Chapter 5

I didn't sleep a wink last night. What did they mean by Damian and I getting married? Was it all a ploy to make us befriend each other?

I remember how the remaining part of the meeting went. Damian left briskly. I almost did, but had to respect both fathers —even though I wanted nothing to be with them.

“Are you kidding me now, Dad?! Her?” Damian shook his head and walked away.

His dad chuckled rather at his retreating figure “He knows I wouldn't joke with something this delicate. Not to worry dear, he will do my bidding,”

Do his bidding?

It got me confused. What is going on?? I looked at my Dad for help but he kept smiling sheepishly.

“Do take care of yourself, darling” Mr Delance smiled at me and left

What? What just happened?

“Let me call your sister, we should get going” my Dad said, still grinning from ear to ear

I stopped him from moving “Dad! What is going on? What was that supposed to mean?!” I stamped my feet at him

“Pumpkin,” Dad grinned, holding my shoulders tenderly “Mr Delance and I, want you and Damian to get married soon,”

My head spinned, my eyesight going foggy. A knock interrupted the trail of my thoughts. It was Linda, and she came with breakfast.

“Good morning, Sweetheart,” she greeted.

“Good morning, Linda,” I grumbled, turning the other side of my bed.

I felt my bed dip. Linda came to sit beside me. She touched my forehead gently, “are you okay? You sound so Moody,” 

“Its nothing, just school stuff,” I lied

“Oh it's there a way that I can help?” nanny Linda ask worriedly

My heart went out to her. She is like the mother I never knew. I quickly hugged her and tried to cry in her arms. The tears slipped anyways, as I remembered what happened after Dad made the big announcement to me.

“Is this some sort of Joke?” I yelled at him

“Nope, it is not!” he answered with a crooked smile

“I will not get married to that fellow! I will choose who I get married to,” I told him angrily

“Stop getting worked up over it. We decided that when you were a baby, you had always been betrothed to Damian,” my Dad said, still smiling. I felt like slapping the smile off his face

“I have a boyfriend who I am in love with!” I protested 

Dad shook his head “stop acting ungrateful, many girls would do anything to be in your position,”

“Well, you should know by now that I am not many girls. Why me? What about Steph?” I almost yelled

“Oh, Steph. I have her sorted out- she is engaged to a Prince,” he answered, grabbing my arm and pulling me from the scene- for we were already drawing attention with our heated argument.

Dad and I had never had never yelled at each other before- and a part of me felt guilty for that. But the other part felt he deserved every hostility that came from me. I mean, why would he decide my future without my consent?

Dad and I didn't talk with each other during the drive home. Stephanie, with the help of her friends, was brought to the car drunk.

She kept mummering profanities in the car, but Dad seemed to be unperturbed or ashamed of her.

I looked out the window, crying silently. 

“Talk to me,” Nanny Linda’s voice brought me to reality.

As I opened my mouth to tell her, Dad walked in. “Good morning, sir” Nanny Linda greeted, gently standing up from my bed.

“Good morning,” He replied, sipping a cup of coffee. “Linda, I need you to take my dirty clothes to the laundry” 

“Okay, sir” she nodded, kissing my forehead as she excused herself from the room

Dad smiled mischievously, “Good morning, Pumpkin. Do get dressed— i’ll be taking you and Steph to school this morning,”

“No!” I grunted, almost throwing my pillow at him

Dad laughed heartily and closed the door. “Argggggghhhhhhh” I groaned loudly into my pillow.

   

“Do have a lovely day, Pumpkins” Dad said as he dropped Steph and I at school. We didn't reply him, and in no time, we heard the loud blast of Dad’s car

“I love you, my Pumpkins!” This time he said it so loudly that tens of students at the entrance chuckled loudly.

Oh, no. Red color rose to my cheeks. I turned to look at Stephanie, she was embarrassed as well.

“I love you both my Pumpkins; Sarah and Stephanie Wright!” he yelled even loudly. Oh heavens, did he have to mention our names!

I felt like the earth should open to swallow me up. Daddy can be so dramatic. My heart softened a bit.

“We love you too,” Steph and I said.

“Better,” he grinned mischievously, making everyone laugh. I ran away as Steph went to meet her friends. So embarrassing.

I got to class and met Zara there. I wonder If I can ever beat her to it. She comes too early to school

"Hello Sarah Wright,” she teased as I sat next to her.

"Hello,” I replied with an eye roll and she laughed.

"I have been waiting all day for you, Babe. Or dad had to get your attention?” she said mischievously

Obviously, she saw or heard about my Dad’s display of affection. News in my school travels too fast.

“Whatever,” I pouted

“So tell me, how was the party?” she nudged at me

“It was good,” I answered dryly.

“Did anything spicy happen yesterday?” She asked excitedly

“No, nothing” I lied as a teacher walked into the class.

***

“Looks like Daddy is super loving today,” Zara said suddenly as we both walked to the school car park. School was closed. 

“What?” I looked up only to find my Dad leaning on my car. Where’s Idris? Doesn’t Dad have a company to run?

"Wow! I must admit Sarah; this father of yours is so handsome and hot" Zara said, and I gave her a hard glare.

“Oops, sorry,” she giggled and ran off to meet her driver. I twirled some strands of my hair as I walked to meet my Dad.

"Hello, Dad" I greeted, entering the car. I missed Idris already.

“How was school today?” he asked

“It was good, and work?” I answered, buckling my seat belt.

“Good.” He cleared his throat as he drove out of the school gate, “I came because I wanted us to have a Dad and daughter talk, it's the reason I sent Eric to pick Stephanie on time. She is meeting the Prince as we speak…”

“Oh,” I said simply, staring out the window. I wished Dad could just leave me alone.

“Yes, it's about you and Damian. We want you both to get married in one week,” he said, dropping a bombshell.