"You will not speak of this anymore! And I expect you to be on your best behaviour before our guests." Mr. Brown thundered, tired of Stacey's argument.
"But dad…"
"Mr. August and his son are here." The butler announced, looking between Stacey's parents for permission to lead their guest into the living room.
"Let them in."
Stacey Brown's 27th birthday dinner was off to a disastrous start! She was already trying to shake off the ominous feeling from the terrible dream she had while napping a few hours ago, now this!
She glared at her parents, her mind racing with frustration.
"You both are pulling my legs right? Mom? Dad?" Stacey asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Before she could get a response, Fredrick August and his father, Henry walked in.
Stacey had met Mr. August a couple of times while growing up, but never actually spoken to him. He was her father's closest business partner, but she had never met his son. She only heard about him on the news, or on social media. He was a successful fashion designer, but when it came to women, he was the walking definition of a play boy.
Henry August, a middle-aged man with a smug smile, extended his hand. "Delighted to finally meet you, Stacey."
Stacey hesitated before shaking his hand, her mind racing with dread. This has to be a joke right?
Frederick, tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes, smirked at her. "Well, well, well. The feminist lawyer. I've heard so much about you, Stacey." He didn't bother to hide the disapproval in his tone.
Stacey's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Charmed, I'm sure."
As they sat down for dinner, Stacey's parents exchanged a knowing glance. Her heart sank.
"Stacey, Frederick, we have an announcement to make," her father said, his voice stern, and holding a note of finality.
Stacey's eyes darted to Frederick, who seemed perplexed. He obviously was oblivious of the reason for the meeting.
Her mother's eyes sparkled as she delivered the news. "We're thrilled to announce your engagement!"
Stacey's jaw dropped. They were not joking. "No! Absolutely not!"
Frederick's eyes widened in shock. "Engagement? To who? Her? You can not be serious!"
The room fell silent, the tension palpable.
Stacey tried to keep the anger out of her tone and replied calmly. "I will not do it."
"I did not agree to this either! This is madness! Dad, what is going on here?"
James Brown's expression went from stern to a warning. "Enough, Stacey! You'll do as we say. This alliance will benefit both families."
If this was a different subject, Stacey would cower and compromise to make her dad happy, but this was about her future. She was not letting him have the final say. Her voice rose. "Benefit? You call forcing me into a marriage with a chauvinist like him a benefit?"
Frederick's eyes narrowed, giving Stacey a one over. "Hey, watch it, lady. I am not a chauvinist. I just have high standards."
Stacey scoffed. "Standards? Like a trail of heart breaks and curses?"
"Like a trail of women who were not deserving of my time."
"Ha! Says the man who parades himself in clothes small enough to fit a three year old, all in the name of fashion."
"You know nothing about what I do. So keep the criticisms for those poor ladies you sell bullshit ideas to in the name of feminism." He fired back.
"Being with you would be the biggest mistake of my life!"
It was his turn to scoff, and he did so in the most annoying way he could think of. "You are the only mistake I see here. And, who said anything about agreeing to be with such a disrespectful and uncouth person as you? I would rather pluck out my eyes with scissors than give this preposterous idea a second thought!"
"Uncouth? Me?"
"I do not see anyone else here running her mouth like an uncivilised she-banshee."
"How dare you speak to me in that manner?"
"Oh darling, I only dished out what you served first. I just did it better."
"You're incorrigible."
"That makes both of…"
Mr. August cut in, his voice smooth. It mirrored the authority that James' voice carried. "That's enough! Not another word from you Fred! This has been decided upon, and it will happen."
"End of story." James, Stacey's father added, eyes pinning Stacey to her seat.
All her life, she had done whatever her parents asked her to. The only day she had defied them was when she decided to study law against her father's wish. James had done everything he could to make her get an MBA instead, but she refused. She was the only child, and he expects that she would take over the family business. At the end of the day, he caved and let her do what she wanted. This time, it did not look like her father was giving her any options.
Stacey's gaze locked onto her mother's own, a silent plea. But Susan looked away, disappointment in her eyes.
Stacey sank into her seat. It was useless arguing with them. Her fate was sealed, but she was not having it.
Fredrick shifted in his seat, seething. All his life, he had never been told what to do, or who to be with. And he was definitely not going to let them begin now.
"Now, if that is settled," James began, "let us have some food. I am starved. Honey?"
Susan's face lit up immediately as she stood to serve the meal.
The room fell silent again. The arguement had ceased, but the tension kept escalating.
Neither Fredrick nor Stacey touched their food. They just looked between their parents in utter disbelief, still trying to make sense of what just happend. Stacey hated Fredrick's guts, and Fredrick was appalled by Stacey's pride.
There was no freaking way she was agreeing to this sham of a wedding arrangement. As if on cue, her phone rang.
"Please, excuse me." She said, getting up from her seat. She would use the call as an excuse to bail.
She thought about going to her room to take the call, but that would be the first place her mother would check if she did not return. So, she decided to go to the garden.
Her family villa stood on over ten hectares of land. It was a really large estate. She literally grew up like a princess in a castle, and had several places she could escape to whenever she needed to be alone.
"Do not be long. We have a lot to talk about." Her father said, not bothering to look up from his plate.
She did not respond. She just walked out of the door, and into the garden that was just behind the main building.
She sat on the swing after the call, trying to internalize what had just happened inside. She needed to come up with a plan, and quickly too. She took out her phone to make another call, then she heard something rustle in the little bush.
She jerked and turned swiftly, "who's there?"
Her question was met with silence. The light bulb around the bushes was not lit, so she could not see clearly.
The villa had tight security. Stacey was certain that it would not be an intruder. But she was also certain that she'd heard foot steps.
Her curiosity got the better of her. She turned on her phone's torch, and walked towards the area where the sound came from.
Her light flickered across a figure lurking in the shadows. Her heart skipped a beat. "Who's there?" she called out again, her voice trembling.
The figure did not move or respond. Stacey's instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs felt heavy and unresponsive. She tried to take a step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. So she moved the only part of her body that was still cooperative - her fingers. She could at least dial 911.
Suddenly, the figure sprang to life. A hand clamped over her mouth, and she was yanked backwards. Stacey's phone flew out of her hand, the light extinguished.
She was trapped in darkness.
A low, menacing whisper breathed in her ear. "You should not have come out here, Stacey Brown."
Her mind raced as she struggled to break free. But the grip only tightened. Then, she felt a hot, searing sensation on her left arm as the man who held her muttered some incoherent words.
A surge of adrenaline fueled her fight, and with every iota of strength, she jammed her elbow into her captor's side, and attempted to run as he winced in pain.
As she turned around, a second masked man landed a blow to her head.
Everything went dark.