Rich, spoiled and beautiful, Lana Houstan.
The red-haired daughter of one of the biggest billionaires in the world, finds out she is betrothed to the multi-billionaire, Ian Matthew Walton.
And... Who might Ian Mathew Walton be you may ask?
To the...
"I'm not moving, and that's final," I said as firmly as I could.
Ian fucking Walton? Seriously!!? Out of all the the fucking billionaires it had to be him??
Of all the fucking rich men, no fuck it, of all the male population in this world, it had to be him? Fuck my life!
The phone began to ring. "Oh thank god. It's your dad!" Lorene announces in relief.
"Here speak to him, he must want to talk to you" Lorene gestures to the phone on the coffee table.
Great, my dad. Just what I needed.
I walked over to the phone carefully preparing my words,
"H-hello?" I speak hoping the line ends any second.
"Yes... yes, I know dad but-" he interrupts me again.
"Yes, I know we made a deal dad, but-"
I paused then his tone changed.
"Dad, I'm telling you Ian is a fucking psychopath!" I finally put the phone on speaker so Annie and Lorene could stop invading the little space I have left.
"Maybe if you hadn't insisted on rejecting the identity of the man you were going to marry this wouldn't have happened in the first place." His tone becomes louder.
I don't speak. I mean what the fuck am l suppose to say? I fucking signed up for this and I messed up big time.
"I trusted you with this, how could you speak to him like this?" I could hear his disappointment over the phone.
"She can speak to him however she wants dad, he can't just cancel her flight. You know how much getting her PHD means to her" Annie defends me and I nod in agreement, even though he can't see me.
"Dad. I am not walking down that aisle until that freak apologizes"
"What!?" Lorene and dad shout simultaneously. I can hear both disappointed sighs and worried expressions.
"Lana, you chose to do this with your full will, you knew the responsibility that came along, I mean... It wasn't something I forced you to do hunny. I don't understand?" He sighed, his breath blowing into the microphone.
His words echoed the sentiment of several conversations I had with him over the past years.
"I know dad... It's just that" I sniffed.
"I just need a few minutes..." It came out as a whisper. I feel Annie's grip on my arm trying to give me a look of reassurance.
"I don't want to have to call again, Lana. Don't do anything that would cause another incident. Understood?" He pauses waiting for my answer.
"Yes."
"I'm going to hang up now, I'm trusting you, Lana"
"Ok, dad." Even though I was glad this call was over, his words didn't inspire confidence.
****
The music has stopped, everybody is now silent and I can feel the stares of many familiar and unfamiliar faces, who are overall filthy rich and snobby.
"Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church," The priest says.
I can do this. I chose to do this. You can do this Lana.
"I repeat since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church" I didn't understand the need to reiterate until I realized he was referring to me more so than to Ian since he's been holding his hands out for mine.
I hadn't moved a bone yet.
Shit.
"Ian Walton, do you take Lana Houstan to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life?" The priest directs his monologue to Ian.
"I do," He tells him, his eyes piercing through mine. It was in that moment I realized Ian had the ability to stare at someone and put fear into their heart just with a look.
"Lana Houstan, do you take Ian Walton to be your husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?"
Do I? Fuck no.
"I do," I say steadily.
What have you done Lana?
We exchange rings and everybody else stands up and claps.
Don't worry we didn't kiss, I would never kiss Ian Walton. It's an oath I've taken many years ago.
I am now this man's lawfully wife, I am now under this man's control.
Not that I will allow him to take control of me which is why I initially accepted the proposal in the first place, instead of allowing Annie take it.
I just know things won't be the same anymore.
Here... Here my new life torture begins.
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