Bella's Pov
I could only sit in silence as I stared out the window in the back seat. Of course my father would make me sit in the back even though this car was most likely bought with my money. If not my money than the money my mother put in their join account. So technically it was still my money no matter how you looked at it."I was actually worried you couldn't make it." My father sighed breaking the silence that I was enjoying. "As soon as my father heard you needed a new dress for Bella he rushed to the opportunity to help out." Lucas said with his deep voice that should not have caused butterflies to make me feel funny. I grabbed ahold of the sheer fabric willing my mouth to stay shut. I looked down at the black ball gown I was now wearing and signed internally. It was perfect and I hated them for this. They most likely knew I would love it and that’s why they chose it. "So how are you getting along at the company with Theodore?" My father asked completely changing the subject and making this car ride even more dreadful. He never shied away from talking about my company. "Honestly I could do without him." Lucas stated. My chest tightened and I grabbed ahold of even more of the fabric. The silk that was under the sheer fabric was the softest material I had ever felt before. It made me question if my dresses were actually real or knock offs. "Soon you'll be taking over and you won't have to worry about him." My father stated nonchalantly. I gnashed my teeth and slowly started to count to 20. “1, 2, 3.” "I've actually been paying attention to performance reports and I've noticed that Theodore is failing to let go of some of the long term employees even though there are more qualified candidates." Lucas stated with hint of annoyance. "Theodore is not fit to be the CEO." My father stated like he knew anything about running a business. He was not the CEO and he would never become the CEO. "I know. My fathers actually been recruiting qualified college candidates that are at the top of their classes in computer science and marketing." Lucas stated nonchalantly. "Computer science and marketing?" My father asked lowly. "Yes. I was thinking that we could rent out the energy devices at a daily and monthly rate." Lucas stated confidently. "Rent them out?" My father asked seeming just as surprised as me. Why would we rent them out when they were paid for in full. Not to mention that people had to pay for the maintenance and updates when needed. "I have a few people on my team that have been tweaking at the device and they found a way to make it like an energy beacon that can push out energy without it having to be plugged in. If we made appliances and electrics connect to them than we could take away the wires all together. We would make billions." Lucas stated like we already didn't make billions. I stiffened at his words though. My grandfather became the richest person in the world because he found a way to create clean energy without needing a power source. The device he created took away the need for a power plant and all you had to do was have it installed to your house and it would collect energy from the sun or the humidity depending on where you lived.My mother had told me that multiple people tried to convince him to make it wireless but in order to make it wireless it would need more energy which would result in it affecting the weather. So he went against it and since it was his patent nobody could copy him without being put in jail. So we had nothing to worry about, until now that is. "People would love that." My father stated enthusiastically. “You can't do that." I blurted out before I could stop myself. My father and Lucas both turned their attention towards me. I could see through the rear view mirror the way my fathers brows slightly pinched together due to annoyance. "Sweetheart what did I tell you about interrupting me while I'm talking business?" My father asked slow and deliberately. I ignored his blatant warning because I would not allow them to mess with my company. "The device is mine. My grandfather gave it to me and nobody can alter it without my permission, not even the current CEO." I stated confidently. I knew my mother told me I needed to keep quiet until I married the guy she set up for me but how could I? I couldn’t allow them to have any type of hope. I needed to squash it before it grew. "Once we get married." Lucas started but I was quick to stop him before he wasted his time. "Even if we do get married, that will change nothing. I am the only one that can legally change the device and I won't allow it. Ever." I stated smugly. I couldn't stop the smile that left my lips. They didn't have the power that they thought they did over me. My father was staring at me through the mirror like he was trying to figure out if I was lying or not. "Ask Theodore or one of your lawyers if you like." I added not caring that I was poking the sleeping bear. "I take it your mother taught you this." My father asked lowly. "I don't recall. She could've been the one, I'm not sure." I stated with a slight shrug of my shoulders. We both knew it was my mother but I didn’t have to entertain him, even if he was my father. "You know maybe we shouldn't get married." Lucas stated with what sounded like suppressed rage. I paused before a smile formed. "If you don't want to than I don't mind. I'll marry someone else off the list." I stated nonchalantly. I would love to marry the person my mother intended for me to marry. "Sweetheart you don't mean that. Lucas was trained to run the company." My father stated with annoyance. "He wasn't the only one." I mumbled a little louder than I planned to. I stiffened as I watched a small smirk form on his lips. The way he kept staring at me through the rear view mirror had me squirming. "We chose Lucas and that's who you're going to marry. Nobody else on the list is qualified." My father stated with a tone that told me I should drop this while conversation.I tried to keep my mouth shut but the small smirk that formed on my fathers lips took away all my resolve. I couldn’t even stop myself from blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "My mother didn't chose him. She chose someone else and her choice vetos yours." "Where is your mother at so she can tell me who she chose?" My father inquired with a raised eyebrow. "I, I don't know but she told me and that all that matters." I rushed out as a blush formed. I couldn’t help but feel flustered. My father sighed as he shook his head. "Sweetheart just because you don't like Lucas doesn't mean that you can try to chose another name off the list. It doesn't work that way." My father stated with faux softness. "I, I didn't chose the name. My mom did." I stated with a little desperation laced in my voice. I knew what he was trying to do and I felt powerless to stop him. "Than who did she chose and did she let Theodore know?" My father asked with a raised eye brow. I couldn't tell him who she chose. I didn't need him to try to form a deal with them so that they would turn on me. I mean my mom trusted them but it was hard for me to say. "Hello, hey. I was wondering if Bethany told you about anyone else that Bella might be qualified to marry." My father inquired as he spoke into the phone. My chest tightened as I glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "No, Lucas is the only one that I was told about? Why?" Theodore asked through the speaker. "Bella just doesn't want to marry Lucas and I wanted to see if there were any other candidates." My father stated as he looked at me with a pointed gaze. "Oo I see. Well tell her that Lucas isn't bad. She just has to give him a chance." Theodore stated warm heartedly. My eyes welled with tears as I realized that my mother left me with nothing because everything she told me was now useless without her here. Nobody would believe anything I said and my father would make sure of it. "Okay well we'll see you soon. Bye." My father mumbled before he was hanging up the phone. He thought he won but he was wrong. "I won't marry anyone than." I declared as I turned towards the window. Either my mother returned or the company would hit a stand still once my uncle retired.Bella's Pov "We are here." My father stated after driving for a long time. My brows furrowed as I looked around. All I seen was what looked to be an abandoned hospital. The engagement party couldn't be here right? The building looked like it would fall apart at any second. It looked like it was haunted with its boarded up windows and bricks that looked like they would fall at any second. It looked like someone had went to knock it down but got a call right as the recking ball knocked into it. "Where are we?" I asked in disbelief as both my father and Lucas climbed out of the car. They couldn’t seriously believe that an engagement party would be perfect here? I grabbed the car door handle and tried to push it open but it didn’t budge. I looked down and pulled it towards me and pushed it again. My brows narrowed as the child proof lock prevented me from opening up the doors. I quickly tapped on the window like a caged animal earning a small smirk from Lucas. "Open the door.
Bella's Pov "Remember to smile." Lucas stated lowly as we walked into the dimly light ball room. "How can I forget." I dead panned through my forced smile that I knew didn’t look every convincing. He looked at me and narrowed his eyes as he stared at my face. "That doesn't look like a smile. It looks like you are in pain." He dead panned. "It's hard to smile sincerely when my fiancé and father have threatened me and kidnapped my mother." I spit out through gritted teeth. I was not an actress nor was I a masochist. I would most likely be locked away in my room forever after this because all I felt towards Lucas and my father was disgust, they were repulsive and I couldn't pretend. I refused to marry him no matter how good looking he was. "Fair enough." He mumbled as he pulled me by my waist. His grip was tight, I didn’t even have to try to walk away to know that I wouldn’t be going anywhere unless he gave me permission or I caused a scene. In normal circumstances I would have
Bella's Pov "You." I started to say but was stopped short as I was guided towards the group of girls that were chatting away. Lucas seemed unbothered that he had to drag me by the shoulders due to my unwillingness. “What are you doing.” I demanded through clenched teeth right as we got in front of the group of girls. The girl with a green dress and orange crinkly hair paused what she was saying and turned towards us. A small smile formed as she looked at Lucas and than me.“What brings the two of you over here?” She asked sounding more pleased than curious. I could see the sparkle in her eyes as she stared at us. It was almost the equivalent to a child who was just given a huge bowl of ice cream. "Hello ladies I wanted to introduce you to my beautiful fiancée bella." Lucas stated with confidence that I didn’t have. I would’ve rather been anywhere else but here right now and we both knew it. "Hello Bella. It's nice to finally meet you." The girl with the orange said as she star
Bella's Pov (present time) I paled as the memory that I had forgotten about all them years ago clouded my mind. How had I forgotten that I had told my uncle everything that my mother had taught me? I had thought that the argument with my father was what caused my mother to disappear but now I had realized that my father always knew. My uncle had most likely told him right away. He didn't want me to run the company. He wanted me to grow up living a care free life not learning to run a business. It made no sense. My father allowed my mother to teach me everything I needed to know about the company. Why? Why did he not act when I was younger? Did he think that I would end up hating her? Did he think that I would never want to run the company? That had to be the reason. He thought that I would want to live a different life style. Unfortunately for him he was wrong. My mother was able to finally convince me that I was meant to be in power. I was the true heiress of the company an
Bella's PovI felt like I needed air. Lucas was relentless and all I could do is gasp every time he released my lips for a second. He leaned more into me and pushed me onto the marble floor. The coldness helped wake me up a little but not enough to be able to fight his lips that were quick to take ahold of mine again. His right hand went to leg and rubbed up it causing the fabric to scrunch up. A click sounded followed by a flash that was blinding. Multiple clicks and flashes had me closing my eyes. Lucas didn't seem to mind but I did. I tried to turn to see what was causing the bright light but was stopped by Lucas turning my head the other way and latching down on my neck with his lips. "Wait." I cried as I tried to gather my bearings. Dozens of clicks sounded as Lucas sucks down hard. "Lucas we, I, stop." I cried. I thought he would keep going but to my relief he gently released my neck and pulled back. I blinked a little as I slowly got onto my elbows. Another click and
Bella's Pov "Sweet heart do you feel any better?" My father asked as I sat down at the dining room table.” It would be a lie if I said that I felt better because I felt like I was dying and I hated it. My legs were still sore and my neck had a purple bruise on it that now stung because I had tried to scrub it off. I had no memory of the night before and it took all day just to finally get rid of my migraine. I only had it in me to give a forced smile as I grabbed the silver spoon next to my bowl of soup. I didn't have the energy to speak nor did I want to. I didn’t even want to come downstairs. If it wasn’t for me needing to eat I would’ve stayed locked away in my room. I grabbed a little bit of the steaming hot broth and brought it to my lips. The chicken seemed to be lightly seasoned and gave a little relieve to my throat that was still sore. "So tomorrow we are going to be having a press conference. I'll need you to wake up early." My father stated nonchalantly. My brows
Bella's Pov "Why do I need a microphone?" I asked with my now raspy voice. A good nights rest did not help cure my sore throat nor did all the soup I was given. It only got worse and I had my uncle to blame for this. "It's just standard procedure." My fathers assistant said as she pushed the wires down my dress. I narrowed my eyes because I didn't believe that my father would put a microphone on me unless he planned on forcing me to talk. "Mr. Connery will be doing all the talking. You have nothing to worry about." She stated with what I could only assume was a lie. I pressed my lips together as I stood perfectly still. My father was most likely hoping that I wouldn't be prepared. Fortunately he would be highly disappointed because I was born prepared. My mother had raised me to be in situations like this, so I wasn’t worried. His assistant smoothed down my white floral dress and spun me around. I narrowed my eyes at her instantly. "Enough." I snapped when she started
Bella's Pov 45 minutes into the press conference and we were no closer to being done than we were when we first got here. I assumed it would take no more than a half hour but with how Lucas's answers were dragging on it didn't seem like we would be leaving any time soon. I looked at the flower I had drawn and cursed internally. For 45 minutes Lucas talked about the stock market and what his plans were to help it flourish. I understood nothing that he was talking about and I probably could thank my mother for that. She had told me that I would have people to help when it involved the stock market. That my only concern was the company and that seemed to be a lie. Had I known the truth I would’ve paid more attention when she had turned on the stock news. After half heartedly listening to lucas go on for 45 minutes about the stock market, I realized that the stock market had a lot to do with our company. It seemed like I would have to worry about the stock market just as much