Damian
I came down from the plane immediately it landed. It's been long I left this city. I inhaled the smell of the city and I smiled widely.
"It's nice been back at home" I said to myself
I looked around and said to myself "Nothing has changed since I left"
I picked up my phone from my pocket and called my old man, as I fondly address him and informed him, I'm at the airport. Shortly after, I heard someone call out my name and I turned my back to see who it was. It was my driver.
"Sir Damian, welcome sir. How was your trip?" He asked
"It was fine, thank you" I replied
He assisted me in carrying my luggage to the booth and we began our journey home.
As the drive was going smoothly, I instructed the driver to play a solemn song.
I started reminiscing on how I had refused to take over my father's company, Daman Corporation while at college. I wanted to build my own company from scratch without depending on anybody but my father was against me.
I remained adamant for some time until my father started reducing my monthly allowance and was depriving me of things I'm entitled too.
I had to beg him and promised to listen to him, after which he instructed me to come back home.
"That old man" I said out
"What did you say sir?" The driver asked me
"…I didn't say anything" I replied and smiled at him
"Oops…I thought I said that in my mind" I said inwardly and rested my head on the chair to enjoy the music.
On getting home, I was hearing sound of music coming out of the house. I started wondering what the celebration was about.
Immediately the driver parked the car in the parking area, I got down and I saw lot of people trooping in and out of the house.
"Is my dad throwing a welcome party for me?" I asked myself
I looked around for my dad and I saw him coming out of the house. I quickly ran to him.
"Hi Dad" I greeted
"My son, how are you?" He replied stretching his arms wide open for me to hug
"I'm fine, dad" I replied him embracing myself in his arm.
"How was your trip?" He asked
It was fine, dad" I replied him smiling
"Come let me introduce you to some of my business partners." He said before dragging me along with him
I was about refusing but not to cause trouble on the first day of my arrival, I followed him.
After he was done with the introduction, he said "Go to your room and freshen up. Once you're done, I have something important to discuss with you."
"Alright, dad." I said smiling
I was about leaving when I remembered what I've been curious to ask him.
"Dad, what's the celebration about?" I asked
"I will tell you about it later." He replied smiling
I wanted to question him but I decided not to even though I'm very eager to know what the celebration is about.
As I got to my room, I went to freshen up and when I was done, I heard a knock on my door. I told the person at the door to come in thinking it was my dad but it wasn't.
A maid walked in carrying with her a neatly folded ironed suit with shoe.
"Good afternoon, young master" she greeted
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" I asked
"Your dad asked me to bring this suit to you and you should ensure you wear it once you're done freshening up." She replied
I nodded my head at her and she dropped the suit on the bed and left.
Not long she left, I heard another knock on the door.
"Agghh…who is that again?" I said silently. I was already getting tired with the consistent knocking.
"Come in." I said to whoever was at the door.
The door opened and I realized it was my dad. I hurriedly left what I was doing and ushered him in.
"Have your seat, dad" I said
"Thank you, my son. Sit down as well" He spoke
"I hope all is well dad?" I asked him. I was already getting worried.
"All is well. I just want to discuss something important with you" He replied.
I adjusted myself on the seat.
My dad cleared his throat before speaking "Damian…" He paused for a while.
This made me to be anxious. My dad has never been one to speak one by one before when talking to me. I decided to keep quite so as not to interrupt the conversation.
He then continued "Today is your wedding"
The words were like a bomb. Am I dreaming or what? I pinched myself to confirm if I was dreaming but I wasn't.
"Today is my what, dad?" I asked him to be sure I heard him clearly
"Today is your wedding, Damian" He repeated
A lot of things started running through my mind. Is my dad trying to pull my legs or what is this wedding thing he is talking about suddenly?
"Dad, I don't get. Today is my wedding, with who?" I asked him
"With my friend's daughter, Willa" He replied
"Willa…who is Willa? I do not know who the hell Willa is." I said angrily but my dad didn't reply me. He was just staring at me.
"Why did you arrange a marriage for me without informing me? To crown it all, you fixed a wedding date behind me and it happened to be the day of my arrival out of all days." I said to him with fury
"I do not need to get your approval before doing anything for you and I didn't know the date we fixed would be the day you would come home but fortunately for you, it was." My dad replied sharply.
"Willa is my friend daughter. I've known my friend since our childhood days and I know Willa as well since she was born. Willa is a good girl" He added
"But dad… How do you expect me to marry a woman I don't love nor see before?" I asked him sadly
"You will love her, Damian. Once you guys get married, your love for each other will begin to bloom" He replied
"Can you hear yourself, dad? How do you expect me to love a woman when we get married when I do not love her now?" I asked him
"Trust me, Damian, you will get to love Willa." He replied "Willa is a beautiful lady, smart, and intelligent. She will make a good wife for you" He added
I was dumbfounded. Is my dad playing tricks on me?
I looked at him and I said calmly "Dad, no wedding is holding today."
"You must be joking Damian. Listen to me carefully, you're getting married to Willa today either you like it or not. You dare not oppose me" he said to me angrily.
"Come off it, dad. I'm not marrying Willa or whatever it is her name is. Why will you arrange a marriage for me like I'm a kid" I retorted
"Damian" My dad called out standing up angrily
"If you know what is good for you, don't disobey me. If you dare go against me, I will disown you as my son" he said pointing his finger at me.
"But dad…" I said sadly
"Don't but me, Damian" He cut me sharply
"I've invited all my business partners and also people of high standard. Don't you dare embarrass me in front of them" he said
I was speechless. I couldn't oppose my dad because my inheritance is on the line and this old man right before me can go any length to prove him wrong.
I kept quite and after some time, he spoke up "Now get ready. Your wedding is starting in the next one hour. Be of your best behavior throughout the wedding."
With that, my dad walked away leaving me alone.
I got lost in my own thought thinking about the wedding my dad planned without informing me.
By the time I checked the time, it was time for the wedding. I hurriedly dressed up so as not to make my dad furious the more.
"Let's go and see who this so-called Willa is" I said to myself.