Hello. I'm Hephzibah and you can also call me Joy. What's your name?

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Word count: 3162

Angela's POV
*

It was a Thursday evening and I'd just been called to come home for dinner. Mom had called since yesterday morning about the dinner and she'd said an important announcement would be made, so I shouldn't miss it.

And whenever my mom sounded that way, ninety percent of the time, it was usually truly an important one indeed.

So tell me why I came home, worried to death that my dad was sick or that something really bad had happened at the company, only to come home to meet my parents and older brother discussing my supposed 'arranged marriage?'

"What did you say, Stephano? Mom what is he talking about?" I whispered slowly, my eyes already narrowing into slits at their glum expressions. "He's joking, right?" I giggled nervously but no one laughed.

Then my laughter died down, dread sinking into my stomach with a hint of angst and irritation.

Because Stephano never joked. He was like that. He was always serious that I sometimes wondered how Kara, his wife was keeping up with his naturally bleak personality.

My eyes moved from one person to another. We were in my parent's sitting room and while they were sat on two different couches, I sat on my favorite rocking chair.

My gaze settled on Diego again as several thoughts ran inside my head by the minute.

It felt as if I hadn't heard him right. The three of them had their eyes on me. My dad's gaze was impassive. My mom's eyes had a bit of worry in them while Stephano's jaws were set tight. But as usual, his eyes which were the windows to the emotion and your soul, were blank.

I couldn't read anything from his expression.

Why did this have to be happening to me right now?

Why couldn't I just be happy for once, without my older brothers ruining it with their overprotective nature or my father having to chug some incomprehensive rules down my throat?!

The screeching of my grandpa chair resonated around the room as I got up and pushed it behind me with force. I used to love rocking myself on that chair but I really didn't care anymore. My hands were shaking but I ignored the tremor.

"What did you just say, dad?" I shouted.

He was still looking wary but as he eyed my pissed off form, his expression slipped into neutral. "You're getting engaged soon."

My face morphed into irritation.

"What do you mean I am getting engaged soon? That can't happen!"

"And why not?"

"Why not? 'Why not' you say, dad?! Well, I'm not ready to be tied down by anyone. I'm too young for all this relationship drama and you can't force me into any stupid marriage!"

"Angela!" My mom snapped. Then her eyes softened. "Please listen to your dad. He wants the best for you."

I scoffed. "This isn't him wanting the best for me, or for us mom, and you know it. He made Stephano promise to get married before what? Twenty nine? Then he knows he can't get a hold of his second son because Giuliano isn't a 'girl' and now dad wants to use me as a what? An asset to acquire more wealth?"

"You are crossing the line here Angela. Sit!" Stephano, my older brother commanded and I did as he said. Or rather, I did as he commanded.

Giuliano, my other brother wasn't present because he had an impromptu meeting and had to cancel dinner. Had I known this was the important announcement they needed to make, I wouldn't have come.

I'd have taken the next flight to England or any other place that wouldn't remind me of my family and the responsibilities I would at one time or the other be forced to bear. This was why I'd spent my whole life traveling and touring, living as free as a bird.

"Stephano..." My voice broke as he glared at me and I knew I couldn't fight him, because I would lose. So I pleaded, pleaded with my eyes for him to look at things from my point of view.

He understood me.

Of everyone in my family, Stephano was the one who understood me the most. We rarely spoke for long hours, because that was how he was, personally, but Stephano cared so much for me like a protective brother cared for his sister.

"I'm sorry Lilly." He said tightly.

He started calling me Lilly when I was seven, and then everyone in the house also started calling me that. Then the name just stuck. I respected him a lot. But this time, I wasn't going to listen to him.

"I don't want to get married." I shook my head in dread. Dad's eyes softened apologetically.

"Never?" My mom looked appalled. Like I'd just confessed to having sex with someone on my parent's matrimonial bed.

"Well, at least not so soon." I scoffed.

"Oh dear..." She sighed. Dad had totally stopped talking.

"It is for the best." Stephano said. My mom got up from her seat and came to stand beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"There are so many things we can't tell you right now. But I promise you that very soon-"

"Honey-" my dad tried to interrupt but mom gave him a sharp look and he immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"-very soon baby, I'll tell you everything. I promise."

"Just tell me what it is now. Is he someone from our social circle?" I looked from my mom to my dad who was behind her, his lips pressed tightly. "Of course he is. I wouldn't get married to someone who isn't rich enough to form an alliance with. Giuliano is out there, and he's two freaking years older than me. He's as single as they come too. Why don't you tell him all this? Why me?" I screamed angrily, tears filling my eyes.

When they just stared at me with gloomy expressions, my shoulders fell. They'd made up their minds. I would be their sacrificial lamb.

"I'm not going to be your sacrificial lamb." I pointed in the direction of the dining to prove my point, wiping my tears angrily.

"Please don't see it that way. I promise you that it'll be worth it when you know everything. We're doing this because we care about you." My mom said pleadingly.

I nodded and got up again, clearing my throat. "Thank you for the dinner. It was good, though you ruined my mood with this talk before the meal even digested. I'm hoping your decisions won't ruin my life too."

My parent's face fell but that didn't make me feel guilty. Not even one bit. It was the truth, they just ruined my evening.

I was one for admitting how I felt and I never held grudges. If I wasn't pleased with something, I would never hesitate before saying it.

"We are sorry. Your dad has given the man... your necessary details so he will probably contact you soon. In maybe two weeks time, you should be engaged."

As if my heart hadn't been broken, I felt the crushing pain of her words squeeze my heart even tighter.

"What's his name?" I glared at my dad but toned it down when mom gave me 'the look'. I knew dad looked sober now, but then he was a businessman.

And they would use whatever tactic they could to get whatever they wanted. Who cared about feelings in business?

"You know what? I don't even care about his name." I interrupted dad just when he was about to reply me.

"You'll probably change your mind soon about not being interested. You'll have to put a hold to your travelings for now. Your bodyguard, Nate is on leave for this period too. I already told him that."

What did she mean by I would probably change my mind soon? I truly didn't care about his name.

Okay, maybe I was a tad bit curious about the man that could convince Stephano, my overprotective brother that he was good enough for me but that was all that there was to it.

I bit my lower lip and just listened to her dish out instructions once again, like she had done all my life. If I opened my mouth, I knew with everything in me that I would definitely regret it.

"Stephano will drive you home."

"Let's go Stephano. It's been a stressful day." I pecked my mom and grudgingly went around the table to peck my dad's cheek as well. This was a family tradition, which felt stupid now because a little part of me hated them but I still had to peck them before leaving.

But as I and Stephano left my parent's dining room, I couldn't shake off the unease that had settled at the pit of my belly.

Why would they suddenly arrange my engagement with a random guy without my consent?

My dad was, I kid you not, very protective of me. So was Stephano and Giuliano. They had someone who always followed me in the shadows. Whenever I had a male friend, they would do a thorough background checkup on them to make sure they weren't hanging around to hurt me in some way.

What if I'd been in a serious relationship?

Growing up, every guy had always looked like a threat to Giuliano and Stephano, and so I had to be discrete about my relationships.

At first, it was just Kara, Stephano's wife they were all protective over whenever some boys came looking for her.

Kara was Stephano and Giuliano's childhood crush and our nanny's daughter. She grew up with us, basically as the baby of the house.

But both of my brother's protectiveness was way out of it.

But as we grew older, my brothers seemed to shift the attention from Kara to me. And I'd had relationships, but they were awkward and kinda weird.

Especially after my first one, where I dated Francisco, Giuliano's friend in middle school. Giuliano beat him and gave him a black eye when he found out that night.

And Giuliano later told me that Franco had a girlfriend in the science class, and another in arts. That just made me conclude that my brothers really wanted the best for me. They were guys after all.

I still dated after that incident, but I was discrete enough to make sure my brothers never found out about it and if they did, then they never showed signs of it.

As I got into the car, I slumped in my seat, feeling exhausted.

"Why?" I murmured. My throat was heavy. If my family didn't have connections all over, eloping would've been an option.

"Why what?" My brother looked my way and turned off the engine off his Mercedes-Benz which he'd just switched on. His gaze held tenderness and I felt like he could feel the internal battle in me.

Maybe he could.

I knew how important merging companies were to my family. And to my dad. We all knew how important it was.

I didn't need any explanation as to what was behind the whole engagement thing. It was obviously company merging.

But this was my life here.

I didn't get the opportunity to fall in love, to meet him and have this sexual and physical attraction.

Was the man in question even good looking? I scoffed. He better be.

My parents owed me that, at least.

But still, I'd never been interested in my family business or deals. I just wanted to live my life in the way I could term I was free. That was why I became a tourist and started traveling around the world.

Now even that dream was about to get cut short.

"Hey. Hey, everything will be okay." Stephano patted my cheeks and held them in his large hands.

"Nothing will be alright Stephano. And you know it." I sniffed.

"You don't know what's going on but I promise to tell you a month after your marriage."

I frowned.

It suddenly looked like my family was keeping so many things from me. First it was my mom telling me she would explain things to me in the nearest future and now it was Stephano.

His icy blues stared into my blue green ones and I knew he wasn't deceiving me. I could trust him.

The truth was that, the mere thought of relationships somewhat scared me and I never took things serious.

Years ago, a secretary had almost ruined my parent's marriage. It was what I'd deemed a perfect marriage but I watched my parents struggle to be together and in those dark days, my dad had been devastated when mom wouldn't talk to him.

I didn't want to even get that vulnerable to the extent that someone else's opinion would matter so much in any decision I intended to take. And I had never been in a serious relationship but now they wanted me to get engaged.

That would be me skipping three steps!

If I didn't get engaged though, I couldn't say what the repercussion would be. Maybe the company was in trouble. So many people replied on the Alfonsi group.

Maybe I could give this a chance. If for no other reason, at least to save my family.

I heaved a depressed sigh at the realization that I would indeed be the sacrificial lamb.

"Alright. I'll do it." 

"You agree?" His expression brightened up a bit.

"Yes. I hope I don't regret it." We're definitely divorcing after a year.

"That's my Lilly." He pecked my forehead tenderly like he used to do when I was still a little girl and I chuckled nervously, my head screaming at me that I'd made the wrong decision and I would probably regret it.

"So, who's this guy and why is dad so intent on having us get engaged?" I asked as Stephano started driving.

"Eros Del Peiro. Grandson of the famous Luca Del Peiro and the sole heir to the Peiro international. Twenty seven years old, yes he's my age. He doesn't accept interviews and is a very private man. Also very hardworking. Only attends social gatherings when compulsory too."

Eros. Sounded like a nice name but I had never heard it before. And now, my curiosity was heightened. Who was he exactly? I meant, in character. Was he respectful or proud and cocky and did he have good manners? He should at least possess these things.

I shook my head. I wouldn't even relate with him when we were together anyway. Wasn't it all about pretending? I was good at pretending, if that was the case.

Also, I was quite sure my parents weren't expecting me to fall in love with this man the second I would meet him. The thought of love made me scoff.

Then an important question came to mind and I faced Stephano beside me.

"How do you know he isn't a player? Because literally every man that's ever asked me out was a player." I rolled my eyes at that.

"I've met him." Stephano stated.

I gasped.

"What?! You knew, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me dad and mom were going to pull this stunt? Also, why do they want to get me married to him so badly?" I was honestly confused about all of this.

What made them suddenly decide to get me engaged to someone like this Eros Del Peiro?

His name didn't even ring any bell. That would be because I never cared about the business world or whatever was going on in it before now. I hated attending the social gatherings too, except they were necessary.

"I've told you before. I'll answer all your questions soon. It's nothing serious so you have nothing to worry about." He tapped my forehead twice just as we drove through my gate. "How's Maggy?"

Maddy, which I guess he meant, was my friend. I, Maddy and Rocky had been living together for four years ever since I moved out of my parent's and we've been best friends ever since. While they were both working, I made it a decision to do what I loved and keep work aside for now.

Explore. And that was what I had been doing all these months before I came home last month.

I rolled my eyes at Stephano's serious expression while he was still waiting for my response.

I sometimes wondered how Kara, his wife could keep up with him. He was too serious for my liking. Did he even know what it meant when you ask him to smile or laugh? Ugh.

"It's Maddy Stephano, and she's fine...I'm guessing you saw her that day, right? She was the lady that helped Kara adjust her shoes when you were dancing at the reception."

"How would I remember?" He gave me a deadpanned look. I giggled again.

Of course he wouldn't remember. He had his eyes on Kara the entire event, kissing her at every opportunity he got while she shyly kissed him back despite our teasing.

My mind drifted back and forth as I thought of the mystery man who I was supposed to be engaged to.

Eros Del Peiro.

It felt like another chapter of my life was about to close and another was about to be opened. The worse part of it was that I didn't have much say in how this was going to pan out.

"Ermm... Is he more hardworking than you are?" I tried to probe.

I'd have to do a deep google search about this guy when I finally settle in. I loved knowing things about people, things I couldn't get from social media or the internet at large.

"Yes. Though my wife says I'm more hardworking than anyone on earth. I should get going. Don't think about it too much, okay? I'll call you tomorrow." He glanced down at his watch as I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Okay. I'll call you tomorrow." I heaved a sigh and nodded, alighting the car.

Stephano watched me shut my door before driving away.

Immediately I got in and realized Maddy and Rocky still hadn't gotten home, I showered and tucked myself into bed, skipping my movie plan with the girls.

They would probably spend the night out.

My mind was a jumbled mess as I stared at nothingness in the dark and I instantly knew I would have to prepare for a night of constant tossing and turning.

*

Did you enjoy the chapter?

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Are you curious about this Eros man? Cause I am!

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