"Why is my age important?" Din asked. His hands rested on his upper hips.
His grandfather sighed. "I am getting old. At least let me see my grandchildren before I die."
Din scoffed. "We have talked about this before, grandfather. The person I wish to marry is Beth, but you don't want me to marry her and you never gave me reasons why you don't like her. As far as I know, she is responsible, beautiful, and would be a good wife to me." Din said, but his grandfather ignored him.
He dropped a picture on the table, making a loud thud. Din glanced at the table and saw the picture.
"What is that?" Din questioned. His grandfather exhaled as he removed his legs from the table and stood up. He patted Din's shoulder.
"Her name is Jessie Walker. Make sure you get married before the end of this month to Jessie."
"What?" Din yelled. His grandfather picked up the picture from the table and handed it to him. "What do you mean to marry her? What do you mean before the end of this month?" Din rashly collected the picture from him as he was questioned. Confusion was all over his face as he looked down at the woman in the picture. He frowned at the sight of her.
"Give me grandchildren, then we will settle all this. I need to see my grandchildren before I die." He sighed. "Let's make a deal." His grandfather said, "I know how much this company means to you. If you do as I say and marry her, the company is yours." His grandfather walked to the empty couch and sat down. "I will retire and put your name on the paper. I promise," his grandfather said as he crossed his legs on top of each other.
Din scoffed. "And who could do a better job than me if I refuse? Henry?"
"We shall find out. He is your cousin after all." his grandfather said.
Din approached him. "You know how irresponsible Henry is. Granddad! You can't do this to me. Henry will ruin this place if you hand the company over to him."
"Then obey me and marry her and give me grandchildren."
"Before the end of this month? At least cut me some slack." Din threw his hand into the air. "I don't even know this girl!" He pointed at the picture in anger and frustration.
"But I know her and I know she would be the right one for you."
"Even if you know her, I am not in love with her." Din pointed out.
His grandfather started laughing. "With time, love will come. Your father and mother weren't in love when they met. It was all arranged too, but they had you and your sister and loved one another."
"Then they died." Din frowned. He wanted to punch his grandfather, but he kept his anger inside. He sighed. "Granddad, please. Please reconsider this. At least give Elizabeth a chance. I know she will make you happy."
Din's grandfather stood up and placed both his hands on Din's shoulder. They were about the same height. "I already made up my mind. I will send her home address to Khalid and he will give it to you. Trust me, I have looked into her and she is the perfect girl for you." He released his hand and walked towards the door. He turned to look at Din. "Dinner tonight. Abby and Sierra will be present, and if you can't make it, then you don't need to come, but remember, before the end of this month!" He said those words as he opened the door, stepped out, and closed the door behind him.
Din stared at the closed door as he threw the picture to the ground. He began to step on it as he yelled.
His grandfather was making him go crazy. He wasn't expecting a proposal or to get married to someone he didn't know. Beth had told him he was going to have a good day, but this doesn't look like a good day to him. It looked more like hell.
He didn't stop stepping on the picture. His eyes began to search the room as they came across his baseball bat that rested on the cupboard. He moved to the cupboard and brought the bat down, dragged it to the picture, and began to hit it again. There was nothing he could destroy in the room except that woman's picture, and if he needed the company, he had to obey his grandfather and get married to Jessie, or whatever her name was.
Even the sound of her name tightened his stomach. He hated her even though he hadn't met her yet. Beth was better and the only woman he would ever love, so Jessie's marriage to him would only be because his grandfather wanted him to, and when his grandfather handed the company over to him, he would divorce Jessie and get married to the woman of his dreams. Beth.