Chapter 1 THE ENGAGEMENT

VELORA.  

I know what hatred is and I know what love or friendship represents. 

But what I am pretty sure of is that I don’t think there’s any thing tha will change the dynamic between I and a particular crazy human being.

We were created to frustrate the hell out of each other. 

We were both brought up in wealth and families that will how the heads of thousands of men when mentioned.

And a family where you have to give your all into preserving whatever legacies or empires you’ve built. No matter what is asked of you.

Which is why I do not think I’ll be having any say in whatever will happen in my life when it concerns the growth and strength of the Massim family.

But this…? This wasn’t expected.

Not at all.

Why will I be paired with someone I dislike with every bone in my body?

We can’t even stand each other. This, my father should know.

I despise that demon called Vaughn. Everyone at least two feets away from me should know that fact.

There is no day that passes us by that we do not clash brutally with each other.

Not that well physically clash though.

Our families will probably end us before that happens.

But one has always been suspicious to me, When ever it’s a matter concerning the wrongdoings of any other human on this earth. My father takes it personal on my behalf to show the world that our empire still holds strength. 

He will get them attended to.

As in, you know ‘kuh’ , offed.

Be it male or female, young or old? Influential or local. He doesn’t give two fucks about them. 

But when it’s about a six foot something motherfucking goat that was a mistake of creation. 

My father will stay rooted to his office chair.

When I go to meet him, he’ll tell me to deal with it.

My brother Kenore even once said it’s a sexual tension that I just can’t see it and neither can my opponent. Yes, I said opponent!

I will always see that goat as an opponent.

I’ve been suspicious about all of his reactions to Vaughn Tenam.

I once thought it was related to the power that family holds but no family holds up to the power the Massims hold.

So why not just deal with him and get it over with?

Not until today… when I got a knock on my room door from one of the house attendants who asked me to come downstairs for dinner and I refused.

Normally, when I refuse, they leave me alone and go away. But the knocks grew with unsteady dragging of legs and I opened it to tell her to her face that I don’t want to attend tonight’s dinner.

She looked me dead in the eyes and said to me.

“Your father said, it’s either you or me” her face pales and I immediately get her reference.

If I am not down that stairs and on that table eating. I should kiss one maid goodbye.

I went back inside, leaving the door a bit open to pick my phone from the bed and head downstairs.

The table has been set and my family are already on seat.

My mom’s uneasiness is easily noticed and the way kenore’s hand grip his spoon tightly in obvious anger.

Okay? 

But then I saw the tablet screen my maid passed to me and I saw it. 

The face I hate more than anything. 

And my father dropped the bomb on me.

You see…

I’ve always knew my father was crazy when he told me to overlook whatever Vaughn Tenam have been doing to me… 

So this was why! This man has been trying to matchmake us! To matchmake me with the guy I hate most on this earth!

The whole dining table got eerily silent when the pin dropped. I should probably get out of this chair but I would love to behave calm so as to avoid my father threatening me with my trust fund once more. That sweet pile of hard-work I can’t wait to devour.

My father’s eyes landed on mine as he seemed to search for an answer I probably have but would never say out loud to him. 

“Do you not have anything to say to that?” My dad said, placing down his cutleries to have a face off with me. One I would surely win if I want trying to escape this current marriage face off.

You would have expected my mother to include herself in the conversation but nope… she is as docile as she would ever be trained to be. 

I don’t blame her. But I would never have that same calm trait she seems to have. It’s so grueling sometimes.  And Annoying but a child must love their mother… that’s the saying.

From who or by who? Don’t ask me, I also don’t know.

I cleared my throat softly then gracefully dropped the fork with me to hold my father’s gaze. 

“The Tenam family would be a very lovely family sir. And they will render the kind of support an backing a good alliance should give, they also have control over the midtown community and if we make ourselves a part of their priority, I see no issue why they wouldn’t let us in on their territory and grant us power to assist in leading it or somewhere around that, whatever it is. It will fall in our favour. I am sure sir. I have no problem being the gateway to that path sir.” I forced a smile to my lips to let him know how much I loved the Tenam family. So much love. Indeed. 

“I already told you to let me marry from the Tenam family and leave Velora out of this! You promised to let  her off. Wasn’t that what you said? Or you don’t remember promises anymore?” 

My brother pissed tone cut through my thoughts and I had to nudge him under the table to reel it in. 

“Kenore, let it go. Please?”  I whispered across the table to him. Yes, he’s the older one but he should stop cleaning up for me. 

He has always been there to clean up for me or after me. And he has not once complained about it.

And more reason I would ever think of accepting this marriage is because I have that deep feeling and observation that kenore swings the other way but he still wants in on the marriage instead of me to give me a leeway into freedom of selecting for myself. 

But for once, I also want to clean up for him and probably even after him.

He’s been taking a lot on his shoulders. 

My father looked towards Kenore with a subtle frown and a knowing look that shouldn’t be taken for granted… He can be scary sometimes. His empire wasn’t built on just money and legacies. That is a very dangerous frown. And consider that as his subtle danger. Why? It’s the one reserved for family. 

How heroic. 

My dearest lovely father. 

This dinner better be fucking over soon before I let my lips loose and ruin this whole quiet. 

As a matter of fact. I can decide to mess with my father head out of spite but that will have to end up with me being at the mouth of his blade.

So if we’re going to play this fucked up game. I’m in!

And I’m in for the suffering the other end will get out of this.

Vaughn Tenam…. Fuck you!