Forced Marriage

(1) Beginning of their tale

George and Amelia left right after the deal was signed, their business was saved and now they had put their daughter in great use. They returned home happy and content, while Nova stayed with Jason, since her new husband had already left her alone.

"Come on, let's take you to your new home." Jason beamed.

She got in a limousine with Jason and two of his guards and they drove for about half an hour then the car stopped. Nova's jaw dropped to the floor at the sight of two storyed mini mansion that stood before her.

If the Gillies were rich, then the Jones were filthy rich. This was no simple house, it could easily be described in short of a castle. A very modernly decorated castle.

"Welcome home, honey." Jason had a soft welcoming smile on his face and Nova returned the smile. "This will be your and Elliot's home. Diane here will guide you and give you a tour around the house. So, I'll take my leave now."

Nova's heart dropped, she had to stay all alone in this massive house, without a single familiar face around? She felt weirdly lonely.

"Hey, it's okay. Elliot's gonna return soon and till then you can get acquainted with the servants and helpers. They should know all about your likes and dislikes and work according to them. All the best, Nova."

"Thank you, Mr. Jones."

Jason frowned, "It's dad for you."

Once again, Nova's eyes threatened to water and she smiled for the first time this evening.

"Thank you, dad." Her voice slightly shook since she hadn't uttered the word with sincerity in so long, till now.

"Welcome, my dear." With a pat on her head, Jason got back in his car and left.

Nova released a deep breath and glanced at the mansion once more, the lighting erupting from around the house reflecting in her eyes.

"Welcome, ma'am. Please come inside." A lady in her late 40s said, her motherly eyes warm and kind. Nova felt a little at ease.

She must be Diane. Elliot's head of maid and one of his closest companions.

As Diane explained while giving her a tour of the house, Nova silently followed, taking in every word and noting down each instruction regarding Elliot. The lavish interior and choice of furnitures left her speechless and she had to praise the boy's taste. He did know how to express his richness through his lifestyle.

The house/mansion had in total 6 bedrooms, each had attached baths, the upstairs had a separate living room, gaming room and a huge balcony. On the first floor, there's kitchen, main living room, a movie theatre, a home office and servant quarters.

Everything was neatly organized and squeaky clean, a clear sign of Elliot's hygiene sense and it brought a sense of relief to the girl since she herself was a bit skeptical about cleanliness since she was allergic to dust.

"Would you like to freshen up and rest in your room, ma'am?" Diane asked after she was done.

"Please call me Nova. I'm so much younger than you."

Diane's smile reached her eyes, "I can't, dear."

Nova held her hand, and firmly said, "Please, I insist. I wanna be a part of this family, not some ruler or owner of you all. We are all equal here."

Diane's heart warmed and she knew Mr. Jones had chosen the right one for Elliot.

She had seen the boy grow up before her eyes and felt a motherly instinct towards him, always making sure he ate in time, took care of him when he fell sick and forced him to eat while he immersed himself in work for a whole day, even Elliot loved and gave her the respect of a motherly figure.