THE ENGAGEMENT.

THE DECISION.

(Hey loves, hope you are all well. After this chapter, it's going to take a while before I update because am busy with school, tons of assignments with deadlines coming up so fast. Please don't forget to vote and comment.)

ROMAN...

Was I dreaming or having an illusion. My father just didn't say that to me.

Slumped, I fell back in to my seat. I didn't just spend an hour on the road to get such news. What was going on right now?

"Nelson, tell me you disagree with this?" I looked him directly in his eyes hoping to intimidate him. He was like a father to me. He had been with me all my life, protecting me, listening to my issues and giving me fatherly guidance. There was no way he would agree with this narcissistic idea.

"I am sorry, son." he responded and with that I stormed out of my fathers office hitting the door behind me. I was fuming with furry.

I rushed to my car. I needed to leave this place. I phoned my friend, Carter letting him know I was coming over. I started my car and when it didn't start immediately, I hit the steering wheel several times. I started it again and this time it accepted. I drove off in a hurry out of my father's mansion.

My sight became blurry and tears filled my eyes as my father's words rang in my mind.

"It's the only way out son. The future of this company comes first. You have to marry her to save this company."

My father was willing to jeopardize my happiness for the sake of the family business. I knew he would go all lengths to do anything that benefited the company but I never once thought that my happiness was in the list as well.

I finally arrived at Carter's apartment after a tormenting forty five minutes of driving. He was my homie, he knew me in and out. All my worst deeds, he knew. We met during freshman orientation. He was the only person kind enough to talk to me on the first day of class as everyone stayed to themselves not talking to one another. Oh how awkward first day of class was during freshman year.

I walked in to his apartment building, took the elevator to the twelfth floor where his apartment was. Who decides to live that high? I always had a notion that apartments that high didn't serve the home feels. They made me feel as if I was living in a hotel. But who was I to judge my best friend, our differences brought us together.

I knew the passcode to his apartment so I just punched in the digits and walked in. Carter had told me he was still at work but would find me at his place. I headed to the bar, grabbed a glass off the shelve and filled it with scotch.

As soon as I made a fourth re fill, Carter walked in. About time, I thought to myself. I badly needed someone sensible to talk to.

"Hey man," he cordially spoke placing his laptop bag on the couch and joining me at the bar. "What is going on? You sounded so upset on the phone,"

I narrated to him the whole situation with the fate of our family business and my father's 'brilliant' idea. He sat in silence clearly not knowing what to say.

"You don't have to say anything," I tried to save him the burden of coming up with comforting words.

"Dude, yes this is too much but I am your best friend. I have the obligation to say so much right now. First, I need a drink" and he grabbed a class too and filled it with whisky. After galloping it all down his throat, he wiped his mouth and spoke. "First things first, you have a girlfriend or did your dad forget that. I truly understand the situation but there are other better solutions to this. Did you try to reason with him?"

"I did man and he completely disregarded the fact that I have a girlfriend saying I should do this for my mum,"

"Would your mum want you to jeopardize your happiness for the family business,"

"No she wouldn't but that doesn't mean I shouldn't go the extra mile for her,"

"What are you going to tell Olivia?"

"Maybe I should step down from the company as C.E.O and that way my dad wouldn't have anything on me,"

"You know you can't do that. Your the Jones' family heir,"

At this point, I wished I had a completely different family name.

"Man, I was going to propose to Olivia as soon as she was back from Vietnam," and I placed my face in my hands in frustration.

"That is major, dude," he replied looking at me full of remorse. "Wait a minute, you didn't tell me she is in Vietnam,"

"No, she ain't there yet. She is leaving this Saturday. The conference is for a week... but because my last name is Jones I can't go through with the proposal anymore," and I hit the glass in my hands on the counter top breaking it into complete pieces.

"I am so sorry," I apologized to Carter for the mess I had made in his apartment.

"At this point, you have nothing to be sorry for. You are entitled to anger and you can express it in anyway you want to. You're actually dealing with this shit so well cause if it were me I would have gone bizarre,"

The rest of the night, we drank our asses off. Played loud music and I cried sporadically. I knew the rumor about men being strong enough not to shed tears but the hurt and pain I felt at this moment was just too much to contain. I loved Olivia, she was the love of my life but I loved my mother even more and wouldn't want to see her life's work go to waste. She had made me promise to continue her legacy at all costs. I owed it to her to do anything necessary for our family.