Chapter 2 A Wicked Proposal

A V E R Y

Life is beautiful. I took a sip of bed coffee, looking at the sun rays shining through the bedroom window. I always have a thing for summer, my favorite season ever.

Resting my back against the padded headboard, I curled up having my morning coffee, gazing at the outside view. The room door opened, and my mom entered with a smile on her face.

"Morning, mom." – I wrapped my hands around her waist, burying my face in her tummy as she placed a kiss on my temple, rubbing my back.

"Morning, baby." – I lifted my face and smiled at her. She gently cupped my face and kissed me again.

I'm an only child, and I got everything I need. I ask them, and in a few minutes, it will be here with me. Being born to the wealthiest family is something I consider fortunate. You get every fucking shit you need.

"Breakfast is ready. Why don't you get dressed and come downstairs?" – She informed in her chirpy tone.

"Sure." – I gave her an empty cup and headed towards the bathroom.

I got dressed in a ripped jeans skirt with a matching blouse. I blow-dried my hair while I checked my social accounts, as usual, multi-tasking. Once done, I went down to the dining room.

"Morning, Dad." – I ran to him while he was reading a newspaper at the dining table.

"Morning, beautiful!" – He smiled and pecked my cheek as I wrapped my hands around his shoulder from behind.

"What's going on today?" – I pointed to his newspaper and took a seat next to him.

"Same old, nothing new." – He went back to reading.

Mom joined us with breakfast. I opened the lid and an instant pout formed on my lips as soon as I saw pancake.

"What?" – She inquired.

"Pancake again?!" – I whined, pushing the plate away.

"You know the maid is not keeping well, and we need to adjust for few days." – She explained.

"I don't care if she's sick or not. Shouldn't she be here? Call her now, and I need noodles." – I folded my arms angrily.

"Eat your food now, and don't make me mad, Avery." – She yelled.

"Dad," – I whimpered, looking at him so that he would defend me. He stared at her folding the paper, placing it on the side of the table.

He added, "Violet, prepare what she likes. She can't eat the same thing daily or call one of the restaurants and order her breakfast now." I shrieked in excitement and hugged my dad.

"Thanks, dad." "Anything for my beautiful daughter." – He hugged me back.

"Seriously, Jack?!" – She sent a death glare to him and went back to the kitchen while Dad and I both hi-fi'ed.

Little did she know we both wanted noodles.

"Dad, when am I getting my watch that you ordered?"

"I called them, but due to some issues, the delivery will be late; you should get it by tonight."

"Even Ridhi's?" – I implored, playing with my fingers.

"Yes, Ridhi's too."

"Don't you already have too many watches? Why did you need another one?" – Mom set the bowl of noodles in front of us as I looked at her and the bowl of noodles.

"Well, because I wanted to." – I casually answered.

"Jack, you can't buy her everything she asks. You are spoiling her."

She doesn't like Dad buying me expensive stuff, but you know what, my dad is a fucking billionaire, and I am the only heir. So, all this belongs to me, which means I can buy whatever I want, but my mom has a problem with everything I do. She hates me when I spend way too much and reckons my dad is spoiling me.

"Mom, I know where this jealousy is coming from." – I took a bite of shrimp as a smile played on my lips.

"What do you mean by jealous?" – She implored, folding her arms.

"You're jealous because your husband doesn't buy you stuff." – I confided the truth to her.

"That's because I know the value of money and don't spend on everything unnecessarily." "Mom, we all know the truth. Why don't you accept it?" – I rolled my eyes.

"And what is that?" – She glared at me. I took the bowl in my hand and stood up.

"That, your husband right here loves me more than you." – I stuck my tongue out and ran upstairs with a bowl as I heard Dad laughing while Mom yelled at me.

It was two in the afternoon. I was using my phone when Dad called me from downstairs. I went down to see them both in the living room watching tv.

"Hey, dad." – I sat on the single-seater, snatching a remote from mom, switching the channels while she complained as she was watching her favorite cooking show.

"Honey, we want to talk to you about something." - He said in his not-so-happy voice.

"What's the matter, dad?" – I put the remote down and glanced at him.

"You know, honey, I gave you everything you asked, and I never said no to anything."

"Umm, yeah, dad, and that's why you are my favorite person ever." – I gleamed.

"Do you remember my friend, Frank Nunez and his family, who came to our house when you were eight to celebrate Christmas with us?" – I thought for a second but couldn't remember anyone, or about that Christmas, I celebrated when I was eight.

"Maybe, I don't remember." – I shrugged my shoulders.

"What's wrong?" – I implored.

"Nothing, honey, it's just that his second son, Nicholas sent us a proposal." – They both exchanged a look.

"Dad, you know I don't understand these business propositions. You know the best."

"But honey, this is something to do with you." – I was now confused.

"What do you mean, dad?"

"Umm, Nicholas saw you at the party last week." – I squinted my eyes. To be frank, I kind of knew where this was heading.

"Okay?" – I urged him to continue.

"He wants to marry you." – He spoke as his gaze met my mom's. Boom, I knew it. I let out a loud laugh.

"Dad, what did you just say?"

"Well, um, you know, I-I..." – He fumbled, making me anxious.

"Dad, did you agree?!"

"Nope, no, I didn't. But you know I liked his proposal. Your mom and I know him and his family for a very long time, and he is my best friend's son."

"But dad, I don't want to marry yet." – I picked the remote back, switching channels.

"Don't force me." – I put in.

"We are not, but this guy is the best one out there, and even if you find someone, you wouldn't be able to find a gem like him." – I cracked up again.

"Dad, he can be behind our money just like every other guy who usually hit on me." – He snickered, making me wonder what was so funny in it.

"Honey, he is the richest man. Our money doesn't even match twenty percent of his assets. I am damn sure he doesn't want anything to do with our money."

"Well um..." – I looked down as I had no idea what to say further.

"Just think about this." – He pleaded, gently caressing my hand.

"I don't know. Can't I see his pic or something?"

"Well, that guy is never fond of pics, and I don't think we have any pic of him."

"Mom, then how the heck am I supposed to know about him?"

"If you need his pics, I will ask him." – Dad intervened.

"Just the pic wouldn't do it, Dad."

"If you want to see him, then I'll check his schedule, and you guys can meet and talk about it."

"Hmm, okay." – Even though I didn't like it, I agreed for now so that they would stop forcing me. As soon as I reached my room, I called Ridhi.

"Hey, babe." – She yawned on the phone.

"Still sleeping?! God, you and your sleep." – I rolled my eyes. She is such a sleeping beauty.

"Leave me and my sleep alone." – Said Ridhi in her sleeping voice.

"Whatever, listen, I need you to come home; I have a surprise for you." – I screeched in joy.

"Not again. You cannot keep buying me stuff. How many times have I told you?" – She whimpered.

Ridhi never liked me buying stuff for her, not just any kinds of stuff but the costly ones. But she deserves it because she is my only true best friend. Everyone else who tried to be my friend was behind my money, but Ridhi isn't that kind of person, and that's what I love about her.

"I told you many times; you need to stop complaining about my gifts." – I replied with a pout.

"Fine, I'll be there."

"I love you. Meet you soon." – I disconnected the call.

The day went as usual; Ridhi and I tried our new watch. Then I told her everything dad, and I talked about.

"Please remind me what century we live in?!" – She was outraged to hear what I said.

"How can I say no to my dad without hurting him in any possible way? My parents are overexcited and never stopped talking about that guy for the past three hours."

"How does he look?" – She raised a question as she laid on the bed next to me.

"I don't have his picture."

"Babe, did you surf the internet?" – She added, making my eyes go wide.

"Wow, I fucking love you. I never thought about this." – I kissed her cheek for giving me the idea and took out my laptop.

I searched him on Instagram and Facebook but couldn't find anything related to him.

"Interesting, he is a billionaire but does not have any social accounts?!"

"Let's google him." – She stated. We searched for him, but we saw old, previous years' photos of him with his parents when he was a kid. A cute adorable kid, I would say.

"Weird, this family never liked photos or what?" – I looked at her perplexed.

"Ohh, Ohh, I found one!!!" – She exclaimed and showed me her phone.

There was a back pic of a man wearing a suit, settled on a chair in one of the business events he attended, and the caption read as below: "Nicholas Nunez was captured during one of his business meetings looking ravishing as ever."

"Seriously, his back pic?" – I frowned at her.

"At least we know he looks damn yummy from behind." – She asserted in her flirtatious tone while I playfully hit her thigh.

"Ouch!!!"

* * *

Later that night, once Ridhi left, we finished our dinner in silence; nobody talked about anything. I was watching a movie on Netflix when I heard my parents' talking in their room. I paused the movie and went out of the room.

"You cannot force her." – I heard my mom say.

It looks like they both aren't leaving this topic. I thought they respected my decision. Is this how all parents are and behave?! I leaned against the door to overhear their conversation.

"But you know, this is the best thing that can ever happen in her life. He is the best person I have ever met. Our daughter will be safe and happy in his hands." – Dad added.

"But she can't agree to a person who is never willing to meet her before the marriage." – Mom sighed. He isn't agreeing to meet me. Why?

"Well, that's because he is too busy." – Dad said so casually.

"What if he is too busy even to spend time with our daughter once married?" – Good point, mom. Agh, I love her so much, maybe not as much as dad.

"I know Nicholas and Ben for a very long time, they are good people, and they know how to treat their women." – Why is my dad pushing this so much?

"Whatever, Jack, I'm not forcing my daughter. All I care about is her happiness."

"Didn't we see the kind of guys she dated Violet and the men who threw themselves at her were all behind our money? Her ex cheated on her and slept with half the dozen women in her college, and she had no idea."

Well, dad's right. I'm always stupid when it comes to love. I facepalmed, thinking about my past. I was so fucking dumb and was blinded by love.

Love, my ass. I should have kicked his ass.

"Do you want our daughter to go through this shit again? I'm not taking a chance. Nicholas is the best, and I know she will be safe in his hands." – I didn't know what to say or to think.

I went back to my room and laid down. What my dad said was true. All the guys I dated or ever said they loved me were all greedy fuckers and were just behind my money.

But then what if this guy is like them, but Dad said he doesn't need our money because he is damn rich than us. Then why is he behind me? Does he seriously love me? Fuck my life. What is happening, and what am I supposed to do? Who are you, stranger guy, and what is your intention? I slept with lots of questions in my mind.

* * *

I woke up to the sounds coming from downstairs. I pulled up the blanket and covered my face. My room door burst open to my mom as usual. Talk about privacy. I sighed.

"Morning honey, get ready soon. We have somebody to meet you." – She pulled the covers down, smiling, making me mad.

"Who, mom? I'm trying to sleep." – I covered the blanket again.

"You will find out soon. Now go get ready and wear something presentable." – She pulled the covers down, and before I could pull up, she threw it on the couch. I didn't listen, but then she didn't leave me till I hit the bathroom to shower.

After a long shower, I hit the closet and wore a sunflower-printed knee-length dress. I left my hair free and went downstairs to see my parents and a middle-aged woman talking.

"There she is." – My dad said, and everyone looked at me as I nervously smiled, wondering who this woman was.

"Hey, dad." – I kissed his cheek and sat in between my parents as the woman greeted me.

"Hello, Avery,"

"Hi, um..."

"You can call me Mary."

"How are you, Mary?"

"I'm good. How are you doing?"

"Yeah, good."

"Honey, this is Nicholas's aunt. She is here to talk to you." – My dad smiled while I glared at him. I was shocked, to be honest.

Seriously, is this happening now? I thought this was over, and no one's going to bring this topic again.

"Dad, I told..." – I was soon interrupted.

"Avery, can we talk in private? Just you and me?" – Mary implored.

"Umm, I don't think there's anything for us to talk about." – I declined her.

"Honey, we taught you better." – My mom wasn't happy at the way I responded.

"But mom..." – She threw me daggers.

"Finnee, let's go upstairs." – I threw the toss-pillow aside and got up from the seat furiously. Mary followed me as I went to the rooftop.

"Wow, the view is great from here!!" – She walked ahead of me, standing at the edge, enjoying the view while I stood behind her a few feet away.

"This is my favorite place, a place to escape from all my worries." – I added, admiring the view.

"So, Avery, I will cut short and come to the point straight. I believe your dad talked about Nicholas." – Her gaze was still on the view while my eyes drifted to her as soon as she mentioned his name.

"Yes, he did, and I told him I could not agree to this marriage." – She turned instantaneously and gave me a stern look, creeping me out.

"I understand but do you know whom we are talking about?" – She asked with her wicked smirk unflinching.

"I know, but I don't care how great or rich he is. I am not going to marry him." – I added with a touch of coarseness in my tone.

"Is this your final decision?" – She was fuming in anger.

"Yes." – I answered, standing my ground.

"Well then, I'll leave now, but I'll still let you think about it. Because Nicholas is very stubborn, and he will never let go of things once he laid his eyes on them." ­– She walked past me and stopped when I acknowledged her.

"Well, you should know I'm stubborn too, and yeah, I'm not an object, you might need to tell him that." – She clenched her fist in anger and left from there, giving me a bizarre look.

N I C H O L A S

"How did it go?" – I stared at the outside view through the bedroom window as I relaxed in a wheelchair.

"I tried my best, but she isn't agreeing."

"Why not?" – I queried her wanting to know why she didn't agree to marry me.

"You know Nick, how can someone agree to marry without even meeting them in person?" – She seemed to be annoyed.

"You know I cannot meet her." – I quickly added, raising my tone.

"Sorry, I tried my best." – Aunt Mary let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Send uncle Scott and let him speak because there's no way I'm going to let her go that easily, not just like that." – I spoke in my cold tone.

"Nick, you know there are so many women out there who will match our status. You tell me, and I will get you the woman who is better than her in everything. Why are you so adamant about her?" – I could make out Mary was not happy with my choice.

But it's my life, and I am the one who can make decisions. Not her or anyone.

"I need her!" – I clenched my fist and growled.

"I-I'll talk to your uncle." – With that, she left the room, leaving me alone.

"There's no way I'm going to let you go that easily without marrying me, Avery."