"What?" Mrs. Briar voiced out. Coming first out of the shock with the rest still confused, waiting for her to confirm they all misheard her.
"Let Klaus marry me. I'm a Farewell, the link will still be form among our two family. Everybody wins," she said to their horror. They didn't misheard. She really is asking to get married to Klaus.
"But you guys hate each other. Why will you want to marry him?" Mrs. Briar asked perplexed.
"Plus you aren't even part of the company. Marrying you isn't the same as Elsa. You are not as beneficial," Mr. Briar informed.
The purpose of this marriage agreement was for business primarily before anything else. He didn't see any value in having his son getting married to her. They may both be member of the same family but it was undeniable of Eva lack of influence in the family. She had no weight.
"You are wrong, I have more value than Elsa," Eva said.
It was something she has never spoke about because her family want to keep it a secret. Wanted no one to know as it would devaluate their precious daughter in the eyes of the public. It was the perfect time to have it reveal. There were no use for her in the pass to divulgate the information which was why she went along with her parent but now, it wasn't anymore the case.
"Eva stop," her father warned but she ignored him and continue.
"More value?" Mr. Briar asked more intrigued now seeing his friend reaction.
"Yes. I know what is being told by everyone. How Elsa is superior to me in many way. How she is the vice president of the company and the next president why I, the elder, is just the founder of a charity organisation but it couldn't be farther from the truth," A charity organisation who generated millions.
"Eva!" Nathan called.
"What father?"" she blinked innocently, fainting ignorance.
"They should know since they are soon to be part of the family," she said to her father before retuning her focus to the Briar.
"What is the truth then?"
Pressure grew in the quiet room. One group intrigued by her words and the other, terrify by it. If those words got out of the room, Elsa would be at the great lost. She has always been put on a pedestal, having it out would be mocking to her face.
"Elsa may be the vice president of the company and me having no tied to it, but I'm still among the biggest shareholder of the company. If I really wanted to, I could have her fired from her position," Her chin up, her back straight, a smile on her face, her words couldn't be doubt.
Elsa was the vice president and was publicly known as the next heir of the family business since Eva showed no sign of interest. More than that, the obvious preferences of Nathan for Elsa didn't go unnoticed by the public, much more went he made her the vice president as such a young age instead of her elder sister who had more experience. It was a risky move, despite how skillful she was didn't meant she could work under pressure. Unlike Eva who at the time already proved herself to be a brilliant in her work. If they were be real, the only thing making Elsa look superior to Eva was her strong tight with the family and her parent obvious preference of her if not, why would the one who was in charge of a whole organisation and other faction be look down upon?
They all thought she only have little share in the company, it was what it was known by all but they were unaware it was the opposite. It was a piece of information the Farewell didn't want to be know because it would reduce the value of Elsa in everyone eyes.
What surprised them more was the fact Eva helped them keep the secret and have even allow the other think of her as inferior, when it was clear her little sister isn't in her good book. She could have deteriorate her image easily, something she never did.
"Or am I wrong, Fav?" she asked.
Frozen in spot, it took her a moment to realise she was now the center of attention. Her eyes shake, unsure on what to respond to that, but it was clear, she couldn't deny the truth now. She clasped her fingers sitting on her lap, swallowing her pride,
"You are not" her looking everywhere but staying on no one. A big slap has just be given to her.
Her words proved Eva words. Helping the Briar to confirm she was telling the truth and it wasn't just a way to deteriorate Elsa in their eyes.
"Why revealing it now?" Mr. Briar asked. And more importantly, why was it the case? Why made her have more shares in the company. He deduced it had something to do with her being the elder since the family seem to give it a great importance
"So you know that I'm as valuable as Elsa for the marriage. Not to say, even more but I don't want to step on people ego," Eva mocked, who in particularly? It wasn't clear if it was the furious mother with a murderous daze or the defeated daughter, who had no courage to meet anyone gaze.
"But you can't stand each other." Mrs. Briar injected.
"We all know this is business, pure and simple. No love attach to this because if it was the case, no marriage should have ever be thought between our two family." She began. Their silence proved her words. There were no time for love when a marriage can increase their current wealth. Been it for her family or the briar
"Marrying the Briar solo heir is more than profitable, it's perfect. I can't step on that. As such, my feelings towards your son don't enter in the equation," She exposed her thought.
The first surprise was Klaus. Silent all the time, he listen with pure confusion and wonder each word getting out her mouth. Her last reasoning was the only think reasonable in what she said, he agree the marriage would be yet another business contract nothing else. That is if he agrees. As business oriented his parents was, if he didn't want to, the marriage will never occur.
"This is business for you? What about your happiness? It's your life you are putting at risk her dear," Mrs. Briar said full of worried.
Yes, it was true, behind the marriage was a business deal but that doesn't mean they don't considered their feelings. Marring someone you feel nothing about is better than one which the hates was mutual. What to expect from such a couple?
"True but as I said, it's an opportunity that I can't let go. Having the name Briar on mine will only be beneficial. Being the in law, not so much,"
"Putting my life at risk, you make it seems like I have to be worry about your son murdering me," Eva said.
"That is not what I meant" Mrs. Briar was rapidly to correct herself. Making ever laugh.
"I know," she giggled. Completely at ease, the only one in the room. Added was the men who didn't look affected by all of it.
"Anyway," she started, getting back serious.
"I'm not forcing myself on you. Is either me or none. I have no intention to allow a marriage between him and my sister." She told them.
"And don't worry mother, it's just about him. The next candidate will be have barrier. I will gladly give him my sister," she made it clear.
"Why not Klaus?" Klaus's mother asked.
"My sister has everything for herself, I will just play the role of fate for once and not have her have all in this world. That's all," there were more into it though.
"So Mr. Briar," she said to Klaus, "Will you marry me?" she asked.
Everyone head turned to him, waiting for him to laugh it out and refuse but to everyone surprise he said,
"I will," he answered and it was Eva turn to be surprise. She wasn't expecting that of him. It had her loss her impassible expression for a second.
"Pardon?" she asked just to be sure she heard it right. There were no way her agreed to it.
"I said I will marry you," he said.
"But you hate me," she argued.
Using the same thing that has been told to her. It made the other wonder, does she really want to get married or was she just fooling around and didn't expect Klaus to agree. And on all that, how could Klaus agree to marry her!?
"So do you but still ask me to marry you," Eva stayed quiet needing a moment to analysis it through. It wasn't going her she planned, and needed a moment to decide on what to do.
"It makes no sense. None of this make any sense," Grace cried out.
Thing wasn't going as planned and was taking a turn she was not expecting. No one was expecting such a turn. They all agreed with her, it was making no sense.
The thing was simple, they were supposed to set a date for the marriage between Elsa and Klaus and all have a good lunch. Not Eva protesting and asking to be the one to get married instead and having Klaus accepting. They were mortal enemy since long, how come they could think about getting marry with such an ease?
"She is right, you are not getting marry to Eva. You both hate each other," Mrs. Briar stated.
"True but you heard her. It's the only opportunity for us to merge our family with the Farewell. Either we accept or we could say bye to that and Eva is much more a better candidate than Elsa to me even before the new piece of information." He exposed.
He may not be her biggest fan but he had to admit what was true. Eva was a better choice. He never was able to understand those stating Elsa was better than her sister when it was clearly the opposite. Elsa was in charge of an existing company with thousands of people with her and her father standing by her side bur Eva didn't have all that. And built herself from start. If that wasn't amazing, he wonder what was.
"She is the founder of one of the most prestigious organisation. She is in contact with a numbers of wealthy person in the country and out. Her connection is frightening. To me, it's more important than a vice president. It will be the best for the company and our family," Klaus said.
"And you in all this? You guys go on about how profitable it will be for the company what about your own happiness?" she asked they two, "Hate isn't a good base on which a marriage can be built on," Klaus mother spoke out loud her consent.
"With Elsa at least you get along and could slowly learn to know each other and may be fall in love,"
"You won't have to worry about it. We won't murder each other. Right Eva?" Klaus asked.
"Of course. We will be marry now and I won't do anything thing able to bring shame to the Briar name," she said. Still confused on to the why he was agreeing to her plan. If it end with her having what she wanted, she was ok with it.
"Still, what type of marriage will it be when you guys don't get along?"
"Certainly not a boring one," Klaus father commented, laughing at his own words.
A marriage between two enemies, willingly agreeing to get married would be anything but boring. For sure, it wasn't the ideal situation for a parent to have his child married upon.