CHAPTER 1

"Knock, knock" Catherine knocked on the door. 

  Amanda sighed. This is the fourth call coming in already just this morning and she's already finding it irritating. This was why she switched off her mobile. 

  "Come in, who is it this time?" Amanda questioned her COO dropping her pen and shifting her gaze to her 2-feet brass door that reflected and refracted all the light rays in her office.  

  Catherine opened the door and got in gently, then shut the door behind her. 

  She looked at Amanda and didn't say a word. She looked scared. 

  "Who is it? I have enough unsigned contracts information to review, make it quick." Amanda barked. 

  Still, Catherine remained silent. She only held the buzzing phone in her hand and streched it out to her boss. 

  "Is it my dad this time?" Amanda asked and glared straight into Catherine's eyes with a timorous awe. 

  "Yes it's him boss. He insisted on speaking with you, or threatened to halt all pending projects throughout this week!" 

  Amanda grinded her teeth and presumed fear. It was clearly engraved in her face at this moment. 

  She stretched out her hand in return and snatched the phone out Catherine's hand. 

  "Leave! I'll call you when I need you" she spat unfavorably. 

  Catherine quickly turned back, opened the door and hurriedly dashed outside then shut the door behind her. 

  After staring at the phone apoplectically for some 5 seconds, she swiped the 'recieve' button on the screen picking the call. 

 Next, she paced her hands towards her ear and and waited for the other end to speak first. 

  "Amanda" the voice did call out as expected. It was an old man's voice. Not very old though, probably in his early 50's. 

  "Dad, I am very busy signing some contracts with various Architectural companies and surveyors pertaining our new project that…" 

  "Listen to me right now!" The voice cut her abruptly not minding the crucial pending words. 

  "I will only say this once and I will not repeat myself again. You, Amanda Winston will accept the marriage proposal of Colton Blake, son of the second wealthiest family in New Hilton to keep our name running high. 

 "I accept no contradictions henceforth". The man spewed rapidly and furiously. 

  "Father, what have I not done to ensure the growth of this company, every single project you left behind is being processed and worked on, all our foreign clients are…" 

  "I said no more contradictions young woman! You are only a woman and won't be fit to run a company. You need a man by your side. 

  "I will accept no contradictions. I repeat. You do not want me to take this to greater heights." 

 The call ended instantaneously. 

  Amanda kept the phone still, placed against her ear. 

  Tears were already flowing down her beautiful cheek. 

  She looked at the photograph frame of her mom that was placed on her glass table. 

  Flash back made her cry. If only she were here, things would be much better. 

  The pressure from her dad was making her run mad at this point!

 "Knock knock" came again from the other end of her door after some 3 minutes of reminiscing.

  Immideately, Amanda took a piece of cloth and wiped her face, then, she quickly took a spray and dispersed into the air. 

  She then put her glasses on, arranged her seating position and frowned a little as usual. 

  "And what is it this time Catherine? Come in." Amanda called out defiantly. 

  Catherine entered and closed the door gently. 

  "Boss, it's one of our big partners Sir. Colton. He's here, again, and demands to see you." She said. 

  "Mr what?!" Amanda was left in shock and was dumfounded. What the heck was the devil doing here again? 

  "And why didn't you ring me before he got into the waiting room?" Amanda asked, this time, calmly. 

  "Well, your telephone is not connected. You said you needed no more calls remember?" Catherine defended gently and proudly. 

  Amanda sighed. At this point, she wanted to just slam her hand on her table and break it, but she maintained. 

  "Let him in." Amanda said reluctantly and turned her chair backwards, relieveing a heavy sigh through her mouth and nostrils.  

  She stared at the big glass and could see the luxurious tall buildings of New Hilton right around her, She could slightly see her reflection. 

  The Winston's company was quite a massively tall structure. Every other buildings were either very small, or medium sized. 

  Amanda could not really comprehend just why her father, Mr. Winston insisted on her getting married to Colton. 

  Ever since her mother died in the mysterious accident, things have gotten from worse to critical. 

  Her mother was the only person who could keep Mr. Winston her husband calm and quiet. 

  Amanda craved for that power. 

  For one thing, she hated Colton, for the other, she hated Colton with earnest passion. 

  Colton finally knocked gently on the door, disrupting her erstwhile painful thoughts. 

  "C.omee inn" Amanda forced from her mouth. 

  At her word, the juvenile Colton Blake marched into her office and closed the door behind him staring straight ahead.

  Colton was quite a man with defined muscular structures that were clearly visible even behind his thick suit. 

  The black sunshade he wore complimented his abase looks. He never took them off. An arcane no one could phantom.

  As he walked towards Amanda, his black tincted hair flew gently towards north, opposing the direction of the air conditioning. 

  He then grabbed the swivel chair for visitors and sat on it sharply without the CEO's permission. 

  "Trust you're having a great day huh?" He finally spoke moving his body left and right with the help of the chair.

  His voice was sexy, tbh. Deep, yet soothing. 

  "You know, you need to take good care of yourself as my future wife eh?" Colton chuckled. 

  Amanda just stared at him with contempt and said nothing. 

  Ever since he broke her heart back in college for no just reason, and disappeared during her mother's burial blaming her for her mysterious death, she knew that he was a devil.

  She knew that she was foolish to have loved him with all her heart. Her heart bled once more.

   Now, she is the CEO of the Winston's company, he's coming out from the dark.

  "Look here lady, your father is your father and you must obey his orders. I'm not a bad person for a husband am I?" He laughed again slightly. 

  He then stood up, placed his muscular arms around his behind and began walking to and fro in her office. 

  "Your father plans on making this a contract marriage. And he wants to sign it without your permission, that is, if of course you do not comply dear daughter. 

  "So, let's do this the easy way. Love me by force, let's get married and retain your position as the CEO, or disagree and get a forced marriage. 

  "The ball is in your little court" 

  Colton ended staring directly into her heavy boobs then licked his tongue. He chuckled once more. 

  He then headed for the door and opened it.

  He turned back, looked at Amanda, smiled evily and slammed the door with a great amount of force. 

  Amanda let out another heavy sigh of relief after he left. 

  She was getting tired of all the threat from her father and the Blake's family. 

  She picked up her crying session once again. 

******

  It was dusk, and the twilight princess could be seen bathing in the sky. 

 The drive to the bar was quite a long one. 

Amanda ordered her driver to stay put. She wanted to drive herself to the Lynch Bar in the heart of New Hilton. 

  It was a mighty bar. It's façade was Architecture at it's best. 

  Cars had already been parked in the park area. 

  All the outdoor recliners and ZGL chairs had been occupied by either one person drinking his joy in, or a couple displaying passionate affection. 

  She got into the Premuim section of the bar without hesitation which was on the first floor, the first decking using an elevator. 

  She was welcomed with much respect and honour as soon as she stormed into the bar and then, she found herself bumping into one of the comfy armchairs. 

  The manager of Lynch Hotel rushed out from his office to pay greetings to Amanda like a dog to it's master. 

  Amanda just winked at the old man. 

  "I want to be alone" she commanded, after which he reluctantly left. 

  Each sofa in the premium area had bronze attached to them. The handles, upper loose back attachment and the legs. 

  Quickly, one of the waitress rushed to her without hesitation. 

  "The usual. I kept my phone switched off and could not place an order." Amanda said without looking at the face of the young lady. 

  She was already lost in thought. 

  Quickly, she went away to get her order ready. 

  Each group clique talked about Amanda's presence. Their whole attention was now focused on the young lady. 

  She infact had the power to shut the whole bar down at this instant! 

  She was the daughter of the richest man in New Hilton. It was worth talking about you know. 

  She rarely or never comes to the bar. When she does, it's because she needs to relieve her depression. 

  And that was she did. 

  As soon as her cocktail was brought to her, she began to sip and sip, then drank a full cup mercilessly. 

  "Get me four bottles now" she commanded. 

 And the waitress ran off hurriedly. 

  Amanda drank and drank hoping that each bottle would fill the void in her heart and lessen her depression. 

  She was in a high state of melancholy, and the only solution was some more bottles of cocktail. 

  She kept drinking that she drank to stupor and could barely see anyone or anything. 

  Once she noticed that, she demanded that everyone leave the premium area at once. She shut it down to avoid embarrassement. 

  Everyone obeyed and left, even with a little mumur from a few. 

  Amanda despite her high state requested for a room to sleep off her high state. 

  "Just tell me where to go, I don't need your hands guiding me." She commanded after one of the secretary attempted to lead her to a VIP inner room. 

  She began to stagger, struggling to follow all the directions. 

  She suddenly came to a stair-case somewhow. 

  By now, her visions were already so vague that she couldn't stand properly. All her worries were supressed by this time as she had hoped. 

  She leaned forward to take the stairs. She was alone and no one followed her as she commanded. 

  Her first four steps downward was successful despite the stagger and blurry vision. 

  As soon as she stepped on the fourth case, she unconsciously let go of the handrail and began to fall back to the ground. 

  She rolled and rolled and began tumbling down the staircase. The staircase kept dancing before her eyes.

  She finally dropped from the last step and was almost crashing herself on the ground. 

  Suddenly, a young muscular man from nowhere jumped at Amanda and sliding beneath her like a superhero, he grabbed her waist line on one hand and her head on the other hand, before her head touched the ground. 

  Was she actually alone? Had someone been following her? Did Colton plan this?