A Love Worth Hating

Chapter 2

The worst moment of the month arrives, im getting ready in my room (not like I want to put any effort for this dumb tradition), if I dont my mom will actually put me in a cave. She's a good friend of alexeï's mom but since my birth they've been in a endless competition about: theirs kids, husband businesses, who has more  Hermes bags etc... the thing is they are brillant womans way above those childish behaviors of theirs. Both graduated prestigious, expensive, private schools,worked for their familly company, organized charity fairs, they could have been best friends ! Deep down I think its because my mom used to date Alexeï's father in the 80's but we're in 2024!!  Hello?!? deep into my thoughts I don't hear my father talking to me through the door of my flat. What can I say about my father... he is my true inspiration by that I absoluetly dont mean that my mom is not inspiring but he is like my hero. My mom has always been a rich kid living in NY but my dad he was born and bred in Canada, Montreal to be exact so when he landed in the US he was alone with very little money. For years he living in the smallest crib in Harlem, he then graduated and was the valedictorian of his year at the Columbia business school. Life was never easy for him but now he finally can rest while doing what he likes, due to his past he never really was about money and know about the real values to have in life. Still the men is smart and I mean really smart you can talk to him about any topic business of course but also litterature, philosophy, history,politics he even know about science and thats crazy. To me at least.Now he is what we call a "nouveau riche" it's an appelation for the people who gain money "recently" and are often percieved as ostentatious. But not my dad, that is why he is my model, he is so humble and smart and kind hearted, people telling me I got from him is my favorite thing ever.

In the car my parents remind me with a frightening cheerful expression on their faces that they are announcing something with Alexeï's parents at diner. But I still dont care cause its probably business or professional partnership, dont know, dont care.

We're sat drinking our cocktails at the Von Sievers dining table, the dumb dick is like every goddamn month late, doing who knows what, waiting for him the silence is loud but not in a awkward way but a creepy one. The four big adults are basically tweaking on their chair looking at me with sparkling smiles on theirs faces, thank god I hear the door slamming across the corridor and big brutals steps walking to us. The ogre who just entered the room without a word sits violently next to me and chug the drink poured in front of him. And for my biggest misery his mom stand up and look like she wants to make a toast, her glass in hand she gently bang her spoon against the glass.

"-I cannot wait any longer and wish to announce a big occurrence that will change both our famillies future, you kids don't have to pay particular attention to that decision even if it concerns you directly... In any case you cannot disagree with that decision of ours for at least 3 years. Now it'll also impact your futures so please don't make a fuss out of this."

As she is talking I feel the sweat dripping everywhere on my body, I try to look at Alexeï to watch if his reactions ressembles mine but no he is impassible and don't even look at his mother instead he's on his phone talking to some girl he'll probably go fuck later. My mom look at me with the biggest smile, my dad next to her don't even throw me the slightlest glance and at this exact moment I realise that I might be screwed. Katarina keep addressing her toast then Anders, Katarina's husband proceed toadd more then it's my mom, Susan, with the same smile on her face that she had for the past 10 minutes she's says " to end this toast and for the sake of our companies we decided to mary our kids who had such good friendship for all those years." I am speechless, I tryto express myself, the anger bouilling inside of me at the moment,how and why I would never mary that jackass who's their tenderly beloved descendant. But I realised, he never told his parents that we werent friends anymore just like I did and that why we're in this mess. I want to punch him in the face, rip out his fingers, eyes, his flesh! Oh my god I hate him and now for somes reasons I dont know have to get married to him. This can't be real so I stand up and clear my throat " excuse me but is this a joke of some sort, is it april fools? For what valuable reason would I have to mary....him." my dad is still not looking at me and my mom lost her smile, she stares at me with the you are sleeping in the cave tonight look and says " you still under our roof you must be obedient. Its for a professional agreement that requires our famillies linking with eachother for minimum two years, but conflict can emerge really fast with sensitive jobs and positions like ours, so the lawyer advised us to marry our kids. There is nothing more to discuss now sit down and be polite towards our hosts and your new step familly."

I dont even look at my mom no more, I stare at Alexeï but he dont even notice me. I sat back at the table, the silence is not the same as the one earlier, and I think to myself looking at my plate why didn'the said anything, he is not the type to let go this kind of decision whithout smashing all the dishes on the table, whithout groaning themost horrendous cuss or just without dispearing and coming back two weeks later with a new hair color, piercings or a new german supercar (it already happened 4 years ago when his parents announced they wereselling the beach house in the Hamptons to japanese diplomates). I remain silent for the rest of the diner not even looking up, tonight im desappointed but particularly in my father how could he do that tome, once we're finished eating I  don't have time to look up that the dumb, immature, ignorant, shitty boy who was next to me has desappeared. I sighed and proceed to leave also myself but my father decide to drag me in some room with a very concerned look on his face.

"Iza    you are my only and favorite daughter, I want you to know that this    decision is partly for your future in the company. I dont want you    to be mad at me or your mom but.. please understand. You are such    good friends with alexei would never have expected this sort of    reaction from you. If its such a pain please hold on for two small    years please, im begging you elizabeth, im sorry we had to sacrifice    you for professional matters....

Dad....    I would do so much for you but this...

I    get you but you're not obligated to do anything as in a real    mariage. Its only for the papers and you could divorce after two    years.

Umm...    I think I could survive. And..umm I wanted you to know that me and    him stopped talking years ago. He is a real jerk!" I said, looking    at my dad expression, I never saw him concerned like that. It makes    me a little nauseous. I kissed my father's  cheek and leave the Von    Sievers house. I have a party tonight at Sharon's, hopefully it'll clear my head.