____ 𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄
"June said you all agreed on a decision," I planned out my next words carefully, aware of my father's displeasure. "What did you all agree on?"
Mr Adair rose from his seat and fixed his coat, flashing me a smile. "You're going to get married."
I frowned at his statement. Married? Who the hell would suggest it was okay for me to get married? And to who?
"What?" I asked, not believing any of this. I glanced at Ian, to my father, then at Sebastian who looked completely shocked as I was.
"Come again?"
"You're going to get married," he repeated.
I let out a mirthless laugh. "You've got to be joking. I'm in no condition to get married—"
"Yes, you are. The whole world believes you and Sebastian are in a relationship because of the several photos taken last night. Why not ride it?" Mr Adair told me.
"That's ridiculous!" I exclaimed, my hands squeezed into fists. "Why can't we just address the rumours as fake? This is stupid!"
"She's right!" Sebastian bolted up. "Dad! I have someone already, you know? If you're forgetting, she's Amarra," he finished.
"Who? Your fuckbuddy?" Mr Adair scoffed.
I turned to my father and shot him a quizzical and sullen look. "What the hell made you agree to this?" I looked around the entire room, "Who the hell even suggested the idea?" I pointed my index finger at Sebastian, "And why does he act like he knows nothing?!"
"Because for one, your father has consented to making an agreement. Second, I suggested the idea and lastly, Sebastian doesn't know because I sent him out the moment I was about to suggest my idea," Mr Adair explained, a smirk forming on his lips.
I looked back at my dad. "So you sold me?" I questioned him, a look of betrayal on my face.
He couldn't look in my eyes so much as even throw a single glance in my direction. And because of his avoidance, I knew he was guilty, yet my brain refused to accept any of this.
"Dad," I called firmly, causing him to look in my direction. "Is any of this true? Cause they could be messing with my head right now."
"It's..." he paused. I was half expecting him to say it wasn't except it wasn't the case, he was so delayed in answering I already knew what the answer was. "True."
I let out a sigh as I raked my fingers through my hair. "This can't be happening, I can't be getting married!" I exclaimed.
"And why not?" Mr Adair took a few steps towards me. "As far as I'm concerned, you're of legal age."
"I'm not ready yet!" I told him.
"Are you serious? Louis, did you have trouble raising this kid? She seems like the type to complain." Mr Adair let out a chuckle.
"What the hell is so funny? Huh?" I asked him, arms restrained at my sides.
"Adrianne, stop," my father told me.
"Why would I stop?! He's forcing me to get married to his son whom I have no connections with!" I yelled.
"Adrianne, for one second, stop! I'll explain it all to you!" he yelled and from the tone of his voice, it was clear he was exhausted and wasn't up for any more arguments. I shut my mouth in hopes of a worthy explanation. He pulled me away from the arguing son and father and whispered, "They made a deal with me; if I let you and Sebastian get married, he would invest in the company and help us regain our former position."
I laughed humorlessly at his explanation. "So a company is more important than your daughter's happiness?"
"I can't let the company your mother worked hard-on go to waste," he reasoned.
"And she won't let you force me into marriage with a guy I barely know! Do you think this is what she would have wanted? She'd find a way to regain our former position in a different way!" I argued, disappointment clear in my tone of voice.
"He also threatened us. If we don't agree, they'd make it look like you were a girl who was head over heels for Sebastian. They'd make it look like you'd intentionally fall on top of him and kiss him."
My mouth fell agape and scoffed. "Blackmail." I scoffed. "So they blackmailed us."
"They wanted to team up with the company on top so they would join us on top," he breathed out.
"Dad, please, I don't want to do this..." I pleaded with him and for a moment, he looked like he would allow me to back out of this. Like he would walk back to the Adairs and tell them to not continue with the wedding—
"But you don't have a choice, we've made a deal." Mr Adair spoke as he walked towards us, hands on his hips.
And I realised, there was no point in begging or arguing because it wasn't going to get me the results I wanted anymore. My own father had a leash on his neck so he wouldn't disobey the Adairs, who technically saved our company but in return, would ruin mine and Sebastian's life.
I walked out of the foyer and ran up the stairs, tears falling out of my eyes again. I ran and ran and entered mom's favourite room; the ballroom. There was a huge portrait of the family in the centre of the room and I approached it, touching the part of the painting with mom in it. Caressing the part of the portrait of her wavy blonde hair and her red rosy cheeks, I continued staring into her sea-blue eyes as I resisted the temptation to scream out in pain. Tears continued falling out as I gazed at her red plump lips and her deep dimples.
"Mom...please help me." I fell to my knees as I looked up at the portrait. "I don't know what to do anymore..."
I broke into sobs as I continued begging for help from my mother. I buried my face in my hands as I was crying with convulsive breaths, trying my hardest to stop.
"Mom— I don't want to do this...I need you. Please, I need you here, I want to hear from you, I want to see you here." I looked up at her photo longingly, for every word I said was all true. I miss everything about her. Her voice, her smiles, her touch. Most of all, her embrace.
"Mom...why did you have to go? We still need you— how...how will we go on?"
I wrapped my arms around myself as I continued sobbing. I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder and flinched, quickly turning around to see my sister, Emmanuelle, looking at me with worried eyes.
"Elle..."
A single call from me was enough for her to pull me into her tight embrace, rubbing my back as she continued shushing me. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her as well, breaking into more sobs.
"I heard from June about what happened," she spoke as she rested her head on my shoulder.
"I don't want to do this..." I replied weakly.
I'd pretty much given up, as usual.
She pulled away from the hug and smiled softly at me. "I understand your side but who am I talking to? Am I talking to Annie or Adrianne?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I-I don't know..."
"Because if you're Annie, I could understand. You still want to enjoy your twenties and you're not ready for a big commitment and duh! You barely even know the guy! You want a man you'll love. I understand, I swear." She paused, But if you're Adrianne—" she sat on the floor and a serious look spread across her face— "Do what you're obligated to do; do what's best for the company, do what you are expected to do as the daughter of Louis Chanelle and— and Jeanette Chanelle, the man and woman on top," she finished.
God, I loved Elle for this type of talk. She always stirred me in the right direction but even so, I don't know who she's talking to. I don't know if I'm Annie or...Adrianne.
"You may be seventeen years old but you act older than me and I'm twenty-four!" I joked. "But hey, thanks."
"No problem, you know you can count on a gal like me." She winked.
I missed talking to her. For the past few weeks, I've been avoiding Elle and my youngest sister; Keanne. I've been avoiding them for a cowardly reason; I didn't have the courage to talk about mom with them. I felt like I missed out on a lot. Elle's changed so much...I may not see it but I know she has.
"Elle," I called. She gazed into my eyes as her lips turned downward. Instantly, her eyes began to form tears in them like small crystals in a cave of stone. She knew what I was going to start apologising for. Her hands started shaking as I planned out my next words carefully. "I'm sorry—"
She broke into tears and buried her face in my chest as I enveloped her in my warm embrace, letting a few tears fall as she continued sobbing "It's— it's not your f-fault, Annie..." she said in between sobs.
And I joined her in crying, those were the words I didn't know I needed to hear. Those were the exact words I didn't expect anyone to tell me at all. It was my turn to do the comforting, and it was my turn to fill in for mom.