THE BILLIONAIRE'S FOREER BRIDE

LIAM'S POV

Fun?

That wasn't a word he was used to. The last time he had heard it, it was being used in a movie he had reluctantly agreed to see with his best friend. In his 32 years of living, he had not understood the relevance of the word or what it entails.

With his back resting on the door of his grandfather's study, he thought of the conversation he had earlier with his grandfather and how the old man had insisted he leaves work and go have some "fun".

He had left his office earlier than unusual because of an unexpected meeting his grandfather had scheduled for both of them in his study, getting there, he watched as the old man walked briskly to the cushion where he received visitors with a glass of wine.

They had both proceeded to finish what was left of the bottle of Brandy in silence, he had watched his grandfather with keen interest, wondering what was going on with the man.

It has always been just him and his old man since he could remember, his father had died without an opportunity to be close to his own father, he had spent the remaining years of his life running from his responsibilities, he claimed he was contented with his own identity and didn't want to associate with the family name. Liam had thought of his father as a fool who was looking for meaningless excuse to escape his duties, he wasn't surprised when his father had died with little or nothing to his own name.

Life for Liam had been instinct and survival, one of the thousand things he had learnt from his grandfather, the knowledge he had applied in his personal life and also in running the family's business. As he continued watching his grandfather, he was glad for the closeness they shared.

" I know you're wondering why I called this impromptu meeting, considering the fact that I should've been somewhere in Dubai with my friends." The old man spoke breaking the silence and jolting Liam out of his thoughts.

" Yeah" Liam replied clearing his throat or rather the thought already forming.

" Well, you know it has been a while you spent quality time with your old man. I just feel like I have overworked you these past years and it wouldn't be a bad idea if I called you out of your office." he said, rubbing his knee.

"It's nothing Grandpa, I actually like what I'm doing. Besides this is how I get my mind off stuff."

" By overworking yourself? You know I sometimes regret not constantly reminding you that you're not your father and you don't have to keep atoning for his sins".

" Grandpa, I'm not atoning for anyone's sin, my father failed in his duties and God knows I don't want to end up like him. "

"You were never going to end up like him even if you decided to rest all your life, you both are two different people. And God knows I haven't forgiven myself for not telling you to rest every time you overworked yourself. There was no need to prove that you're not your father."

He remained silent, he has never been good at expressing himself, he was sure his grandfather was saying everything out of care but when he isn't working, he spends his time looking for work to do. He wasn't yet sure of what the old man was driving out till he broke the silence.

" You know I've been thinking about how focused you've been on your career, but what about your happiness? Is there anything that makes you come alive aside the voice of your PA announcing your schedule?"

" I... I... I don't know Grandpa, I've never really thought about it. I've been busy."

"Exactly! That's my point. You need to make time for joy, for passion, for love. Life is too short to just be about work."

"But what about my responsibilities? I have to provide for myself and-"

"Responsibilities are important, but so is living. Your grandmother used to say, 'A heart without joy is like a bird without wings'."

" When did she say that?" he asked laughing.

"Well, she did. And it's true. You need to find your wings, son. Take a break, travel, meet new people, try new things. You never know what you might discover." His grandfather answered rubbing his stomach.

" Have Fun" he added.

Now outside his grandfather's study, he began wondering how he would go about that, maybe a trip outside or a work free week, no, the former was the best idea, he had everything to lose if he missed work for that long.

He made his way to his room; the place had already been cleaned up for him since he had spent several months at his Airbnb somewhere close to his office.

He settled down on his bed and brought out his phone, there were some calls from his PA and one from his best friend. He checked his messages, there were some notifications about work and one of Adam reminding him about their plan to pick up his sister from the airport.

It was already past the time he was supposed to join his friend, so he quickly sent him a message to apologize and made sure to order some flowers for his best friend's sister.

*****

AVA'S POV

" I can't believe you're deciding to go back to the US, this place would have been best to get a job you know"

" Yeah, I know babe. But I just want to be close to my family. Also, my big brother said he has something for me over there." Ava answered.

" You're damn lucky babe, I'm still here and I honestly don't know what to do with my life after this whole phase" Her friend said dropping the clothes she had picked up.

Carrie had arrived earlier in the year for her own masters which Ava had just finished. They had become roommates when Ava put out a notice that she needed one so as to add to her savings, the best option had been this Scottish girl sitting in front of her. The two had kicked off immediately like people who had known each other for years.

" Don't say that, Carrie, you're just starting, you still have a year and a month to come up with something or probably calculate your next move. You can't get everything from one position."

" I know Ava, it's just that, I really wish I was going home too, this place will be really lonely without you."

" You'll be fine. I can message my Agent to get you a roommate if it gets too lonely."

" I'll really appreciate that, thank you very much ".

The drive to the airport was a long one, probably because this was the last time seeing this city that had turned to one of her favorite places.

She had arrived here three years ago after her college education, her mother had insisted she came here because of her wish to make her independent. She had thought it was a bad idea but looking at the lessons she had learnt here and her survival skills, she was grateful for the move.

The journey had ended, and she was finally making her way back home, this time as a grown woman with the ability to take charge of her life.

****

When the plane eventually landed, she stepped out with the other passengers, everything felt the same, it was too familiar, one thing was for sure, she had been homesick the whole time.

Making her way out of the airport, she immediately saw her brother Adam with a placard, her name was boldly written on it.

" Ava!!!" He shouted when he saw.

That was her brother. She immediately ran to him and squeezed herself between his huge arms. She had missed him too.

" Adam" she shouted.

" Look how grown you've become, I wouldn't have recognized you if not by the way you swing your head from side to side" he said laughing.

" Stop it! I didn't even grow that much. It has only been three years I'm not sure there's much changes."

" The difference is in the eyes of the beholder, kid sis" he said finally entangling from their embrace.

He opened up the car and brought out two bouquets of flowers, placing both in her arm and wearing her a big hat that read "welcome" at the front.

" What's this big bro?" she asked, adjusting the hat while trying not to laugh.

" Well, I decided to give you a welcome present, I got flowers, the hat and some chocolates we can eat on our drive home."

" We? I thought the chocolate was for the person who just got back from the US?" She answered staring at him mockingly.

" Of course, it's for the graduate and her chauffeur that happens to be me." He said with exaggerated pride.

" Oh brother" she replied laughing. " But how did you get these flowers from different locations?" she asked, rubbing the tags that came with each bouquet of flowers.

" Oh sorry, my bad, I got the one at prime stone while Liam got the one at Royal bouquet" he answered unlocking the car door for her to go in.

" Liam?" She asked in shock.

" Yeah, Liam. He was supposed to be here, but I think he got held up by office responsibilities, although he didn't say so when he called to inform me."

" Oh, it has been a while though. Please extend my gratitude to him"

" Why don't you tell him that yourself. Mum invited him for the welcome dinner, you can thank him there."

Her cheeks turned pink, thank God Adam was focused on the road.

" A welcome dinner?" She had asked in the most nonchalant tone she could come up with.

" Yeah, you know how your mum can go extra for things. I just want good food man, I don't even care if she's throwing it in space." He said laughing.

Her mother had always been like that, every good thing called for a celebration.