My Father Stole The Key

V

"The best relationships, that might actually last, are the ones you never saw coming."
~Anonymous

"Where were you?" A voice startled her.

Her heart began to beat loudly that she believed for a moment it was found in the ears. Celia slowly turned around to face the person that would possibly be the death of her. "Bargain time!"she thought to herself.

"Out." Celia stated flatly.

"Out where?"

Celia placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. She sighed loudly before asking, " Okay sis, what's it gonna take this time for you to keep your mouth shut?"

"You don't get it, do you?" Cecilia's voice grew more and more serious by the minute.

"Jewellery? Clothes? A boyfriend?" she joked casually, not realising the seriousness of the situation.

"Don't you know Dad doesn't like when we leave without telling anyone? You know what happened Celia!"

"Yes I know!" Celia shouted at her," there's no need to bring up that! What's it gonna take to shut you up!?!"

"He knows."

************************************

Cornelius paced back and forth the living room. He suddenly stopped and began glaring at Shaii. The way his eyes squinted when he glared at him reminded Shaii of a pit viper's slit-like pupils causing Shaii to gulp nervously. A burning animosity was developing in Cornelius' brown orbs, and he could tell he was obviously the root cause of the problem.

"Would you just kindly tell me what is so urgent that I had to leave work early?"

"Shaii," his father spoke in a low, disappointed tone.

"Cornelius," he replied mocking him.

"This is no time for jokes!"his  voice travelled through the house frightening everyone," what is this I hear about Celia leaving our company in tears?"

"Dad it's not a big deal; she was being rude," he tried to defend himself.

"Not a big deal? Not a big deal?!? We need that company Shaii!"

"Dad it's not a big deal! We can do without that little company!"

"No we can't,"his eyes softened," I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell you this but majority of our resources have been depleted. I don't know how I allowed this to happen under my watch but I suspect someone in the company is responsible for this. I have hired the top men to find the traitors but it is not a guarantee so ,you see, son I need you to marry Celia. It's kind of like an insurance plan."

"Oh," was all Shaii could manage to say.

"Yes so I trust that you will treat her right even though this is a contract. My father and his father worked hard to establish this company so that it could be passed down for generations and generations. Don't ruin this Shaii!" And with that his father walked away leaving him alone, with time to think.

For once in his life, Shaii was considering doing something he did not want to do. He knew that deep down it must have hurt his father to force him into a relationship he didn't want, but he also knew that a man's got to do what a man's got to do. And the first rule of being a man is- putting your family first even when it seems like it's the hardest thing in the world to do.

That night, he planned to call Celia and apologize for his behaviour earlier. He was gonna have to suck up and kiss someone else's ass; there are no words to describe how he felt about doing that. I might be marrying her in three months time but who says that I have to give her the time of day," he thought to himself.