Bentley adjusted and said, "You know that soon, I'll hand over my duties to my son and there will be and there will be an official CEO celebration party. My son is of marriageable age and he hasn't made any efforts to find a wife for himself and there's no time. I'm aware you also have a daughter who's around the age of my son, so I think they would make a great couple, simply for the betterment of your company. So what do you think?"
Mckellen was uncertain but he was very desperate at this point. "So you're saying in exchange for being my sponsor, my daughter has to marry your son?"
"Yes, exactly,"
Mckellen seemed very unsure of what decision to take because there were a lot of factors to consider.
"You know what? How about you go back home and think about it? I trust that you'll return with a positive response."
"I would really appreciate that. Thank you so much for your time." He stood up and gave him a handshake and then he left the company.
As he drove back home, his mind was occupied with the deal Bentley had just offered him. Will Catherine be in support of this? Bradley Bentley did have a point. Catherine was 22 and was old enough to get married, it wouldn't be a bad idea.
Aside from the fact that his daughter will be married into one of the most successful families in New York City, his company will go back to normal. It will truly be a win-win for all of both companies. He thought to himself hoping that this would be easy as he thought but Catherine was not giving in.
~~~
Catherine hopped into the car not looking back at him. "Gideon! Please take me to Felice's place and make sure you don't tell my father where I'm off to." She ordered.
"Yes ma'am," He said.
Gideon, Catherine's driver was assigned to her by her father to drive her to wherever she pleases. He knew that he obviously supposed to let his boss know where his daughter was even if she told him not to.
Catherine clasped her hand on her face, thinking of how she would suddenly get married to a man she had not known of. Just like that, out of the blue, she would sign a marriage agreement? No. She shook her head, remembering two days ago when she had discovered that the company was falling apart.
Catherine had returned to her room that day, not satisfied with the answer her mother gave her when she told her she only had a headache. She knew things were not right and they were hiding something from her. Staring out of the window, the clouds were forming a darker shade, she took a shower still thinking what could have been the problem. Something told her everything would eventually turn absurd.
The next morning, she woke up feeling light-headed. She hurried out of the room and met the maid who informed her her parents had left for work already.
"They didn't have breakfast?" She asked the maid.
"No, ma'am, they had to leave in a hurry."
She nodded and watched the maid leave, she sighed her mind now in more distress. Yesterday her mother was not feeling well and today she left in a hurry.
She had returned to her room and ate silently alone, before she decided to leave the house, hoping to find out what it was that disturbed her parents.
It was that day she came across the papers and read what was happening. She returned home frustrated.
She had sat and waited when she saw her parents walk downstairs to the dining room where they met her already seated at the table. While the maid was done serving the food, they all began to eat.
The clacking sounds of spoons and plates filled the room and it was awkwardly silent because neither of them said anything to each other.
"Daddy, so you're just going to sit there and pretend nothing is happening?" She had started. She furiously pulled out a newspaper from under her seat and showed it to him. "Daddy, when were you going to tell us?"
Mckellen immediately began to cough at the sight of the newspaper. He dropped his spoon grabbed a glass of water and took it down to subside the cough.
"Honey, where did you get that?" He tried to snatch the paper away from her but she was smart enough to move it faster than him.
"Daddy, you didn't answer my question. When were you going to tell me and Mommy?"
"Honey, please put the paper away. We can talk about it after dinner." Charlotte, her mother responded lightly.
"Wait. Mom, You knew? Oh my gosh! So both of you knew about this and you were just going to keep it away from me? Just like that? I can't believe this. I'm sick of all of this!"
"Baby wait..."
"No! When were you going to tell me? Who knows for how long you two have been hiding this from me?!"
"Honey, we only just found out yesterday and your father has everything under control..."
"Wait, yesterday when I saw you on the couch? So that was the reason why Daddy was comforting you? You lied to me. Both of you! You know what? I'm done!"
She left the newspaper on the dinner table and hurried upstairs. Grabbing her purse, she stormed out of the house, her fist clenched, her blood boiling with rage.
"Catherine! Where are you off to?" Her mother questioned and ran to the door. But her husband grabbed her by the arm. "Honey! Let her be, let's just give her some time and space. I'll call Gideon to keep an eye on her, okay?" He hugged her in order to comfort her and keep her mind at rest.
It was now this few days and now they came with a marriage agreement? Catherine couldn't help but clench and unclench her fist as she realized they had arrived at Felice's place.
"Ma'am, we're here," Gideon said, drawing Catherine's concentration back. She looked at her watch, it was 9 pm late.
"Thank you, Gideon. You can go now, I'll call you when I need you." She said to him.
"Yes, ma'am," Gideon answered as she grabbed her purse and walked into Felice's father's mansion.
"Babe," Felice called and rushed over to where she was, giving her a big hug. "How are you? You didn't tell me you were coming. Is everything okay?" She asked worried as he led her inside.
Felice and Catherine have been best friends since their childhood days. Their parents have known each other since their college days. Felice had become a very supportive friend to Catherine and the case was the same with Felice; both were always there for each other.
Felice's father is a well-known billionaire who specializes in selling vehicles and vehicle parts.
"My Dad and Mom are the worst!" She blurted.
"Come on, let's go up to my room and talk." Felice urged. She wrapped her hands around her shoulders as they both went towards his room meeting Mrs Frederickson; Felice's mother.
"Catherine dear, how are you?"
"Hello, Mrs Frederickson." she smiled.
"You should have come earlier we just finished having dinner."
"No worries, ma'am, I had dinner at home." she offered her a gentle smile.
"Okay then, if you say so," Mrs Fredrickson said, smiled and left.
Felice offered her a glass of milk and then sat with her on her bed. "What's the problem, Cat? You know you can always talk to me."