Fated to meet again

Mr and Mrs Alexander were discussing about their daughter when she walked in.

"Dad? You are here?" She asked him. She was holding a shopping bag, it was obvious she went shopping.

"Yes, I didn't go to work today" he replied her.

"But dad, you don't normally stay at home, so what's wrong?" She asked. Mr Alexander glimpsed at his wife who gave her the "go ahead" look.

"May we have a word with you?" Mr Alexander suddenly asked.

"What do you......" Beatrice was saying but was disrupted by her mother.

"Beatrice, go drop your things upstairs and then we can have the conversation" Mrs Helen said.

"Alright mom" Beatrice said and headed upstairs to her room.

"Why did you sent her off?" Mr Alexander asked.

"You told me to tell her, but you sent her off. Why?" He queried.

"Am sorry, I realised she needs to freshen up and be her self before having this conversation. We can't just go ahead and tell her like that" Mrs Helen explained and her husband kept quiet for a while, before speaking.

"So, how are we going to break the news to her?" Mr Alexander asked, worriedly.

"What news?" They heard Beatrice asked, she was climbing down the stairs.

"Come have a seat" Mrs Helen said and Beatrice sat down.

"You know the Emerson company right?" Mr Alexander said to Beatrice.

"Yes, the one they named after their son, Brandon" She replied him. She was playing with her nails.

"Yes, Brandon industries" Mr Alexander confirmed.

"So, what happened to the company?" she asked her dad. he was about replying when her phone rang, it was her best friend calling.

"Can I take this call?" She pouted.

"You are an adult Bea, stop behaving like a baby. We are having an important discussion here, so any thing should be kept aside" Mrs Helen stated and Beatrice frowned her face.

"Mr Emerson brought us a proposal, he wants to merge with our company" He said and Beatrice jumped up in joy.

"Wow, congratulations dad" she said, jumping on him like a baby.

"Thanks but there is something else" Mr Alexander paused, he sighed before continuing.

"For this merger to be strong and also for there to be more investors, you must get married to his son, Brandon" Mr Alexander concluded his statement.

"What?" Beatrice scoffed as she sat down.

"Married to his son?" She scoffed again. "Can't the merging go on without me getting married to Brandon" she asked.

"There have to be some bond between the company. If there is no bond then no investors would like to invest in the company, because they will be afraid that we might end up quarrelling and then break the merger. If that happens, then the investors will be the one at loss" he explained.

"But dad, I don't like him" She almost yelled.

"What don't you like in him? He is handsome, rich, famous and all" Mrs Helen stated, counting her fingers.

"He is a Casanova for crying out loud! How am I sure he's not gonna be bringing whores to our matrimonial bed" Beatrice yelled.

"You know what? Am out of here" she stood up and headed upstairs to her room.

"I know she would react this way, but I have something that is going to make her agree" Mr Alexander stated.

"You know? Honey, tell me" Mrs Helen beckoned.

"She might hear us" Mr Alexander said, glancing at the stairs.

"She won't. She's in her room upstairs and she probably might have locked herself there" Mrs Helen said.

"Michelle, her best friend, works at our company... Beatrice pleaded with me to employ her and I did" Mr Alexander said.

"How is that going to help?" Mrs Helen asked, confusingly.

"If Beatrice refuses to marry Brandon, then I will fire Michelle but if Beatrice marries him, I won't fire her" He replied.

"What! That's blackmailing, we can't blackmail our daughter" she surprisingly said.

"We aren't going to blackmail her, we are doing the right thing. She must surely marry Brandon, you should stop giving her false hope" he retorted and angrily took the his car keys from the table, before leaving.

"What should I do" Mrs Helen sighed.

*

"They want me to get married to that jerk! Although he's cute but I don't like him"Beatrice muttered to herself. "Am I joking? I do like him, he's cute" She playfully hit herself."You should stop it! He's cute but you are also beautiful" Beatrice sighed.

She sat on the bed in her room, sitting on the bed.

"I should probably call Michelle" she muttered and took her phone.

"Hello" Michelle said through the call.

"Bestie, how are you? I missed a call from you and am sorry for that" Beatrice said.

"Bea, don't be sorry. Are you okay? You don't sound lively, are you sick?" Michelle asked, in a concern tone.

Beatrice was contemplating about whether to tell her best friend or not. Beatrice knew her father very well, he's man of his word, what if he actually get her married to Brandon? Michelle might tell people it's a contract marriage and then she would be a laughing stock. But Michelle isn't like that, she wouldn't do such a thing, would she?

"Bea, hey....you there" Michelle question made Beatrice out from her thoughts.

"I am fine, am just feeling sleepy" Beatrice lied.

"Alright, am still at work, call you when I get home Michelle said.

"Adieu(Goodbye)" Beatrice said in French and hang up.

"I feel bad lying to her but I just have to" Beatrice

muttered and sighed.

******

Three cars were parked at Brandon's industries, Two men came out of the first car and one of them opened the door of the second car. Brandon step out in a haste and walked into the company with his escorts behind him.

"Welcome sir" The secretary greeted.

"Where is my dad?" He asked hoarsely.

"In his office, sir" she replied. Brandon was about walking in the office when the Secretary stopped him.

"You can't go in sir, he's so busy right now" she said and he glared at her.

"Do you want today to be your last day in this company?" He asked her.

"No..no sir, I was just doing my job" she stuttered.

"Good!" He said and walked in, his escorts waited outside.

"Dad! Is it true?" Brandon asked as he barge into the office.

"What's true?" Mr Emerson asked. He was signing some documents

"The marriage stuff" Brandon replied.

"So true" Mr Emerson replied.

"How could you? It's my life and not yours. I decide what happens in my life, not you" Brandon yelled.

"Do you realise this is my office and I can throw you out? First you barged into my office, secondly, you are yelling in my office. Is this the kind of behavior you want to exhibit,after being the CEO?" Mr Emerson asked.

"But dad..."

"All am doing, am doing it for you guys! The contract marriage is especially for you, not your siblings...Soon you would become the CEO of this company and the marriage will be of benefit to you" Mr Emerson explained.

"I don't want to become the CEO of any company!" Brandon half yelled.

"I have my own money, fame and all...I don't want to become any CEO. Dave is there, you can make him the CEO"

"Really?" Mr Emerson scoffed.

"The reason you are famous and rich is all because of me; years ago, I did some things and that's the reason am here today. If I didn't do what I did then, no one would have known you....What am saying is that I sacrificed my own happiness for you and your siblings, now it's time for you to sacrifice yours for your unborn child, so they could live a better life " Mr Emerson concluded.

"We have enough money dad, you are being sarcastic....it's called selfishness, you are selfish!" Brandon said. This time around, he wasn't yelling.

"Call it whatever you want. Don't you think it's time to stop your playboy life? Getting married to Beatrice is like helping you" Mr Emerson stated.

"So Beatrice is her name" Brandon said, chuckling.

"If you want me to get married, then let me choose my bride!"

"Beatrice is the best bride for you, because after marrying her you would gain a lot and her company will be merge with yours"Mr Emerson replied.

" I don't even know what to say to you right now " Brandon calmly said.

"That's good! As you can see, am so busy. You can leave" Mr Emerson said and Brandon stormed out angrily.

"He's still behaving like a child, he's 24 for goodness sake!" Mr Emerson muttered.

As Brandon stormed out the office, his escorts walked behind him. "Get me a bitch" he whispered to one of his escorts as they walked out.

******

Michelle knew her best friend wasn't fine, so she decided to drop by at her house, after work. She bought some chocolates which was Beatrice favorite and took it with her. She parked her car at Beatrice's house, the car was given to her when she was promoted at work.

"Bonsoir! Ma" she greeted Beatrice's mother, in French which means "Good evening".

" How are you doing Michelle, please come in" Mrs Helen ushered her in.

"Am fine, thanks ma'am" Michelle replied as she walked in.

"Beatrice is in her room" Mrs Helen said.

"Merci beaucoup" Michelle said in French, meaning "Thank you very much.

" you speak a lot of French these days" Mrs Helen said, smiling.

"It's because of my work ma, I do speak French a lot at work" Michelle replied her, she was also smiling.

Immediately Michelle mentioned her work, Mrs Helen became sad because earlier ago, her husband threatened to have her sack if Beatrice refuses to marry Brandon, what if Beatrice actually refuses? The innocent girl is going to be jobless.

"You can go....." Mrs Helen paused when she noticed Michelle wasn't there any longer. "She might have gone to Beatrice room" She muttered and a thought crossed her mind.

"What if Beatrice told Michelle about it? Her husband warned her not to mention anyone else!....I have to tel Beatrice" she thought as she ran upstairs to Beatrice's room.

"Mom?" Beatrice called, the moment she saw her

"Bea, can I talk to you outside?" Mrs Helen asked.

"Sure" Beatrice dropped the Chocolate she was eating, on the bed and stood up..

"Your dad said not to mention it to anyone, not even Michelle" Mrs Helen warned in a whisper.

"Am not a baby mom, is that the reason you called me?" Beatrice asked, angrily.

" yes, we have to make it look real" Mrs Helen said.

"Real! Real? What's that?" She asked in confusion.

"You have a visitor Bea, go back to her" Mrs Helen said and walked out.

"Real? I wonder what she meant" She muttered as she head back to her room.

"Beatrice, are you okay? Why are you talking to yourself?" Beatrice younger sister, Tina, asked.

"That's non of your business, you are even too young to understand all these things" Beatrice said and made to walk out but her wrist was held.

"Don't talk to me like that! Am no longer seventeen, I am eighteen! I won't tolerate any insult from you anymore" Tina retorted, she left Beatrice wrist and walked away.

"Is that Tina?" Beatrice scoffed and went to join Michelle in her room.

"You took forever" Michelle said and Beatrice laughed.

"I am fine, Michelle...trust me" Beatrice assured her.

"But your voice sounded odd on the phone" Michelle replied.

"Am good... Do you care for anything?" Beatrice asked.

"Nothing at all...I have to leave, it's getting late" Michelle said, glancing at her wristwatch.

"Okay, let's go" Beatrice said. She also stood up.

"To where" Michelle surprisingly asked.

"You dummy! I wanna walk you out to your car" Beatrice said and they both laughed.

"Adieu" Michelle said in French, meaning "Goodbye". She hugged Beatrice before entering her car. Beatrice was about walking in when her dad drove in. She stood there waiting for him.

" Welcome dad" she greeted and he nodded.

"Have all the maids resumed" he asked her.

"No dad, they are all on a leave, they will all resume tomorrow" she replied.

"That's good! We need them to decorate the house tomorrow" He said and she stared at him in confusion

.

"Decorate? Why?" She asked and he smiled.

"Don't be so curious" He replied.

Get me a glass of water" he said as he sat down on the sofa.

"Okay, dad" she replied and and headed to the kitchen to get the water. When she got to the kitchen, she took a glass and filled it with water, from the dispenser.

"Am sorry for how I reacted earlier" Beatrice heard Tina say, when she was about to leave the kitchen.

"It's nothing" Beatrice replied.

"Are you sure?" Tina asked.

"Yeah, it's high time I stop treating you like a baby" Beatrice said and Tina smiled.

"Merci(Thank you)" Tina said and Beatrice nodded before leaving the kitchen.

"Here is your water" she handed it to her dad.

"Thanks. What took you so long?" He asked.

"I was talking to Tina" she replied.

"Where is your mum?" He asked her.

"She's in her room" Beatrice replied.

"Good, i want her here" Mr Alexander said and Beatrice left to call her.

Mr Emerson sat in the limo as his driver drove to his som mansion, he has something tell his son and he doesn't want to tell him on the phone.

"Welcome Sir" Brandon guards greeted him as he came down.

"Where is he?" He asked.

"He's inside Sir" one of them replied.

"What is he doing" he asked and they all glanced at each other.

"He's...he's not doing anything" one of them stuttered. Mr Emerson walked majestically into the house, he heard some moaning.

"That must be Brandon" he muttered and walked into the room where he heard the moaning coming from.

"Brandon!" He called as he saw Brandon on top of a lady, it was obvious they were having sex.

"Dad?" Brandon quickly covered his body with the duvet and the lady scampered the room for her dress before running out.

"It's good I caught you in the act!" Mr Emerson said.

"Dad am...."

"Don't even dare! You will get married to Beatrice and that too soon....Come meet me down stairs when you are done" Mr Emerson said and headed downstairs.

"Shit!" Brandon cursed.

"Steve!" He yelled and a guard ran in.

"How dare you" Brandon gave him a slap.

"Sorry sir" he held his cheek

"Why didn't you inform me that my dad was coming into the room" Brandon asked him.

"We tried stopping him sir but...."

"But what! Get out of my sight" He yelled and the guard ran out.

"I can't possibly get stuck to a lady for the rest of my life, never!" Brandon muttered, angrily.

He went into the bathroom and had a quick bath, he scampered through his closet for clothes to wear and he settled for a blue short and a white T-shirtwhy didn't you call me before coming?" He asked as he came down the

"Do I need to inform anyone

"Your house?" Brandon chuckled.

"This is my house and not yours!....when will you stop claiming my things?"

"Beatrice?" Brandon completed.

"Yes, Beatrice. If you reject the idea, then forget about being the CEO...Dave will become the CEO" Mr Emerson said

"Dave? What dies Dave knows?" He muttered.

"That's my right and you can't possibly give it to someone else! If you want me to marry that girl, fine! I will marry her" He yelled angrily.

"Good! The future of the company is in your hands" Mr Emerson smiled. "I brought something for you" he said and signalled one of his guards to bring it. The guards came with a small box and handed it to Brandon.

"What's this?" Brandon asked, he was now holding the box.

"It's in your hands right?" Mr Emerson asked.

"Yes, but what's....."

"Then open it" Mr Emerson cuts in Brandon. He stood up and adjusted hiss suit jacket. "Call me when you are chanced" he said and left. Immediately he got outside, one of his escorts opened the door of the limo for him and he majestically walked in.

"I wonder what's in this box" Brandon muttered. He was checking the box out.

He opened it and saw a picture of a lady, she's damn beautiful.

"Who is she" he asked himself.

"She might be Beatrice" he replied himself.

"But why is she so beautiful?.....but I don't like her!" He angrily threw the photo away.

*******

"Darling, you are back" Mrs Helen said as she walked behind Beatrice.

"Yes, I want to talk to the both of you....please sit" He said and Mrs. Helen sat down but Beatrice didn't.

"Dad, I hope it's not about the marriage stuff?" She asked him.

"It's not about the marriage but it's about the company and your friend, Michelle" He replied her and she quickly sat down.

"What happened to Michelle and the company?" She asked, anxiously.

"Well, our company is undergoing some changes because of the shares we've lost and we might not be able to pay some workers again" He stated.

"So? How is..."

"I haven't finished yet...we've selected some workers that would be fired and unfortunately, Michelle is among them" He said and Beatrice stood up.

"What! Dad she's one of the best workers in our company, you can't possibly fire her....why didn't you fire her before? Why now" She said, angrily.

"Beatrice calm down" Mrs Helen said.

"How can I calm down when my best friend is going to be fired" Beatrice yelled.

"Sit down Beatrice" He ordered and Beatrice reluctantly sat down.

"If she's fire, then it's probably your fault"

"My fault? How dad?" She asked, confusingly.

"The company is folding up and the only way to restore the company back to the way it was, is by merging with other company" He explained and Beatrice chuckled.

"Now I know why you are doing this....Our company can never fold up, you are doing this because you want be to get married to Brandon but guess what.... Am not getting married to him, no matter how hard you try!" She retorted and made to walk out but her dad stopped her.

"If you don't get married to him then all your debit card would stop working and the car and accommodation will also be taken from Michelle" He said and walked out, leaving Beatrice dumbstruck.

"Am sorry Bea" Mrs Helen said and walked out.

"Oh my God! That's all Michelle has and if dad takes it away from her, then she...she.....oh no!" Beatrice muttered, stuttering.

"I have to get married to Brandon!" She concluded and frustratedly sat down on the couch.