Betrothed to a billionaire's son

Xena couldn't believe her ears as she stood in front of her Dad looking directly at him.

"So, what you mean is you were gone for weeks without notice, to go get a partnership with some junky rich man?" she half yelled.

"To get back our rightful property Xena" his voice was relaxed.

"Oh my God dad!" she caressed her forehead in frustration, her body still shaking from the initial shock. "Take a look around you, does this look right to you?" gesturing to the mansion they were standing in.

She still couldn't get over the shock of being half dragged from her workplace by strange able-bodied men to a strange location.

"And even if you wanted to go on with your stupid deal, you should have given I and mom a heads up first"

"If I had informed you two, you wouldn't have come-"

"And you wonder why?" Xena interrupted asking rhetorically.

Xena's father walked over to one of the massive sofas in the living room and sat down. She hadn't heard the worst part and she was already pulling her hair.

"Speaking of mom, where is she?" she folded her arms. "I bet they'll bundle her the way they bundled me right?"

"She'll be here any moment" he took out his buzzing phone from the inner pocket of his suit.

Xena couldn't help but stare, she couldn't believe how much her dad had changed in just a couple of weeks. He looked very polished and his aura felt different from what she used to know.

"Oh my god Xena dear" her mom rushed in, fear and worry written all over her face. Two body guards behind her.

Xena ran into her embrace but it was cut short when her mom sighted her dad.

"I knew you would still go on with this stupid idea even after we talked about it"

Xena's dad didn't reply, he just walked to an adjoining room to receive a call.

"You knew about this all along?"

"I tried talking him out of this but he wouldn't budge, believe me I tried" her voice was shaky. Xena looked at her mom's face. She looked...terrified.

What exactly was going on?

****

Xena was in her room trying to see if she could do some work on her laptop. Luckily she was able to carry her laptop with her while she was practically dragged out of her office.

She knew it was useless. They were just as good as billionaires, she didn't need the money.

There was a knock on her door.

She ignored it. She knew it was her mom who had been trying to talk to her without actually explaining what was going on.

The knock came again

"Urgh" she groaned as she went to the door and opened it.

"What now mo..." there was a hefty man in a suit at the door.

"Mr Hayes asked me to accompany you to the boutique" he spoke quickly

"But I don't need to go to the boutique, he already stocked up my wardrobe" Xena was looking up at him, his height was intimidating.

"He said you need to buy a dress" More of authority in his voice.

Xena couldn't object this time "o-kay, give me a minute" she went back inside and closed the door not knowing what to think.

She changed her clothes and headed out. The hefty man was the driver. The car smelt like it was just pulled out of the factory; fresh and new, it was intoxicating.

"Where are we headed?" She asked, to fill in the silence

No answer

"I'm guessing you're not to speak then" she said then turned to the window admiring the beautiful landscapes of the street. This was very different from the life she was used to.

They arrived at the boutique. She had never been to such a fancy boutique before, she had always done her clothes shopping at the mall. The atmosphere spelt luxury, one mind said finally she could afford everything she wanted. The other didn't want to accept reality.

She was in the dresses aisle indecisive of what to choose as there were so many options. Her driver was waiting at a far corner where he could watch over her directly.

"You would look really good in blue"

"You think?" She picked out a long blue off shoulder with a long slit at the right. She went to the mirror in front of the testing room and looked at it a little before entering to test the dress.

She came out carefully, watching her steps so she won't step on the dress and ruin it.

"Now that, is a damsel"

She looked up to the owner of the voice, she couldn't help but blush. It's not everyday you see a good looking man compliment you in a boutique.

"Thanks" she said, hoping he wouldn't notice the red on her cheeks.

She went back to face the mirror "I really do look good" she paused admiring herself "I guess blue must be my col-" she turned around but he was gone.

She just shrugged, picked out a few other things, the driver paid and they left.

She couldn't stop thinking of the male Cinderella she had met at the mall when she got back home. The way he looked at her showed genuineness in his complement.

A knock on her door disrupted her thoughts. She opened the door, it was her mom.

"Xena dear, how are you doing?" her mom asked when Xena had let her in.

"I'm fine mom" she replied reluctantly "You don't always have to check up on me, I'm a grown woman you know"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry" her mom apologised immediately. They were both now sitting on Xena's bed.

"I heard your dad asked you to get a dress"

"Yes, he did"

Her mom looked away. Visible worry on her face.

"Mom, do you have any idea why?" she asked, trying to peer into her mom's face.

"Um..not really, all I know is our presence will be needed at a gathering later this week" Xena knew she could ask no more questions as her mom knew no more or would rather not say more.

Xena was upstairs in her room that evening going through her social media pages when she heard a commotion downstairs.

She walked down the stairs gently, so as to not announce her presence. She got to the bottom of the stairs and halted in her tracks.

"And there she is," Her father announced.

The most icy set of blue eyes turned to meet hers.

"Dad, you can not make me get married to that girl"

"Oh so you have a choice now, huh Maverick?," Mr Gustavo was seated at the table in his study going through some files, Maverick stood in front of him.

"Have you even seen her before?, have you taken a good look at that creature you want to give your son to?" Maverick asked, veins began building on his forehead.

"I do not need to take a good look at anything before I do what I know is best for my son"

"For God sake dad, she's an insult to my status. Why don't you get it?She's not my type..."

"Your type?" Mr Gustavo thundered. "Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you chose 'your type'?, didn't you tell me how she left you and left with a great part of your assets?"

Maverick was quiet

"I thought as much" he remarked trying to cool his temper "Well, I've made sure that won't repeat itself," he was now flipping through the files again.

"And how do you intend to do that?"

"I have their family under my control, if any of them tries to be smart, they are all going down".

Maverick could feel the venom in his dad's tone.

*****

"Who exactly is that Maverick guy?" she asked no one in particular, as she paced to and fro in her room.

What transpired between them that evening replayed over and over in her head.

He had walked over to her with what felt like disgust in his eyes, making Xena feel dirty all over. His huge figure towered over her staring at her like he was trying to see if there was a brain in her skull.

"If you didn't know, I'm Maverick Gustavo" his authoritative tone taking over the room. "The heir to the properties your father and mine are in partnership for and you, are very privileged to be in MY presence"

Xena's head was blank, his eyes weren't letting her think as they pierced through her soul.

He must have thought she was dumb the way he turned around and left when she didn't say a word.

Xena scoffed back to reality.

"Privileged to be in your presence?You came to my house crying out loud!"

"Lousy rich people!" She said, trying not to overthink it.

The next day in the evening, they were having dinner in their family dining room. Her father was home- which was surprising because these days he chose every other thing he did over his family.

"Mom told me grandpa Robert was the one who abandoned the wealth" Xena spoke, trying to break the cold silence.

Her father took his time.

"Yes, so?" he replied, his eyes still on his plate.

"He said the money was dirty"

Her mother shot her a quick uneasy look but she ignored her. She wanted to hear what this man had to say for himself.

"What's your point exactly Xena?" His voice was calm and collected.

"You knew and you still went ahead to partner up for it. Do you even know that man at all?"

Tension was rising.

"Did your source tell you what made the wealth dirty?" her dad asked. Xena was silent. "I thought so too. As far as I know, there's no evidence of fraud in what I've signed our family into.

"You are just so unbelievable dad-"

"That's enough Xena," her mom interrupted sternly. She was beginning to have a headache from all this dragging.

Xena was furious. She dropped her cutlery and stood up to leave.

"Just so you know", her dad began, "We'll be needed at the official partnership ceremony tomorrow"

"Like you've given me a choice" she turned and began to leave

"A stylist will be sent up to your room, be ready"

Xena stomped up the stairs to her room. How dare they!. She was sure her dad didn't even know that man he had partnered with and so did she until she had done some research yesterday.

She didn't like him as soon as she saw his pictures on the net, especially his son, Maverick.

And her mom who had acted like a dumb mute throughout the whole meal had shut her up the only time she had decided to speak.

She got into her room and slammed the door but the door wasn't designed for slamming as it slowed down on its hinges before closing.

She laid on her bed and buried her face in her pillow, she couldn't cry, she couldn't scream.

She felt like a slave in this house.

*****

Xena sat in front of her dressing mirror as the stylist worked on her hair. She had given this lady nothing more than the dress she had bought but it felt like she was working according to an installed program in her head.

She didn't say a word as she worked and so did Xena. She just sat there looking without protest while her make-up was made. Then she slipped into her dress.

When all was ready, she got down the stairs where her mom was waiting, smiling nervously.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," her mom whispered as they both walked to a black limousine parked just in front of the building.

Xena didn't reply. She just sat in silence and tried to enjoy the ride to an unknown location. She could see her mom stealing glances at her occasionally from the corner of her eye but she tried to avoid looking at her.

The limo swerved into a compound with a large automatic gate, the car drove for what seemed like half a mile before they got to a building- a mansion. Different colours, sizes and brands of cars parked around it.

They both got down in front of the building as the car drove off to find a parking spot.

Xena entered and spotted her dad with Mr Gustavo in the midst of people laughing at something Mr Gustavo had said.

Her dad seemed to be enjoying every bit of this.

"Wine?" a bartender offered.

She could really use one of those, she thought. She took one from the tray he held in front of her.

She took a sip just when he left and as if it had been programmed, she looked up and saw her dad gesturing to her to come over.

"Now this is my beautiful daughter Xena" her dad said just as she reached where they were, beaming.

Xena didn't know why but she was careful with her expression trying to make a good first impression.

"Well she sure is," Mr Gustavo remarked. Xena tried so hard not to eye him, her dad was the villain here. Others acknowledged that Mr Gustavo was right.

"It's nice to finally meet you sir," she nodded, careful not to raise her hand for a hand shake.

"I'm sure it is," he said, with obvious pride in his voice. "Make yourself at home then, be free to ask for anything, if you want" he added trying to lighten the mood back.

"I sure will"

She half hurried out of there to an open door which she suspected led to a balcony, her wine still in hand. She needed some air.

She got there and gulped down the whole glass before inhaling.

"Drink one more glass like that and you would throw up" a voice said behind her.