Our greatest weakness
lies in giving up.
The most certain way to
succeed is always to
try one more time.
-
Thomas A. Edison

______________________________

"Are you serious?" Cassy asked for the fifth time, causing me to roll my eyes.

I sit back on the couch, glaring at her. "Yes, yes and yes! My parents want to meet me for God knows what."

Let's ask God. Maybe he can tell you the secret.

Shut up!

"Do you think it's trouble?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. They usually only call me when they need me to attend a party or meeting and play the role of the perfect daughter." Cassy chuckles, shaking her head. She's been my friend for the past five years and she knows very well about my parents and my relationship with them.

It's approaching eight thirty, which incidentally is when I'm supposed to be at Hartfield for a mandatory meeting. I know nothing about the meeting or the reason for my mandatory presence in this meeting. I haven't set foot in that building since I graduated. They hated me once and now they're filled with guilt and sympathy, both of which I don't want from anyone, especially not them. Though I don't like meeting them, I religiously attend all the meetings out of respect for my grandmother, Ms. Caroline Hart who passed away when I was ten. My only family who ever loved and cherished me. 

Considering Hartfield is a good thirty-minute cab ride away with the rush-hour traffic, I'm already going to be half an hour late, and that's if I get off of the couch and into my car. Based on the way my head feels, it's going to take me a while to get moving. I groan when my phone rings again. This is the one and only time I'm going to grace the brainless drones at Hartfield with my presence. I don't get why I can't be a silent partner. I'd sell my shares if it meant getting away from my useless, bag-of-dicks family but unfortunately that's not possible. Most of the company's shares are in my name as it was written so in my grandmother's will.

I'm hoping we can get through whatever paperwork is necessary quickly, so I can get back to work. I have a hell lot of work to do today. I grabbed my phone and walked out of my office building with Cassy following me, complaining the whole time about my parents.

It's nine o'clock by the time I get in the car. We sit in traffic for what I predicted to be a half hour, and the entire time my phone rings. But I don't answer. I'm late. The world isn't going to end. I put my phone on silent and closed my eyes. I spent the rest of the trip half asleep. After a journey of half an hour, the car stops. I sigh as I step out of the car.

The security guard takes a cautious step forward. "I'll need to see some identification, ma'am." He's older, probably in his seventies, well past retirement. His name tag reads Rob.

Is that robbery rob?

Shut the hell up.

I wonder how many years he's wasted here, doing this thankless job in the pit of my family's personal merry-go-round of hell.

"What?"

"Your identification, ma'am." He looks me up and down, as if I don't belong here. Which I don't. 

"Hi there," Cassy interrupts with a smile. "She's Allison Hart, daughter of Samuel Hart and Helen Hart. I'm Cassandra Wilson, nice to meet you," she said, holding her hand for him to shake.

Rob looks a bit taken back with the information provided by Cassy. He hesitantly shakes her hand. "I'll get your pass, Ms. Hart."

"It's just Allison, and thanks." A pass magically appeared, and Rob pressed the button because clearly I'm incapable of managing simple tasks, either that or he's treating me like this because he believes it's necessary to keep his job. 

The elevator arrives, Cassy and I get in, staring at the buttons, not sure where exactly the seventh circle of hell is today. Thankfully Rob reaches inside, presses the button for the twenty-seventh floor, gives me a somber nod, and steps out of the elevator. The twenty-seventh floor of Hartfield is a boring, sterile office space. We pass glass-walled offices with pristine desks on our way to the conference room. I wonder if working here feels a lot like an upscale version of prison. I spotted my father's hair and tailored suit. He's pacing while my mother stands with her arms crossed over her chest about ten feet away from him, gesturing stiffly.

Axel George Hart, my father spins around, throwing his hands in the air and says, "It's about time! Where have you been?" I ignore them as I settle myself on one of the couches and Cassy follows my action.

"Good morning, Mrs. Hart."

"It's mother Allison, not Mrs. Hart. You know I don't like it," she hissed. This is definitely not an unexpected piece of information as I heard it several times.

"The fact that you don't like it isn't my problem so I'll call you 'Mrs. Hart'. I didn't call you 'asshole', or 'dick!'"

"Allison Rose Hart! Mind your language. This isn't the way you talk to your mother, young lady." She shakes her head at me before sitting on the couch opposite to me. "Enough of this talk!" Mom snapped. "Let's talk about the reason you're here."

"Yes," Dad agrees, sitting beside Mom. I could easily say that whatever they want to say is Mom's opinion. I can see the hesitation on my dad's face, just like always.

"So, what is it that you want to talk about?"

******

Three hours later, I sat on a couch in Adam's house wearing my cowboy hat and gritting my teeth.

Shock.

Loss.

Disbelief.

It all roiled through me in dizzying waves. I tried to process what had happened. But it was impossible. It was as if a thunderstorm hit me. Hard!

Don't overreact.

Shut up bloody inner mind.

Nooooooo...

Phoenix, Adam's wife pats my arm in order to console me. Cassy is sitting beside me, trying her best to control her laughter but I don't think that's working.

"So, are you going to do it?" Adam asked, giving me a concerned look.

I nod my head. "I don't know. This is the only way to get Ashley's custody. My parents promised to give me custody the second I marry their best friend's son."

Ashley is sixteen years old and stays with my parents. I tried all the ways I could to get her out of that hell but all my attempts were in vain because she's underaged and my parents are considered more appropriate to handle her than her elder sister. Bullshit, if you ask me.

She wants to come and stay with me and there's not even a day without her asking me to help her. I don't know what to do. They don't abuse her or anything but they're not there for her when she needs them. Just like they weren't there for me.

'I want you to marry my friend's son. It's good for business.'

The words ring in my ears. How dare they ask that off me?

Blackmailing parents?

They're whitemailing me here.

You are not seriously thinking about getting married, are you? I heard a little voice scream from the back of my head.

Forget it, Allison!

Exactly, I won't get married.

Definitely not.

Everything will be fine.

Everything, but...

What if I get married?

No...

Anyway, running away from problems isn't really my thing and of course the problems are waiting for me to strangle them both to death.

Don't worry probs, I'm going to do it very soon.

"You can always say no," Phoenix reminds me.

I shake my head. "Ashley needs me. If getting married to some guy can help me give her a better life then that's what matters. They assured me that after this marriage they'll be out of our lives. I just.."

Cassy grins. "C'mon girl. It's just a marriage, just for six months then we can apply for a divorce. It's not like you have a boyfriend. You don't even plan to get married ever so what's the problem."

She has a point. I don't plan to get married. Ever. So there's nothing wrong in staying with a guy for six months if that can give me Ashley's life. I know I can just ignore this and go back to my life. After two years Ashley can get out of there but I want it to be earlier and this is the only way.

"Who's the guy?" Ben asks, frowning.

"Daniel Avery! Hot and Handsome. Greatest business man of this decade, no history of girlfriends, he's rarely seen with girls," Cassy tells them, winking at me.

"Gay?" Phoenix asks. I chuckle hearing her.

"No idea but I'm sure it'll be such a shame if he is gay. No girl will miss out on the chance to be with him."

I roll my eyes. "I'm ready to miss out the chance." "Every girl except you," Cassy drawls. "Look at the irony. She doesn't want him but she's the one who gets him."

Ben chuckles. "When are you meeting him?"

"Tomorrow, everything is fast."

"You're lucky."

I agree...

Noooooo....

******

Hey guys!

My exams are done so I'm free for another two months. I will try to update the next chapter soon along with my other books.

Take care everyone

Allison ;)