Chapter 1 The marriage idea

Mr and Mrs Alexander were discussing about their daughter when she walked in.

"Dad? You are here?" She asked him. She was holding a shopping bag, it was obvious she went shopping.

"Yes, I didn't go to work today" he replied her.

"But dad, you don't normally stay at home, so what's wrong?" She asked. Mr Alexander glimpsed at his wife who gave her the "go ahead" look.

"May we have a word with you?" Mr Alexander suddenly asked.

"What do you......" Beatrice was saying but was disrupted by her mother.

"Beatrice, go drop your things upstairs and then we can have the conversation" Mrs Helen said.

"Alright mom" Beatrice said and headed upstairs to her room.

"Why did you sent her off?" Mr Alexander asked.

"You told me to tell her, but you sent her off. Why?" He queried.

"Am sorry, I realised she needs to freshen up and be her self before having this conversation. We can't just go ahead and tell her like that" Mrs Helen explained and her husband kept quiet for a while, before speaking.

"So, how are we going to break the news to her?" Mr Alexander asked, worriedly.

"What news?" They heard Beatrice asked, she was climbing down the stairs.

"Come have a seat" Mrs Helen said and Beatrice sat down.

"You know the Emerson company right?" Mr Alexander said to Beatrice.

"Yes, the one they named after their son, Brandon" She replied him. She was playing with her nails.

"Yes, Brandon industries" Mr Alexander confirmed.

"So, what happened to the company?" she asked her dad. he was about replying when her phone rang, it was her best friend calling.

"Can I take this call?" She pouted.

"You are an adult Bea, stop behaving like a baby. We are having an important discussion here, so any thing should be kept aside" Mrs Helen stated and Beatrice frowned her face.

"Mr Emerson brought us a proposal, he wants to merge with our company" He said and Beatrice jumped up in joy.

"Wow, congratulations dad" she said, jumping on him like a baby.

"Thanks but there is something else" Mr Alexander paused, he sighed before continuing.

"For this merger to be strong and also for there to be more investors, you must get married to his son, Brandon" Mr Alexander concluded his statement.

"What?" Beatrice scoffed as she sat down.

"Married to his son?" She scoffed again. "Can't the merging go on without me getting married to Brandon" she asked.

"There have to be some bond between the company. If there is no bond then no investors would like to invest in the company, because they will be afraid that we might end up quarrelling and then break the merger. If that happens, then the investors will be the one at loss" he explained.

"But dad, I don't like him" She almost yelled.

"What don't you like in him? He is handsome, rich, famous and all" Mrs Helen stated, counting her fingers.

"He is a Casanova for crying out loud! How am I sure he's not gonna be bringing whores to our matrimonial bed" Beatrice yelled.

"You know what? Am out of here" she stood up and headed upstairs to her room.

"I know she would react this way, but I have something that is going to make her agree" Mr Alexander stated.

"You know? Honey, tell me" Mrs Helen beckoned.

"She might hear us" Mr Alexander said, glancing at the stairs.

"She won't. She's in her room upstairs and she probably might have locked herself there" Mrs Helen said.

"Michelle, her best friend, works at our company... Beatrice pleaded with me to employ her and I did" Mr Alexander said.

"How is that going to help?" Mrs Helen asked, confusingly.

"If Beatrice refuses to marry Brandon, then I will fire Michelle but if Beatrice marries him, I won't fire her" He replied.

"What! That's blackmailing, we can't blackmail our daughter" she surprisingly said.

"We aren't going to blackmail her, we are doing the right thing. She must surely marry Brandon, you should stop giving her false hope" he retorted and angrily took the his car keys from the table, before leaving.

"What should I do" Mrs Helen sighed.

*

"They want me to get married to that jerk! Although he's cute but I don't like him"Beatrice muttered to herself. "Am I joking? I do like him, he's cute" She playfully hit herself."You should stop it! He's cute but you are also beautiful" Beatrice sighed.

She sat on the bed in her room, sitting on the bed.

"I should probably call Michelle" she muttered and took her phone.

"Hello" Michelle said through the call.

"Bestie, how are you? I missed a call from you and am sorry for that" Beatrice said.

"Bea, don't be sorry. Are you okay? You don't sound lively, are you sick?" Michelle asked, in a concern tone.

Beatrice was contemplating about whether to tell her best friend or not. Beatrice knew her father very well, he's man of his word, what if he actually get her married to Brandon? Michelle might tell people it's a contract marriage and then she would be a laughing stock. But Michelle isn't like that, she wouldn't do such a thing, would she?

"Bea, hey....you there" Michelle question made Beatrice out from her thoughts.

"I am fine, am just feeling sleepy" Beatrice lied.

"Alright, am still at work, call you when I get home Michelle said.

"Adieu(Goodbye)" Beatrice said in French and hang up.

"I feel bad lying to her but I just have to" Beatrice

muttered and sighed.

******

Three cars were parked at Brandon's industries, Two men came out of the first car and one of them opened the door of the second car. Brandon step out in a haste and walked into the company with his escorts behind him.

"Welcome sir" The secretary greeted.

"Where is my dad?" He asked hoarsely.

"In his office, sir" she replied. Brandon was about walking in the office when the Secretary stopped him.

"You can't go in sir, he's so busy right now" she said and he glared at her.