TRULY YOURS

CHAPTER 1

Selena Jones stood in front of her room window reminiscing on the days she had with her mother.

The night breeze rushed past her face through the window, as she thought of her mother's last words: "You'll always be my treasure, Selena".

What followed those words was silence. Her mother had breathed her last.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she relived those heartbreaking moments.

As far as she was concerned, cancer was a jerk. With her finger, she traced the letters on her left arm where she had tattooed her mother's name. Elizabeth.

This was her reality now. A life without her mother, now a life with a gambling addict she called father who was putting both their lives at risk.

While she was still soaked in her thoughts, a knock came. Loud. Not persistent.

She dashed to the door of the sitting room. It had to be her dad. "Dad, you really need to stop coming home late. You could put all our-"

Just before she could finish her sentence, she looked up. It wasn't her dad. Rather, standing before her were two men in black. No smiles. Just faces covered in black shades and frowns.

"Wh...who are you?" She stammered. Almost biting her lips due to fear.

"Tell your father we're here, Selena."

She gasped. How did these men know her name?

"My father is not here!"

One of the men laughed. A cold laughter.

Selena wondered what was funny.

"When he returns from whatever dungeon he went to, pass this warning to him. He has five days to pay the amount he owes or he'll get what's coming to him."

They turned and left. She hurriedly shut the door and looked at it like she had just seen a ghost.

That message struck her in ways she could not describe.

Her father was putting their lives in danger.

What if these men came to harm her?

She stood by the door, still visibly shaken by what had just happened even after they had left.

"This is Samuel, please leave a message"

Voicemail.

That was the response she got as she dialed her dad's number for the umpteenth time.

She hoped her father wasn't in any danger. Though his actions were questionable, she still cared for him.

The next morning, she got a call from an unknown number. She looked at the phone screen for a few seconds then answered.

"Miss Selena. This is Joseph McCarthy."

"I'm not sure I know who you are."

"Your father does and we have unfinished business"

"But what has this got to do with m-"

Selena hardly finished her question before he cut in.

"Oh, everything. Meet me at Haven's cafe tomorrow. 12pm."

Before she could respond, the line went dead.

She stood, frozen, and wondered what her world had become.

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

The doors of Haven's cafe opened to her with the smell of coffee filling the air as she walked in.

She wore a loosely fitted chiffon top and tight blue jeans that accentuated her curves. Her hair was knotted up in a loose, messy bun.

She stood for a while, scanning the environment to see where Joseph was sitting.

Just in time, she turned to her left to see him beckoning to her.

She walked with grace and confidence towards where he was sitting. Her beautiful blonde hair bounced on her shoulders as she moved.

Few heads turned to look at her.

It was hard not to notice her.

She had a soft presence wherever she found herself, no matter how simple she appeared.

She was beautiful, inside and out.

There he was, sipping coffee.

Looking devilishly handsome with eyes that showed no emotion but could make any woman fall for him in seconds.

He didn't stand but his height was undeniable despite his sitting position.

If she didn't know better, she'd think she was meeting with a Greek god.

"Why am I here?" Selena finally found her voice after snapping back to reality from taking in all of him.

"To finish what your father started."

"I certainly am unaware of your business with my father."

"Oh, he owes me. And it's certainly no small amount. From the look of things, he won't be able to meet the deadline."

"What do I have to do with all of that?"

"A lot, Selena"

"How much does my father owe you?"

Something that looked like a smile appeared in the corner of his lips.

"Four hundred thousand pounds." He responded, almost scoffing.

Selena shifted in her chair. She could feel her throat tighten.

"Can you please give us more time? I'll double my shift and get you your money. Just don't hurt my father."

Joseph let out a dry laugh and shook his head. Then he leaned towards the table opposite Selena and gave her a look that resembled genuine pity.

"We both know you won't be able to come up with that amount, even in months. So, I'll make this easy for you, Selena. Marry me and give me an heir and in return, your father's debt is cancelled."

Selena let out a dry laugh.

"You're joking, right?"

"I certainly do not have the luxury of time to sit around in a cafe, making jokes. I'm a busy man."

"I'll never do what you're asking. Are you crazy?"

"You see, the thing is that I'm not asking. I'm only helping you make a wise decision."

Selena looked at him with disdain.

"Selena, you're well aware of the consequences of rejecting this offer right? This is the most generous I've been in a long while."

She was silent. Tears brimming in her eyes. He was right.

She didn't have that kind of money to pay for her father.

Right there, she wished for the ground to open up and swallow her.

"I'll give you three days. After which you'll decide your father's fate. The ball is right now in your court."

Joseph took out a small card from his breast pocket and slipped it over to Selena's side of the glass table.

"That's my business card. Come over to my office at that address written there and we'll go over the contract for you to sign."

Selena didn't look up. She kept staring into space like she was unaware of her environment.

"I'm hoping you'd make a wise decision."

Joseph finalized his statement. Then he stood up, straightened his expensive suit jacket, and walked out, leaving Selena in her thoughts.

Selena's journey back home from the cafe was filled with deep thoughts and uncertainties.

Her father had made wrong choices in life and had put her in the middle of it.

Here she was, being offered as a sacrificial lamb.

If she hesitated, she could lose her dad and she cared about him too much to lose him, regardless of his mistakes.

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

Selena got home to find the door slightly ajar.

The smell of alcohol filled the air, welcoming her into a familiar but disturbing environment her father had created.

He was not only a gambling addict, but he was also married to alcohol.

She found him sitting on the couch, bottles lying everywhere on the floor of the sitting room like he had just had a party with drunk masters.

"Dad!". She mouthed his title with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Tell me, for how long are you planning to live like this?"

"I'm sorry I'm not the kind of father you deserve, baby girl.'' Guilt and regret laced his voice as he spoke.

"Oh, shall we talk about the transaction you made behind my back? You freaking sold me!"

Selena spoke with tears freely flowing down her cheeks, almost screaming.

"What was the end game, huh? That I marry a total stranger and you move on with your life like nothing happened?"

"Selena, dear-"

"Don't you 'dear' me!" She screamed. Her voice was trembling.

"Look, this wasn't easy for me as well. But he brought a good deal."

Selena stared at him in shock. Like it was some stranger and not her father who was right before her.

"You've got to be kidding me." Selena breathed. Almost choked with tears.

"One year, Selena. He's wealthy and is more capable of taking care of you than I ever have."

"Yeah, you must be proud of yourself now, aren't you?". She was sarcastic.

"All you have to do is cooperate, give him the heir he needs, and at the expiration of one year, you're free."

Selena stared at him in anger. Her eyes were red with rage. She felt like her heart was about to explode.

"How do you sit down there, with these words easily coming out of your mouth like you didn't just use your own daughter as collateral?"

Selena's father broke down after hearing those words come out of her mouth.

He stood up and walked towards her. Guilt was written all over his face.

"Please, Selena. I understand your anger-

"Do you?"

There was silence.

"What happens if I refuse?"

He sighed and put his hand on her shoulder. Sadness engulfed him.

"Our lives will be in danger. They could make us disappear. These people are powerful, Selena."

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

Selena sat on her bed, carefully studying the business card Joseph gave her, like she was hoping to find some detail aside from his contact information that was written there.

She had read about the McCarthy family in the newspaper. They were a wealthy family. No drama. No controversy.

Joseph hardly made it to the news. He made sure he was off the radar. He didn't like the spotlight.

A serious-minded businessman, crushing deals and staying away from drama.

She was going to see him tomorrow, and then her fate would be decided. The irony was that it was all in her hands now.

She took out her mother's picture from her drawer and ran her fingers through the picture. Tears filled her eyes.

"Mom, I'm sure you'd be disappointed in me right now. I'm about to go sell myself."

It was 10. am. Selena stood before the McCarthy building, taking in everything as she looked around in wonder and admiration.

The exterior decoration was undeniably done by professionals. It felt like she was standing before a skyscraper decorated with gemstones.

What did she expect? This was a billionaire structure.

She made her way into the building and if she thought she had seen it all outside, the inside had much more to show.

It was so beautiful and gigantic that she could get lost. There were so many people moving up and down in a fast-paced motion as if there was fire on the mountain.

Thankfully, there was a receptionist at the counter.

"Good morning. I'm Selena Jones. Mr Joseph McCarthy is expecting me."

"Give me a minute, please. I'll have to confirm your appointment."

The receptionist picked up the receiver and dropped it seconds after getting a confirmation from the other end.

"You may go up, Ma'am. His office is on the 30th floor.

Selena nodded with a nervous smile. "Thank you."

Selena's nerves were failing her as she made her way through the elevator to Joseph's office. She wished the journey would never end.

As the elevator stopped her right in front of Joseph's office, she stood for some minutes with her fingers tightly and nervously wrapped around her bag on her shoulder.

"Breathe, Selena. You've got this." She closed her eyes and muttered to herself.

Selena's palms were sweaty as she stepped into Joseph's office.

Well air-conditioned, largely spacious, and well decorated. It was a luxury at sight. That office was larger than her sitting room.

She looked around in admiration and all the while, Joseph was immersed in the documents he was holding. He didn't notice her there.

"Ahem!" She cleared her throat deliberately to announce her presence.

"You came". He finally looked up at her.

His eyes scanned her from head to toe and stayed on her waistline.

She wore a short-sleeved, tight-fitted black pencil gown that hugged her curves and stayed slightly above her knees.

Joseph's eyes lingered on her even as he tried so hard to hide his admiration for her.

"If I'm going to be signing a document-giving away my freedom, I should at least sit down." She said, making him snap out of his reverie.

"I'm just surprised you came. Sit."

He lied.

"Of course, I came. Not like I had a choice."

"Oh, everyone has a choice. It's just a matter of which choice is better."

She said nothing.

"I need an heir. My father's will states that I can only get my inheritance and remain CEO of the company if I get married and produce an heir within one year."

He paused. Then continued.

"If I don't, my stepbrother gets the company. I can't risk that."

"One would think that with all your influence, money, and power, you could get any woman you want. So, why me?"

"Loyalty. You fit the bill of someone who wants nothing aside from saving her father. You live a simple life, no drama, no complexities. That's exactly what I need."

Joseph stood up and turned away from Selena, facing his large luxurious window with both hands in his pockets.

"I'm not a tool. And I'm certainly not a baby-making machine."

"But you're a woman trying to save her father's life and by extension-yours."

"So you expect me to jump at the offer just like that? I'm literally putting my life on hold for one year. All for what?? Your selfish desires?"

"You seem to be forgetting that you're sitting right across from me, about to sign a contract, Selena. You're getting something out of this as well."

Selena scoffed.

"As long as you're under my roof, you'll be well taken care of. You'll never lack anything."

Joseph said, still facing the window and his back turned against Selena.

"This is not about money! I'm only trying to save-

"Your dad."

Joseph cut in. Finally, turning to face, his hands still in his pockets.

"Look, we both want something and we both get to benefit a lot from this. I'm not doing this for anything else aside from the fact that I want to claim what is rightfully mine. No emotions involved."

"This is crazy". Selena sighed.

"You can still walk away. But don't forget that your dad is the very reason you walked in here."

Selena felt her heart palpitating.

Joseph took out a pen from his breast pocket and put it beside the document containing the contract.

His cold expression met hers-warm, scared, and vulnerable.

"Let's just get this over and done with."

"Great"

He slid the document towards her. It was a brown envelope containing the documents. Sealed.

She carefully took off the seal and brought out a couple of typed documents stapled together.

She was a bit hesitant to read the contents. And then she did.

The terms of the contract read:

Marriage will last for one year. Sexual activities will be twice a month, only on mutual agreement, and will happen during Selena's fertile window. After conception, there will be no outings except in the company of the husband and or bodyguards and only to important functions. Failure to adhere to these terms attracts immediate termination of the agreement.

Upon successful fulfillment of the above-stated agreement, divorce papers will be processed. Selena Jones will be financially compensated and will move on with her life after she signs an agreement of secrecy.

She looked up at him, wanting to say something, but the words were stuck.

"Any questions?"

He asked, rather impatiently.

She finally found her words.

"What happens to the child?"

"Oh, you can do whatever you want with the child after everything is done."

Selena looked at him in disbelief and shook her head in disappointment.

"Even the winter snow cannot compete with the ice inside your soul."

"I just want what's mine. I'm not interested in this little fairy tale of being a husband and a father. Phew!"

He scoffed.

"You're going to punish an innocent child just to get what you want? God! You're heartless!"

"I'm just a man who goes for what he wants, regardless."

"Well, unlike you, I have a heart. I'm not signing this!"

She pushed the document back at him, angrily.

"Fine. But just know that time is ticking and I won't be responsible for whatever happens to your father."

Selena stood up to leave. She was almost at the door when his words stopped her in her tracks.

"The more stubborn you prove to be, the more dangerous it gets for you and your father. And even you, by extension."

Selena froze. Then she turned to face him.

"How could you be so heartless? You're making this hard for me!"

"You're making it even harder for yourself."

Selena looked at him with resentment in her eyes. Her fists were clenched by her sides.

"Can I at least think about this? It's not an easy thing to do."

"Twenty-four hours." That's all I can give you. Time is of the essence.

Selena stepped forward, snatched the document from the table, took a last look at him, and stormed out.

Dinner was cold. The last thing on Selena's mind was food.

She had made dinner that evening, hoping to turn to food for succour but struggled to get anything past her throat.

She sat in her bed, staring at the contract which sat on the table right across from her.

The only other person who would have stopped her from proceeding with that contract was her mother. And she was gone.

Her phone rang. Mark. Her heart raced, then skipped a beat. What was she going to say to him?

Mark was her best friend. The only one who understood her and protected her, right from childhood. They shared an unbreakable bond.

He had been out of town for a medical outreach and had been really busy.

She stared at her phone screen. Indecisive. She wasn't ready to tell him anything. Not now. How could she?

Hearing his voice alone would have been enough to stop her from making a decision that could change the trajectory of her life forever-and that decision had already been made.

She was going to marry Joseph McCarthy.

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

"My assistant will take you shopping for your wedding dress," Joseph spoke to Selena dismissively without looking up from his laptop.

She had taken the signed document to him, letting him know she had agreed to the terms of the contract.

"The wedding will take place at the private city courthouse at 10. am tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Selena asked with surprise, lacing her expression. "Isn't that too soon"?

"Time and tide wait for no one. The earlier we get this over and done with, the better for both of us."

He then picked up his phone and called his assistant-and in a matter of minutes, she showed up in his office.

"Phina. You'll go with the young lady here to the boutique and make sure everything goes smoothly." Joseph said, glancing at Selena.

"Alright, Sir."

"You're not coming along?" Selena finally spoke, after quietly watching him bark orders.

Joseph looked at her like she was crazy. His eyes, ice cold.

"What do you think this is? A fairytale wedding in the Maldives with a happy ever after lurking around somewhere?"

Joseph's assistant stood-expressionless. Minding her business and waiting for instructions.

"Oh, we agree on something at least. This is definitely more of a funeral for me than a marriage." Selena responded. Struggling to blink back tears.

Then she stormed out, feeling humiliated.

Selena looked around the boutique. It was full of exquisitely luxury gowns designed only for people of status. Even the simplest ones still screamed class.

She didn't fit in there. If only it were the wedding she wanted with someone she really loved.

"Miss Selena Jones?"

A middle-aged woman with short brown pixie cut hair and a small stature approached her.

"Yes?" Selena responded as she turned from the gowns she was admiring towards the woman who now had her attention.

"Great. Mr Joseph has covered the costs of your wedding gown. Please come with me-so you could try it on."

Selena felt belittled. He didn't even let her choose her own gown even if it was a contract marriage.

"After you, please" Selena responded.

The boutique attendant took out an immaculate white sleeveless mermaid gown from a collection of other gowns and held it out to Selena, so she could have a good look at it.

"This is one of our best sellers, simple but elegant. Go ahead. Try it on."

The woman said with a smile.

The gown was elegant, classy but not loud. It was perfect.

Selena stood in front of the dressing mirror, her right hand tracing her neck bones while her eyes struggled to hold back tears.

This was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of her life. But it was the opposite. She couldn't smile.

All she wanted to do was get out of the gown and out of there.

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

The wedding took place the next day. It was at a private courthouse. No family. No friends. Just Selena, Joseph, and the judge.

Joseph hardly even looked at her. When it was over, they both slid rings decorated with real diamonds into each other's fingers. Then signatures.

She was now Selena McCarthy. Her new last name stung for some weird reason.

The drive home from the courthouse was filled with silence. Selena kept staring out the window.

Where was her father in all these-the one who put her in that situation? It wasn't supposed to hurt that he wasn't present. But it did.

As far as she was concerned, her father was somewhere gambling again.

Selena was grateful for the few movements on the road as she still kept staring out the window. At least it was enough to distract her from the cruel reality of her life at that moment.

They arrived at a gigantic black gate, the McCarthy mansion. The electronic gate opened up for them to drive through.

The McCarthy mansion was massive, high walls, a three-storey building with several wings, windows, and balconies. The colours of the paintings were beautifully combined.

The car stopped right in front of the entrance.

"Welcome to your new home." Joseph finally spoke.

Home. Selena's ears itched at the very mention of the word.

This definitely wasn't going to feel like home to her. No warmth. Just a building that housed her troubles.

They both got out of the car and Selena followed behind, not sure what to expect.

"Ah! The latest couple finally arrives." Selena followed the voice. Upstairs on the balcony. It was a young man in his late twenties,averagely handsome, almost as tall as Joseph.

Standing beside him was a woman in her early fifties. Pretty, dark short pixie hair, unmistakably wealthy. She was dressed in wealth. She had the mean girl look and eyes that could kill just with a stare.

She was staring down at Selena like fresh meat about to be devoured by lions. Her expression was cold and unwelcoming.

"Let's go in, the staff will bring in your luggage."

Selena followed Joseph like a lost puppy.

Brian and his mother were already downstairs when they came in.

Joseph's expression became darker as soon as he saw them.

"These are my stepbrother and stepmother. Brian and Sarah.

"Nice to meet you two". Selena greeted awkwardly.

Sarah approached Selena and scanned her from head to toe.

"This one looks like she has no name, no status. What pit did you bring her from?"

She directed the question at Joseph while she scanned Selena in a derogatory manner.

"Don't get too comfortable, girl. You really should watch your back around here. You might just disappear. Poof!" She demonstrated sarcastically as she released her five fingers in the air.

"Careful". Joseph responded to her. His tone was cold and with a warning.

"Joseph, Joseph! Looking at you, though, and how you carry yourself like you own the universe, one would think you'd have better taste," Sarah said sarcastically, rolled her eyes, took one last cold look at Selena, and walked out on them.

Brian, who had been watching the drama, finally spoke, approaching Selena.

"I'll disagree with my mom on this one bro. You do have some taste. She's pretty. Body of a goddess, I'm quite impressed" He said with a smirk on his face.

"She just needs a little, you know....touch up"

He laughed sarcastically, scanned Selena from head to toe, and licked his lips seductively.

Joseph advanced towards him, attempting to punch him in the face but he restrained himself. His right hand clenched in a fist.

Then he turned to Selena who had been watching the drama.

"I'll show you to your room, Selena. Come with me."

Joseph shot Brian a deadly look before taking Selena to her room upstairs.

"This is your room."

Joseph opened the door to a well-furnished room with luxury paintings and decorations that fit perfectly.

Selena looked around in admiration but that didn't change the fact that she was in what felt like a prison.

"My room?"

"It can be changed if you don't like it."

"The room is fine. I just thought we'd be sleeping together"

"You're forgetting this is a contract and not a marriage. We'll only be in the same room when we eventually agree to fulfill the......obligation. For now, you have your own space and privacy."

Obligation. He was referring to the child. Selena felt like an object in that moment.

She swallowed hard. "Noted"

"A help has been assigned to you. Alexandra. Whatever you need-she'll be at your beck and call. She's the only one you should trust."

Selena nodded. "Thank you"

Joseph turned and left.

Selena struggled to sleep that night. She had a gigantic bed all to herself. Her own bed back at home wasn't even half the size of this one.

She couldn't shake off the attitude of Joseph's family towards her. Not that she was surprised anyway. She was a stranger.

But she couldn't help but feel like Joseph was the one who had a lot to deal with, living with people who seemed not to like him. They were supposed to be family, right?

Her phone buzzed on the lamp stand beside the bed. The screen lit up. It was a message from Mark.

"Hey, Sel. Been trying to reach you. Are you okay? Please respond as soon as you get this."

Selena's fingers hovered over the alphabet on her phone screen. Struggling with the right words to reply. Just as she was pondering on what to type, there was a knock on her door.

"Miss Selena?". It was a young woman's voice.

She walked cautiously towards the door, slowly opening it to let Alexandra in. Her new help.

"Good evening, you are....?"

"Alexandra. I was assigned to you, to help you with anything you might need." Alexandra finished, smiling politely.

"Oh. Joseph mentioned you earlier. Nice to meet you." Selena stretched out her hand for a handshake.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Selena". Alexandra returned the gesture.

"I don't think I'd be needing anything for now though. But thank you". Selena said nervously.

"Alright, Miss Selena. Welcome to the McCarthy family. I hope to be at your service, satisfactorily. I'll let myself out."

Alexandra said heading towards the door.

"Thank you, Alexandra."

Selena shut the door behind her and leaned on it for a few seconds as if she found some kind of support from an inanimate object.

She sighed, slowly got into her new bed, hoping to drift into a world that could blank her realities for the night.