His Forced Bride

Liliana Covey liked to play the piano, it was the only thing that gave her comfort at a time when everyone in the world was either mad or getting there. As she sat on the piano, her fingers running along the smooth white tiles, she forced herself to ignore the furious whispers of her parents behind the door.

She could hear them of course, the angry whispers were not drowned out by the smooth simple melody she played. Some days Lili wondered what it would take to get them to stop arguing but then she would toss the idea out of her mind.

" Stop that hammering" her father's cold voice echoed, Travis Covey was not a particularly handsome man, he had beady black eyes that sat too narrowly in his thin face, as well as the most unflattering habits of hunching himself to appear broader than he was. He wasn't particularly kind either but his mother had against all odds managed to care for him over the past twenty-eight years of their marriage.

" Oh stop that Travis she was playing quite beautifully" Mother scolded, at five foot six inches Miriam Covey stood an inch shorter than her husband, she was a beauty with most of her features having been passed down to her daughter including her kindness.

" Don't mind your father dear he's just grumpy that some business fell through today" Mother consoled, her father spluttered, his eyes widening comically

" I don't think she has to know that Miriam" he grunted and Mother's lips quirked in a slight smile

" Go on upstairs and prepare for dinner dear we're inviting a few of your father's associates to dinner, look as pretty as you dare," she said softly and Lili laughed, rising from the piano

"I always look pretty" she grinned

Nodding to her father and pressing a small kiss to her mother's cheek, she strolled to the stairs just as her parents picked up bickering again. Liliana sighed and prayed that if she ever got married it would be to a man as quiet and unassuming as she was who would never incite in her the horrible traits of bickering.

************

Liliana pulled a dress from her closet, it was a lovely shade of sky blue, one of her favorite dresses actually, that matched seamlessly with her eyes. She could hear the soft clatter of plates and spoons as the house staff got ready for the big dinner, Mother had sent them up twice to check that she was getting along with her preparation unwilling to risk them being sent a third time, she pulled on the dress, and then moved to her hair, a smooth silky red, Liliana's hair was one of her greatest joys she'd taken care of it for years to get the silky texture just right.

" Lili darling hurry down" her mother called, her voice echoing along the house

" I'm coming" she called back, putting on simple comfy shoes she hurried out of her room and straight into a tall lanky body, glancing upward she found a grinning face and equally laughing eyes

" Well hello there beautiful, what are you doing here" Lili froze

" I live here of course, who are you," she asked pulling away from the stranger

" I'm one of your guests."

" Oh, did you get lost then, I'm going down so you can come with me" she answered, he smiled, his eyes twinkled suspiciously like he found her amusing,

" Come let go then," he said interrupting her thoughts and she nodded slightly, they walked down the stairs, in companionable silence, it was surprisingly nice to walk with someone who didn't look too long at her face with awe

" You never told me your name," she said softly and he grinned

" You never asked" she smiled

" Well now I'm asking"

"I'm Calvin Davenport," he said, she turned to stare eyes wide with surprised breath stuttering

" You can't mean the Davenport"

He laughed seemingly enjoying her disbelief

" Yes the Davenport who is your family' s sworn enemy"

"Oh don't laugh, my father does have a strong dislike for yours," she said sagely as they turned into the corridor leading to the dining room. It was true though the rivalry between the Coveys and the Davenports had existed for as long as she could remember, both companies were in construction and regularly struggled for first place in the industry and Lili loved her father but Covey & Sons struggled to maintain the position once they got it.

" Well I guess they're about to bury the hatchet he grinned and she sighed

" Dinner is going to be very awkward"

" Oh come on it can't be that bad, we'll have good food and your mother seems lovely, all we have to do is try not to expire from boredom as they discuss business" he muttered sticking out his tongue in disgust, Lili snorted in sudden laughter, it was a childish gesture one she had not expected from the son of a business mogul's son.

" There you are, how long did you plan to get dressed" Mother chided reaching an arm for her

" I'm sorry, I met Calvin on the way and he was such fun that I lost track of time" she smiled, turning to the other guests, she's expected more people but there was only Calvin and an elderly gentleman she assumed was his father and a pretty woman who didn't seem to be his mother. Mother smiled at the guest

" This is my beautiful daughter Liliana. Lili dear this is Mr. Allen Davenport and his wife Cally, you've already met their son Calvin"

" That's enough of that Miriam let's eat " Father grumbled settling into his seat, Lili smiled and sat as well, Calvin taking the seat beside her instead of with his family on the other side of the table.

" Let's have fun" he whispered, grinning

He did make them have fun, throughout the meal he made her smile and stifle a burst of inappropriate laughter, they were able to ignore most of the adult conversations, after dinner Mother led them to the living room, the men sipping at whisky, father nodded his eyes squinting slightly, making her curious a curiosity that was appeased when he turned to face the room

" I'd like to thank the Davenports for taking the time to come to dinner," he said, Lili smiled at the extremely formal greetings, the doorbell ringing echoed throughout the house distracting her briefly

"–and in good faith of both families becoming closer and more prosperous in the future, it's with that in mind I announce the engagement between our children"

Lillian froze, the word engagement seemed to be playing a constant loop in her brain, she felt dizzy and couldn't give attention to much around her, everything sounded like she was underwater.

She found Calvin's wild gaze, pleading silently for she wasn't sure, but he couldn't offer her any reassurance,

" Ah, here he is, the man of the hour. " Allen Davenport boomed

"This is my son, Callum, boy this is Liliana Covey your fiance"

Lili turned her gaze to the door finding a tall figure blocking said doorway

" I'm sorry for coming late, there were unavoidable circumstances" he muttered. He didn't look particularly sorry, he said nothing to her, gently refusing the drunk mother offered him.

" It's nice to meet you, Callum, your mother spoke a lot about you," Mother said softly,

" Stepmother" Callum intoned sharply, making her mother frown slightly. He smiled as if trying to take out the sting of his words, it only made him look more menacing

" I hope there were all good things," he asked softly and she nodded

Then everyone stood in wary silence, Calvin came to stand by her

" Are you okay?" he asked softly

" I'm not sure"

" I didn't know you had a brother" she whispered again, he shrugged

" We're not extremely close, he's always grumpy" Calvin muttered making a face, she giggled

" See exactly that" he exclaimed, she turned to stare at Callum to find that he was frowning at them " She sighed, he was going to be her fiance. Physically he looked good, with strong features, green eyes, and dark brown hair, he was tall, taller than his brother and father, and for some insane reason he made her stomach flutter like she had butterflies in there but he was so far from what she'd wanted, he didn't look like a quiet man and he didn't look kind either what was she going to do.

" Well, we'll get going" Allen muttered slowly taking his wife's arm,

She had been so out of it, she had missed all the conversation around her. Calvin pulled her into a slight hug

" I'll see you soon" he muttered, she smiled nodding softly. Callum looked their way and nodded briefly, his face still in what seemed to be a permanent scowl. It took no less than twenty minutes after her life had been imploded beyond imagination, and then they were all gone, she was now left with her parents standing in the empty living room

" Why," she asked softly

" What do you mean by why, the Davenports suggested the engagement and I agreed, our companies will be merged and Covey can then be at the top like it's meant to be" her father spluttered and she sighed turning to meet her mother's guilty stare

" You could have told me, this is my life and I know I don't have much of a say but I thought we were close," she said over her mother's gentle refusal

" Honey we are "

" Not enough for you, I guess," she said softly

" Stop hounding your mother" her father boomed

" Stop that Travis" Mother scolded, she turned to her father

" Of course, I'm sorry, '' she apologized. Without another word she left the living room, ignoring everything else as she took the stairs two at a time. She rushed into her room, locking the door shut behind her. This wasn't going to help her in any way, she was already stuck with this marriage no matter what anyone thought so she had to make the best of it. She reached for her computer and opened it typing in her fiance's name, the search tab came up with multiple results Callum Davenport was big fish in many circles, although his father was the figurehead of Davenport Industries Callum was the CEO in charge and was on his worth billions, he hadn't just inherited daddy's money, he was a successful man, that was as far as his life history got, the family was private and Callum even more than the rest, he had no known girlfriends, and was termed the Ice King of construction, she huffed, of course, he was. She shut the laptop and dropped it on the bed. She closed her eyes and fell asleep fitfully.

Her door opened slightly, the next morning, or whatever the hell the time was

" Lili darling," her mother said pushing her head into the door

" I'm fine, and I'm sorry," she said

" So am I" Mother replied as she entered closing the door behind her

" I'm not sure if I'm ready, " she said

" I know dear but you'll have to try, it will be hard and some days you'll feel like you're not going to make it but then you will" she answered taking Lili's hand in hers

" And you'll cry some days like it's all you'll ever do, but then you'll get someone just like you to love, and cherish and they will be the reason you keep on going" she finished, tears running down her face,

" Thank you" she sniffled

"You are welcome"

" Now you have a date, your fiance has asked to take you out which is a good gesture in my opinion" she rambled going to her closet and opening it

" Of course, it is, when is he coming"

" Well he said he'd be here by twelve so you have thirty minutes"

" Mom " she exclaimed rushing out of bed and into the bathroom, she was out and dressed in thirty minutes

" Hurry down Lili" her mother called, frantically she put on her lipstick and passed a brush over her hair. She took the stairs two at a time slowing down when she was almost in the living room, taking a deep breath she straightened and walked in

" There she is" Mother exclaimed

" I'm sorry " she apologized. Callum looked no different than before, his scowl was gone but in its place was a stony blank expression

" That's fine," he said softly, gesturing to the door

" See you later Mom," she said pressing a kiss to her mother's cheek and following him out his hand at her back

" Thank you, I'm sorry again for coming late," she said as they came to stand by his car. He pulled his hand away and nodded towards the door as he walked to the driver's side.

" Get in," he said tersely, his voice like ice, Lili froze

" Are you deaf, get in?" he growled.

Callum Davenport didn't like to waste his time and that was what the little Covey princess was doing as she stood by his car her eyes wide and filled with a suspicious sheen

" Are you deaf, get in" he growled again for nearly the fourth time he may have been exaggerating but the girl was becoming annoying? Callum had done his research after his father's plan had gotten to him, at twenty-five years of age Liliana Covey wasn't a young girl even though she looked like one, and carried an air of innocence about her. No woman was innocent, not even teenage girls.

She opened the door and got in and he followed suit, pulling out of her family's home. He didn't say anything else having no time for small talk, the only reason he was agreeing to this sham of a marriage was that it benefited him, the Covey industries were a prize he'd been eager to get his hands on and while Travis Covey hovered on the brink of bankruptcy, he still had a damnable pride and had only agreed to this if a marriage deal was sealed. Callum wasn't sure what the man thought would happen but if he was expecting his daughter to have a child then he was in for a big surprise.

They arrived at the restaurant, one of the many his family-owned, he got out of the car and handed the key to the valet, striding ahead, the click of heels told him she was following which satisfied him, once they were seated and had ordered he turned his full attention to her.

He couldn't avoid the truth, Liliana Covey was stunning, her eyes a luminous sky blue, paired with bright red hair that seemed as smooth as silk and small pink lips that seemed to be quivering the longer the silence got.

She was every man's dream but he knew better, women like her will always get men at their mercy but he was a different breed. He played with them and dumped them whenever he was tired and he will never allow any attachment like a child to bind them.

" Are you aware of the reasons for our marriage?" he asked genially.

She glances at him her gaze falling almost as quickly

" I do" she replied softly with a sad face

" Then you should know that I'm not very fond of this arrangement–" he paused sipped at the wine and looked back at her

" Your father was very insistent in this marriage, the only reason I'm going through with it is that he has something I want"

She winced, looking away, then back, she reached for the wine and took a sip

He could feel her nervousness and he was definitely enjoying his influence on her.

" And how would we live, we are getting married," she asked eagerly

" I live in the family's home, a concession to my father, you will move there. We cannot escape sleeping in the same room but that can be sorted out"

" I see." She whispered and he shrugged

" And children," she asked

" I don't plan on them, I don't plan on touching you at all, as far as I'm concerned you are collateral and that is all you will ever be" he finalized which caused her to flinch.

He didn't care about the weight of his words and how it was trolling her emotions.

he signaled the waiter

" Pack this to go" he ordered, since most of her food was left untouched.

the young man nodded, and once the table was cleared he looked at her

" I'd want us to get the ceremony over with as soon as possible, plan it alone with your mother and I want it done in two weeks"

" That's not enough time" she protested

" You will make it enough" he rose, and she rose along with him.

And also I want a simple and quiet wedding, he added.

" You can't possibly be serious, my mother expects us to find common ground, love even"

" Then your mother is either incredibly naive or incredibly stupid"

" You have no right to say that" she protests, mustering all her courage to counter his statement.

How took a slow step towards her, before whispering in her ears.

You looked so hot while talking back to me but I will let it slide for now Darling". His voice rose toward the end of the sentence.

The warm air of his breath tickles her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. From the devious smirk on his face, she can tell he knows the effects of his sudden action on her

But this is my wedding, I've always dreamed of a beautiful- dreamy one, she protests.

" You're making a scene" he muttered out of patience, he took her arm squeezing it hard enough to leave a mark.

" You will be my wife, we will ignore each other and you are free to explain it to your friends or family however you like, but make one thing clear Liliana Covey, you should never want my attention because you will never get it and I am very certain of that"

"Do you understand?" he asked harshly, she whimpered

" Yes" he turned imposingly and she nodded

" Good, now–" he straightened

" I'll let you find your way home because I have a meeting to attend, " he said, taking one final look at her and nodding before walking out of the restaurant.

Lillian's shocked and pained expression didn't escape his notice. And yes he had noticed all the emotions playing on her face but Callum had groomed himself for years, women lied, and they cheated. His mother had, rationally he knew that she had been protecting him, but that hadn't helped when he'd grown and realized that unlike his mother most women wanted to use you for what they could get. He would not fall into such a trap, not ever. So Liliana Covey could cry and claim sadness all she wanted but he wasn't falling for it, not again.