b's

center of curvature and a large radius and spotted my parents already seated at th

chair made a scrapping soun

te, Sebastian!" Mom glanced at her Role

ere were Fajitas, meat loaves, turkey grilled in thanksgiving style, wild Alaskan salmon in a bed of veggies and tomatoes, S

nges from the chauffeurs, cleaners, gardeners, cooks, maids, security team, and a host of others. Sometimes I don't even remember all their names because every week, mom fires some people to replace with others. The only person's name who could remain evergreen in my me

piece of wild turkey aft

you were late." Mom narrowed her eyes

e smile before taking a rathe

at me. She likes to tag herself as highly me

ou up." Elijah muttered as he exchang

n business, Elijah?!" I puckered my mouth while his kn

tone went a pitch higher an

you." I set down my cutlery and furrowed my brows. "I think it's high t

for dinner? Looking like there was a time swap and we are suddenly bac

was saying when

ck of this pointless debate."

t mute when Nicholas raised hi

ith a girl from a reputable family, Scarlett." Nichola

dad is right, I was gettin

in confusion and Elijah let

were tapping the ground as I felt t

Perhaps if it was a dude, he might do better." Elijah wigg

irmly shut in anger. He was trying so hard to get under

a wife or marry Scarlett within

nd the table fell silent. It was an eerie silence. The type that e

e what the hell is happenin

an, Language!" Mom slamme

t, I care about what the heck y'all are hiding from me."

bed her templ

on right now. I'm sick and tired of everyone

in a fury while pacing around. Elijah si

glass before mutt

t and paused my pacing, wait

his head towards my abandoned chair. "We have so mu

from Italy as soon as possible. The contract needs to be s

brow, wondering w

some business advisers that would love to meet with you in person and k

lijah chipped in. "You need a sort of personal profile. They want to be sure that you're more than ju

references and commitments got to d

quite committed to my job."

commitment we are referring to, little b

ah is right." Ni

ing on. Mother went mute suddenly and I knew I wasn't going to li

achelor. Your personal life is... Uhm..." Fa

d. My tone was edgy. I knew this wasn't going to be good due to

that you don't have anyone listed and you

be, Elijah?" I inhaled and exhale

n more status and ground?" Father continued. His baritone w

t, and private sectors do it all the time but what ha

pretend to understand where t

to go so low that he would fabricate lies to get me to budge? Especia

asting in full condition yet beads of sweat alig

uld not

ith you, can't you see?" Elijah suddenly sh

k for me. My credibility and degree should be enough to con

are big on family and if you want to secure that deal, then you bet

hase is a big step and I don't even hav

is more than willing to comply once you want to forge ahead." Mom

To say I was stupefied was an understatement. I

this as much as Elijah. Only F

pair and I hated that I couldn't th

em to join me and tell me it was a big fat ass joke even though we were seven months past April

amused." Elijah turned to his foo

or something?" I let out a nervous

on my part. Forgive me, son." She

hok

ld not b

that but I'd never have thought that I would be

wake me up from this bad dream th

g to be on

uccesses to my father. I thought I was way past the shit of people wanting to work with m

urself a suitable bride. Only then could they possibly build trust with you

n falls to your brother who seems overly qualified since he's clearly marri

l pass me like this.

mmitted man in the early-mid twenties re

ed to seal my future once and for all. The last thing I would ever do is get married to please

d but it won't be a marriage of love, instead it will

he ethics of business and must not fall in love with me. It must be dev

pro

interview a couple of ladies. I ca

onfidence. "And over my dead body will I let my position fall to El

brother." He raised his glas

attention he wanted, he was the

e on the biggest question whic

hell do I f

*

, you don't end up disgracing this family." Elijah smirked as he

ss about pleasing this family. So why not dash off like the others so I can get

my ears to whisper. "I'm leaving so I can map out how to checkma

nch of your failure." I popped some grapes in m

"When there's a competition between us, I always beat you hands down ove

because no matter what I do, you'll always remain their golden child and I, the per

mind that I will ruin you if you stand in my way because you will always remai

raised my glass and chugged the wine to

r and go-getter so I expect you to start sulking in y

made me feel even happier that my parents realized the kind of person Scarlett truly was. N

at carries more possibilities than I could be conscious of but

ever was ahead could be a great challenge, and there could be tears, but it was my adve

ere and how in the world to find a woman crazy enough

ht stand. I dialed my emergency contact, Ashe

l bubbly tone greeted me th

itedly, already putting my master plans toge

rted out. "Why are we going

wherever the fuck you are

e was confusion

nd I'll catch you in a ji