The arranged wedding.

Jones pov Good morning mr harrison said the secretary of Babel limited who are in charge of interior design. "Good morning" I responded, please inform your chairman that am around. "who should I tell him? asked the secretary. oh please inform him that mr jones chairman of go_food restaurant world wide is here to see him his aware I'm coming.

(Office land line ringing...mr Harrison picks the call)please let him in he said I walk in to his office with my mouth widely open the interior designs were so amazing that I was so convinced about giving them the contract of my newly purchased house to create some amazing designs for me. "Hello mr jones"! said mr Harrison. "hello mr Harrison" i replied. "I got your contact from a friend who assured me that you were going to do a wonderful work with designing my house. "I smiled.well you are at the right place and we promise to give you the best said mr Harrison. After I gave him the contract in less than one month,he did a wonderful job,I was so impressed so I also introduced him to some of my friends The relationship between me and mr Harrison grew stronger than just business partners in fact we became best of friends. I was so happy when you came in I thought you won't make again tonight I said. "I couldn't help but create space tonight I also need some time off work said" mr Harrison. I was glad when he said that.we can atleast have some good time together tonight.....I said to myself . some hours of drinking and partying mr Harrison invite me and my wife over for dinner at his place the next day. I could not help but accept his offer so I assured him that we will be at his place by 6pm.we later had some few drinks and went home to rest. (Next day at mr Harrison's place) I and my wife were already at mr Harrison's house before 6pm so we had enough time to talk about business,family and so many other things . while we were discussing I told him my daughter will be coming home from the state after her graduation by weekend. while we were still discussing mr Harrison's only son Derick walked in and greeted us. "where have you been? mr Harrison asked his son. "oh I went to see a friend down the street! he replied. while the father and son were still chatting mr Harrison's wife mrs Jane called from behind. "food is ready everyone please come let's eat"After dinner my wife joined mrs Jane to clear the table while Derick went to his room to have his bath. I thought this was the perfect time to tell my friend what has been going on in company and how much I need his help since I don't want my wife to find out . So I excused him for some minute and we step outside.I told him how I have been draining in debt, how I have so many competitors in market and how my business has been suffering a lot and how much I really needed his help to bounce back. After some many discussion he finally agreed to help me financially but at a condition that my daughter must get married to his impotent son and live as husband and wife. I was shocked when I heard his only son was an impotent and to crown it all he wants my only daughter to get married to him before he can help me (dumbfounded). For some minutes I could not think straight,how do I tell my daughter this,how is she going to take it,what If she's not interested what will then happen to the family business.These thoughts kept running through my head. I told him to give me some time to think about it and convince my daughter about it. After some time we bid each other good bye and I drove straight home. A week after my conversation with mr Harrison my daughter came home from the state after her graduation. My daughter I'm happy you are back home safe and sound,we have something very important to talk about. "What is it father?she asked. "I think I have found a person who will make a good husband for you!! "father what did you just say,I don't undunderstand.her said with a surprise look on her face. My daughter i am your father and I know what best for you.his father is my very good friend.Come to think of it my daughter mr Derick is the only son of mr Harrison my very good friend which means he will be the one to inherit all his father's property when he decided's to resign .it only means that you wouldn't have to think twice before getting what you want to live a comfortable life. "But father........! No but my daughter just think about it Good night sleep well I shut the door behind me as i leave my daughter's room. Abigail pov Deep in thought ...........I could not sleep i kept thinking about what my father told me. How can my father decide who I get married to or not.Besides I'm an adult I should be able to decide for my self. What do I tell Fred my fiancé? What do I tell my friends .tears rolled down my cheeks. I kept thinking through out the night and I could not sleep. "It's morning already. My mum kept banging on my door. but I did not response to her so she let herself into my room. "Why are you still in bed at this hour, do you know what the time is?.... my mum queried. I reached out for my phone to check the time.oh my goodness its 11am already!I jump off from my bed to the bathroom to wash my self up before joining my mum to do the house chores.I looked around to see if I can sight my father but he was nowhere around the house so I asked my mother. "oh your father stepped out not to long. "Oh ok I replied

Jones pov

I kept banging on the gate at mr Harrison house but it's seems the security was in deep thought and could not hear me.

I brought out my phone and called mr Harrison to let him know am outside his house .After some minutes the gate was opened and I entered.

we greeted each other warmly and went to the sitting room.I told him that my daughter is around as she was done with studies in the state .He asked if I have discussed with my daughter over what he told me few weeks back,

I said yes and that is why I was in his house that morning. I told him my daughter isn't ready to comply with our discussion and asked him if there is nothing else I could do aside that.

He said no there is no other way out ,that I should try and convince my daughter more.

what more can I say,I need to convince my daughter so I get his financial support.I went to his house thinking there be another way out but I was heartbroken ............So I took my leave and went home

When I got home with the look on my face my wife and daughter could tell that something was wrong

"Honey,honey what is the matter why is your face like that my wife asked "

With no response I look straight into my daughter's eye ,are you happy?are happy that family business is going down?are u happy that we draining in debt ? don't you want the family business to come back?

(With a shocken look on my wife's face)

Honey what are you talking about?which business is going down ?who is draining in debt?my wife asked.I had no option than to tell her the truth.

Darling I'm sorry for keeping this away from you for so long but is that the family business is going down,I even went as far as borrowing money from the bank hoping I will be able to back before the due date but it's obvious I can't.

I asked my friend for some financial support and he said the only way he can help me is if our daughter agree to marry his son who is an impotent .I broken down in tear after seeing the look on my daughter's face ,I felt sorry for her.

Darling please talk to our daughter let her see reasons with me .This is not the type of life I wanted my daughter to live but I'm left with no other choice,I said to my wife

My daughter just went back to her room and weep her eyes out.

After much pressure from me and my wife my daughter finally agreed to the arranged marriage.

Abigail pov

After I agreed to the marriage my father then called for a meeting.Mr Harrison and his family were to come to my house on a particular date picked by my father.

I was in my room trying to put on some light makeup and get ready to receive our visitors when my mother came in.

"Aren't you done yet my mother asked "

I'm almost done just some few touches and I will be out I replied

"Ok please be fast your father is waiting "

"Ok mother I replied.

At this point I could not express what I was feeling,how I wish it was a dream so I can just wake up already .while in my thought I heard my phone ringing..................

Who could that be ?I murmured

I stretched out my hand to reach out for my phone only to find out it was Marley my fiancé that was calling.I was shocked and confused ,I didn't know weather to pick or not .While I was debating on weather to pick or not the call dropped then the phone rang again!I had no option than to pick the call

"Hey baby how are you doing!!he asked

"I'm fine and you??!!I replied

"what are you doing!!??he asked

"nothing still in bed!! I lied

"baby I have missed you a lot,when are you planning to come over ?!!he asked

"you said what??I replied

I needed to hear him clearly I thought my ears were playing tricks on me . Then he repeated what he said.

For some minute I could not reply

"please can I call you back??

I could hear my father calling my name so loud and his footsteps approaching my room.

"please let me call you later!!then I hang up the call.

""Please come outside our visitors has arrived said my father.

"Ok father I will be out shortly,I replied

I came out of my room ,I saw mr Harrison and family,I was not happy about this whole plan but I still manage to put a smile on my face.I greeted our visitors and was trying to look for a comfortable place to sit.

"Honey sit down "said my mother

I sat beside my mother facing Derick who was just staring at me.

Both parents kept laughing and discussing about our wedding while we just sat and stare at each other.With the look on Derick face you could tell he's also not interested in the wedding just like me .

"How are you doing my dear"??Derick's mother asked.

Fine thank you ma'am.I replied

"There's nothing to worry about my dear Derick ,I and his father will take good care of you " said Derick's mother

I just nodded my head.

"So you just graduated right ?"Derick's father asked

Yes I responded

"From Harvard university right?" Derick's mother asked

My mother cut in to the conversation without letting me answer the last question

"Oh yes with good grades"said my mother

It's obvious my mother was proud about my grades in school.

Throughout the whole conversation Derick barely said a word.it was as if his body was there but his spirit was somewhere else.I just wished the meeting can end already but no the conversation kept going.

It was 4hours already and the meeting has finally ended, I was the happiest person on earth .I just to go into my room have some warm bath and sleep .Finally they left and I was relieved .I was eager to go to my room and call my fiancé back. As I was about going to my room my mother called

"Honey please help with dishes while I clean the kitchen up.

I was a bit angry but who am I to complain.I quickly packed the dishes to kitchen washed them up and went to my room . I finally had a warm bath and laid on my bed while I called my fiancé Marley.

"Hello my love I have been expecting your call for some hours now " he said

"Oh am sorry baby I was a bit busy !! I replied

"Ok so how was your day!! He asked

"It was ok and yours!! I replied

"fine .so I asked you when will you be coming over to my place ??!! He asked

"Uhmmm baby can that wait for now I really have many things to work now!!

"For how long ??!! He asked.

"can't really tell but I will come over once am done!! I replied

"We talked for a little while and decided to sleep

"good night my love!! He said

"good night baby!!I replied

"I miss you a lot!!he said

"I miss you too !! I replied

It's was Monday morning I woke up early to get ready for a job interview I already received before weekend ,I was at the dining table trying to grab some food before I leave when my father walked up to me.

"My dear are you ready "

"Yes father good morning "

"Good morning my dear. there is something I would like to tell you my dear"

"Please father that can wait am almost .late I need to catch the bus"

I hurriedly left the house before he could insist on telling me first. I went to visit my best friend Ariana.I seriously wanted to discuss what has been going on in my family with her.

''Bestie were have you been??'' She asked .

'I have been busy my dear things are a little bit tight for me'

'Bestie I have something to tell you and it is really seriously'

'I was curious to know what it was.what is the problem'.I asked

'It's about Marley your fiancé"she said

"What about my fiancé"I asked

"I heard the police are looking for him"she said

"You heard what"I asked

"Believe me girl that's the truth and I also heard he has been living a fake identity.He's real name is bobby not Marley"she said.

I told her I don't believe her and she should stop spreading fake rumors around .I left her house in anger ,by the time I got home my father had already slept. I entered my room took my clothes off ,had a warm bath and went straight to bed.

The thought of what ariana told me kept coming to my mind and I didn't want to believe it was true,I thought of calling Marley to ask him but it was late already.I just managed to catch some sleep .

I woke up very early in the morning the next morning but was too lazy to get stand up from my bed ,I just lay down and was trying to think of what my father has to tell me.I could not come up with something but I knew it must be related to the arranged wedding.I finally overcome the laziness in me and decided to go help with some chores.

As I opened my door to step ,I met father standing right in front of my door,it was as if he was waiting for me to open the door for him.

"Good morning father" I greeted .

"Good my dear.I guess you came back late last night right" he asked .

"Yes father I went to see my friend ariana after my job interview" I replied .

"Oh how is she doing"he asked.

"She is fine"I replied.

"So how was your job interview yesterday"he asked as he was trying to sit on one of the long couch in the sitting room .

"Fine ,I am still waiting for there responsed"I replied.

"My dear when you finally get married I don't think there will be any need for you to work because you will get anything you want by just saying it"he said.

"I just smiled, and went on to ask him what he wanted to discuss with me yesterday.

"Father what did you wanted to tell me yesterday"I asked.

"You and Derick will be going on a date to night "he replied.

"Date??Father why the rush"I asked.

"It was obvious you guys didn't get to know each other the last time they came,so we decided that you people should go on a private date"he replied.

"Honestly father I don't like what are doing to me" I lamented.

"I'm sorry my dear,it is for our own good."he said

Tears almost ran out from my eyes I just managed to hold it.

"I will send the address to you phone when I go inside to get mine phone"

Without responding to him I went to the kitchen to grab a broom and I started sweeping the house.

I really don't have anything doing today so to rearrange things.while I was looking for the best position to stand my standing mirror my phone began to ring.it was my fiancé callling. I decided not to pick or return the call because I was still thinking of what ariana told me.

After some minute I heard my phone beep it was a text from my father,he just sent me the address of me and Derick's private date.

Derick's pov

I just sat and wish she doesn't show up,only for me to sight her coming down from a taxi.The sight of her only irritates me but I had no option than to go on with the plan.Besides I should be grateful for seeing someone who is

ready to marry me despite my health condition.

She came In and sat opposite my direction without even saying a word. I noticed she wasn't happy with the plan neither was I but we just have to do it. The waitress came and took our orders