Chapter 4 A fateful Encounter

Dakota looked down from the balcony of his father's mansion, taking in the sight of the lively party below. He couldn't help but feel irritated by the whole event. The loud music and the boisterous laughter of the guests made him cringe. He had never been a fan of parties, especially ones hosted by his father.

The last conversation he had with his father still lingered in his mind, and it only added to his frustration. His father had once again brought up the topic of marriage, insisting that Dakota tie the knot with Julie Ahrens, the daughter of a wealthy business associate.

According to his father, this union is the only guarantee that he has to keep the family name and business going. Hundreds of employees are depending on you for this marriage, Julie Peter's is the only deciding factor you got.

Dakota scoffed at the idea. He had no interest in marrying someone he barely knew, just for the sake of business. He had always been more of a free spirit and valued his independence above everything else. The idea of being tied down to someone for the rest of his life made him shudder.

He looked over at his friends, who were lounging around on the balcony with him. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing and chatting among themselves. Dakota envied their carefree attitude and wished he could be as carefree as them.

"Hey, man, why do you look so down?" one of his friends asked, noticing his sour expression.

"It's just this whole party and the pressure my dad is putting on me." Dakota replied, shaking his head.

"He literally wants me to marry Julie Peters to keep the family business going."

His friends looked at him sympathetically, knowing how much he valued his freedom. They could see the conflict in his eyes, and they knew he was struggling with the decision.

"You know, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, " another friend chimed in. "You're your own man, and you have the right to make your own decisions."

Dakota smiled gratefully, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. He realised that his friends were right. He didn't have to succumb to his father's wishes and marry someone he didn't love. He could choose his own path and decide what was best for him.

But another thought kept running across his mind,they aren't my father. My father is one adamant man that should never have existed before. He doesn't listen to what anyone has to say to him.

He knows that it's not an easy task for him, plus the hundreds of employees he is going to put at stake for not marrying Julie Ahrens.

As the party went on, Dakota's friends tried to distract him from his troubles. They offered him drinks, introduced him to new people, and danced with him to the upbeat music. Despite their best efforts, however, Dakota couldn't shake off the thought of his father's demands.

He excused himself from the party and retreated to his room, wanting some alone time to clear his head. He lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

He knew that he couldn't defy his father's wishes forever. Eventually, he would have to face the reality of his situation and make a decision. But the thought of marrying someone he didn't love made him feel trapped.

He couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life with Julie, someone he barely knew. He wanted to find love on his own terms, not be forced into a loveless marriage for the sake of business.

He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to push the thoughts out of his mind. He didn't want to ruin his mood or dampen the festive spirit of the party. But as much as he tried, he couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that lingered within him.

Suddenly, there was a knock on his door, and before he could respond, his best friend, Max, entered the room.