Business of love

"Tyler, can you please help me pack Dad's lunch snack in a box. I need to take it to him now" I called out to my co-worker and bestie Tyler with whom I managed my mom and pop bakery cafe. My Dad worked in a multinational hotel corporation as a board member and we've been living great. He was now capable of paying to complete my education at the college level but I've refused to go at least for now. I loved baking and I've always dreamt of having my own bakery and now I do. Dad loves my doughnuts and insists I bring it to him at work every lunch time and I've been doing so for a while now.

The company at which he worked wasn't far from our house, it's located in the same estate as our house, the house was given to us by the company. They owned the whole estate here in Beverly hills. "Here you go," Tyler said, handing me the box of doughnuts. I quickly grabbed the tea to go with it and other necessary things and headed outside to my car. Arriving at the huge company, I headed straight to his office. I met his secretary and greeted her. Normally she'd smile and even proceed to shake me but her expression was just blank. I understood the company wasn't in a good state at the moment. The CEO of the corporation, Nathan Patrick and his wife died in a plane crash a few weeks ago leaving the seat of the CEO empty and the company without a leader. Of course he has an Heir, a son who is supposed to take over the seat but according to Dad, the company has a rule that for anyone to occupy the seat. They must have a wife, or a partner which was sure they'd get married. The son, Kyle Patrick is single. Dad told me he's just a guy who has lived all his life learning about the business and he was sure doesn't have time for love or relationship let alone a partner he'd consider marrying. As I was about to enter the office, I noticed a guy entered the hall and everyone immediately seemed tense. I decided to take a good look at him. He stood tall and broad-shouldered, his intense gaze fixed directly on me. His dark hair was styled neatly, with not a strand out of place. His face was chiselled and sharp, He radiated confidence and power as he walked towards us. Our eyes locked with each other for a moment and he broke the contact and walked right past us. I just shrugged and entered Dad's office. "Hey Dad, how are you?" I said as I dropped the food on his table and sat on the couch that was beside the window. I loved sitting there because it has a beautiful view... the office was like on the fifth floor and it shows a beautiful line of buildings and the peaceful and calm streets of the estate. " My princess. How has your day been?" Dad replied smiling but it looked as if it was kind of forced and it simply showed he's worried about something. "Dad, what's bothering you??" I ignored his question too. He didn't answer and I stared at him, raising an eyebrow, he knew I wouldn't give up until he spilled. He sighed and bit sipped his tea from the cup. "You know I'm kinda close to Mr Kyle..." he said and I nodded in response "Yeah, so he came to me this morning and opened up that he's confused and doesn't know what to do. He said the all the people he has asked for help hasn't really provided a solution. He needs to find a partner very soon or else the seat would be forfeited to his cousin brother. And he doesn't want that" he explained "Well, is that what you're so worried about?" I asked a little bit confused "No sweetie. He wants me to help him, like if I could find someone for him as a partner..." I didn't know what to say right away, I looked at dad and he couldn't look at me in the eye. "Dad, so how do you plan to help him?" " The thing is, I had no choice. Remember he was the one who helped me to this position I'm in today. So I told him I have a daughter but I'd have to ask her" he said in a really low voice as he sipped from his cup. " I really don't understand what you're saying right now. Like could you explain more" I was starting to understand where he's headed at but I refuse to agree to what was in my head. "Ashley, Kyle has no one now except for his uncle and few other family members who of course wouldn't render any help. He's a tough guy but he looked like he didn't know what else to do and he came to me asking for help saying I'm the only person he's got after his family who also understands him and I needed to help him find a wife. So I told him I'll have to ask you first" "No" "What?" "I said no, I'm not interested. Dad, how do you expect me to just get married to someone I've never seen before or know nothing about. It's not possible" I said and he looked like he was searching for his next words, then a knock on the door. His secretary came in... "Mr Kyle wants to see you" she said "Tell him to come in" Dad replied and I glared at him. "I can't turn him away" he whispered to me and the door opened again. And it was the guy earlier, he glanced at me and then looked at my Dad and sat on a chair. "Mr Anderson, I'm really glad you've agreed to help me. I must say, she's really pretty and I hope she's intelligent too because that's what I need" he said to my dad with a frown on his face, him saying he hoped I was intelligent really angered me and I just glared at him with disgust. He gave off an aura of arrogance and nonchalance. "I was just trying to convince her before you walked in" Dad replied and there was a bit of fear lying in his voice. Seems like he feared the guy or something. "Mr Anderson, you really don't have a choice right now. She's the only hope I have and she has to agree or you lose your job" he stated with a completely blank expression on his face. "What do you mean I don't have a choice, this is my life we're talking about right now. You have to look for someone else because I'm not doing this" I said to him standing from the couch He looked at my Dad before saying "Miss Anderson, I guess the first thing you'd have to learn is to never ever raise your voice at me. And you don't have a choice unless you want your father to lose his job, your house and everything. I'm sure you don't want that for him so you just have to comply " " You must be out of your mind..." I started but dad pulled my arm and I just had to stop and I stared at my Dad unbelievably and at the arrogant disgusting guy who just sat there like he could go around and decide about anyone's life "I'll tell my assistant to bring in the paperworks, this would be in the form of a contract. You both will sign under it and we'll do an official wedding" He said and walked out of the office. "This is not happening, I don't care what happens" I yelled at Dad who just stood there speechless and I stormed out of the office.

I got home and didn't bother to go to the bakery, I just went to my room straight. I wouldn't agree to this, I concluded that. Why would I get married to someone all of a sudden, and he doesn't even look like someone I could fall in love with or cope with. That bastard, he knows Dad doesn't have a choice. I screamed into my pillow dragging my hair, what mess have I been thrown into. I sat on the floor crying until I slept off there. A Knock on the door woke me "Ashley, it's me. Open the door" Dad called from outside my room. I ignored him and checked the time, it's midnight.

"Ashely please, let's talk" he said again knocking. "No Dad, go away" I replied in a very low and tired voice. "I'm really sorry. This isn't my fault either, it's just we have no choice. We have to help him or we will lose everything. I'm sorry this is happening but how bad could it be , huh?" "Dad, you have no idea how this is going to ruin me" "C'mon Ashley, Kyle is a nice guy. I'm sure nothing would go wrong. I know you love Daddy and would want to help me. I'm very sorry this is happening but it is what it is'' he said. I didn't reply to him as it began to dawn on me that we didn't really have a choice unless he'd lose his job and everything. "I brought the papers with me, you just have to sign on them tomorrow morning and he said you'll meet in court tomorrow " "What?! You mean the legal court stuff is tomorrow?" I screamed. I'm losing my mind right now. Like they aren't even giving me any choice. My Dad kept apologising over and over and I just chose to ignore him till he left. Next morning, I woke up depressed. I didn't really have a good night but I struggled to get out of bed and prepare for the already ruined day I was about to have. Dragging myself around, I eventually got ready and headed down stairs. I think I woke up late because the house was filled with the smell of fresh bakes and I guess Tyler and others had resumed work at the bakery. If I went in there, I'd be bombarded with lots of questions as to why I didn't return yesterday and my phone was full of missed calls from Tyler, so I just went to look for Das instead. I found him in the sitting room eating. He clearly searched my face for any expression before he spoke, I just stared at him blankly because I seriously don't know what to say or think. "Good morning princess" "Morning Dad," I replied. I think he decided to just keep mute because he knows I didn't really want to hear anything from him. We drove to the office in silence and when we got there a guy stopped us right from the entrance and directed us to follow him. Dad said he's Kyle's personal assistant and it looked like we're heading to his office. The office is a very big and beautiful space with nice antiques and interior design. He looked like he loved things like that because his office was full of different nice designs. "Good morning Mr Anderson" he said as soon as we entered and he smiled at my Dad while shaking his hands. Who knows the devil too smiles, he looked at me smiling too. "Miss Anderson, thanks for agreeing to do this for me" His assistant passed the paperworks to me and I read through briefly before signing. It also promised my dad would be promoted to a higher position in the company. I rolled my eyes, more like a bribe. "Thank you, so we'll be heading to my lawyer's office where the marriage will be legalised. And later, you'll have to meet a few people" Kyle said, collecting the papers and giving them to his assistant. His name tag read Jake. Without much wastage of time, we were in the car headed to the lawyer. I was in the same car with Kyle while Dad was in another with Jake. "Ashely huh? You remind me well of my mum. She had blonde hair and blue eyes also " I turned to look at him to make sure he's referring to me for sure. I didn't know what to say, I was very angry at him. "You don't have to do much, after it has been officially announced. You'll be taken to my house. I heard from your Dad you stopped your education at highschool level so I don't think you'd be of much help in the company" He spoke again and I had to talk. "How could you just talk like that. Asif I'm a puppet, you just set out to control me, you're supposed to be apologising to me for putting me in this kind of mess right now " I yelled at him and he didn't even move. He muttered something like 'women and their emotional shit' at that point tears started pouring down my face and he just sat there like nothing was happening. Good! I'm getting married to an uncaring, arrogant and heartless guy. Just Good. I urged myself to stop crying and I cleaned my face. I know this is my fate and I have no choice, I'm stuck. We arrived at the court and I followed him to the lawyer's office. In there, all we did was sign stuff and he talked about some matrimony shit. My mind wasn't really in what was going on. I was just reading and signing... We we're done and I met Das outside. He came over to my side and held my hand. "It's okay princess, you'll be fine" he squeezed my hands and smiled at me. Jake came over and told me we had to go. "When we get outside, there are surely reporters out there. Don't worry, just smile and look composed. Don't answer any questions, ok?" He instructed and I just nodded as he walked me over to Kyle. My new 'husband'

How long have you been together?" "How did you meet?" "Is she your wife sir" these were the questions the reporters were asking as we stepped out of the court. Kyle's personal bodyguards stopped them from touching us as we hurried towards the car. "What's your name, ma'am?" A reporter asked and I wasn't sure if to answer, then Jake replied for me, "This is Miss Ashley Miller, Mr Patrick's Girlfriend and now his wife, Ashley Patrick. Thank you" he ushered me into the car and closed the door.

Kyle was answering a few questions too, telling them we've been together for two years but we decided to keep it private until now. "That was good?" Kyle said as soon as he joined Jake and I in the car "Yes sir. It would be in the evening's papers and on the internet very soon, I made sure our photographer got a pretty good picture of miss Ashley to be used online " He replied "Mrs Ashley Patrick" Kyle corrected "I'd prefer to be called just Ashley, Jake" I said and none of them said a word. We drove past the bakery and I got emotional thinking I'd just leave all that behind like it was all nothing. I wouldn't let the whole of this play in Kyle's way of course, he isn't the boss of me and since I've agreed to what he wants, he'll have to do things I want too. We arrived at a huge mansion. I'm starting to wonder if only he lived here but then I became more confused as I saw several cars parked in the garage. The house was so huge, it could contain a thousand people. We stepped down from the car and I followed Jake inside, he seemed more nicer and relatable than Kyle and I honestly wished he'd be around more often. "This is your home now Mrs, the whole Patrick family lives here so you'll be meeting a few more people. The east wing belongs to my Boss and you'll live there with him too. Other parts of the house belong to other family members of the Patricks" He explained while helping me up a flight of stairs where he called the east wing of the mansion. A young brunette lady approached us with a smile and slightly bowed. "This is Amelia, she'll be your personal assistant and help you around. I'll come check on you later" Jake said and waved me bye. "Good afternoon ma'am, all your things has been transferred here" " So quick?" I asked "Yes, and it all has been arranged in your room. I'll take you there" she said and smiled again. I kind of felt relieved as she was constantly smiling and finally someone who would answer my questions and interact freely. "Amelia, right?" "Yes ma'am " " Call me Ashley, please " I said and she nodded with a smile again. She led me into a really big and beautiful room. It was obvious Kyle loved elegance and beauty because the whole wing was beautifully decorated, like his office. I noticed most of my things on the dressing mirror, I walked over to the closet to check my clothes. "Seems you don't really have much clothes..." Amelia said from behind as I opened the closet. "I don't go out much. I spend all of my day in my Bakery cafe " "You own a bakery cafe? Oh that's nice" "Yeah. The millers' ' I replied to her knowing she'd know it as it was very famous, it being the only one in the whole estate. "Really?" She said and gasped "Oh my God. Everyone loves your bakes. We do sneak to come get some snacks there by any chance we have outside house " "You wouldn't have to sneak anymore since the baker herself is here" I said and we both laughed "But I don't think you'd be allowed in the kitchen. We have kitchen maids" "Who said so?" I replied to her as she was helping me change "Mr Kyle, I guess " she replied and I rolled my eyes "I'll do anything I want, and since you're my personal person, you have no choice but to comply " I replied to her and smiled. "You'll have to wear something quite formal, it'd be a family dinner where you'll meet everyone one else" "How many Patricks?" "My Kyle and six others" she replied " You mean the whole family just consists of seven members? And this whole house?" I asked surprised and she just shrugged and nodded "How long have you been working here?" "This is my third year. I was just a cleaning maid. I cleaned Mr Kyle's room before, and he just informed me his wife would be coming home and I'll be your personal assistant " "Can I trust you?" "Yes ma'am " "What time is the dinner?" I asked and picked up my phone and I met a lot of missed calls from Tyler. "It's seven o'clock " "This is just 4 o'clock, I need to quickly head out to somewhere " told her "You can't leave without Mr Kyle's permission ma'am " "He doesn't have to know, it's not like he'll notice if I was not around. And I'll be back in time for the dinner " "They won't let you out at the gate". "Then follow me?" I said pulling her hand. "I'm sorry but I can't. I'll be in trouble if I let you out, I'm sorry" she replied and quickly left my room. Fuck! I decided to call Tyler and explain things to him. He didn't pick the first call, then on the second one he picked... "Oh my God, Ashley. I've been super worried. Your Dad just briefed me about what happened and I swear I'm very furious right now. Like how and why would he let that happen?" Tyler said from the other side and I didn't know what to say "Ashley... speak to me please, I'm worried" he said and I could sense the worry in his voice. I opened my mouth to reply but instead I Burst into tears, crying...