Debt of Desire

Chapter Two

Andrea’s POV

I stayed up all night clutching my pillow hoping morning wouldn’t come or that when it did, I'd find that the events of the previous day were unreal.

Throughout the night, I heard my father making calls and yelling and by the early hours of the morning he had lost his voice. I knew the events of the previous day weren’t a dream. I was really going to be married to someone I had never met before.

About an hour after the sun came up, I heard cars outside. I dragged myself to the window and saw that they were all black luxury SUVs with a limousine in the back. Corvin emerged from the limousine and entered the house. I fell back to the bed, my body unable to move.

I heard protests from my father and his voice became louder and louder until it was just outside my room. The doors swung open and standing outside was Corvin and a few men.

I was still wondering why he had come himself.

“I see you aren’t ready yet. I'm going to give you ten minutes to get yourself ready and presentable for my son. And should I come back to meet you like this, I’ll get someone to make you presentable.” He walked out and closed the door behind him.

I kept hearing protests from my father, but not a word from Corvin. He seemed to be past the talking stage.

I considered my options and knew that if he came back to meet me like this, he'd probably drag me down to the limousine and have me cleaned up by one of his employees. If I wanted to maintain my privacy. I would have to do it myself.

I dragged myself out of bed and took a warm shower. I didn’t bother with makeup, so it wouldn’t seem like I was eager for the events of the day.

I got dressed in a gray midi chiffon gown that stopped at knee-length. I got into my sandals and walked out of my room down to the living room. Corvin was sitting there waiting.

For some reason he said nothing for a while after seeing me, and then got up.

He began to walk toward the door and I followed behind him.

My father then got in front of me and blocked me, stopping me from leaving. “You can’t take her, Corvin. She’s all I’ve got left,” he said, in a pleading tone.

Corvin turned around, and stared at him for a while, then said, “Get her in the car.” And he walked out the door.

My father was pushed aside, and I was escorted to the limousine.

I cried softly, hating how helpless I was and helpless he had made my father look. But there was no other way to escape this.

I was shown to the back seat beside Corvin, and while I cried the whole ride there, he said nothing.

“Clean your face,” he said, pointing at a box of Cleanex when we had arrived.

He came down from the car and waited for some time before opening my door. I stepped out after patting my eye one last time.

It was a short trip between where the car was parked and the front door. The gate was so far away the distance, it was almost impossible to travel by foot. The mansion was incredibly massive.

I was led into the main lounge and then to the living room. The lounge was larger than my father’s house and the living room even bigger. It was as though the house wasn’t meant for one family. As I scanned the living room, my eyes settled on a sickly young man staring into space.

“Derek. Please join us,” Corvin said, pleasantly.

He had a smile on his face that was different from anything I had ever seen before. He truly loved his son.

As he walked over, he had an air of dignity about him, but at the same time, he looked like he was at death’s door. His eyes had sunk into his face and so had his cheeks. He was skinnier than normal and his hair wasn’t particularly thick.

All these spoiled what would have been a too handsome face. He had taken his father’s good looks. Too bad cancer had other plans.

We sat down around a table and the guards left us to be alone.

“Derek, please meet your new wife, Andrea Walker,” Corvin began.

“My contractual wife, you mean,” he said, in a way that made it sound like he was attacking his father. It seemed he didn’t want this either.

But I knew it wasn’t one of those romance stories where two people betrothed against their will, and they had people they loved but were forced together and love bloomed between them. There was no way Derek had someone who loved him romantically considering his condition, and nothing was going to make me fall for him.

“I need someone to take over after me, Derek. Someone that’s my blood.”

“Well you marry her then.”

“Derek, there’s no need to make this harder than it needs to be. I’ve met and married the only woman I ever loved. That woman was your mother. I don’t plan on taking another wife.”

“But you plan on forcing one on me?”

“I need an heir when I’m gone, Derek. And it can only come from you.”

“What good is being a father if I'm going to be dead before my kids are even teenagers?”

“It’ll be good for the family.”

“No, it will be good for you. That’s what this is all about. Your sick, weak son, unable to take over once you’re gone, a liability, a disgrace, an embarrassment. So you select the most presentable w***e to sire you an heir.”

“I’ve been disgraced long enough, I will not have you speak of me that way.” I lashed out in anger.

Corvin stood up. “You will do as you have been instructed. The both of you.” And he walked away, leaving the two of us sitting there in awkwardness.

Derek turned to me. “Where did he get you from? A pole?”

“Do you think I want to be here?” I asked, trying to contain my anger.

“You think you’re the first one of you I’ve seen? You’re not someone who wants to make something of your life, you’re just a w***e looking for a quick buck. So I’ll make this very clear.” He stood up. “Nothing is going to happen between us.” He coughed.

And then he coughed again. My anger turned into horror when I saw a red taint on his hand. He had coughed up blood.

“Are you okay?” I asked, wondering what I could do to help.

“f**k off. Don’t pretend to care. I've seen too many of your kind.” He coughed again.

I stood up wondering if leaving him there like that would be morally appropriate considering how pitiful he looked.

“Get the f**k out.” He yelled, startling me.

I ran into the mansion, unsure of where I was going, but all I wanted at the moment, was a good place to cry.