by T. R. Iyer
Her father sighed and gestured her to sit on the couch. Her parents’s silence was slowly getting to her. She just wanted them to tell her what was bothering them so much.
“What is it, Dad?”
“Sweetheart, I know this is going to be hard for you. But I want you to understand my situation. Please, darling.”
For the first time ever, she’d seen her father plead, and the quiver in his voice told her that whatever he was about to say was not pleasant.
“What is it?” Nella asked once again.
No one answered. They just looked at her with guilt written all over their faces.
“Just tell me. What is it?” she begged one more time, her heart racing.
“Honey, you—” He stopped to take a long breath.
“Dad!”
“You are getting married,” he said abruptly.
“Huh?”
She must have lost her hearing in an instant. She was convinced, or tried so hard to convince herself she’d heard something completely wrong.
“Can you repeat that?” Nella asked, still in a state of shock. “I think my ears are ringing.”
“You are getting married,” he repeated.
All those doubts were out of the window the moment her father said those words for the second time.
“What? When did this happen? I mean who decided this?”
It had been barely an hour after her graduation. This was not the surprise she was expecting.
Her parents were silent again, irking Ornelia more and more by the passing second.
“Okay, you know what? Forget it, but . . . please tell me who it is.”
“Maximus King.”
Bye-bye, plan of action.
Chapter Four
“Maximus King?” Ornelia asked, confused and visibly tense.
All her father could do was nod in agreement.
The guy who glared.
“You mean the horse face who attended our graduation ceremony?”
Again, all she got was a weak nod from her father and a barely audible chuckle from her mother.
Maximus King.
The name sent shivers down her spine.
He was very well-known in the entire state of California as a ruthless businessman. He was also California’s very own f*ckboy but never a boyfriend—let alone a husband. The latter just did not exist in his dictionary.
He came from a family of old money. Everyone knew he was a player, and this man couldn’t get any more cliché. He was famous for dating beautiful women from all around the world, at least that was how the tabloids portrayed him. He was every girl’s fantasy hero and every guy’s worst nightmare.
Never had Ornelia imagined that this nightmare dressed as a fantasy would be her future husband, not even when she saw him up on that stage like perfection, glaring down at her as though she was a filth.
“Honey?” her mother’s voice broke her trance.
Ornelia released a breath that she didn’t know she’d been holding.
“Are you okay?” her concerned voice came.
“Not quite, Ma,” Ornelia spit out the words.
Her mom’s face looked crestfallen, which suddenly made her feel guilty. It wasn’t her fault; she couldn’t have known herself.
Ornelia faced her father and asked, “Dad, why? I mean I just got a f*cking degree, so why all of a sudden?”
She saw him hesitate at first. He then sat in front of her at the table and ran a hand through his hair.
“A long time ago, Harrold King, Maximus’s grandfather, helped us out through some tough times. It’s an unpaid debt, dangling on our heads. When your mother was pregnant with you and went into labor, I drove her to the hospital, and I was in a mad rush. I ran a red light and collided with a car. It turned out that in it were Harrold’s grandson and son, Dominic. Luckily no one was severely hurt except for the grandson, who had minor scratches and a broken arm. Dominic ended up calling Harrold to fix things, and he wouldn’t let us leave. Your mother was getting increasingly uneasy.” Her father looked at her mother and sighed.
“But we didn’t expect that Harrold . . .” he trailed off.
“What does any of this have to do with me marrying Maximus King?”
As much as she loved watching her parents still in love, right at that time all she wanted were answers.
“We owed him a lot of money, Nella. He paid all the expenses of your birth and postnatal care. Your father was laid off at that time. Turned out Harrold had bought the firm and while downsizing they cut your father’s job too. Once he came to know Alex had worked there, he rehired him as a manager. We insisted we pay him back, not all at once, but as much as we could. Harrold was an adamant old man. He didn’t want any of our money. He said he would ask for payment only when the time was right,” her mother explained further with tears in her eyes.
“I still don’t get it. Where do I stand in all of this?” Ornelia snapped at her.
“Nella, he recently passed away,” Alex continued.
“My condolences . . . and I am sorry you lost your boss, Papa. But I’d still like to get some of my answers first and then we can mourn his death, I promise.”
She never spoke to her parents like that—let alone disrespect the dead man.
“I was invited to his will reading, Ornelia. That was the will reading I had to attend last week.” Alex was trying his best to lay the story down on her as gently as he could, of how such an unpleasant deal came to be. “And in his will, he mentioned leaving some of his property worth a few millions in your name. And in order to have access to this property or to transfer it, you will have to marry his grandson. Maximus King is his grandson, Nella.” Her father just dropped a bomb on her.
“So you’re telling me that I, Ornelia Dawson, am technically a millionaire? And his grandson has to marry me to get any sort of access to that property? Is this a joke?” Ornelia started laughing maniacally.
“I wish it was a joke, honey. But it is not. And Maximus wants to get married as soon as he can and get it over with. I am sorry, Nella. I wish I could do something.” He looked heartbroken.
“Why would he do that? It’s like his grandson is incapable of getting women, which really is not the case. We all know about his quests and my God, that man is a genius businessman and has been on the top list of Forbes 30 Under 30 and all that. Why do I have to marry him? So that he can get the inheritance?” she asked helplessly, not knowing what else to say.
“In three weeks, you will get married,” he firmly said.
It was the first time she’d seen her father so tongue-tied. Usually he would answer all her questions without hesitating.
She felt betrayed and was overcome with emotion, so helpless and scared. Then her eyes widened with sudden realization. “But, Papa, the—that’s like barely a month! I don’t even know him! How am I going to spend the rest of my life with that man?” she asked.
“Honey, if only I could do something about it.”
She looked at her parents. They seemed to be struggling to get a grip on reality just as much as she was.
“You keep saying that, while Maximus King ruins my life. F*cking piece of sh*t.” Ornelia stomped to her room and banged the door.
Ornelia had always been one of those girls who wanted to have a happily ever after, but her ever after just took a sickening twist. Actually, the ever after disappeared the moment her father announced she was getting married.
She was twenty-one, and she’d never even gone out on a proper date with a boy, and now she had to get married? This was just too much to take in. Three weeks was such a little time to prepare herself, mentally. She needed more time—time to make up her mind, time to know about this person, and time to plan out her life. The question was, Would she like to include Maximus King in her plans?
Maybe not.
She had a vague feeling that all her studies were going to go to waste. She wanted to pursue a career, settle in, have her own apartment and then think of getti
ng married. “Think” was supposed to be the key word. She couldn’t believe everything was about to go down the drain, just because Harrold King wanted his grandson to have a happy life. Couldn’t they see they were destroying her own life? It was like her future was being snatched away from her when it was just within her reach, and she couldn’t do a damn thing about it, except to contemplate what the future held for her.
After a few minutes she heard a knock on her door.
She let her parents come in, and they sat next to her on the bed, hugging her tightly. Her mother softly sobbed into her shoulder.
“Honey, please, say something.” She heard her father plead.
“I really don’t have much to say, Pa.”
Ornelia felt like a mess. She’d just gotten her degree, and there was so much left to see and do. Getting married wasn’t even on her to-do list, not for a very long time at least.
“I am going to sleep on this. I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow. Good night.” Ornelia had decided to retire for the night. It really was too much for her to take in.
“There is nothing to sleep on, Nella. This is going to happen, whether you like it or not. It is written in the agreement. I wish I knew how to change any of this, sweetheart. I am sorry.” Her father was on the verge of tears as he declared her fate, as he declared her life would change in three weeks.
Chapter Five
He stood there watching the busy world from his sky-high office. He was a man with no time to pass, but whenever he got some free time, all he would want to do was gaze out and watch the world functioning beneath him, with his glass of fine scotch in his hand.
That day was a different one. Even though it seemed as if he was just standing there in daze, he was actually working, thinking about his future— his future, which was going to be interrupted by a nobody.
As much as he wanted to think that this was good for both of their lives, the complete opposite came into his mind.
He loved his lifestyle way too much to throw it away for some silly arrangement made by his grandfather. He was used to dating beautiful, leggy models, actresses, and heiresses with high status in society, but he always kept it physical and avoided being tied down in a relationship with any of the women he dated. They fulfilled his bodily desires, and vice versa. He was Maximus King after all.
Now everything was spoiled, all because of her. He’d be expected to give up everything and settle down. Oh, but all of them were in for a huge surprise. He was not going to give up anything for some little girl Ornelia Dawson.
He had seen her pictures and saw her in person at her graduation. She was kind of a plain Jane, with plain brown hair and a small frame of maybe five feet. She looked like a child if compared to any of the women he had dated or bedded. In fact, she was still a child—only twenty-one years old—whereas he was twenty-nine, eight years her senior.
“Maxie boy,” came the familiar voice of his best friend and business associate, Ethan Mars. “What are you thinking about so much, my friend?” Ethan queried.
“I am expected to be married to a total nobody. What do you think?” he asked rhetorically. He heard Ethan sigh.
“I know, man. I mean, I would feel the same if I were you. But just try to understand from her point of view. I am sure she isn’t happy either. It is all too sudden for her as well, Max.”
Maximus gave a sarcastic snort and shot Ethan a yeah-right look. “She is a commoner, Ethan. Like every other woman, all she’ll want is my money, my status, and most of all the title ‘The Lady Who Bagged Maximus King.’ I cannot let that happen. Her achieving this would make my life eerily similar to my father’s. I do not want any more gold-diggers around me,” Maximus spit in disgust. He saw Ethan visibly wince at his harsh words.
“Why don’t you just try talking to her?” Ethan suggested. “Maybe you can talk her out of it. It’s just some money, man. Think of it as charity.”
Maximus sighed and replied, “It is of no use. If I don’t marry her, the empire that I restored after grandpa’s retirement will be taken away from me, which I cannot allow to happen. And as far as charity goes, I’d rather give my money to someone who will make good use of it, because that woman will surely just spend it on shopping. If I can’t use that money, neither can she, unless she becomes my legal wife.” Maximus had a frown covering his sharp features.
He would not entertain money-hungry wh*res.
“You are stuck, dude!” Ethan exclaimed.
Maximus just nodded quietly. His grandfather had played a masterstroke against him. He was stuck, and it didn’t seem like there was a way out.
Ornelia Dawson would have to face his wrath. He would not let her ruin his life.
***
Ornelia was tired, like dead tired. She just wanted to reach home and give in to the confines of her bed and dream about happy things, which she doubted she would ever have. Her mother was driving her crazy. She’d literally driven her from one bridal store to another to find a dress that would look just “perfect” on her, because after all, it was still a wedding.
Ornelia didn’t understand the necessity of this. If it had been in her hands, she would’ve liked to get married in a pair of baggy jeans, an oversized T-shirt, and a pair of comfortable sneakers. However, at the end of the day those were only fantasies, just like in a perfect world, where Ornelia could have been able to marry out of love.
But hey, does a perfect world even exist? Ugh! Probably not.
She felt like screaming out loud because of the frustration. Thank goodness, she was going to get married only once. She would never—even in the name of God—think of going through all of this torture again.
“Mom, are we done yet?” Nella asked.
“Geez, I have never seen such a cold bride, not excited about her wedding at all. Nella, grow up! You will be someone’s wife soon. You cannot go around whining about everything. And yes, we are done,” her mother snapped at her.
“I just asked a question. You didn’t have to lecture me about it. And it’s not like I am marrying out of choice. Sorry that I am a cold bride, Ma,” she murmured under her breath.
“What was that, young lady? Ornelia, I know all of this is not what you chose, but let’s just make the best out of it, yeah?” her mother asked her.
Ornelia had to bite her tongue to stop herself from answering her back. She didn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill.
***
Gazing out the window, Ornelia was in her own world.
She snapped out of her daze when she felt the car stopping. She quickly got out and made a dash for her bedroom. She heard her mother shout for her from the car, but she paid no heed. When she reached her room, she discarded her clothes and changed into a T-shirt—four sizes bigger than her size—and some comfortable shorts.
Sleep. Who knows when you’ll get peace again!
That was her last thought as she drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Six
“I need help,” Ornelia told Emily when she opened the door.
“Okay. Come in first and tell me what’s going on.” Emily pulled her inside the apartment. As usual Jake was already there.
“How is he always here? Don’t you have a home?” Ornelia pointed at Jake, who just pulled her down to sit with him.
“That’s a question for another time. Let’s focus on you for now.” He patted her head.
She’d called Emily in the morning and told her that she was in deep sh*t and needed help. Emily had urged her to share her problem over the phone, but Ornelia wanted to get out of the house and spend some time with her friends. Her mom was damn near driving her crazy. Ornelia had zero interest in shopping for the wedding, but her mother wouldn’t stop talking about it. Staying home was getting more suffocating for her.
“What is going on?” Emily asked. “You’ve had me worried since morning. You never called me that early.”
Ornelia explained everything—how she was supposed to marry Maximus King and how she wa
s bound by a dumb deal with him.
Emily’s and Jake’s jaws dropped as soon as she finished telling them the news.
“That is some bullsh*t,” Emily said.
At the same time Jake yelled, “Oh mey God. You’re getting married!” This got him a smack from Emily.
“Shut up, dumb*ss. It’s not a good thing.” Emily scowled.
“It’s a wedding, Emily. No one hates weddings.” Jake’s excitement was annoying both of them.
“Well, I am not enjoying a single thing about this wedding,” Ornelia snapped at him.
“Exactly. This is not like usual weddings. Who still has an arranged marriage? All of this is so medieval.”
Emily came in support for her. “What do you want to do about this, Nella?”
“I wish I knew . . . I feel like my life is over. I would want to do so many things, Em.” Her lips quivered.
Emily hugged her tightly and pinched Jake’s arm.
“Hey, what was that for?” Jake rubbed his arm to relieve the pain.
“Join in. God, how can you be so stupid! It just amazes me every time.” She rolled her eyes, her grip on Ornelia tightening with each word.
Ornelia could feel Emily’s annoyance increasing. Jake hugged her equally tightly in a moment.
“Guys, I can’t breathe. I think I have felt enough of your love.” She squirmed out of their hug.
“Let’s run away! All three of us,” Jake blurted out.
“What?” Ornelia and Emily exclaimed together.
“Yeah, I can manage to hide both of you guys for a while. You know my parents are mostly out. No one is home most of the time. And no one knows where I live,” he explained.
It was true. Emily and Ornelia had no idea where Jake lived throughout the years they had known him. He was almost always at Emily’s, and she never asked where he lived either. She just thought he wouldn’t be comfortable to talk about it.