My father shakes his head. “You don’t have this kind of money, Belle. And neither do I.” He sighs and moves his hand over his salt-and-pepper hair. “I’m sorry, but this is the only way. He’s agreed to let me keep the company and pay off any other debts I owe if you say yes to his proposal.”
Proposal! This isn’t a damn proposal! It’s blackmail!
I stand up and pace back and forth, my restless energy filling the room. This can’t be happening. How in the hell have I been pulled into my father’s business deal, and who the hell is Florian Larsson?
I stop pacing. “Angela said she’ll do it.” I toss my hand in her direction while she enthusiastically nods her head. “Why not her?”
“Yes, Daddy, I’ll do it,” she responds eagerly. “I have no problem walking down the aisle, especially if I’m going to marry Florian Larsson. He’s so hot. We’ll make the perfect couple. I’m sure he’s great in bed, too.”
“Don’t forget rich,” Raven chimes in, pointing the neck of her beer bottle at Angela.
“Yes. Very rich,” Angela says.
If this were a cartoon, her eyes would be flashing dollar signs with how excited she is that it’s possible she’s landed a handsome billionaire.
It’s not surprising to see that hungry look in her eyes and her eagerness to marry a stranger, considering she’s always searching for a wealthy man to support her while living off my money. She’s a leech just like my father, and if she can take myplace, this deal would be perfect for her and a blessing for me. I can finally stop supporting her lazy ass, and it’ll be one less person or thing I’ll have to worry about.
The thought of getting married fills me with anxiety and uncertainty. I’m so awkward around men, it’s pathetic. The only time I’ve come close to having a man in my life is the mysterious man who sends me flowers and a note, which I’ve found myself pathetically looking forward to receiving. Even after he violated my privacy by entering my apartment without my permission, I still look forward to his gifts.
I’ve been seeing a therapist to reconcile my feelings of dealing with the trauma of being roofied, while also the invasion of privacy by the mysterious man. According to my therapist, I may have some type of ambivalent attachment to him where I have mixed feelings even though he causes me comfort and distress. So, other than him, I’m completely clueless when it comes to the male species. That’ll make for a very embarrassing wedding night.
Yes, Angela will be a much better choice. Hell, even Raven would be a better choice than me!
My father shakes his head and leans back in the chair like the entire conversation exhausts him. “I offered Angela and Raven because they’re both better suited for a man like Florian, but he insists it has to be you and no one else.”
A man like Florian? What the hell does that even mean?
“Why me?”
My heart plummets to my feet. I can’t breathe.
As I receive the news, my chest tightens, and it’s like someone sucker-punches me in the gut. With my hand against my chest, I sit when my knees buckle under me.
My father lets out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know, Belle.”
“Does it even matter? Belle, it’s Florian Larsson for fuck’s sake. Do you know how many women would kill to be in yourplace? Do you know they call himBeast?” she asks me, like she’s ready to divulge some deep dark secret.
“Beast,” I say, my heart rate picking up faster.
Why in the hell do they call him Beast?
“I heard they call him Beast because he has his enemies killed,” Angela says, shrugging like having people killed isn’t a big deal.
Panic surges through my entire body. “I can’t do this, Daddy. There has to be another way. I can’t marry someone they call Beast who has his enemies killed!”
“There’s no other way, Belle,” he says frustrated like I have the nerve to go against what he wants. Go against what Florian Larsson wants. This is my life we’re talking about. “You marry Florian, or we’ll lose everything.”
“You’ll lose everything, not me.”
He glares at me, but he knows it’s the truth. No matter how much I’ve helped my family, I’m wealthy outside of what my father has.His debts are not mine.
“Stop thinking about your damn self for once!” Angela scoffs, and Raven nods while she sips on another beer. “It could be a hell of a lot worse than Florian Larsson. Suck it up and do what the hell you need to do for this family.”
She stands and stalks away from the table.
“Angela’s right, Belle,” Raven says. “Stop thinking about yourself for a change. This affects all of us. Not just you.”
She stands and staggers out the same door as Angela. I slump in my chair. Besides dancing, my family consumes my life. I never think about myself. It’s always about them.
