Second Chances

Prologue

"Who the f**k gave you the right to enter my room? Do you think this is your daddy dearest's house where you can waltz around like some f*****g princess? Listen to me carefully for I hate repeating myself. You were and will always be someone whom I have dearly hated since childhood. I never liked you then, and I will never like you now or in future. There is no place for you in my room or my life. I love someone else and you don't hold a candle to her, you get that? So just take all your belongings and get the f**k out of my room!" Elton thundered the moment he saw Adrianna in his room, her suitcases neatly placed near his wardrobe.

Taken aback by his outburst just a few hours after their wedding, Adrianna couldn't control the tears that threatened to blur her vision. They had known each other since they were kids, had so many good memories despite his temper tantrums, and yet here they were, a few years later, where Elton couldn't even bear to be near her. What wrong had she done?

"And while you drag your sorry ass out of my room, make sure no one sees you. I have had enough trouble because of you. Now leave! I hate repeating myself!" He shouted again.

Dumbfounded, Adrianna tried to move her feet, but it seemed that her body was not cooperating with her mind, and neither was her heart. The boy she had admired since childhood had grown up to be a handsome man indeed, but an equally ill-tempered, selfish, rude brat. She didn't know where she was at fault. Was this her punishment for agreeing to what her parents had proposed?

"Pumpkin, your mom and I were discussing something important about your future. Now, before you say anything, please hear us out. Keep in mind that we love you and your happiness matters the most," her father, Jeffery Morgan, an astute businessman, cautiously said.

"Dad, what is it? You are scaring me."

"Honey, you remember the Scotts?" Her mom, Patricia, asked.

"Of course I do! Wait, did something happen to them?"

"Umm... that's a tricky question. Let's just say that your uncle Marvin is trying hard to keep his business afloat. Scott Enterprises faced severe losses due to some internal mismanagement and politics. Their properties and possessions are on the verge of being either auctioned off or sealed by authorities..."

"Oh dear! How are they managing? Is Elton okay?"

Jeffery knew his precious Adrianna always had a soft spot for Elton, and that gave him the encouragement to proceed. "They are somehow managing, but it's difficult. We tried to offer help, but they won't take it as they feel it would make a dent in our friendship of all these years. Yet, they are asking their extended family if they could lend them some money so that they can recover. Now, pumpkin, please listen to me very carefully. No matter what the situation is, your opinion matters, your wish matters, okay?" And he took a deep breath before continuing, Patricia holding his hand and softly nodding at him to continue.

"Your mom and I were thinking over this when we got this idea. We are yet to discuss it with the Scotts, which would depend on what your answer is. We... We want you to get married to Elton. You both have practically grown up together, our families know each other for generations, Elton considered you as his friend and we know that you have a soft spot for him. This way, we all would be family. With this alliance, our Morgan Inc. would merge with Scott Enterprises, increasing their share value too. This..."

"... this would help them out, prevent them from being on the streets, right?"

"That's right, honey. But only if you want it. Let us be very clear that their fate is not at all tied to your answer. We will think of other ways. It's just that we thought given our friendship, we could have the two of you wedded and together..." Patricia trailed off, nervously playing with her dainty pearl necklace, feeling a trace of guilt for what they were doing.

"Ma, I have no problem with this. If it helps them, I would do anything in a heartbeat." Especially for Elton, Adrianna wanted to add the latter bit but avoided saying that. "And it's not like they are strangers! Aunt Lisa has always been so kind to me, and Uncle Marvin too. They have been like my second parents. Dad, please talk to them. I have absolutely no problem with this alliance."

***

In just a matter of a couple of weeks, his life had taken a drastic 180 degree turn. As Adrianna stepped out of his room, Elton rushed behind her and slammed the door shut. He was angry, no, he was livid. The love of his life was upset, she wasn't answering his calls since the time this news broke out in the media. And here he was, stuck with the most uninteresting person in the world, someone who had once been his childhood acquaintance, but nothing more than that. She wasn't even his favourite friend then, just a temporary playmate when boredom got to him, and an easy way to get to talk to cute girls. But that wasn't the case with her, or so it seemed. This girl, who looked so coy and silent on the outside, was definitely a cunning woman for having turned their family's miserable situation in her favour. He had known that she had liked him, but he hadn't pegged her to be so manipulative to force him to get married to her.

Cursing his fate and still upset with having to go through this ordeal of getting married to her, Elton poured himself a stiff drink as his mind replayed the events of the past few days, yet again. Irrespective of the number of times he thought over the incidents that had led him to this day, he was still far off from figuring out a solution.

"I am not going to marry someone you have chosen for me! You should know this better than anyone else. Stop thinking of ways to ruin my life!"

"Elton, we are not ruining your life! It is you, in fact, who is ruining it! You have refused to grow up and your wayward behaviour has given us enough headache. Honestly, your mom and I are tired of cleaning up your mess. Adrianna is a lovely girl, good natured and well mannered. She is the sort of stability and sense that you currently need in your life. And you have known her all your life so stop this drama, right now!" Marvin Scott spat out, unable to control his temper. He had been extremely patient with his one and only son but that had been a mistake. And Marvin had realised it much later that the Elton he knew was no longer the one who had taken after him. This man in front of him was stubborn, arrogant, narcissistic, selfish, everything that he never thought his son would be.

"I love someone else and I will marry only her. You cannot force me to marry someone else. And especially not that girl!"

"Firstly, you won't speak like that about Adrianna and secondly, that girl you claim to love is someone who isn't fit to be a part of our family. And Adrianna's and our families go a long way, never forget that. We owe our wealth to her grandfather and our present troubles to you! You haven't got the slightest business mind to make decisions in favour of the company. You should be thankful that I stepped in to save your face and our company's legacy..."

"Oh so this is how you are going to force me to marry? By reminding me of my poor business judgements?"

"No, son, I am reminding you of your overall poor business ethics. And as for making you agree to this alliance, don't be so foolish. I have, in fact, a better way to do so," and Marvin smirked, much to Elton's irritation.

Lisa, on the other hand, couldn't decide how to diffuse this situation between her son and her husband. It was true what her husband had said. Elton had made some poor choices when he was the acting CEO. He had grown up to be too entitled for his own good, burning bridges with all the great relationships that Marvin and his father had built over the years. At the same time, she could understand her son's frustration. After all, hadn't she and Marvin married each other out of love? Their son had all the right to marry the love of his life, but that girl wasn't the right one - for him and for the family.

In fact, Lisa had loved Adrianna ever since she had laid eyes upon her. She knew it in her heart that what Marvin said was true, that Adrianna was the kind of girl Elton desperately needed in his life. If only there was a way to do away with all these arguments!

"Do whatever you want, dad! I am not marrying that boring girl!"

"Watch your mouth, El. You won't speak ill of her. And as for marrying her, you will have to, if you want to take over the business after me. If you refuse to marry her, I will make someone else my successor, someone who would know how to actually run a goddamn business! And I won't leave a dime to your name!"

"You can't do that to me!"

"Oh I can. Now, I need an answer immediately. I can't waste more time on your tantrums."

"I will fight for my rights."

"You don't have any rights, as of now. Agree to this and you can get whatever you feel you should have.

"Fine."

"Great! That's exactly what I wanted to hear," and Marvin began to walk away. "And yes, the wedding will be held in a week's time," were his final words before he was out of the room, with an anxious Lisa following him, her eyes trailed on her son, worry reflecting in her eyes.

"Damn you!" Elton cursed loudly as the sound of something shattering one after the other soon drowned out his curses.