile.

"Thank you," I said and walked into the office.

"Miss Lawson, it is nice to finally meet you." The manager says standing up.

"It is an honor, sir. Thank you for having me." I say.

"I never knew my good friend, Mr. Lawson, God rest his soul, had such a pretty damsel for a daughter." He says with a smirk.

"He was very secretive. I did not know about the loan either, he never mentioned it to me." I started.

"Oh, I see." He says.

"So, what can we do?" He asks.

"I was wanting to ask the same thing, sir. Please, is there anything at all that I can do so your bank doesn't completely take over the company? Perhaps, we can reach an agreement but I promise you that the company will pay back all that it is owed in due time as at when it is stable." I begged.

"Anything at all?" He repeats.

"Yes, sir. I have a few projects planned. All we would need is more time, please." I add.

"Of course, time will not be an issue. But like you said, we must reach an agreement." He agreed, staring right at me.

I was not comfortable with the stare but what could I do? I was the one begging to be helped. Heaven looks what I have been reduced to. Now begging in offices.

"Yes, sir," I said, nodding.

"I will give you and the company more time but in return, you must do something for me too." He said with a smirk.

"Anything sir, anything at all." I agreed.

"Anything you say?" He repeats.

The way he said it made me scared. What did he have in mind that required so much emphasis? Was he going to ask for fifty percent shares of the company? Surely, I couldn't give myself that. That would be me giving him all my shares.

"Well, you are an extremely beautiful lady." He compliments.

"Thank you, sir," I say.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asks.

The question was in no way related to our conversation but I answered anyway, "No, sir. I do not."

"Good." He says and moves closer to me.

The next thing was his hands on my cheek, caressing my cheek.

"Sir, this is making me very uncomfortable. Please, do let me know what I can do to get more time." I begged.

I didn't want to do something I would later regret. And by God how I hated men who loved to take advantage of women. Here I was, helpless and begging this man with everything I had and he wanted to do this.

"This is what I want. I want this, I want you." He emphasized on the "you".

I gently pushed his hands from my cheek and stood up, with him in shock at what just happened.

"I'm sorry, sir. But if this is what you want, afraid we cannot reach an agreement. I thought you to be a man of integrity and so decided to meet you. I must confess, I am the most disappointed." I said sadly.

"You will regret this. Let's just hope you do not come running back to me." He fired and I quickly made my way out of the office.

The past few days have been very tough for me and Thomas. I could not keep my promise to keep the house to Thomas so we were thrown out.

I had tried renting an apartment with some of the money I had made while working and only then did I realize everything we own had been taken by the bank and our accounts frozen.

We went from one shelter to the other looking for a place where we could lay our heads.

It was tough to even get a good meal to eat. I could not believe myself, myself, and Thomas who always would be selective of what we eat now had to scramble for food.

It was one of those days when I had sat down thinking that I remembered Uncle Victor. How stupid have I been!

I had been so caught up in all of this that I did not remember to reach out to him. He could have helped, he would have helped.

He was Dad's best friend and certainly one of the best people I'd ever met.

I quickly put a call through to him and we agreed to meet the next day at his house.

"Uncle Victor, thank you so much for seeing me." I started when we met.

"Of course, anytime. I mean, why not? Your dad and I were very close and you are like a daughter to me." He says.

"Speaking of which, did he tell you about a loan he took?" I ask.

"No, your father was not one to just take a loan" He opposed.

"Exactly what I said when I heard he did!" I exclaimed, finally glad that someone was beginning to see things the way I did.

"Imagine my shock when I found out. I'm as confused as you are. The bank took everything including the house." I lamented.

"Oh, that's sad. I did pass by one of these days and heard that the former owners had parked. I thought it had more to do with the memories." He says.

"I wished it was that, Uncle. But no, we were thrown out of the house and have been suffering ever since." I continued, this time crying.

"I tried everything Uncle, nothing worked."

"Oh, dear. Do not cry anymore, you are here now. But why didn't you come to me sooner?" He asks.

"I was too engrossed in pain and anger to think of or about anything else or anyone," I confessed.

"It's alright. Do not worry, I will help you. I will give you a job at my company because I know how hardworking you are and then, we will get your father's company and everything you've lost back." He assured me.

"Oh, thank you so much, Uncle. Thank you, Sir. How can I ever repay you?" I ask.

"Uh, uh. Do not thank me yet. There is something you must do for me first." He says and it sends shivers down my spine.

I remembered my encounter with the bank manager and didn't want to have to experience that again.

"Certainly, Uncle Victor is not like that bank manager and he sees me as his daughter," I said to myself, trying to reassure myself.

God, please, not now. Not when I thought I had found hope.

"You do know my son, Alexander?" He asks.

"Yes, I do," I answer, quite relieved but confused as to why he brought up the issue of his son.

Alexander's POV:

"Dad, are you sure nothing bad happened?" I asked, worried now.

"No, son. Nothing bad happened." He assures.

"Did Eleanor do something bad to provoke you then?" I insist.

"No, she did not." He says.

"Then what is the trouble, Dad? Can we talk about it now?" I fired.

"For God's sake son, you have just arrived. Can you at least get some rest first?" Dad asks.

"No, Dad. I mean, for the past month you did not care if I lived or died. I have been to hell and back and I am still here. So to answer your question, forgive me because I cannot rest or sleep until I have known what the issue is. Besides, I have not slept a full 24 hours for the past month." I screamed.

"Alright, fine. We will talk." He admitted.

"At least, take a seat." He added pointing to the couch.

I sat down gently and calmed myself. Surely this must be important for Dad to want to discuss it with me. He rarely engages in conversations with me, believing I have nothing to offer him or his company.

"Do you remember my friend, Lawson?" He asks.

"He was your friend and rival as well," I replied.

"Well, he died two days before you left for Italy." He says.

"Oh, no. That's so sad. You mentioned he had children, how are they coping?" I ask, concerned.

"This is where you come in now." He answers.

"I do not understand." I raised a brow, I know Dad to be very mischievous.

"His elder daughter and child, she's 22. They have been struggling to live so she came to me and in exchange for my help, she has agreed to marry you." He blurted out.

"Dad, you know I'm engaged." I objected.

"And we both know that you do not love her. I know what you want, son, and believe me, Fiona is perfect. Here, a picture." Dad says handing me his phone.

"She is my type!" I said excitedly.

"See, I told you. And daddy always knows what is best for his son." He said with a smirk.

"What do I tell Eleanor?" I am concerned as Eleanor had been planning our wedding all along.

"Oh, Eleanor. She might be angry at first but she will get over it with time. You just announce it to her properly, make it very gentlemanly, eh?" Dad says and I sigh.

This was going to be difficult.