Chapter 2

I got home from school feeling sad and perturbed, I was absent-minded in class throughout the day. Why on earth would dad get me married without my consent, to a man I know nothing about except through the media and paper, I don't even know what type of person he is, I thought, letting the long withheld tears flow freely. How could Dad do this to me, I lamented bitterly amidst tears.

I was so restless that I didn't even think of eating or changing my clothes. I just lay quietly in bed.

I heard my phone ring. I checked and discovered the caller was my mom. I ended the call,  placing it on DND. I couldn't even think of talking to her. What else does she have to say to me? I thought, pushing the phone far away from me.

I stared at the ceiling lost in thoughts, I didn't even realize when I fell asleep.

A few hours later, I woke up to three missed calls from my mum, eight missed calls, and a message from Shana, I opened the message and it read:

"Lucinda, pick up your damn phone we are gonna be late for Dylan's concert".

I sighed, rubbing my already muzzy temples realizing I forgot completely about the concert. 

I was about to head to the bathroom to get a shower when I heard a knock on my door. Before I could go get it the door already burst open revealing an all dressed up shana. I stood shocked, well not so shocked it was Shana after all.

"Lucinda!!!" Shana shouted, not even giving me a chance to breathe, "Why haven't you been picking up your calls? I told you we needed to go early to secure the front rows. Why are you not even dressed? What have you been doing all this while? she cried".

"Stop being so dramatic Shana, I was exhausted and I slept off", I said, scoffing.

"For real, Do you even have any idea what the time is? I am gonna be late for Dylan's concert". Shana cried. 

"I'm so sorry, okay?" I replied, feeling tired of her complaints.

"Just go and get dressed", she said, rolling her eyes, while tossing the dress she bought for me. 

It was a short party gown. I hurriedly put on my undies and put on the dress, I tied my hair in a rough bun,  wore a nude lipstick with black sneakers, and took a look in the mirror.

"Gosh!! it's so tight", I exclaimed.

"Damn! You're gonna get all the guys turning their heads out there". Shana said, grinning wildly.

"Can we get going", I said, rolling my eyes.

"At least show some appreciation for the compliment, " she said, picking up her phone and bag from the bed and we both left the room together.

"Ta-da! See Lucinda, this is the reason why I told you we needed to come early, now look. The whole place is already filled up", Shana grumbled.

"This place is so crowded, I hate crowds," I said, Shana just glared at me, dragging my hand while pulling me through the crowd as we made our way to look for seats.  I was amazed by the way a lot of people looked, especially the girls. They had their faces painted with Dylan's name, they wore costumes that had Dylan's picture printed on it, including their hair bands and eyeglasses.

We finally found a spot and settled down.

I turned to some group of ladies beside me who had been chattering away the whole time, I managed to catch up with their conversation amidst the whole noise and I heard one of the ladies who wore a T-shirt that had Dylan's face printed on it with the words boldly written "Dylan my prince charming", shout I love you, Dylan! go, Dylan! and it somewhat pissed me off.

Immediately, I had the entire hall vibrating with people's Screams and I began panicking thinking something bad was about to happen. 

I shut my eyes, almost crying because I was terrified. 

"Dylan!"

"Dylan!!"

I heard the screaming voices, I opened my eyes and looked up and I saw Dylan climbing the stage.

"Phew!", I sighed. realizing what was happening. 

"This is crazy, how can one man have so much influence on this amount of people,  " I said.

"Oh, my Dylan!" Shana screamed, gripping my right hand. I rolled my eyes, pulling out my hands from her grips, and took my eyes back to the stage where Dylan was.

He wore a ripped baggy jean, and a black leather jacket that exposed his abs a little in the middle with shoes to match, he had golden chains on his neck, he had a Diamond ring on each of his left fingers. Sparkles flashed around him as a result of the jewelry he had on. 

His jet-black hair, brown eyes,  soft pink lips, and sharp jawlines that gave him the adonis look were an irresistible sight to behold. I found myself drooling at him. I couldn't believe that this was still the same man I was soon to be married to. I wondered how he was going to receive the news, I wondered if he'd accept me, a lot of thoughts were flashing through my mind when I was jolted back to reality by the thunderous scream of the crowd.

The whole hall reverberated as one of Dylan's hip-hop songs began blaring through all the speakers in the hall. The whole crowd went wild as they began to sing along with the beat, some people in the front row were screaming and stretching out their hands to touch him.

A few minutes later the song stopped and the crowd also went silent too.

"Hello everyone, I want to use this medium to thank you all for taking your precious time to attend my concert. I don't want this to be just Dylan's concert but Dylan's Fans' party". He said in a soothing voice and the ovation began again.

Immediately after his speech the stage went dark and a Red spotlight shone on where he was, he took the mic and began singing one of his latest hit songs 'True Feelings ' The whole crowd sang along with him, jumping and screaming. Shana was also jumping and singing, she motioned for me to join her but I rolled my eyes and returned my eyes to the stage.

 I watched In awe as he sang in a flawless voice, it was soothing to the ear, I was bemused at how perfectly well he sang, indeed he deserved all the popularity and fame, I thought.

He finally ended the concert in a sophisticated way and the entire hall went wild with cheers and ovation.

He gave a slight bow to the crowd and left the stage, with his Manager Chaddick and his bouncers escorting him out. The people in the front were stretching out their hands, falling on each other, and screaming hoping he'd touch them but like I mentioned earlier, he doesn't touch people.

"Awwww", I wish it didn't end," Shana said dreamily.

I looked at her rolling my eyes, I hope you are happy now, can we go? I asked and she laughed holding my hands and we both left the hall together. 

I opened the door of the sitting room and surprisingly, I found my Dad sitting on the couch.

I paused at the door feeling surprised, trying to remember the last time I saw him sitting in the sitting room.

He had a glass of vodka in his left hand, and a document in the right which he was going through.

"Good evening Dad", I greeted him while walking in.

"And where are you coming from?" came his cold reply.

"I went for…."

He didn't let me finish, before interrupting.

"Shut up, Lucinda!! he interrupted yelling at me", causing me to flinch. "Do you know what the time is? Is this how you intend to behave In your soon-to-be husband's house? Running on the streets late at night like a child, huh?"

"Dad, It's not what you think…." I tried to explain, holding back my tears that were threatening to fall anytime soon.

"You don't talk when I talk", he yelled back.

"Now listen to me Lucinda, you'll soon be married into the most wealthiest and powerful family in New York. I won't let you spoil my plans with your childish attitude. What will people say when they see the soon-to-be Talen daughter-in-law running late at night in the streets?"

"Honey, what is going on here?" my mom said, interrupting my Dad.

"Now listen to me from now henceforth you have been grounded", he said ignoring her.

"Mum please tell Dad to stop being unfair to me, " I burst out crying.

"Calm down honey", my Mum said, trying to console me.

"Don't tell me to call down Mum, tell your husband to stop forcing me into a marriage I don't want, I don't want to get married to a man I don't know". 

"Shut up Lucinda", my Dad yelled angrily.

"Stop yelling at the poor girl Winston", my mum shot back annoyed at my Dad's aggression. 

"How dare you talk back to me Jamila? You should be ashamed of yourself for raising such an irresponsible daughter who cannot respect her father's wish". My Dad replied harshly.

"Her father's wish, you say? marrying your daughter off to a man she doesn't know, for  your selfish gains is what you call her Father's wish, huh?"

"Now both of you listen to me. I don't care what you think of me but whatever I say goes, and I am ever ready to put anyone who tries to interfere with my decisions in their place", he finished while storming out of the house.