Christian

As I hold a cup of coffee that morning, heading out of the study room and towards the staircases, I take notice of a strange trail of similar suitcases lying by the stairs. One of the guards walks into the mansion trolling yet another similar suitcase.

"What's all this?" I question in confusion and he stands still to reply me.

"Good morning sir. They belong to miss Gryffin."

My brows are slightly furrow.

"Harieth Gryffin?" I repeated to be sure and he nodded at once.

"Her driver drove in with them this morning."

"All of these are hers?" I questioned as I took a look at about ten similar suitcases in different shapes already lying around.

"Yes, sir."

"Is that last?" I questioned regarding the one he just brought in.

"No, sir." His reply causes me to raise both brows and in a moment he was out to get the rest of her luggage.

This better is a joke. Harieth better has a good reason for doing this.

* * *

My reflection stared back at me. I could barely recognise myself now all suited up and ready to marry a woman I barely knew. When I said yes to the proposal, I believed it was for good and that I could handle it but now... honestly, I have no idea about what I was doing, what I was getting myself into.

"Everything's going to be fine." I consoled myself and for the meantime, it worked.

Harieth

My reflection stared back at me. Am I really the one all dolled up? Am I really the beautiful bride whose reflection stared back at her? There was truly no way of recognising myself.

"Truly Harieth, I envy you," Stacy confessed and I shift my eyes to her. Seeing the tinge of enviousness in her eyes, I force myself to smile.

"It's time Harieth!" Paris exclaimed as she rushed into the room and we all turn to her. Her very sentence alerted all the nervousness in my system but I tried hard not to show it. After all, getting married was no small thing. Yes, the benefits that would come with this marriage are great but at the same time, I'm sure the ups and downs are going to be even greater. Plus, I think I'm too young to get married. I've barely experienced life enough and now, I'm going to be tied down to some jerk who would most definitely derive pleasure in making my life a living hell. I'm most probably going to spend the rest of my life all alone.

"Harieth." The sound of dad's voice forces me back to reality and I look up to him standing at the entrance of the room.

"We'll wait downstairs," Stacy announces and one after the other, the girls leave and just dad and I are left alone in the room.

I watched as a broad smile draws on his face while he walked up to me with arms wide open. I smile back as I accepted his hug. For a moment, I felt safe and reassured. I wasn't alone. I was never alone. I've still got the dad who would always love and take care of me unconditionally. I shut my eyes as I felt a momentary peace surge through my body.

"The moment you say I do, the deal with Hendrix Enterprises will become a done deal." His words made me flutter my eyes open, thrusting me back to reality. He released me from the hug so I'll eye could meet.

"Today, you make me so proud. All our dreams are going to come through and it's all because of you." He stated as he held my hands in his. I tried my best to smile in reply to his words but for yet another unexplainable reason, I couldn't seem to smile genuinely. At the moment, I felt a little lost and confused. Still, I couldn't show dad any of my vulnerability.

"I'm glad you're happy," I added truthfully.

"Happy?" He repeated with widening eyes before a light chuckle escaped his lips.

"Perhaps, I'm a little excited at the moment but the real happiness is when all this... everything becomes ours." He added in what seemed like a whisper.

Become ours? What does he mean by that? My brows slightly cease up as I notice the tinge of mischievousness and greed in his eyes. The look he gets when he wholeheartedly desires something. It was indeed a scary look and according to the past, once that look settles in, he must always find a way to get what he wants.

"What are you talking about? I'm getting married to Christian Hendrix. We're going to get enough money to pay the debts we owe."

"I wish it was that simple Harieth but... The Hendrix brothers know nothing of our company's true state."

What? My eyes widen at his confession. If that's the case, then why am I doing this? Why am I getting married to Christian today?

"Dad... What's really going on?" I finally question as panic slowly began finding its way in. He let out a sigh before walking back to the door to check if anyone was hanging around. When he saw no one, he gently shut the door for our privacy before walking back to him. As I watched him, for the first time, I feel a little heavier than usual. I could already feel the weight of the untold weighing down on me.

"You're going to have to snatch everything they owe from them."

"What?" My eyes widen at his idea. Panic now fully settled in. My breathing grew heavier as it dawned on me that I was getting involved with more than I bargained for.

"Yes. You have to do that Harieth."

"No, I can't! I-I-I can't. I would have to deceive, cheat, lie... if I'm found out, I could be jailed for fraud..."

"That's not going to happen Harieth. I've paved a safe path for you with this marriage to Christian. He's one of the heirs to the entire fortune and he's also a major shareholder. You marry him, you owe his shares as well."

"That still doesn't make it any easier. Do you think Christian's going to give me his shares once I ask for it? No dad, he won't. He dislikes my presence as it is." I argue with dad regardless of the fact that my hands had slightly begun trembling with all the scheming ideas and all. I wasn't saying I've never done bad things before. Actually, I have. A lot. I know my attitude is a little bad but scheming this far... well, I've never thought of that.

"Love. Make him fall in love with you then everything becomes easier."

"What?" I question a little lousily. Now, dad was being ignorant on purpose.

"Dad even if Christian was high on some drug, he would never fall for me. Look, let's just forget this whole idea. Plus, Christian isn't the CEO. Lucas is and that makes this all the more impossible."

"Perhaps... Perhaps not." He commented in a strangely calm manner. My eyes narrow at him.

"What... what do you mean by that?"

"You don't worry dear. Just focus on Christian for now and I'll deal with Lucas. When the right time comes to take the next step... I'll let you know, okay?" He stated calmly with a warm smile on his face and after much hesitation, while staring at him, I found myself nodding to it all.

Later on, as I walked down the aisle towards Christian, I could see the conversation I had with dad replay over and over again in my head. Perhaps, I might not be doing the right thing by going ahead with this marriage regardless of knowing the real truth behind this idea but at the same time, it was too late to back out. Even if I go back out, what next? Dad would lose his company and me, my inheritance. Our lives would become the opposite of what it presently is. Everything would fall apart and no one would lend us a helping hand. I'll most probably become the shadow of my true self. I'll have no friends. There'll be no more shopping, partying, big fancy house with servants, riding the latest cars and flying out of the country whenever I so, please. I might even have to... to get a real job. Everything will be ruined.

Finally, as I stood in front of Christian at the altar, I could see through the veil that as usual, he held no expression. Was this man truly worth saving? The few moments we've been together; all he had done was treat me like trash. He had also made it very much clear that I was on my own and he, on his own. Slowly, a light sigh escapes my lips. Perhaps, that's what I should do.

I'm going to be selfish. I'm going to think of myself alone because this man right here is never going to protect me.

The priest recites the vow and my eyes shifts to dad seated on the front bench, a steady but yet sly smile curls up by the side of his face. His eyes assuring me to go ahead and that everything was going to be fine. I decided to take his word for it, to trust him and so I shift my eyes back to Christian who stared down at me with no emotion.

"Yes, I do."