Chapter 5

Damien wondered the kind of energy God gave women as he listened to his mother rant on and on without so much as pausing to take a breath.

'This is the sixth woman, Damien, the sixth! "

'You are not getting younger, Damien, so you need to get married and settle down.I have been trying so hard to find you a model wife, one that calm take care of you and tame you somehow"

'Are you even aware that you have to pass your business empire to someone? And if you don't, you are just going to let it die with you, young man!"

His mother never ceased to amaze him. Did she not just say he was not getting any younger, and then she called him a young man?

'Mom, would you let me breathe? I am just thirty and not that old yet." He replied and sighed. 'Some men marry at forty, and I'm not even close to forty".

It was obvious mom was not pleased with what he just said. She looked ever ready to lash out her anger. Here we go again, another round of unending rant.

'Forty! Do you want me to have a heart attack" And now she was being dramatic.

'You are not ‘some men' Damien! You are Damien Culhane, the owner of one of the richest enterprises in the state. Are you seriously going to compare yourself with other men? These men you speak of are likely broke and cannot fend for themselves, let alone a woman. That is why they get married at forty! Because they did not establish themselves early enough to be ready for the responsibilities that come with having a family."

He concluded his mother had possibly gone crazy. He was irritated and fed up with his mother's consistent effort to get him a wife and ranting afterwards when he rejected them. She had even gone as far as putting it in the tabloids to attract prospective brides.

He did not know how she got this marriage fiasco in the tabloids, but he did not think twice to suspect his mom. This woman could go to whatever extent to get what she wants.

'Mom, when I'm ready to marry, I will find a wife for myself. Thanks for trying, but you need to stop, please." Shutting his eyes gently, he prayed silently that his mom would leave and let him be.

'Would you at least look at her profile and picture? She used to be a market researcher, so she has to be smart, and she is beautiful too, more beautiful than the other five you rejected. You will absolutely fall in love with her." His mom said, handing over yet another file on women she had picked as compatible for him.

Guess he was asking for too much. His mom was not going to leave him.

'Drop the file at my desk, Mom. I'll look at it. Later."

'Promise?"

'I promise, Mom." Not that he was going to, he was just desperate to get rid of his mother for now. He was beginning to get a headache.

'Fine, but you had better do so." She said, she then turned and left his office.

Phewww, finally. Peace.

He picked up the file of this new woman, careful not to look at it. He shoved it into one of his drawers. He had looked at the files of the other five women his mother offered, and none of them tickled his fancy. This time, he had a feeling that this one might, so he didn't want to take chances.

He was grateful his mother had left. This topic of marriage constantly reminded him of his past, and he wondered why since it was not related.

His head was beginning to throb. Shutting his eyes tightly, he tried not to let his thoughts go there.

Maybe he needed to tell his receptionist to alert him whenever his mom came to the office. She was his mother, so he did not make her follow the standard procedures to see him. She always had access to him, and she was beginning to abuse that. Always taking him unaware and by surprise. The moment she catches him off-guard, she begins her rants. It left him with a pulsating headache.

Sighing, he stood up to get himself water from the dispenser. After a few more cups, the headache began to subside.

Was he ever going to get married? The truth is that he wasn't planning to, but his mom doesn't have to know that. He was going to keep her hanging for the meantime. The guilt from his past wouldn't let him live a simple life. He did not deserve happiness, and he would not allow himself to have it. He had to punish himself this way to deal with the guilt. It was the only way he would be able to forgive himself. His money and his business would be the only thing he would ever allow himself to have.

---

Celine paced around her room, anxiously waiting for her aunt to return. It's been a while since she left. Céline was beginning to wonder what was taking her so long to return. She had texted her aunt to check her email inbox if there was a reply to her inquiry and application/request to the court and marry Damien Culhane.

It sounded crazy enough in her head, and Céline could never bring herself to say it out. She had stopped too low.

Had she been rejected? Was she not pretty enough? She tried so hard to look beautiful in that picture. She was tense, thinking about the outcome. She needed an answer now.

If her aunt doesn't return soon enough, she might lose it.

'Oh God, help me. Help your poor daughter." Céline clasped her hands together and shut her eyes tightly. She desperately needed this.

The sound of the front door closing brought her out of her thoughts. That must be her aunt. Without second thoughts, she ran down to meet her.

'What took you so long, aunt!"

Aunt Elizabeth turned abruptly. She had an anxious look plastered on her face. 'Céline, you need to mind the way you ambush me and raise your voice around here. I'm getting old, and it's not good for my health."

Céline rolled her eyes. 'You never fail to remind me, aunt. Besides, you act like you are 100 or something. You're just 65."

'Just? No, young lady, you aren't going to make that a small deal. Not everyone sticks around till then."

'Oh, long live aunt Elizabeth" was her sarcastic response. They both laughed.

'So what happened, aunt? Did he like me? Is he going to marry me? Oh, what about his mom? Did she like me too?"

Elizabeth looked taken aback and slightly amused. 'Calm down woman, are you going to keep pouring out the questions or are you going to let me answer the ones you've asked?"

'Answer aunt"

'Which one?" Aunt asked chuckling

'Well, did they respond?"

'That, I do not know. I cannot speak for more than one person. But I can speak for a certain female of interest."

'His mother?"

'Yup," Elizabeth responded, heading to the kitchen. Céline is following closely behind. 'Boy, I'm hungry. Did you cook anything?"

'Nope, but I could order pizza."

'Please do. What have you been doing all day? Waiting for me to return?"

'Yup. So back to the subject, aunt. His mother liked me, but he didn't? She asked fidgeting

'I didn't exactly say that," Elizabeth said, taking out the orange juice from the freezer and pouring some for herself. 'Want some?"

'Yeah, sure," she watched as her aunt poured her a glass before resuming her questions.

'Could you please give me a rundown of what happened? You are killing me with your half-answers?"

'Calm down, Céline. You are too hard on yourself," Elizabeth said, sighing. 'Look, I didn't get any message from him. I just got in contact with his mother, and she liked you, so he probably likes you too."

'You think?"

'I hope so. I mean, I heard that stupid boy has rejected five other high profile women."

'Beautiful?"

'Sculpted with the bare hands of God himself."

'So I don't stand a chance?" Céline breathes out a sigh of frustration.

'I didn't say that."

'But you implied that," she said pointedly 'You.killing.me.aunt.!"

'Nope, you are just being hard on yourself."

'You know how much I need this. It's the only way I can avenge their death. I need to marry him! I need his money!"

'The only thing you need, woman, is to move on. I do not support you getting married to this, Damien. Neither do I support you having any revenge. All I want is for you to be happy, and I'm sure your parents would want that too and not you practically sacrificing your happiness to avenge their death." Elizabeth said, grimacing.

'I can't move on, aunt. We have been over this before, so stop bringing it up." Céline stated, and headed back for her room. That was enough to change her excited yet anxious mood.

She heard the soft sigh of her aunt just before she left the kitchen. Yes, she agrees her aunt has done a lot for her and, she appreciated her for it, but she would let that stop her. Her aunt has been able to convince her of things, but one thing she would never be able to persuade her to do is to move on. She could not move on until she had avenged her parent's death. Getting married to Richard was her first step. So whether Elizabeth liked it or not, she would back down. Her aunt might be frustrated, but she was frustrated too.

She lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. The doorbell rang, and she listened to her aunt's slow footsteps as she went to answer the door. 'Oh God, bless this woman for me and let her live long." she muttered. It must be the delivery boy at the door. She has almost forgotten that she ordered pizza.

'Céline, the pizza is here." Her aunt called to her.

'Keep mine in the fridge. I am not hungry."

Elizabeth did not reply. She had had enough of her niece and this drama. She needed to stand her ground.

Closing her eyes, Celine began to think. What possibly could she do if Damien refuses to marry her? Celine wondered when they would get a positive reply to their proposal. Whenever it was, she needed Plan B.

Just before she drifted off, one thing was on her mind. Seduction.