KAREN
"If anyone asks why you passed out, say it's because of the food. Don't embarrass me." Jason says coldly as he leads me into the five star restaurant which is possibly owned by his family.
And by anyone he means reporters.
I'm not going to hear the end of this for a very long time. He'll keep letting me know that I embarrassed him by passing out on the night he decided to pity me and propose finally.
I turn my head to the side and roll my eyes.
Like I even wanted him to propose.
I don't want to marry Jason and I have to find a way to call off the engagement.
It wasn't part of the arrangement.
The huge chandeliers twinkle beautifully as we walk into the lobby, immediately a man dressed in a crisply ironed black suit walks quickly towards us with hands outstretched and a big smile plastered on his face.
"Mr Daniels!" He said quite brightly with a bow.
Yup.
They own this restaurant.
"The soon to be Mrs Daniels," He bows and smiles at me.
I almost want to correct him that I didn't get any proposal but I swallow my words.
I don't want to upset Jason in public.
"How can I be of service?" The man asked humbly.
"I made a reservation last week for the VIP booth."
Jason told him with a smile that's meant for the public alone.
Always putting up a show, I'm sick of it.
Henley isn't the type to pretend like his brother and the rest of his hypocritical family.
It's no wonder I am attracted to him.
"Right this way please," The man turned and led us to the elevator which required a special password that will be granted to anyone who can afford to pay for the VIP booth.
We don't say anything to each other as the elevator climbs up swiftly.
There's nothing to say.
I wonder how this man is able to keep his smile plastered on his face, it's beginning to get creepy.
"Thank you for patronizing us," He stepped to the side to let us pass as soon as the doors slid open.
Like he's not being paid.
I'm tired of dealing with all these pretenders.
I shake my head as we walk in the direction of his mother who is already seated with two other people whose profiles I have seen all my life.
My parents.
"Karen darling!" My mother calls out as soon as she sees us coming. Immediately I forget Jason is beside me and run to her leaving him to walk to the table alone while my mom and I meet in a warm hug midway.
"I missed you, when did you get back?" I laughed happily.
"We flew in late last night as soon as we heard the news." Mom said as she led me to the table.
"What news?" I ask, perplexed.
"My future daughter," Mrs Daniels called fondly. A fondness that I know is forced.
I smile anyway and go to hug her before getting enveloped in a bear hug from my Father.
"How's my princess doing?" He asked gruffly in my ear.
I wish I could tell him the truth.
I look up at his homely, adorable face and give him a wide smile.
"I'm so happy to see you too."
"That's my girl."
I catch Jason staring at us, his expression unreadable. I end the hug and go to sit by his side.
"Aw, you two look so good together," My mom says with stars in her eyes. I really want to tell her that these people aren't worth the respect they get from her and my father.
Jason takes my palm in his and gives her his best smile.
"I can't wait to be family," Immediately he says that my mother gasped in happiness.
She must have practiced it before today.
They all laughed happily.
It's fake.
I struggle to keep my frown away for peace to reign.
"Karen my love," Mrs Daniels coos softly.
"How are you feeling after what happened last night?"
I hurriedly swallow the lump of food in my throat.
"I'm perfectly fine, the doctor confirmed it."
I assure everyone at the table as my parents were beginning to question me with their eyes.
Quite uncomfortable.
"The shock must have been too great," Mother told Mrs Daniels with a nervous laugh.
"It's not everyday one gets engaged to the most handsome man in the world," Mrs Daniels looked fondly at Jason and they all laughed.
Gosh! Can everyone stop laughing and really listen to me for a minute?!
Has anyone asked me how he actually proposed?
Because he didn't fucking propose!
I let the knife and fork drop to the plate with a clutter. I try to calm myself down and not do anything drastic as I feel the primal urge to escape rise up so fast I fear I might pass out again.
"I'm sorry," I offer a smile to the peering eyes staring at me questioningly.
"Mom, I need your help in the ladies room," I whisper to my mother and as expected she gets up and leads me away, her palm splayed across my lower back as she holds my arm softly.
"What's wrong my darling? Do you feel dizzy again?" Worry is written boldly on her face.
"No, no Mom."
"Then whatever is the matter?" She asks, confused.
"I don't want to get married."
I wait for her response but none comes and so I carry on.
"This engagement, it's not real. Jason didn't propose to me and it's fine by me because I don't want to marry him and so I am going to call it off and end things with him. Will you help me talk to Dad?"
I take her hands in mine pleading with her to help me.
"What do you mean?" All traces of that happiness disappeared totally from her eyes.
"I.." I stare at her confused.
"You what? You want to ruin us just because you want to run around with other men? Is that what this is?"
I would have sworn my heart stopped beating for a moment.
I can't believe what I am hearing.
My mouth falls open in shock.
"No that's not-" I begin.
"You said it's not a real proposal, don't you think it's your duty to make it a real one for your family at least because it seems you haven't been doing your duty enough."
"Getting married to him wasn't part of the arrangement we had, Mom." I am struggling not to shout at the top of my voice.
How can she say that to me?
It's my duty to do what?
"Well now it is. Don't you see it's a good thing he announced your engagement out of the blue? It means he wants to be part of our family and that means well for our family."
She caresses my cheek with her index finger.
Tears began to sting the back of my eyes as I stared into her eyes searching for understanding, I found nothing.
"No, no. I'm not going to marry him, mother." I shake my head.
She frowns.
"You must and you will. I'll make sure your Father hears of this."
"Clean up your face, there are people watching." She turns around and leaves without sparing me a glance.
I look down at the short, flowery lunch gown I have on and I really want to tear it to shreds. I'll get pleasure from it I'm sure.
"Family? I should do it for my family?"
What else have I been doing this whole fucking time?
"I endure insults and abuse all because of my family and she said I'm not doing enough," I said to my reflection as my voice cracked on the last word.
A sob escapes and I double over holding it in.
I'll cry to my heart's content when I get home.
I'm disappointed.
If they refuse to acknowledge all that I do for them, for my family. All I sacrificed just so my family can get to the top and yet no one seems to consider my feelings.
I take in shaky breaths and sniff loudly.
"It's no use crying." I say out loud as I wipe the tears from my face.
"It won't solve anything," I dab delicately at the corners of my eyes to remove any trace of tears.
It's time to take charge of my life and if there's anything the Daniels family has taught me, it's how to pretend and that's exactly what I am going to do.
I am done putting my family first, they don't deserve that position in my life anymore.
It's time to put myself first.
I turn my head to the left and to the right and nod in approval. I'll still have that cry when I get home tonight but before that, I have to get through this boring lunch.
I plaster a smile on my face as I walk out of the ladies room.
JASONWhere the fuck is she? My eyes scan the restaurant for any sign of her, and yet nothing. Her mother catches me staring and offers a reassuring smile with a pat on the hand. "She's having pre-wedding jitters and it's affecting her bowels. She should be out soon." Mrs Beth says to me. Like I give a fuck if she's taking a shit. I give her my winning smile and nod my head. I just hope she's not out there granting an interview to some nosy reporter about how she never got a proper proposal from me. She doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. Can anyone be more ungrateful?Her parents jumped at the idea with both feet without a thought when I made my intentions known and she's demanding a proper proposal. For what?She's not even my type. She's too skinny for me and I am doing her a huge favour by choosing to marry her – and her entire family too –Yet she dares question me in the eyes of the public. God! I hate her right now. I stare up ahead ready to storm into the ladi
KAREN"Take me home, please," I settle in with a sigh of relief. What a day!I unbuckle my silver strapped heeled sandals and slip my feet out of them with a quiet moan of relief. One of the worst days yet. A day filled with nothing but pretense and disappointment. ..but what's done is done..I now know where I stand in my family. I'm the one who's life has to be sacrificed for a family that has no sympathy whatsoever. A waste of time and effort. Now I know what all those years of intense grooming really were for. I wasn't groomed to be the perfect wife for Mr Right, I was groomed to fit in front of the cameras. To keep up pretense. Ever since I was born, I have done everything for them and what do I get in return?Nothing.Responsibility. Duty. Loyalty.All an excuse to hide their selfish intentions. When do I get to do something I really want to do?At this rate if I keep sucking it up to them, it'll be never. That'd mean giving up my entire life all for nothing. No can
HENLEYMeetings back to back, it can be tiring. I don't know which is more tiring.Online meetings or physical meetings. My eyebrows rise and fall in a quick move, my eyes feeling like lead. Both type of meetings are tiring, that's for sure. Especially when you have to attend several in a day on two hours of sleep. I really do need to sleep properly.But I have to keep it up until I achieve my goal.Defeating my brother and Mother in the business world. Mostly mother because, come on, she basically runs the company through her puppets Jason and Father.Mother would prefer I kiss Jason's ass and lick his balls at his beck and call. No can do. Not after she's told me several times that I am a nobody. Well, I'm someone now mother, how about that?It's not a usual thing for one's mother to hate her child but that's what fate cursed me with. I feel nothing for her.I heave a sigh. Their surprise when they found out I carved a path for myself outside of MERC still remains a strong m
KAREN It's been exactly one week since Jason's proposal without a word from him since lunch. So much for happily ever after. If he thinks I'm going to cower while he lords his half hearted proposal over me then he needs a rethink. If my family is so poor and getting married to me won't benefit MERC, why did he agree to marry me? What's in it for him in all of this? What deal did my parents make? I don't want to imagine things but my parents wouldn't even talk to me especially since the confrontation with my mother. Father's heard of it by now already. At least they know what my intentions are now and if they think I'll be the obedient daughter this time then they're in for a surprise. Which is why I agreed to go out with Henley, especially after that kiss we shared. At least he's not boring like his brother. I suck on the straw attached to the juice carton I am holding in my hand as the sweetness of the fruit juice slides over my tongue. I'm going to have to be discr
EIGHT YEARS AGO…: MERC PUBLISHING FIRMHENLEYI don't really know how to feel about this. Jason has always been one proud prick but I really do need the support I can get from him.At this point, I am in dire need of support. Someone to believe in me and back me up.I could use a confidence boost."Why would you even think of running a publishing firm?"Mother had demanded. Apparently not liking the idea of me running a company similar to the family's business.Well, Mother never likes any of m
HENLEY "What? What do you mean you can explain?" I stuttered. Mr Daniels Snr heaved a sigh from his end and took a very deep breath. "I promise to explain everything to you when you come over. This is not a conversation that can be discussed over the phone. Please, son, hear me out." He pleaded. I shake my head repeatedly, still in denial even though it's beginning to make sense to me. "It means it's true, right?" Mr Daniels Snr said nothing to that. "It means that woman speaks the truth," I say strongly, a faint echo of the British accent that normally slips out without notice especially when I'm stressed. I am pretty much stressed right now. "Henley, just come over. I'll be waiting," the call goes dead. My phone drops to the table with a clatter as I groan in frustration and bury my head in my hands. "No, no, no, " I say over and over. I have two options, stay here and wallow in denial and ignorance or get out there, face the press that have no doubt assembled at
KAREN"Drugs, Karen,"Henley's voice echoed in my head as I stared blankly at my computer screen. Apparently I still haven't digested the news properly. How could I?I see no reason why Jason would want to destroy my family and all we have worked for. I just don't get it. None of it makes any sense. I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand which is finding out for myself if Henley is right. I don't want to believe him, even though a small but significant part of me believes everything he told me. Why would Henley lie against his brother? To paint a bad image of him, maybe?Jason's image is rotten where I'm concerned. Henley is not the kind of man who back bites and certainly not the type to spread rumors about his rival just to get the girl. No, he's not that type of person. There's a stiff muscle in my neck and shoulder that makes itself known as I type in a search word. Turning my head this way and that, I wait for search results. As expected, nothing unusual pops up
JASON"I'm calling off the engagement.."Karen's words echoed as I stared hard at the blank phone screen. I couldn't have heard her correctly, I heard wrong. Right?I'd only be deluding myself if I actually believed that bullshit. "What the fuck?!" I roared suddenly, sending books and files flying in the air, my breaths coming out in short pants. "What has gotten into this woman?" I wonder out loud. Why can't she be the fucking submissive her parents painted her to be. "She's very understanding, the perfect woman for the perfect man," I said out loud, echoing the words spoken by her mother who wholeheartedly assured me that there wouldn't be a problem at all. "You all fucking lied to me," I swear, picking up my phone once more. She'd better be joking because I'm not going to take it lightly with her. I click on her contact, automatically placing a call to her number. It rings and rings and rings, no answer. She doesn't pick up my call and a tiny trickle of dread and fear sli