Forced To Be His

Chapter 1

Brent's POV

I stormed into the office enraged, my fists folded beside me as I gritted my teeth.

I turned and kicked the door before banging it furiously, venting my anger on it as if it were my offender.

I paced about my office, my hands on my chin, my mind swirled with different thoughts.

"Why can't this man just let me be? I don't have an idea when marriage suddenly becomes a compulsory thing and there's a certain age limit for it." I raked my hands through my hair frustrated.

My mind drifted back to a few days ago when my father matched me with a young girl, a daughter to one of his numerous friends, and how I had fought vehemently and canceled the proposal.

"And to make matters worse, I don't even have a say in it; I don't get to choose who to marry and when?" I continued pacing up the room.

I'm restless and annoyed, provoked by my father's constant engagement.

A rasping knock sounded on the door before it opened; Tony, my secretary, walked in and looked grave.

"I don't remember giving you permission to come in," I yelled seeing him as an opportunity to take my anger on.

Tony flinched and stepped back a little bit, his face flushed in fear as if to say he was trapped in a lion's den.

"I...I'm....s..so...sorry sir." He stammered gravely. "But it's very important sir." He added quickly before I could walk him out of the office.

I raised an eyebrow and nodded my head for him to spill out and leave my office.

"Mr sterling sent for you on an important meeting." He replied and dashed out of the room immediately.

A frown settled on my face, wondering the reason he was sending for me early this morning, and there was only one way to find out.

....

"Father you sent for me." I began entering the spacious office.

His desk is piled and scattered with different files and papers, and he rests beneath the huge table.

Sterling raised an eyebrow and peered at me. "Not even a greeting son." He smiled.

"Why did you call for me? I hope what you've to say is important to draw me out of my office." I snapped angrily.

He stood up, his hands fitting his well-ironed pants, and he strides the remaining space to the window facing the outview of New York.

"Of course it's is important, very important." He replied.

"Not to waste much of each other valuable time. I've arranged a marriage between you and Vanessa. You'll be getting married soon." His lips curled into a smile.

"What, Dad? You're kidding me, right." My eyes widened at his words, and when he didn't respond, I knew he wasn't telling a lie.

Doesn't this man ever understand the word 'I'm not interested in marriage'? Wasn't it a few days back that I refused one of his proposals and as swiftly arranged another one without my consent?

My fury doubled as I stared at his figure backing me; all my life, I've been nothing but a tool in his arms, twisted and made to carry out his desires, not ever caring for my feelings and choice in it.

I've been nothing but his pawn to be used anytime and anyhow, I'm like a dog, obediently following his master's orders without altering it.

As memories rushed back to me of the days when I felt trapped, unable to state my desires and feelings about my life, I felt a tingling sensation and all the anger of being tongue-tied welled up inside me.

"No!" I yelled standing straightened my posture. My face is dark and furious.

"I will still repeat it Father, I'm not getting married. So it's in your best interest to cancel the arrangements silently.". I folded my wrist and looked at me.

He finally tore his gaze from the city to look at me. I have known these looks since I've been accustomed to it. This look that says ' stop wasting your time'.

"Brent, listen and listen carefully. I don't care what you've been saying and I don't care about it now. All I care about is you marrying Vanessa and that's final." Sterling stated coldly. His face is voice emotions, just expressionless.

I scoffed and spun around frantically as if searching for words to back me up.

"Final!" I hissed the word like a venom.

"Did you say final? The decision is mine to take and you dare tell me it is final? Why has my life been nothing but a dictating tool to you? Don't I know what's right and best for me? Why are you hellbent on wrecking life? I'm thirty, for crying out loud, and I'm old enough to make my decisions. I've every right to state my feelings; I'm human, for God's sake." I shouted, pouring out the frustration of the past years.

"You're my son and I'm your father. I've lived on this earth before you and I know what's best for you. So wrap up all these feelings like you've always been." He said softly.

"No, you do know what's best for me as much I do." I countered defensively.

"I'm not getting married to Vanessa or whatever her name is, I don't care." I fired breathing heavily.

I watch his face twitch in amusement. He silently watched me without saying a word, his eyes studying me like I was some kind of experiment.

"Brent you'll get married to Vanessa. I do need your opinion on these like the others."

"And what do you stand to gain father?" I asked boiling.

"Honour, fame and you're helping build our legacy. My only son's life won't be wasted without reproducing. Nothing to gain." He smirked.

"Do you see you've wasted Thirty years of your life without having an affair with a lady and I fear you're not a man. To prove my friends wrong and that you're worthy of catering a family, I arranged marriage with you and Vanessa and Brent; by heavens, you're marrying." Sterling looked sternly at him.

I shuddered under his words. All my life, everything I've been asked to do, every decision I make, every step I take, and my education career has been based on building a legacy, all bent and shimmed according to family and friends' sight.

It has all been to prove among his circle of friends, all for respect, honor, and fame; nothing more.

Marriage has been another world entirely, where love has to reign between the union and has also been wheeled again all because of the stupid thoughts of his friends.

Do they care if the marriage works out? Do they care about the feelings of the man and woman? Do they care about what the children that will surface in the union? No! They don't.

Sterling cleared his throat, bringing me back to earth. The way he looks seems as if he has been staring at me all the while and has seen the effect of the thought wash through my face.

"Why?" The word poured out of my lips.

"Brent you've three days ultimatum. You either marry Vanessa in three days or face the wrath of disobeying me and shaming our family." He ignored me, he said the words that I feared he'd enforce on me.

"Now it's time to make that decision you've been engraving. I only say you choose wisely." He smiled and turned back to settle in his chair, swiveling right and left, his eyes fixed on his computer.

My world crashed right on me. I feel dazed about all this, and I don't know the right way to process it.

Did he just say three days to get married to someone I don't know? To a girl who will live with me and share the same bedroom with me? No, I don't even want to think about the last thought.

Father finally has me captured and defenseless because I see no way I'm going to get out of this before three days.

And to think of his consequences, I can't remember but he went with his threat on the last order I defiled.

I was deprived of my car and chased out of the house with no money and food to survive. I was alone but my phone and I knew how I pleaded before he let me back.

But still, I must find a way to get out of this mess. I'm a desperate fellow, and most importantly, I'm wise, so there has to be a way where I won't suffer and I won't have to marry her.

I smiled up at him sweetly. "And the right choice I'll make in three days." I chuckled darkly and walked out of his office not waiting for his response.