Chapter 4 MARK'S POV

The car stopped in front of the 8,000 square feet edifice that is our London home, the stone fountains spew water and the expansive lush grass is watered by sprinklers.

I get out of the car and Matthew steps out from the other side, as we both walk into the house.

"Where's my mother?" I asked Mrs Elliott, the head maid.

"In your father's study," she replied with a curt nod before going back to her duty.

But before I got there, Martha was already walking towards me with her arms wide open.

Her emerald green free dress swept the marble floors, her auburn hair in its perpetual chignon, her smile wide and her cheekbones as high as ever, she moves to embrace me and I see a flash of blood red nails before she puts her hands on my back and squeezes.

"Darling!" She pecks me and then pulls away to look at my face.

My body had stiffened the moment she opened her arms wide for a hug.

"You sent for me"

"Yes, I did" She squeezed my arm as if noticing I wasn't in the mood.

I only came because I didn't want her to tell my father I was being distant and I didn't treat her like my mother.

She turned and sashayed to my father's study, I had no choice but to follow her.

The mini chandelier shines and some gems hanging from it click gently in the gust of air that comes from her opening the door, the click-clack of her heels is silenced as she steps into the carpeted room.

The coloured walls are lined with intricate gold patterns and bookshelves, a beautiful turquoise lamp is on the mahogany desk and her laptop is set up, a soft jazzy tune plays from the overhead speakers and that's how I know she is working in here before I came.

I noticed she can't focus on work without music in the background.

She sits on one of the two single-seater sofas in the room and I take the other one.

"So why did you call me here? I had an important meeting" I asked, tired of waiting.

"Can't I just want to see my only child?"

"Well, it's good to see you too. But I'm sure you didn't make me leave the office with what is happening just because you miss me"

"Ah yes, and by 'what happened' I'm sure you mean the COLE project that you so graciously handed over to our little friends hmm?"

"What happens in my company is my business, not yours" I replied coldly.

"In case you don't know, it's family business darling, your father hasn't handed it over to you yet"

"Is that why you called me here?"

"All I'm asking for is to have a relationship with you Mark, I know your mother was everything, but I'm here now"

"Here we go again" muttering under my breath, enough so she could hear me.

"Don't you use that tone-" cutting her off.

"Listen here Martha, the only reason I always come when you call is because I respect you and I respect my father, and if he is happy with you, that's fine by me. But don't expect any love from me. I don't know how many times you want me to tell you, I can never and I will never be close to you, I'll fucking give you the respect and regard you need because you are my father's wife and that's it. I do not want to keep going back and forth about this again"

Taking a deep breath, getting up "And if that will be all, I'd like to be on my way"

She remained silent for a while until she spoke.

"You lost that project because you are incompetent.

"I know you've never really liked me because your son passed away and will have nothing to inherit from my father, that I get to take it all, then why pretend when you're around my father huh? He doesn't come around, he doesn't check in on me? Are you alright in your head?!" I snapped.

"That is no way to talk to your Mother" My Father yelled from the doorway.

And then realization hit me, this was what she wanted, how lovely Martha.

"Is this how I raised you? To disrespect your mother" he yelled.

"You call that disrespect-" he didn't even let me finish.

"I don't even want to know what you guys are fighting about today, but I asked her to call you, take a seat," he said taking his seat.

"There's no need," I said, as I remained standing.

"Since the deal fell through and it was the biggest deal we would have signed this year, I've found another way to get it back"

"And what's that?" completely uninterested in what he has to say.

"You are to marry Brielle Taylor, the daughter of Daniel Taylor, this marriage is of convenience and it would be beneficial to us, the union will give us power-"

Cutting him off "What power? The power that we already have? I'm not fucking marrying any spoilt brat"

"What did I say about cursing in my damn house" Martha cautioned.

"Well, fuck me, where are my manners" turning back to my father "I will not marry that woman, I'll get the deal back and I will not have to end my life with that woman"

"You have no choice, as we speak, the deal is being finalized, and if you still insist on not marrying her, I'm cutting you off from the business. You can hand in your resignation letter and I'll hand over my company to someone else" he finished.

"I am a 27-year-old man, and you cannot force me into an arranged marriage, not in this day and time and certainly not to that brat Brielle Taylor, to hell with her and her father's ill-gotten wealth and deal their offering! I do not want it! I do not need it! and that is final!!"

Storming out of the room, making sure to bang the door so hard, walking out of their house towards my car, Matthew running behind me as I completely ignored him, driving off without him.

He called almost immediately.

"Bryan's club, tonight" was all he said before hanging up.