Chapter 1 72 HOURS TO OBLIGE

"Elara! I said I don't want to meet with anyone, Shawn yelled at the door, his brows creased into a large frown.

"I am sorry sir but...

"Shawn open up, I need to talk to you ," Mr Dylan Harrington baritone voice boomed at the other end of the door.

Shawn groaned inwardly, knowing fully well what his grandfather's visit meant.

He tapped the button on his desk and the door opened. A man of age 70 walked in an elegant and domineering manner. His Grey hair and beards complements his white skin, his black tuxedo and leather shoes gives him a sophisticated business look. After all he was a Harrington, descendant of the most prestigious lineage, From the kindred of Royalty. The wealthiest family, more like endorsement In all of California .

"What are you doing here". came Shawn 's uninterested voice.

"Is it now a crime to visit my Grandson ," Mr Dylan said icily, faking the smile plastered on his face, as he took a seat on the vacant chair .

Shawn wondered why he was trying his best to smile when he hated it so much, his grandfather loathed the thing called 'smile', he referred to it as an unnecessary punishment.

"Quit smiling". Shawn grumbled in sheer disgust.

Mr Donald's face became hard as rock, he quit smiling and gave his usual expression which still creeps the people around him including Shawn.

"You haven't been home in a week. Wait, have you been trying to avoid? Me ? Do you think hiding in that crib you call a house will keep you away from me?". Mr Dylan asked Shawn who kept silent, staring around his office like he was there for the first time.

"I have been busy lately, I had places to be and people to ". Shawn said but one glance from his grandfather meant he wasn't buying his story.

"Do you want me to have that piece of shit destroyed for the uptenth time ? ...... Speak up Shawn, cause I guess you enjoy it when I crush every cottage you build in the middle of a fucking forest right? Mr Dylan chukled his lips not moving at the slightest.

"I got those buildings with my hard earned money, you can't keep ruining them because you have the power to, I work tirelessly and with my efforts". Shawn gritted out glaring at his grandfather.

"I also worked hard for my money Shawn, I inherited and still worked hard, you are in this position because of me, so what do you have to say about that". Mr Dylan asked in a mocking tone.

"That I never asked you for this position, you forced me to be here. I have my own profession and I don't need all of this. " Shawn stated clenching and unclenching his fist.

" You call that trash a profession. What is it again? Oh yes Music, For Goodness sake Shawn, you are a Harrington ....A Harrington". Mr Dylan half yelled.

Shawn kept mute, gritting his teeth inwardly, how much he hated the man seated in his midst right now.

"I thought you loved your Grandmother so much Shawn, why are you finding it so difficult to fulfill her dying wish". Mr Dylan asked, his voice hard as ever yet calmer than how he had spoken earlier.

Shawn sighs, staring out the windows rather than at his grandfather, it was yet another moment of threats and emotional blackmail.

"I am working towards it". Shawn simply replied to his Grandfather.

"For how long Shawn, you are 30 for crying out loud, how long do I have to wait, when I get to my death bed right? That would be the perfect time, won't it? Mr Dylan asked in disbelief.

"Finding someone isn't as easy as it sounds, I need time, it isn't as easy as you think". Shawn deadpanned, earning a glare from his grandfather.

"72 hours Shawn, you have 3 days to present your fiance before me or consider "The Loyals" the Gonners". Mr Dylan said and for the first time since their meeting started fear crept into Shawn's eyes.

"Grandpa !" Shawn called but Mr Dylan shut him up just by raising his hand in the air.

"71 hours, 59 minutes and 10 seconds, the countdown has already begun, see you in 3 days ," Mr Dylan said, standing up from where he sat and storming out of Shawn's office.

Shawn groaned angrily, taking in deep breaths to calm his nerves down but it was a big fail.

He was clearly fuming in rage and couldn't control it, everything close to him went flying in the air crashing on the tiled floor, breaking into pieces and turning his magnificent office into a disaster.

"Why me! Why me!" Shawn growled, slamming his fists onto his polished mahogany desk. The sound reverberated through his sleek, modern office. His voice, usually smooth and collected, cracked with frustration as his irritation spilled out in waves.

"Can't the old man just leave me alone? Can't he let me focus on my music career for once?" His hands tugged at his neatly styled hair, messing up the perfect waves he had spent time perfecting that morning.

His gaze darted to the framed records hanging on the wall, glinting under the soft, ambient lighting. They were his pride, his passion, a testament to the career he tried to build, passionately. Yet, all of that seemed insignificant now, buried under the weight of his grandfather's relentless demands.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Shawn let out a guttural scream as though the sheer force of it could ease the pains he felt. The sound was raw, primal and loud. He doubled over, resting his hands on the desk, his breath coming in uneven gasps.

The weight of his grandfather's expectations loomed over him like a storm cloud, threatening to drown him in responsibilities he neither wanted nor asked for. Running the family business? Where would he get a bride from when he had no interest in women? It wasn't him. It never had been.

Elara heard the commotion and rushed into Shawn's office in a bid to apologize for her mistake.

"Sir...

"You are fired ! Shawn wasted no second to declare it.

"B–But sir ....

"Get the Fuck out now". Shawn yelled at the top of his voice which felt like the building had gone into a brief earthquake.

Elara scurried out in fear almost immediately, tears messing her once pretty makeup.