Always And Forevermore

Kathy Pov I bang the door loudly as I angrily walked into my mom's room and she turned to look at me with an annoyed expression but I was much too angry to care.

"Young lady what do you want and why can't you knock before entering? Have you forgotten your manners?"

She asked, I didn't even bother to answer. "Mom, what's the meaning of what dad just said to me? Why am I being sold off in the name of marriage?"

"Is that why you barged into my room like that? You should know already, it shouldn't be news to you since you were here when both of your sisters got married to men the family chose for them and they are both doing well, yours won't be different my dear,"

"Mom, I am not my sister and besides I am just twenty-three I still have a lot of time, I am not ready for marriage now and as you know I have a boyfriend who I love and I don't wanna leave him and marry someone I don't know or care to know about, so please tell your husband to get off my case."

My family was the worst family on early, right from birth both me and my two sisters were groomed to marry into wealthy families while my brothers were trained to take over the family business, I have four older siblings, two sisters and two brothers I am the youngest, my two sisters Nelly and Nora were both married to 'men' my family chose for them, though they got lucky and are happy in their marriage, my older brothers were both not married yet but the oldest Nelson will be getting married in three months, the only bad egg in the family was my other brother Nathan and me, he didn't want anything to do with our family and had left when he had turned eighteen, I wish I could have left too, I am neither interested in the family business nor in getting married, I just wanted to live my life but the shocking news my dad just told me this morning is threaten to ruin that for me.

"Oh, but he is someone you know Katherine, you guys use to be friends when you were little so he is not a stranger,"

"What? Who is he?"

"Remember Max? He..."

"What the? Mom, I am not gonna marry him no way,"

I screamed at the top of my lungs, there is no way in hell I am gonna marry Max.

"Katherine, you can't drag this family name to the mud, you are well aware that our family is doing good business, and have a great relationship with Max family and our children marrying will solidify that relationship, so young, lady get your acts together and do as you are told,"

My mom voiced in her annoying voice that I have gotten tired of, don't get me wrong I love my parents but I wish they could put their kid's happiness over material things but that's not the case, yes my sisters are lucky to find happiness in their arranged marriage but I can't say the same for myself, cuz firstly I have known Max since we were little and he is a jerk and a bully, I can't imagine myself marrying someone like him.

"Mom, if you guys still want me here you better cancel whatever it is you have planned if not you will never see me again I said in angry and turned to exit the room.

"You don't have anywhere to go, if you don't do as we say you will have to part ways with every privilege you enjoy,"

My mom threatened. As much as I would have loved to brush it off as a baseless threat I knew my parent can do it. They did it to my older sister and she came crawling back one week after she left home and ended up getting married, my case will be different though cuz I have been making plans in case this happens though it is not finalized at least what I have with me will carry me until I can find a job and start life aside of my family's shield.

"I know what you are thinking Katherine but that won't work cuz once we collect your id every penny with you will be collected,"

My mother said busting my bubbles.

"What? But I worked for that, it not your money,"

"Is that what you think? Katherine? I thought you are intelligent think about it, get off that horse young lady, the day you were born into this family is the day you sealed your fate." "Mom, this is my happiness we are on about here,"

"Katherine for once be grateful for what I and your dad are doing, we are doing our best do that you won't suffer at a loss here, your sisters understood when we told them please don't make this difficult for us, I for one is already stressed out, please don't add to my stress," She gloated out.

"I am not marrying Max and you guys can't force me,"

I replied and stormed out of the room went into my room to get my car keys, and left the house in a fit of anger. I drove until I got tired and called my boyfriend to come to get me but like he does most times he said he was busy, I wanted to go over to his place but he hated it when I go there without notice so I drove myself back to the house cuz I was both hungry and tired. I met my older brother when I got to the house.

"Hey, Princess where have you been?"

He asked hugging me, my siblings and I were very close even Nelson made sure to keep up with me even after leaving the house. Nathan didn't live with us either so he may not have known what happened.

"I went out to get fresh air this house is stuffy," "Is that so? You look pissed, what happened?" "Mom and dad just dropped a bomb on me this morning,"

"What? The marriage,"

Wow nice, he was aware, I quietly removed myself from his hug and pointed at him in disappointment, I thought he had my back but I must have been kidding myself cuz that seems not to be the case.

"So you knew and you didn't tell me? I feel betrayed brother, I thought you were on my side,"

"It's not like that Kathy, I am on your side,"

"No you are not, I don't understand our family is doing well, why do we have to be sold off in the name of marriage? Why do I have to leave the man I love for someone else?"

I croaked as tears gathered in my eyes, I just don't get why my family feels it necessary for us to marry into wealthy families too, even my brother is getting married in two months to another heiress.

"It's not about the money princess it's about keeping the family line and relationships and as children born into such families we already sealed our fate,"

He said wiping away tears from my eyes and pulling me back to him and we both walked upstairs into my room where I laid on the bed and he sat down beside me.

"I will never allow my children to go through this,"

I said with determination, I already knew I wasn't gonna marry Max and for all, I care my family can take all the wealth and money in my name, my boyfriend is there he will care for me until I can stand on my feet.

"It's not that bad if you think about it, I mean I and Jenn fell in love only three months after we were introduced, same with our sisters too, yours won't be different and Cross is a nice guy,"

"You guys just got lucky,"

I whispered before what he said registered. "Wait, I am not marrying Max but his older brother Cross?"

I asked in shock getting up from my bed. "Yeah, it Cross not Max,"

He answered but I wasn't listening again, Cross was worst than Max, Max is like the smaller devil between the two of them, now I wasn't even gonna dream If it never, I need to get out of the house, there no way I am gonna marry Cross, I thought already making plans on how to leave without getting noticed.

"I need to leave now, Kathy, Jenn, and I have some fitting to do and I need to pick her up from her office,"

Nelson said getting up and pecking me on my check.

"Okay, I will see you soon,"

I replied and laid back down when he left, I tried to imagine myself marrying Cross and it just didn't sit well with me, Cross is someone I knew very well especially during high school, he had been far my senior and had already been in college while I was still in junior high, but he had also been very popular that every girl in our school had known him, especially since his younger brother had been popular too. He was like the devil himself if the Bible description of the devil is to be followed, Cross should fit the description perfectly, though I have not seen him for close to ten years now as he has been away handling his family overseas business, the little I remember of him still fit the devil description, tall, handsome with broad shoulders and sexy lips that every girl had wanted, he had been temptation himself and at a point, he had been my fantasy that was until he showed me his true color and I didn't need anyone telling me before I let go of those fantasies.

"I need to leave this house before anything," I said to my self standing up from my bed and going to where I kept my valuables, I opened the box and brought out a few cheques, that I had gotten signed and with my boyfriend name written on it, the perfect plan already forming in my head, I just needed to speak with my boyfriend, I smiled satisfied with myself and laid back on my bed.

Kathy POV

I spent the rest of the day in my room finalizing my plan, I had it all planned out and have called Louis my boyfriend and we agreed to meet up by five pm, I already made sure I got up to eight million checks signed, I smiled mischievously to myself, my parent think they are smart but I am smarter, a knock came on my four and I quickly put the checks and pen away before telling whoever it is to come in, it was the maid.

"Ma, your mom said to tell you to come down and greet your visitors,"

"What visitor?"

I wasn't expecting anyone so I wondered who it was but she didn't have any idea either by the way she panicked and shook her head.

"Don't worry, go I will be there in a few minutes,"

I told her getting up from my bed I didn't know her name cuz they were much too many to master a name or sometimes a face except the ones that have been here long, like Zee the head maid. I checked to see if my hair was in place and my face in order and exited my room. I could hear voices coming from the visitor area as I walked the distance there, I didn't bother knocking and just opened the door, I looked at saw my dad, mom, and also Max's parents, it dawn on me then that this shit was real, that my parents were trying to marry me off to Cross, I already concluded that I will play along until I can effectively pull my plans out, I looked around but there was no sign if Cross or Max, so I stepped into the room not forgetting my manners I greeted the elders respectfully.

Max's mom, Ellen came over and hugged me I returned the gesture, she is a nice lady, I know that cuz one time my mom had tried to ship me off to college in another country she had been the one to tell her out of it, I am still grateful for that but that doesn't mean I am gonna marry her son if her son had a little quality that my boyfriend had maybe I would have considered it.

"Katherine you have grown so well since the last time we meant, I am glad you are the one coming into my family,"

she said with excitement when she stopped hugging me, I forced a smile and walked with her to where the others were seated.

"You are welcome to the family Katherine,"

my supposed future father-in-law said with a smile, I smiled back though I felt nothing like smiling.

"your husband to be couldn't make it today because he had business to take care of but you guys will meet at the engagement party next week,"

he added and I turned to face my parent, I am getting engaged next week and I just got the info today?

"Mom the engagement is next week?"

I asked in a rather too loud voice but I was way beyond caring, so the reason they told me is that it is so close, now I have less time to carry out my plan, what kind of shitty stuff have my parents been doing with my life? I just wanted to scream and tell all of them that I ain't marrying anyone and that they should all go to hell.

"Katherine dear, yes the engagement is a week after this that's in ten days, we didn't bother you tell you it close because we didn't want to bother you with the process all you need to do on that day is get dressed and meet your future husband,"

my mom said sweetly and I wanted to throw up, but I just nodded my head, I have to play along if my plan is gonna be effective.

"Though I am shocked due to the shortness of the notice, I am well aware of your good intentions, and my brother has made me see reasons, so whatever you decide I will gladly comply,"

I said injecting much sincerity so that they will believe me and they seemed to buy it because they were are smiling brightly.

"That's good to know,"

My dad said. I stood up and smiled before gracefully excusing myself.

"If you will excuse me I am meeting with my best friend and she is waiting for me, I will like to go now,"

I asked politely

"Yeah sure you can go they chorused and I smiled sweetly at them and excited the room, when I got to the door, I closed it and gave a middle finger before dashing off to my room to get the checks, my bag, and my car keys. I dialed my boyfriend's number immediately entered the car and told him I am coming over.

"Louis, I am here,"

I announced when I entered my boyfriend's house but he was nowhere to be seen, "Louis!" I called again moving around to check the bedroom.

"Hi, Kathy, didn't know you were coming over,"

Louis's cousin who has been living with him for over three months said as she walked out of the bedroom, she is a pretty woman who is a bit older than me but we were the same height and almost have the same body type but I am a little bit curvier.

"Pearl, Hi, I told Louis I am coming over, where is he?"

I didn't quite roll with Pearl but since she is my boyfriend's cousin I just have to accommodate her.

"He is in the shower, if you will excuse me I was about living the house,"

She said and waved off as she left. I walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed, I would love to join him in the shower but Louis is a private person and hates it when people invade his privacy, I understood him, and love him.

"Hi, Baby,"

He said walking out of the bathroom, he looked hot with only a bath towel around his waist, his broad shoulder in full display. My man is hot and I know it, I stood up and went over to him and he showered me with kisses that I almost forgot why I was here in the first place.

"Louis, we have to talk," I mused in between kisses.

"What's it about babe, can't it wait? I want you,"

He hummed into my ears and bit it slightly, he rubbed his hard groin on me and I almost gave in but the thought of what we had to talk about brought me back to my senses.

"Not now, Louis, we have an important discussion,"

I replied pushing him off.

"What can be more important than us making love babe?"

"My parents are gonna marry me off,"

I announced making him shut up.

"What did you say?"

He asked.

"I said, my parents are gonna marry me off, they already planned it, I just found out this morning, by next week, in approximately ten days I will be someone else's fiancee,"

I disclosed.

"What? They can't do that, you are mine, it not like we are still in the stone age, arranged marriage is no longer a thing,"

"It is in my family, I told you, my two sisters got married to men my family found for them, my brother is about to marry a lady my family picked for him, I told you are this before remember?"

I said getting worked up thinking about it again.

"So now it is your turn? I don't get it can't you say no? Doesn't your family know about me?"

"They do babe, they do, but they have never met you, this is why I wanted you to meet them but you always say no,"

I accused. I have begged him a lot of times to meet my family but he always comes up with one excuse or the other.

"Yes, because I wasn't ready to meet them, whet will I possibly tell them? My business is not doing so well yet and I have not much to write to my name, how am I going to tell them if they ask me those things and you and I both know they will ask so forgive me for not meeting your parents,"

He said I could already feel his anger in his every word, I didn't want us to end up fighting that will not be good for us, me especially.

"I am sorry if what I said offended you, lets get to why I am here, please don't be angry at me,"

I said in an apological voice.

"It's an okay baby girl I can't be mad at you, now let's get to business, what do you want me to do? I can go to your parents now if you want,"

"No, not that, I can handle my parents I just need your help in another area,"

I said sitting down and gesturing for him to do so it. "Okay, I will go straight to the point,"

"I am listening,"

"So the thing is I don't wanna get married,"

"You can't do that except you are marrying me,"

He said disrupting me, I smiled at his words.

"That's so sweet Louis, and yes you are the only man I ever want to marry,"

"Good, now continue,"

He replied.

"Yes, so I came up with a nice idea, we just have one week to implement it, I have a total of ten million USD to my name and I have written out checks of eight million and with your help, I can gradually transfer it to your name like I said we have one week to do this, I will play along with my parents and before the engagement day or on the engagement day I will take off, by then you will already be at the airport waiting for me and we can leave the country together, eight million is enough for us to start a new life somewhere else and since your business is still not that big you can easily give it up,"

I explained and paused to get his reaction to what I just revealed but his expression was blank.

"Hey, say something please,"

He whispered something I didn't quite get. "What did you say?"

"Nothing, I am just amazed at how intelligent you are, you got this all planned out already and I will happily follow your lead,"

He replied standing up and taking off the towel, his hard groin stared at me and I stared back in hunger, my throat suddenly too dry.

"We can talk about the plans after this, what you just said put me in the mood and I want you now, you are so fucking intelligent and I wanna give you a reward,"

He whispered coming over to where I am and lifting me off the chair and tossed me on the bed where I quickly removed my tops and we were on in each like we have not seen each other for months.

Much later, we both lay in bed satisfied, his hands on my breast, stroking them gently.

"So which country do you think we should go to or should we move to another continent? Maybe Africa or Asia?"

I asked loving his hands-on me.

"I will work that part out and tell you all you need to do is get the money to me,"

"The checks are already here,"

I said and stood up to hand them over to him, "my parent hardly check my spending so before they will know something is up we will already be out of the country,"

I added.

"That's good to know, he replied collecting the checks and checking them before dropping them in the locker beside the bed, he pulled me closer and kissed me deeply and I melted into his touch, he is one good lover and knew all my sensitive spot, I always enjoy our lovemaking and maybe that's why I am hooked to him, I just couldn't picture myself in bed with another man. We made love again before I left, when I got home I went straight into my room and slept like a baby knowing all my plans are in place.

Cross Pov

"Ma, I already agreed to do as you asked, what else do you want me to do?"

I asked my mom, she is being annoyed again, one of the many reasons I jumped on the opportunity to handle the branch office weather than stay back home and be at the main is because my mom is always on my case, at almost thirty my mom still see me as a baby, and I don't know what to do to change that. I adjusted my suit as I walked to the chair in the hotel room and sat down, my mom calling me so early in the morning wasn't a new thing, it has always been like that and I am used to it, but I needed to get to work and knowing my mom this call might last for hours.

"You were supposed to come with us to see her, but you didn't show up and we had to make up excuses, you know how much I have to make excuses,"

"Ma, I will see her at the engagement party, no need for us to meet before then, it's not a love match, I agreed to this marriage idea and that should be enough."

I said wanting the phone call to end already but till my mom ends it I can't, my mom is the only woman I can't say no, that's how she was able to talk me into getting married, left to me I didn't think I was ever gonna get married. Dolly, the lady I was currently seeing walked in from the bathroom and glanced at me and I gestured for her to leave if she was done, I should end things with her soon, maybe one last bang and I will call it off, the reason she lasted for three months is that she is so good in bed, if not they barely last a week as I get tired easily.

"Boy, you should meet her first don't you think,"

"Ellen, I am a twenty-nine years old man, I will be thirty in two months, just wanted to remind you in case you have forgotten,"

I said using my mom's name, me and my parents especially my mom are very close, in fact, everyone in my family is close, we defile what they call the rich people's curse where the family don't relate and are there more like business partners or rivals, my mom knew every little detail about me, when she had told me about getting married to a girl found for me initially I didn't want to do it because I wasn't interested in marriage generally, but when she somehow got me to agree but that didn't stop me from living my life and I plan on continuing with my life after the marriage, I love fun and most people call me a womanizer and I don't feel bad about it, what's the fun in bedding just one woman when you can get hundreds even a thousand, this woman I am marrying better be good in bed or we are gonna have a few issues, anyway if she isn't good then I am gonna look for more aside, I don't plan on being faithful to a pampered princess who may have asked her daddy to buy her a rich, handsome husband. "Ma, I have to go now, I will talk to you soon,"

I said trying to cut off our talk but my mom didn't have it.

"Don't you dare Cross,"

She said with authority and I complied.

"Yes, ma,"

"You haven't even seen your wife to be, you don't even know her name, how would you recognize her at the party, you guys are supposed to meet before the engagement so you better pick a date,"

My mom voiced, in truth, I have not bothered because I trust my parent to pick the perfect bride for me, but then again I wondered how she looks, I like my woman curvy and beautiful. "What's her name ma?"

"Katherine,"

she revealed but the name didn't sound familiar neither did it sound rich or influential it was just a normal name.

"Do I perhaps know this Katherine?"

I asked, Dolly was giving me some weird looks but I didn't mind her, she should know her place, I never promised her or any one of the ladies I have been seeing commitments if they ever overthink, it on them.

"Yes, you do, she and your brother were in high school together and she used to come over to our houses"

My mom disclosed, which means she should be around Max's age which means l would be five years older than her, wow, just wow. I thought.

"Mom, how old is she?"

I asked wanting to confirm. "I think, twenty-three or twenty-four,"

"Mom!!! You got me a lady I am seven years older than? What am I supposed to do? Teach her how to live?"

"Just wait until you meet her, you will like what you see,"

"Which family is she from by the way?"

I asked wanting to place my hand on where she is from and how influential her family is that my parents thought she was perfect for me.

"It's Katherine Stevenson, the last child of the Stevenson family, you should know her,"

I was right, a spoilt princess, what did I except. "Mom, so I am marrying Kathy? Wow,"

"Yes son, she is the perfect match, I think you have not seen her for a while, she has grown into a fine lady and if we don't make it legal soon another family might snack her,"

My mom said trying to make me see reasons why marrying her was a big thing, yeah I agree that the Stevensons were pretty influential but my family still has more net worth though, not wanting to argue with my mom I just let her talk.

"I will send you a photo of her when I get one, in the main time pick a date before the engagement ceremony for you guys to meet," My mom said

"Yes ma, I will let you know, I have to get to work ma,"

"Okay, bye son I love you,"

My mom said and I ended the call with a sigh of relief.

"Are you cheating or two-timing me?" Dolly asked I looked up to see her standing with her hands folded in front of her.

"What do you mean by that?"

I questioned getting up to dress up.

"You know what I mean, how can you be talking about another lady in my present? Talking about marriage? What do you take me for?"

"Dolly, I don't have the strength to talk right now, you are I don't have a relationship, what we have is a fling,"

"What? A fling? We have been seeing each other for over three months,"

She shouted in anger, I rolled my eyes, here it comes again, another one overstepping the boundary, there is no finally bang, what a waste it was fun while it lasted, time to get off it, I thought putting out my phone and forwarding ten million to her account.

"It's was fun while it lasted Dolly, I told you from the beginning I don't do commitment, and you are aware, if you think otherwise then that's on you,"

I replied pulling on my wrist watching and knotting my tie.

"Don't you dare walk out on me Cross, we are not finished here,"

she let out blocking my way as I tried to leave. "We are finished, Get out of my way Dolly, I have work to do,"

"Cross please, don't do this to me, I love you please, we can make this work,"

She voiced in a pleading voice that made me want to throw up.

"I don't love you, I told you before we started, it's on you Dolly, I never asked you to love me, I am done here and I won't be seeing you anymore, I sent ten million into your account you can use it to forget about me,"

I declared.

"I don't want your money, Cross, I have money, all I want is you, please, please,"

She screamed in tears.

"Let me go, Dolly, this is what I hate, I made it clear, I startedd it when we started, I never did or say anything to make you feel otherwise,"

"I love you please, don't do this to me, please, I promise I will be on my best behavior,"

She pleaded, falling on her knees and holding onto my legs, I tried to shake my leg off but she was holding on so tight, I looked down at her in disgust.

"You look so pathetic, right now, get off the ground woman, when I say I am done I mean it,"

I replied shaking off my legs forcibly and walking out of the hotel room.

"You are gonna regret this Cross, I promised. She screamed through her tears as I slammed the door shut and gagged in disgust, women will never change no matter how classic they look.

"Can never understand that gender,"

I muttered under my breath as I left the hotel.