THE CEO'S DEFIANT BRIDE

NAYA'S POV

Two knocks distract me from the game I was playing, I remove my headset as Lita the head maid of my family walked in to my room

"Miss Carrington, dinner's ready"

I smile and nodded

"Oh, thank you Lita"

I turned off the computer and was about to follow her out but she stops me

"Won't you change Miss?"

I rolled my eyes at her

"Why should I ?, I'm having dinner in my home, or is there any guest coming over?"

She shook her head,

"No Miss, but your father's home, and you know how he is...," She trailed off

But I smiled, she knew better, that this was one of the little ways I rebel against him and his ways of living like a perfect family, like we are in a reality show.

"That's every reason I should go like this don't you agree ?" I smirked and she smiled back at me.

We walked down to the dinning room and the aroma of different delicacies filled my nostrils, the maids scampared around putting all what the head cook prepared on the table, my mother was seated at the opposite end of the table in her hand was a glass of one of our classic red wine, she was dressed like the president was coming over for dinner with her golden sleek dress and her styled blonde hair.

My father, was seated at the other end and was dressed in his normal suit jacket shirt and pants and was answering a phone call, he was smiling widely which was suspicious, that means he had a good day, or just pretending to be happy so that the person over the phone would think he is.

I took my seat beside my mom, she scowls at me, obviously disapproving of my choice of clothes, but I didn't care, I watched my father as he chatted happily with whomever was on the phone.

'a new woman ?' I thought.

I started to fill my plates with some rice noodles and chicken, but then my father's call ended

"You couldn't wait ?" I heard his booming voice.

Nathan Carrington was a man who is intimidating, strict and hella annoying to me, he tends to rule this home like we are in the Victorian era, and I'm just that child who is so stubborn and happens to hate.

" I'm sorry Father, but I am hungry" I replied eyes on the dish as I served myself some sauce, I could hear the little side talks from some of the maids but I didn't care.

For some reason my father let go of my slip up and started eating, my mom, well she focused on her wine, we weren't that kind of family that ask 'how your day went' ours is like three different strangers forced to live together.

Halfway through dinner, mom has finished a whole bottle of wine and was about to tell the maid to get another one.

"That will be enough for her Lita" I said stopping her from getting another bottle of wine.

"Naya?" My father called out

"Yes Father, why are you dressed like that?"

'He noticed and ignored, but was waiting for the right time to comment and the time happens to be now?.'

I dropped my spoon on the plate and took a deep breath, I looked up to see him frowning at me,

"Father, there's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing" I said, checking out my dress shirt and shorts, in every normal home, people were this for dinner, dressing up like you're attending the met gala for a family dinner is ridiculous and so not comfortable, I mean look at my mom, her red lipsticks has stained her wine glass,

"You know the rules"

"The rules said whenever we have a guest over , we don't have one" I replied, looking around to punctuate my points

"Naya, I'm tired of this little rebellious act you potray towards me in this house" his voice booming loudly, I could sense his anger but I didn't care and I rolled my eyes internally.

"That's why I'm putting an end to it, by next month you'll be getting married "

"Who is getting married?" I asked, this brought my mom's attention

"What's going on, Nathan?" She slurred, which means she's still a bit sober but another glass would have done it.

My father cleared up his throat, which made the maids around to excuse themselves and scurry off, there was a little silence in the house until my father spoke.

"If you've noticed the family business haven't been doing well..."

Obviously, you've been using the money to fund your mistresses lavish lifestyles, finally you've got what you deserve.

"If nothing is done in a matter of months, we'll have to file bankruptcy, but there's a way for that not to happen, I've been in talk with the Chairman of the Carter shipping empire for a merger between the two companies, and we've enter into a deal" he said smiling

"That's good then" I replied nonchalantly, digging into my meal,

' if all was well, why the long talk'.

"We agreed for you to marry his grandson, William Carter, he's the CEO"

"Who to marry the grandson?" I asked, not understanding what he said

" I don't repeat myself young lady!" He snapped, he actually snapped at me after saying such ridiculous words.

"Well you have to cause I don't get what you said" I replied

"Next month you will marry into the Carters" he said punctuating each word with the gritting of his teeth and eyes filled with fury.

" I don't care whatever deal you've made,I'm not getting married father, I won't be your collateral, I'll act like you never said something as ridiculous as that" I replied, getting up to leave.

"Seat down!!" He howled, his voice loud that the chandelier actually tingled,

I glared at him, yes this may seem disrespectful but I don't think he deserves any form of respect from me, a man who doesn't respect his wife or daughter and calls his Mistresses in their presence, who actually watch his wife became an alcoholic because of his cheating ways, ha, he deserves no respect.

"I've left you to do what you wanted, you refused to get a degree in economics or business management and studied gaming technology or whatever it's called and stay in your room all day playing games, I ignored that, because that's what you want to do but I paid for your fees, you live under my roof , to thank me you'll have to do as I say" he continued.

"No father, I won't, you ruined the company, you should bear the consequences, paying my fees, living under your roof?, Isn't that what any responsibile father should provide for their children!, am I not your daughter?"

"Naya, don't talk that way to your father" my mom scolded, she's always been like this, whenever I try to stand up to him,make him see his faults, she supports him, a man who made her like this, for the past two years it was rare to see her sober, but even drunk she keeps staying at his side.

Just thinking of this makes my eyes to sting and the emotions I've been holding up betrayed me as a single tear rolled down my face as I stare at my mom.

"Why don't you ever get that I'm doing this for you?" I croaked, hurt and so mad at her I decide to leave, as I stood up she held my hand

" Don't leave, why don't you listen to your Father, Naya"

But then he stood up and walked towards me and started laughing like a maniac, his laughter loud enough for the maids to hear and some came out to watch, while my mom tried to stop me from leaving.

"Look at the both of you, how pathetic you both look, like mother, like daughter, huh, Naya, you've tried so hard to grow the little wings you've got, but I'm your father, I'll always be ahead of you, here, take this" he handed me his phone with a video, and I played it.

I was short of words, my mouth hunged open.

"Watch how pathetic your mom is...,you see Naya, if you don't do as I say that video and so many others will be on every social media platform"

My mouth hunged open, how could he say this?.

"She's your wife" I whispered, but when I looked at him I confirmed something I knew all along, he's a monster, an unfeeling monster who could sacrifice his family to get what he wants, who could sacrifice his only daughter to get what he wants.

" Oh, she is, I can tell the media that she refused to get help and use that as a way in locking her up in a mental institute, you can't stop me"

I just can't hold myself anymore,

"You monster!!!" I yelled

He just smirked as tears filled my eyes and begins to drop, he leaves the dinner table and begins to walk up the stairs then he turned to me and say

" By the 14th of next month, you either be married to Mr Carter or be humiliated, Naya, I hope you choose well"

****

THE NEXT DAY

Since the argument between I and my father I've not left my room, my eyes swollen and bloodshot, I had come to accept my fate and the fact that my father is an ass.

I'm practically sacrificing myself to save my mom, well for now, I'll be turning twenty two in nine months, and then I'll get the trust fund left for me by my grandmother, I'll divorce him and use the money to help mom.

I reached over to my phone and saw I had seventeen missed calls from Aliyah, Aliyah is my best friend, we met in college, she was a sophomore and I was just a freshman, but we became friends after an incident where I helped her and since then we've not left each other's side, she's now a senior lawyer in a law firm and may make partner of the firm soon, I'm sure she's worried, as I've not answered or return her calls, I then decide to call her back, after a few rings she picks up.

'We're you kidnapped?' I chuckled, typical Aliyah, she's always over reacting.

'No' I croaked, my voice was hoarse cause of all the crying I did last night

'you sound like a dying frog, what's wrong?' I knew she'd notice, Aliyah's a few years older than I was and tend to be like an older sister towards me,so from the sound of my voice Aliyah could tell if I was sad, happy or angry and I love her for it, she could actually feel it.

Once again, the events of last night filled my head and I began to sob.

'baby, are you crying?' She asked her voice filled with worries.

'can we see?, I have so much to say'

'oh, baby, my schedule is free today, let's meet at our use, by 2pm, if that's okay with you?'

'yeah, I'm fine with the time'

'okay, I'll see you there, be fine ok'

'okay, Alee, thank you'.

By two pm I was at our usual cafe down from her office, it was a cafe slash restaurant owned by an elderly woman, I think she's in her eighties, but it's been run by her granddaughter, their food was so delicious, once we discovered this place I and Aliyah never stopped coming.

I sat at our usual table which was by the left side, over looking the window and can also see everyone who stepped into the Cafe. The waitress brought my coffee and strawberry cake, but I just sipped on the coffee, I had no appetite to eat the cake, but still forced myself to, as I took the first bite, Aliyah walked in, she walked in looking hot as usual, dressed in a black turtleneck long sleeved top and a white highwaisted wide legs pants with her hair sleeked in a ponytail and copper brown glowing skin, and I wonder why she's still single, I wave at her then she walks up to me

"Hey baby girl" she greets as she kissed my cheeks before sitting opposite me.

"Hi Aliyah" I croaked, my voice failing me

The waitress came over and she ordered a glass of orange juice and some spaghetti, when the waitress went to get her order, she asked

"So what's going on?"

I couldn't hold it up anymore, so I told her the events of last night and what my father did and said, I couldn't hold myself and tears began to fall as I explained everything, she reached out to me and I sobbed in her arms.

"I knew your father was an ass, never knew he was deranged too, an arranged marriage, this is the freaking 21st century"

" I thought the same too, but he's headstrong about it, what am I going to do?, I'm thinking of running away"

'But if I do what would happen to Mom, I just can't imagine what that monster would do to her, even if I take her with me, would I have enough for the both of us?'.

"I'd just get married, I hope the so called William isn't a monster"

"William Carter, I thought I've that name somewhere" she replies going through her phone,

"I knew I have, he's thirty-"

I sputtered my coffee on the table, but quickly use the paper towel to clean it.

"Talk about robbing the cradle, I'm Twenty one!!" I exclaimed, raising my hands up.

"But thirty isn't old babes, and he's hot....like really hot..." She replied, giving me her phone to see a photo of the guy.

I admit, he's an eye candy, and looks like one of those hot superheroes, with his thick black hair, chiseled jawline and eyes like that of a thunderstorm, he's a sight for sore eyes, but thirty, why would he agree to a freaking arranged marriage.

" It says here...he's been CEO of the company since twenty six, and.....oh....he has a girlfriend"

If he has a girlfriend, that means he wouldn't agree to this right...

"He has a girlfriend?"

Was that me sounding disappointed, no, I can't be attracted to him just because he's handsome in photos, what if he looks like a pig, or worse he has the personality of a pig, ha, I'm not interested in him.

" Yes, Suzanne Pierce"

"Suzanne Pierce, I've heard of that name" I stated, wondering where I did hear of the name

"Of course you have, she's that model that sued flames magazine last year for misinformation for twenty thousand dollars, I was their lawyer"

Of course I've heard of her, although Alee was the lawyer to the defendants, she could not stop gushing about how hot and beautiful the model was, and apparently, she's my soon to be husband's girlfriend, talk about life.

"So he's dating, I've not had the chance to date any guy, and now I'm getting married to him" I complained

" Is not his fault you refused to date"

I can't believe she just said that, I mean she knows very well why I refused to date.

"Are you on my side or his ?" I glared furiously

"I'm on your side girl, I don't even know him, but look at the bright side, you got to be with this piece of eye candy for the rest of your life" she cajoled, showing me his picture once again.

Of course I'm not going to stay married to him for the rest of my life, just for eight months, when I turn twenty three I get the trust fund left by my grandmother, I'll have enough money to leave my father clutches, take my mother and leave the country, he wouldn't want to stay in the marriage either.

Aliyah continued to fill me with information about my soon to be husband, but I wasn't interested in all those things, it was the last sentence she said about an interview he did with an entertainment magazine and was asked about his relationship, which he subtly revealed he was going to marry Suzanne Pierce, and this News was about a month ago.

"So, I think he isn't on board with the arranged marriage too" Aliyah

"I don't know, I've not met him to say otherwise"

Right then, my phone chimed, it was a text message from my dad, that said I was to meet with William tomorrow evening for dinner.

'What a douche' I mumbled, Aliyah didn't catch what I said, she was busy searching the net for any information about him.

I guess tomorrow I'll see what he's really like, know his own thoughts on this arrangement between our parents.

WILLIAM'S POV

The echoes of my steps as I walked filled the hallway that leads to my grandfather's study, he had invited me over earlier today asking me to come over, it may seem strange but ever since I took over as CEO, James Carter senior rarely asked for a private meeting, yes we have our grandfather and grandson time whenever I come over for dinner, where we have a chat over his expensive collection of whiskey, but that's mostly business talk and also his secretary gives him his weekly reports and I always send him mails also.

A single knock on the thick mahogany door and a gruff come in from inside.

I pushed the door open and he was seated across the table on his vintage swivel chair, his shiny silver hair snatching my attention for a minute, although his eyes were bright and gleaming, one cannot miss the wrinkles that had formed on the eyelids and his wrist, but I'm sure he was beaming with energy, at seventy six, he does what most men his age would have given up on, he's formidable.

He nodded at me to acknowledge my presence and asked me to seat, since the call earlier today I've been wondering what he wanted to talk about, I sat on one of the seats opposite his end of the table and the vinyl crackles as I tried to get comfortable, but one look from him made me seat up.

One may see this as an act of fear towards this man in front of me, I'll say this, not fear, respect, this man single handedly raised me to be the businessman I am today, so I respect him and his wisdom.

The office was quite and I could hear the grandfather clock ticking behind me, but still I had to ask why he wanted to see me, but before the question could leave my lips, he asked.

" Do you know about the Carrington winery ?"

" Yes sir, I do " I replied, he nodded his approval,

"There will be a merger between the two companies"

My face scrunched up, I didn't know about any merger, this is my first time hearing of this.

But as always, he didn't care if I had any idea or not, he just continued, I knew he was the chairman, but I'm the CEO, I should know of everything that goes on around the company.

" Why am I only hearing of this now ?" I asked

" Because it's just been finalized, I and the late Levi Carrington were good friends in the old days and we made a promise to each other that we will have our children get married so as to create a greater bond between the two families"

I furrowed my brows, I don't understand where this was going.

" The Carrington's winery will merge with the Carters Inc., but for this to be finalize, you'll have to marry Naya Carrington "

his voice was stern as he said this.

This must be a joke, but again grandpa never made jokes but I had to be sure if I had heard right.

" I'm to marry who grandpa?, Is this a joke, if it is, it's not funny "

But my grandfather glared at me, he was serious about this,

" Grandpa, there are other ways to a business merger, marriage?, Are we back to the medevial era ?"

But my words seem to anger him more,

" We gain more with this merger, the Carrington's winery becomes a subsidairy part "

" And to what expense, a marriage to a girl I know nothing about, grandpa, and what about Suzanne ?"

As soon as I mentioned her name, he stood up sharply, his eyes went cold and hard and his voice went tight

" You don't mention that Golddigger in my presence "

But I was quick to defend her, grandpa never liked Suzanne and he's never gave a good reason as to why, but I don't care what he thinks

" She's not a Golddigger, and I love her, why can't you see that ? "

" Love, for a businessman you use your heart more than your head " he scoffed, but then smiled evilly

" You have no choice, if you keep refusing to marry Miss Carrington, I would remove you from the CEO position, Ezekiel will take over "

I worked hard to get to where I am now, I worked hard to put Carter incorporated to the position it is now, I did it, by myself. Zeke had never worked for anything.

" Zeke will ruin Carter's inc. " I said with balled fist and a shaking voice.

" Don't you see the bigger picture, Liam, why do you want to give everything you've worked hard for because of a girl ?"

" You've never liked her, never gave a good reason why either, she's worked so hard to get to where she is, to prove to you she's right for me, what else do you want ?" I asked, my voice tightened with emotions

" I don't need her to do anything, I just see her the way she is, the way you should see her, I won't let you marry such a girl, I made you who you are Liam, I won't let you loose yourself, one day you'll thank me for this " his voice was gruff as he said this why he left the room, leaving me to my own thoughts.

Seated in the bar of my penthouse for the past two hours I've been nursing the whiskey in my glad for an hour or so, my thoughts were on the argument between I and my grandfather, how could he do this to me, how could he want me to choose between the woman I love and the company I use every bit of my sweats to build, my grandfather knows I love the company, from the day when I was seven years old, he took me to the company as my birthday gift and told me how it will be mine only if I can make it stand out in the world, Carter's incorporated is my blood and sweats.

I gulped down the remaining whiskey in my glass letting it burn my chest as I thought about Anne and how she will feel about this, just last month when she introduced her fashion line in Paris, Ihad joined her as a way to support, and after the congratulatory dinner, I took her on a date in one of the restaurants that overlooked Eiffel tower, I proposed, but she rejected my proposal, not because she doesn't love me less, but that she knew I held my grandfather in a great light, she knew he didn't like her and knows he doesn't approve of her for me and that's why she's working hard to do so, she says when she's grown enough to stand by my side, she'd wear my ring proudly and that grandfather will have to approve of her, I know I couldn't love her less, and I understood her reason.

Right now I'm about to make a decision that will either make or mar our relationship, pouring down another glass of whiskey in my glass, I gulped all down immediately wincing at the burning sensation it gave, I picked on my phone and dialed his number.

WILLIAM'S POV

I stared at the information my PI had gotten about her,

'She's just twenty one ' I mused, I'm sure she's a spoiled brat who gets everything she wants, grandpa outdone himself, he wants me to get married to a brat.

Once again I glance at the files sprawled out on my desk, I took the photo which was in one of the files, sunset orange hair cascaded down her head,with freckles scattered all over her nose and around her face, and full lips put in a smirk but one thing that caught my attention was her eyes, emerald green eyes, as green as a forest, stare right back at me, even in this photo you could see the defiance in them.

I kept the photo and glanced over the Information again, but this time I was impressed with the amount of information the PI could get about my soon to be wife, seeing that she's not always in the public eye, and I wonder why, her father, the man who insists that for the merger to go on, I must marry his daughter, was in every tabloid news as a lousy businessman who had run down a family business that was over a hundred years old.

I read that she had a degree in animation and game development, and that she was the one who developed Crimesmine before she sold it, which was one the most popular video game since last year.

I was deep into the information, that I didn't notice that the door to my office opened and my friend Sebastian entered

"Hey man, just got the news, congratulations."

He chirped before sitting down.

I wonder where my secretary was, since she didn't announce his arrival, just then she opened the door looking flustered and disheveled.

"I'm sorry sir, I tried to stop him"

"I see you did" I replied sarcastically, as I arranged the files on my desk,

"You can't blame her, no one can resist me" he smugged

I can't argue that because that's partly true, Sebastian has a way to charm all the women within a ten mile radius, but you can hardly blame him, with his sandy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, dimples and a natural charm, women can't resist him, but that's why he has more body counts than business partners, he never knows when to keep it in his pants and sometimes goes overboard with the daughters of his partners or worse their Mistresses.

I came back to our conversation

"Congratulations on what?"

He gave me one of his sheepish smile, and I knew whatever he was going to say next would be ridiculous

"Congratulations on your engagement, I knew you would be the first to get hitched, never knew it would be so soon"

I furrowed my brow, how did he know about this, so far no one except the Carrington's knew about the arrangements, so I had to ask

"What do you mean?"

But he sank deep into the seat and the vinyl underneath crackled as he tried to get comfortable.

"Oh, it's all over the tabloid, CEO of Carter incorporated engaged to the heiress of Carrington's winery " he stated.

Sure enough, when I searched on my phone, it was headlined in every entertainment news, I haven't even agreed to this ridiculous charade, even if I'm being threatened by my grandfather, why will they announce it.

"I guess it's not true then, man I was ready to be the best man this time" he

"You weren't ready to be my best man when I told you I'd propose to Suzanne" I reminded him, but the bastard just shrugged at me.

" And boy am I glad, you're not marrying her"

"I'm not marrying Naya Carrington either, it's grandpa's arrangements with the Carrington's, he can't drag me into it"

"Why are you stuck-up with that bitch anyways?"

Immediately he said that, my eyes went cold and I glared at him, but he still continued

"I mean, she did reject your-" but I cut him off before he finished that sentence and earn a bleeding lip.

"You don't know when to stop, do you ?" I seethed.

I know Sebastian never liked Suzanne or my relationship with her, but what would a certified playboy know about relationships anyways, every day there's a new lady and the paparazzi always have a field day with his news.

I looked at the tabloid headlines, why was my grandfather so insisting on this, there can be a business merger without a marriage to hold it, and marriage to a child no less, my grandfather and her father didn't waste no time in selling lies to the tabloids about how we met, or it maybe the platform trying to gain more readers by writing this bullshit.

I picked up the telephone and called my secretary, after a ring she picked up.

'Sir'

'Call up whatever magazine that wrote that shit about my engagement and tell them to put it down, or they face a lawsuit'

'Yes sir' she agrees with a click of the phone, I ended the call.

I heard a phone ding, I picked up mine to see if it was a message, but it wasn't mine, it was Sebastian and he had a sly grin as he typed on his phone

'booty call' I thought.

He stood up, put his phone in his side pocket

"My work here is done."

"And what was that exactly?"

He grinned at me,

"To annoy you". He grinned as he sauntered away from my office waving.

I took deep breaths to hold myself back from diving at him and strangle him, if I do that I'm saving a lot of women from heartbreak, but the number of women who'd kill me if I do are tripled.

He is not going back to his office, sometimes I wonder how the company thrives since their CEO spends most of his time with women than the office, again Sebastian is one of the most peculiar businessman I know.

My phone dings indicating a message from my grandfather, telling me I had a date tonight with my supposed fiancee by 5pm, I wanted to reply and flip him off but I just ignored the text and place my phone back on the desk.

I decided to do some work, I responded to some emails before I heard my door open again, I groaned internally, there are two people in the world who comes into my office like this, the other just left and this person happens to be my only sister Sarah.

She walks in showing her phone,

"Did you see the news?" She asked before sitting down on the seat Sebastian left from.

I just shook my head in resignation from how these two acts a like but hates each other's guts.

"Don't you ever knock, or better, let my secretary tell me of your arrival?"

"No, and I'm talking about this" she says showing me the same blog news, I thought I told Claudia to call the blogger and make them take it down.

"I have, and I've ordered the site to take it down" I stated.

Seeing as the site didn't put it down, the information must be from my grandfather. I sighed and rubbed my temple, 'this is such a headache'

"It must be from grandpa isn't it, he's going along with the threat, how could he ?, You made Carters inc. what it is today?-" I raised my hands to stop her from her outburst, grandpa's decision can't be overruled, I have to do as he say or he gives the company over to

Zeke, and goddammit he does, everything I've ever worked for will go down the drain, Zeke never worked for anything, everything he's ever gained was given to him, like being director on the Carter shipping business, he has almost run the company down because of his and his mother's extravagant lifestyle, but my grandfather wants to handover Carter's Inc. to him, I can't let him do that, I'll do as he says and marry Naya Carrington.

"Have you told Annie about this?" Her question got me out of my thoughts

"Not yet"

"Who is this Naya Carrington anyway, I searched on Instagram and Twitter, the only post she made was in her highschool graduation on Twitter, and her Facebook picture is so weird, it doesn't show her face" she shows me the picture from her phone.

"What if she's so ugly?, I mean there's not a single photo of her on social media"

"I know, and I did a little digging" I informed her.

She's a beauty, but I don't have to tell her that, my sister is always on my side, we've got each other's back since our parents died years ago.

But what's important is if Anne finds out about this, I love Anne, I do, but my grandfather doesn't approve of her, I wondered if it was because of her background or something, but I love Anne because of her loving heart and kindness, when we first met, three years ago, our gear called out to each other, maybe because we were both orphans struggling on our own, she started as a model but now a fashion designer and owns her own fashion line, she worked hard to achieve such success, but grandfather prefers a girl whose family is old money, and lives off daddy's money.

"You know sometimes, I'm glad it's you he wants in this arranged marriage thingy, better you than me"

I chuckled, I needed to change the conversation about this arranged marriage, so I asked her about her job, she's an art curator and has been working on opening her own gallery, I help when she asks for my help, but that's never happen, she always love het independence and has been working so hard on this project.

She sat up straight and bubbly talks about how the project was going, I could sense the pride she felt because in less than three months her dreams will come to actualization.

A lazy smile hung on my lips as she chatted about the progress made, not until I had a call, the caller was Annie, and immediately I picked up, I heard her distressed voice

'where are you?, I'd meet you there now' I said frantically, I knew she's seen the tabliods and I know she's not feeling good about it, I need to be with her right now as I began clearing up my table to leave

" was that Annie?"

"Yeah"

"I thought she was in LA ?" Meeting my worries with hers

"she just arrived, and she's seen it, she's so distressed right now, I need to be with her"

She nods at me, and follows me out to the elevator.

I arrived at Suzanne's penthouse and she was curled up in her cushion, her head bowed to her knees and her blonde hair covered the knees, on her hand she held a glass filled with red wine,

"Annie" I called out

She raised up her head, and I saw her face was stained with tears and her eyes bloodshot, like she's been crying for hours, I removed my jacket and place it on one of the chairs and sat close to her, I reached over and collected the wine glass, her sniffles, making my heart wrench with pain.

"Is it because I rejected your proposal?" She asked

I scrunched up my face

"No, this isn't about you, or us"

"Then why?" She sobbed, and began crying, I put her face on my shoulder, because I was hurt too, I loved this woman on my arms right now, but can't be with her because of some stupid deal.

"We will get around this, I promise" I reassured, raising her head, so she could see my face, and then I kissed her, with all fervency.

"Make me forget Liam" she whispered into my mouth as I kissed her, I carried her into my arms and take her into the master bedroom.

LATER THAT NIGHT

The blaring of my

phone woke me and Annie up, it was my grandfather, I checked the time it was a two minutes after nine o clock

"Oh shit" I mumbled.

With sleepy eyes Annie turned to me

"Baby, what's wrong"

I shook my head at her and whispered to her

"Go back to sleep, I'll see you in the morning"

She nodded and went back to sleep, I quickly dressed up and rushed out to the elevator, answering the call, his angry and booming voice rang in my ears

'William, where the hell are you?!'

I could feel the severity of his anger, I just stood up Naya Carrington.

SUZANNE'S POV

As soon as he left, I stood up too, standing at the Sliding glass door that overlooked the city, I dailed his number, after a few rings, he answers

"Hey" I greeted with a smile

'hey, yourself' came his gruff response that sends me to edge

"He just left now, James Carter snr is so mad at him, he's missed his date with the Carrington girl, I told you William plays right in my palm"

'and I told you, do a job well done' came his reply, although rude it was his way of saying I did a good job

"I miss you, when are we meeting?"

' I'll text you when I have the time, for now keep William in check, he's not to marry the Carrington girl'

"Ok, love you"

'love you too" his reply makes me giddy like a high schooler, who just got a news that her crush likes her back, that's how he makes me feel and that's why I would do anything for him, anything.