Jacob's POV:
Getting out of my car towards this big mansion I call 'home' with burning rage and fury with questions running around my head; 'Since when does he get to decide about this part of my life? Arranged marriage? And to the most annoying girl in the planet, even the sound of her voice is like a bird screeching.
I burst through the doors in the living room automatically getting the attention of my mother and my 2 sisters.
With my anger full on display on my face and my irregular breathing on cue, they started making their way towards me. My mother trying to calm me down.
"Where is he?" I asked my mother calmly but forced through clenched teeth.
"Son, calm down. Please we can talk about this more calmly before you go talk to your father" my mother tried reasoning with me but I am so mad right now, I couldn't really lash out on her so I kept quiet and just walk towards my father's office.
"Father we need to ta—" I stopped walking as I saw the girl who I'm supposed to be marrying is sitting with my father in discussion. My anger only firing up more as I saw them laughing together as they didn't even notice I am now staring at them.
I cleared my throat and my father now looks at me.
"Can we talk in private?" I asked my father as I opened the door for the annoying creature to get out.
"Sure, I'd love too. I mean we are going to get married soon so we have to know more about each other" the creature said as she settled more into the couch where she's sitting.
I glared at her as I walk towards her real close that I could smell the cheap perfume she put on.
Does she even know the amount to put on? Probably not, I'm pretty sure she poured the whole bottle on her. Or maybe it is her character that reeks and not the perfume that she uses but either way, she's still annoying.
Her eyes widened at the distance between us as she smirked up at me with her cat like eyes.
I leaned in close to her resisting the urge to throw up all over her due to the excessive smell of her perfume. I saw that she tried to pucker up her lips as if I'm going to kiss her. As I got closer to her ears as she's a little disappointed that I didn't stop at her mouth... I scoffed mentally, as if I will kiss her. I'd rather choke on my own blood than kiss that creature's mouth.
I whispered in her ear "I meant to talk to my father" and stood up to my full height as I looked at her timid form as she starred at me with wide and confused eyes.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" I almost shouted out.
"Wh- What?" she stuttered out.
"I want to talk to my father, privately, Penelope. Do you mind?" I rudely asked.
She quickly got up and fled out of the room with embarrassment present on her cake face.
"Well, I see you are getting along with your fiancé" my father mused as he stared at me with humor present on his face.
Why is he staring at me like that? There is nothing funny about this entire thing.
As soon as I heard the news from my best friends, I sped up home going really fast that I have 5 speeding tickets because of how fast I was going.
I had hoped it was just rumors but, it is true and the one behind all this is my father. Sitting in front of me with a smile on his face.
"Father, what is the meaning of this?" I asked him anger dripping in my question.
"You have to get married son, sooner or later. I want my grandchildren and so does your mother" he said with a tired sigh escaping his lips.
I won't lie and say that I am not at all affected by this. Both my parents have been trying to get me a good girl to settle down with and have kids. I also want these things but the girl of my dreams is in hiding.... I guess.
"Father, I—I want those things trust me, it's just these girls are attracted to my wealth and not me and my personality. I want someone real" I explained
"That's why I have arranged for Penelope, you both have the same background. You're both rich and good looking. She won't even be using you for your money since she has her own" he explained further.
"But---" he cut me off.
"That's final Jacob Stephano Stone!" he exclaimed.
I stared at my father in shock, he is forcing me to marry Penelope. He doesn't even know how she is in person. She is a manipulative person, I thought she was actually a good person but no. I was proven wrong when she slapped her sister which caused her to fall down the stairs for even talking politely to me to which she casually said she slipped and lost her balance.
**FLASHBACK: 6 MONTHS AGO**
I just returned from college graduating with Master's Degree in Business. I got off my father's private jet as I quickly made my way towards the airport for check-out. I soon saw Howard, our family butler waiting for me down the entrance with my name on a cardboard. As I quickly made my way down the escalator, I bumped into a person. More specifically a girl with blonde eyes as she started at me with a small frown on her face.
"I am so sorry miss I didn't see where I was going and I just bumped into you" I apologized sincerely.
"Whatever just get away from me you pig- headed giant" she yelled out at me.
I tried to be nice so I still apologized for the inconvenience and left quickly heading towards my butler.
"Master Jacob. Lovely to see you again. I trust your flight was comfortable" he said in a formal like voice to which I just grunted horribly.
He chuckled, "hehe, that bad sir?"
"Is the car out front, Howard?" I asked him tiredly.
"Yes it is Young Master Jacob. Do you want me to—" Howard got cut off by a screech.
"Ahhhhhh, wait a minute. Are you 'The Jacob Stone'?" the girl that I bumped into earlier shouted and because of that people started bombarding me at the airport and the girl realizes this and grabbed me towards the entrance towards her car. We started going to God knows where and I called Howard to check on him and my luggage.
"I am so sorry for that earlier I was really in a bad mood and I didn't mean to snap at you like that." She explained.
I tried to be nice about it but, I feel as if she's just being nice to me cause she knew that it's me and is playing nice all of a sudden. I don't mean to judge her character early like this but it just looks like that.
I smiled politely and turned away really not in the mood to talk anymore as tiredness of the 15 hours flight is starting to catch up to me and jetlag.
"I'm Penelope by the way. Penelope Graviel of Graviel Enterprises." She introduced herself.
FEW DAYS LATER:
Penelope invited me over to her place for a party. We became fast friends. I decided to give her a chance into becoming friends and so far, that is going well.
I rang the doorbell of the mansion and not a second later the door was opened by a girl that looked like Penelope except she has brown hair and is a little shorter than Penelope.
"Hello, you must be Jacob. My sister has told us so much about you" the girl mentioned.
I hid my frown on what she said and smiled and just as I was about to offer my hand for her shake, she got pushed to the side not so lightly by Penelope.
"Hi, Jacob. I'm so glad you made it" she giggles as she started pulling me inside the house.
I looked back to see her sister struggling to get up.
"Uhm Penelope.....your sister is ----"
"She'll be fine" she cut me off as she kept leading me towards the door outside into the backyard.
I'm enjoying myself as I got carried away with the music and the drinks which was not much.
I saw the girl that answered the door standing behind the juice table as she looks around nervously no doubt feeling out of place.
I walked towards her to apologize for what happened this morning.
"Hey, I never really got your name" I said
"ohh hey, sorry for that. Uhm my name is Catherine. I'm Penelope's younger sister" she introduced herself as she extended her hand towards me.
Just as I was going to shake her hand, Penelope came out of nowhere and dragged her away from the party towards the house.
I followed them and thank God that I did because I got to see how Penelope really is.
I heard yelling as I walked closer and saw that Penelope slapped Catherine and that caused Catherine to fall down the stairs as they were arguing on the second floor away from the prying eyes of the party going on downstairs.
I immediately rushed towards Catherine to help her up. I can tell that Penelope was shocked to see me since she expected that no one would be around to watch them fight.
I called 911 just to be prepared for any concussion or serious injuries.
As soon as the ambulance arrived and the paramedics checked Catherine, I quickly left and cut Penelope off of my life but of course she doesn't get the hint and keeps trying anything to be tied to me.
**FLASHBACK ENDS.**
I looked at my father, like really looked at him and internally sigh.
All my life I have done everything my father wants of me without complaint because I know that he just has my best interest in me.
I admire my father he is the greatest person and father I know and I am so lucky to have him as my father.
I mean well but my father wants to marry me off to Penelope and that is something that I know for sure does not have my best interest. This feels like a business deal, one which I will not go into willingly.
I turned around to walk out of my father's office.
"Unless—" he continued.
I stopped dead in my tracks to hear more.
"Unless you find yourself a bride---"
I spun around so fast I'm surprised I didn't get a whiplash.
"I'll take it..." I said but before I could get another word out, he held out his hand in a stopping motion for him to continue.
"Unless you find yourself a bride, I do not care what background she is from or her family status. I want you to find your "dream-girl" as you like to put it, the one that loves you for who you are and you to her." He spoke
I was speechless, I thought he would force me to marry Penelope with no good reason.
I wanted to hug him, so I made my way over to him and just as I was about to. What he said next had me stopping dead in my tracks for the second time that day.
2 months?!! How in the hell am I supposed to find a bride in 2 months?!!
"Father 2 months is too fast I need more time for this. This is the person I am going to spend the rest of my life with." I explained.
My father's lip tight as he took his mobile phone and started dialing a number before putting it on his ear.
"Father what are you doing?" I asked feeling a bit scared on whatever he is doing.
"Confirming your marriage with Penelope to Mr. Graviel" he simply shrugged.
I grabbed his phone from his hand and press the end-call button just as I heard Mr. Smith says 'Hello'.
"1 year" I demand.
He smirked just before laughing at me.
"2 months?" he bargained.
"10 months" I continue.
"4 months?" he continues with the bargain.
"8 months" i said. I can be stubborn too.
"6 months or no deal" he said with authority
At least it's 6 months which seems reasonable and if I don't take it, I might get stuck with that manipulative and annoying creature forever.
"Fine and don't meddle" I said as I turn around and walk out the office towards my room to shower. It's not that I don't have a house of my own, I do but I don't mind sleeping over at my parent's house.
My house is simply for me and my family and I do live in my house but rarely and that's because it is lonely.
As Jacob walked out of his father's office, his father can't help but smirk in satisfactory as his mission is taking its course. Of course, he is not going to get his son married to Penelope, he is just putting her in the game so his son can settle down. Penelope is just the push that he needed for Jacob to start getting serious.
Lost in thoughts as he felt two soft hands around his neck from behind as he turned his head to see his beautiful wife. She leaned in to kiss the side of his mouth.
"Did he buy it?" she merely asked.
He nodded as he slowly pulled her onto his lap resting his chin on her right shoulder.
"Yes, he did buy it" he said as he relaxed his body for his wife to get more comfortable.
"How long?" she asked
"6 months" he answered to which she gasps.
"That's too long and it only took us 2 months" she merely complained as he rubbed his wife's shoulders to relax more.
"Its fine love. I'm sure he'll do his best" he soothed out as his wife relax more.
Both parents relieved for their son and now a little bit worried at what kind of woman he might just choose to be his wife.
His father can only hope that he chooses wisely for his wife to be a gracious person like his Anah is. His mother can only pray that the wife he chooses to be one of those strong headed women that he can depend on in times of crisis and stress.
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Their names:
Jacob Stephano Stone- 26 years old
Lily Margret Stone (Sister)- 18 years old
Mary Anne Stone (Sister)- 16 years old
Mathew Stephan Stone (Dad)- 44 years old
Anah Rose-Mary Stone (Mom)- 40 years old