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CHAPTER 3
Meanwhile, in one of the big mansions in the big city, a man and his wife are seen seated on the big sofa in the living room as they chatted away lightly with a half-filled wine glass in their hands and a plate of cookies on the glass table in front of them.
At a corner in the big living room, stood two girls dressed in an all-black gown with a white apron sewn to it.
They both had their heads hanging low as they awaited the couple to be done.
"Hahaha… I know right? She looked so beautiful when I saw her," the lady said amidst her laughter.
"I trust you. You always make the right decisions. Now, all we have to do is wait for him…"
Bang!
The door pushed open, revealing a young handsome looking man in a shining silver tuxedo with a newspaper in his left hand. As cute as he was, his cold eyes held untold fury within them.
His hair fluttered behind him from his previous movement further making him look like an angry god.
His features were sharp, almost eye-piercing. He had a well-structured face, chiselled jawline, perfectly carved, thick eyebrows with long slim lashes adorning his lovely eyelids.
He blinked, his dark blue eyes further enchanting and pulling one into the depths of the sea as dread crawls up their spine from the perfect bone-chilling look which could freeze one at the spot.
As handsome has his striking characteristics, he repelled some girls away with that cold killing look of his. In all, he was a beauty one wouldn't like to dare.
Placing a hand on her chest, she widened dark blue eyes dimmed a bit as she realized who it was.
"Jake," she called out, still in disbelief by his actions.
"Son, what is the meaning of this," the man, his father voiced out in annoyance.
"What is the meaning of this? I should damn well be asking you two that question. Explain to me what this is?"
He raised the newspaper close to his face, shaking it a little to emphasize his point. "Explain to me why I have my name on the headlines with an arranged marriage?"
Understanding the reason for his outburst, both of them finally began to calm down.
Standing from her seat, she took a few steps in his direction as she tried to explain. "Calm down son."
"Don't tell me to calm down mum!" He hollered through gritted teeth. "Why the heck did you two do this?"
"I suggest you listen to your mother."
"Did you consult me prior? So why now do you expect me to listen to her?" He asked his father, averting his gaze in his direction.
"It is for your own good, Jake," his mother said convincingly.
"My goodness! Really now! You think I do not know that all of this…" he shook the newspaper again. "All of this is just to broaden your business and boost your wealth."
Seeing as the situation was getting out of hand, his father stood and walked over to where his mother was. "Son, listen to me. That is not the situation. We love you and this is what is best for…"
"For crying out loud father, I am no bargaining chip!" He interjected his father's words in anger and threw the newspaper at their feet.
"Jake!" She placed her hand on her chest again. Her son's outburst was really affecting her and giving her a shock.
Although he grew up being cold, he had always been the perfect obedient son of the family. Seeing him behave like this was a shocking experience for her.
Indeed they had crossed the line.
"Jake, you would apologize to your mother this instant," his father yelled in anger.
"Why? Apologize that you two want to ruin my life? No, I'll pass."
"Jake, do not dare me."
"I will not marry her!"
"Oh no." she turned to face her husband who was now supporting her slim frame close to his body. "Honey, he cannot be saying this. After all, we have done… No. Talk to him."
"Mother, are you even listening?"
"Yes, she is. You left us no choice. You refuse to bring home a girl and so we searched for a suitable candidate."
"Is that the lie you tell yourself? There is nothing suitable about her. Besides, you did this to strengthen your wealth and remain one of the top leading businesses in the country."
"Speak to me with respect. I am not vile," his father refuted.
"Oh please!" He threw his hands into the air in utter surrender.
He closed his eyes, trying his best to calm down but it wasn't working. After some seconds, he reopened them.
"Look, I am not marrying her and that's final."
Not waiting for their response, he turned on his heel, about to exit the living when his father's voice made him stop.
"You leave me no choice then. Marry her or forfeit your inheritance claim to the shares."
"WHAT!" Jake turned around quickly, his already cold eyes turning more deadly and annoyed.
"You said what?!"
"You heard me," his father voiced out again, releasing his wife and taking another three steps close to his son. "Marry her or forfeit your inheritance claim."
"Father!" He stared at his father with unbelieving eyes.
How could he even say that to him?
"It is my right. Besides, you have no right over it. That was grandfather's will. I own sole right over his 44% of the company's shares."
"Well, it isn't your birthday yet, so technically they still belong to me."
"By right they become mine and you cannot use this to tie me down. Simply, I would wait for my birthday and get my shares."
"Read the contract again. The guardian has sole right over the shares until he deems the benefactor ready to own them on or before his 26th birthday."
0_0
"You wouldn't do that," Jake uttered more calmly now, his fear slowly rising.
Ever since he was small, his parents had been all about their business and rarely had much time for him.
Mostly, he was sent to stay with his grandfather who, unlike his parents, pampered him and taught him all he knew about life and business even before going for such course in the university and for his masters.
So, when his grandfather died, he willed most of his shares to Jake.
Being the founder of the company and how well he got it to where it was today, he owned 50% of the company's shares and gave 44% to Jake while the other 6% he shared between Jake's parents.
Most saw it as unreasonable but that was his way of dealing with his son for neglecting Jake.
"I can and I will," his father said with so much confidence.
This was one of the mistakes Jake's grandfather had done.
He was scared the money would get to Jake and he would squander it like most young guys his age or be negatively influenced and since he wasn't going to be alive, his parents wouldn't be helpful either, so he placed Jake's father in charge of the shares until he came of age.
Now, his father was using that against him.
"Marry her and you get your shares after the wedding. No need to wait months for it."
"You cannot do this," Jake's anger rose again but he managed to tone down his voice.
"Wake up son. This is reality. It is for our own good. You should put the company's growth first and ensure you do all it takes to make it become the best in the country."
"I knew it was all about business for you."
He did not bother hiding his spite from his father. He was angry and disgusted by his father's attitude but his father never cared.
"Think what you want but know this, doing this marriage and getting a partnership with them alongside strengthening it is what matters most."
He racked his brain for a way out of this but at that moment, no solution was forthcoming.
"And what about my happiness?" Jake asked out of the blue.
"You would learn to love her, son. So, what do you say? Deal? Your shares or your happiness?"