Meant To Be

Chapter 1.

No, I did not choose this life, non if it. I did not wanted this for me or my family, but the stupid decisions that my father made pulled me into this life of emptiness. I used to be happy, I had my mother, I had my friends, I had everything I ever wanted...all of it is gone. I had to trade it all just to keep them safe. No, I do not regret it but God knows I miss it.

I can still feel his presence right here. Right next to me. I can still smell his alltime favorite cologne. His collection of old books staring at me from the shelves that hang neatly from the wall. Now I only have memories of all the things I saw and heard inside this peculiar room. The desk were many contracts were signed. The bar in the corner were many glasses of whiskey were served, the chairs in front of me were many men sat and asked for favors...and indeed favors were granted.

He wanted me to learn everything about his business, and I refused more than one time because this is exactly what I did not want for me, to be a slave of this dark and lonely life.

It has only been eight months since he was murdered by the orders of his best friend, but my father Fred Andrews will never be forgotten by this town.

"So, as I was saying,...without a doubt I would consider this deal, I mean this could really work.If you are trying to get the family business to be once and for all complety legitimate, this is a step towards the right direction"

My dearest friend Jughead. The only one left. The only person I have right now. My advisor. The only one really aware of what is going on. Since I became the head of this family he has been with me helping me and guiding me thru all of it.There is no one else I can trust. Since Betty Cooper came into his life, he has become the happiest person alive. He mentions her only a hundred times everytime we talk like the brothers we consider our selves to be.

"Jug, you are seriously telling me to consider accepting this deal with the Lodges? You know Hiram cannot be trusted."

"Look at the bigger picture Archie. Hiram Lodge wants the protection and connections of the Andrews so he cannot be questioned everytime they illegally purchases real-estate. That is how he makes his money. He creates colonies and then sells them for much more. If you give him this, he will want more, but then again you can have more too. Little by little you can start getting rid of all those properties your dad stole while all eyes are on Hiram. "

"How long do you think it will take me to make this business completely legitimate"

"Five years tops"

Five years. Five long years untill I can get my life back.

"And how do I know he will not betray me and kill my mother or you? "

"Because.... there is a catch"

"What do you mean?"

" Veronica Lodge"

"Who?"

"Veronica Lodge is Hiram Lodge's daughter, marry her Archie"

Me? Get married?.Has he lost his damn mind.

" What? are you insane?"

"Hear me out"

"NO!"

"Andrews"

" Damn it Jones I said NO!"

How could he possibly ask that? Specially knowing my past? Knowing how hearbroken I might still be.

" Archie, I know this brings back memories, but what happend to you was in hight school, you are 28 years old, It has been 10 years"

" Yeah well, it still hurts like hell"

" look. I know that its not ideal, but that way you will have something that belongs to Hiram, therefore he will think twice before doing something against anybody you care about. Think about your mom.Veronica Lodge is your only guarantee that he will keep his word"

"And how the hell am I supposed to make this happend?, I have never met her"

" Hiram is a business man. He will offer money for your protection and connections, refuse and tell him you want to become part of his family. That you desire to marry his daughter"

"Damn it Jug what is this?, we are in 2018 for God's sake"

"Hiram Lodge is an Old School kind of man. His ambition will probably bring him closer to the idea. "

"Its not that easy Jughead, I mean we are talking about his daughter, I dont think I can manage to be sentimentally attached to someone".

" nobody is talking about love. You are both adults, its just an arrangement between two people Archie. "

If this miserable life has teached me something, is that usually Jughead Jones is never wrong.This might not be what I want but I need a guarantee that He will not harm any of the people I care about, specially my mother. How did it come to this?. This life has no way out, it only keeps dragging me deeper into the abyss.

"Fine. Set a meeting with Lodge and let me know when and were, oh and Jug"

"Yeah?"

" we are both 28 years old ...I dont think the hat goes with the suit"

" Its my mark Arch"

In a way I am glad to be left alone again. I have come to enjoy nobody's company over the last few months. Silence has become a close friend and whiskey is usually a good complement. The house is empty except for the girl that Jughead hired to do some chores around the house and by girl I mean middle age lady. He claims that this place looked like a garbagecan after my father died and maybe he had a point, that is why I agreed to hire some help.

Will I ever be happy again?. I doubt it, but what can I really do?, my father was not a bad man. He was smart and caring, but he cared to the point were he got himself in so much trouble that it was too late to get out.

"Mr. Andrews... You have a visitor"

" who is it?"

" is me"

The man who could bring a small smile to my face. The humble Mr. Pops.

"Its fine Carmen, thank you"

He genuinely came slowly and hugged me. He still smelled like burgers, probably just got out of the Diner.

" Pops, how are you?, what can I do for you?"

" Archie I am sorry to bother you so late"

"Nonsense, is everything ok?"

"Is my boy....he made a mistake and he is in a lot of trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"He stole a Tv from that big electronics store that is up the road, the camera caught him and they are pressing charges"

"Wow...im so sorry to hear that Pops."

" The reason I come to you Archie, is because your father is no longer with us but I know you are now head of the family and therefore you have all the political connections your father had. I need help Archie, I cannot see my boy behind bars"

"Pops, I am so sorry to hear that....I will talk to Sherrif Kelly and see what I can do. Consider it taken care of"

And just like that the man that was sitting across from me stood up and hugged me tight. I had just agreed to solve someone elses issue, not only that, I guaranteed it. So many times I have seen this happend inside this damn studio yet it is still shocking in some way.

As I pour myself another glass of whiskey and I untangle my tie, I realized I have become my father.