Chapter 7 Casualties of power

"Charles and I were high school friends" he started. My eyes widened in shock.

"Well to cut the long story short, we started VD industries together. It wasn't called VD industries back then though. Things were going smoothly until we had some irreconcilable conflicts and Charles kicked me out of the company through legal loopholes and a hostile takeover"

At this point I felt my eyes would fall off their sockets.

"What??!" I almost screamed.

"But that's all water under the bridge now"

"Dad explain to me why you're back to doing business with this man, even pushed me into marrying into that family and the merger?" I asked in disbelief.

"I told you our company was in chaos. We were on the verge of preparing for a major launch that would have been the game changer, but I don't understand what went wrong, everything went wrong and it flopped. And because of that major shareholders were pulling out, the company was about falling apart and I had to do all I could to save it" he explained.

I still didn't understand. "So how did the Vanderbilts come into the picture?"

He sighed "with the company in debts due to the failed launch, we needed capital injection to repay those debts and kickstart other projects. Also the fact that the company was in trouble were being leaked out to the press by insiders and they were already snooping around looking for outright proof. Our stocks had started dropping. It could take only a big company like VD for Knight corp to become relevant again"

I understood that "but why did it have to be VD? Why not other big and reputable companies? Why someone who did you dirty many years ago?" That had to be clear to me.

"Trust me Beth, I did try. I went to everyone I knew for help but no one wanted to associate with Knight corp cos they felt it won't be profitable. I had almost given up when Charles approached me and offered to help. I had no other choice. If I accept his offer and he ends up screwing us over, then we lose everything. If I refuse the offer, we still end up losing everything. It was a risk I was willing to take"

He paused as if giving me time to assimilate everything.

True, he did have a point. But still it made no sense to me as to how marriage came into play. As if sensing my confusion, he continued speaking.

"I had my fears concerning him. And he had his. He feared that I might still feel resentful about what had happened in the past and that I might find a way to avenge through the merger and I also feared that he could also turn on me anytime like he did in the past. So we kinda needed a... eh... leverage" he said gently studying my reaction.

"We needed something that will prove loyalty and trust. That none of us will ever turn on each other"

He stopped talking.

"And you both concluded marriage between your children was the best collateral or in your words leverage" I helped him complete the statement.

I was so dumbfounded "what kind of fathers are you both? Using your kids as a pawn in power play and acquisitions? Really? Is that your reason for bringing kids into the world?" I was so angry.

I knew I was raising my voice but I didn't care. I was so disappointed in my father. He was supposed to protect me, not throw me into the lions den!

He bowed his head in shame as he spoke "I know I'm a horrible father and believe me I'm not proud of what I had done. But I did this for us. To protect us, our family, everything we've ever worked for...."

"You did this for yourself!" I shouted.

"Believe it or not I did it for you!" He shouted back.

"Everything I have belongs to you! I toil hard day and night so you wouldn't have to suffer. The reason you haven't worked a day in your life and earned a single penny is because of my hardwork!"

Wow. Just wow

"you did not have to do anything for me I would have been okay on my own!" I retorted, my voice still high.

"Elizabeth, it's best to not be delusional. You were raised with a golden spoon, how would have you coped being thrown into the harsh world without prior warning?"

He took a deep breath and stood up walking towards me "I'm sorry. Believe me I really am. I love you very much. And I'll do anything humanly possible to protect you. To make you happy. And make you comfortable..."

"But I'm not happy! I'm not! I feel entrapped. I don't know what else to do with my life" I could feel a tear trickle down my cheek as I spoke.

"This is not the life I wanted for myself. I feel like my life has been cut short and I'm trapped. This is not how I wanted my marriage to go. I didn't plan on getting married to a man I barely know and I sure as hell didn't plan on marrying a man that will bring another woman home on our wedding night and have sex with her!"

He looked shocked. And angry. "Aaron did what?"

I wiped the tears from my face and sniffed

"It's alright. I have one more question though"

He took a deep breath in.

"What's the connection between mum and Charles?"

He looked confused "what connection?"

"I mean... er..." I had to be careful with my words "did mum also know Charles prior to this marriage?"

"No they never met each other until the marriage" he said.

I looked at him carefully. He sounded so sure. So confident.

This further added to my confusion. When I had overhead my mum and Charles talking, they didn't look like people who had just met each other.

And then the words used: Betrayed, things going according to plan. It didn't sound ordinary.

What in God's name is going on with my family?!