Ezra

After waking up from my nap, I showered and wore a suit for the party. Let's see how my bride-to-be likes being married to the devil.

I walked through the ballroom doors. I was unhappy to be here after what I learned a few hours earlier. I approached my parents. "What kept you son?" Dad said.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Mom asked.

"So I take it he has told you want he wants me to do?" I hissed.

"He did, and I'm sorry but there is no other way." Mom said.

I scoffed. "I should have known you would take Dad's side, unbelievable,"

"This isn't about taking sides, Ezra; it's about sticking together like we always have," Mom said softly.

"Whatever," I brushed my mother to the side and went to get a drink. My father approached me. "Ezra pull your head it, or you're going to blow this whole deal,"

I rolled my eyes. "This is not a bloody deal, Dad; it's a marriage, a fake marriage!" Then Dad's phone rang.

"Pheonix, talk to me. Alright, thank you," Dad hung up. "They're here, so you keep your cool,"

"Coming from you, that's rich," I said.

Coming from the doors came an older man with gray hair, wearing a gray suit and a red tie. Behind him was a girl, maybe his daughter. Dad and I approached them. "Jona, how are you?" my father asked.

"I'm good, Damian, so have we got a deal?" Jona said.

"Yes, we have a deal," My father nodded.

"Good, this union will be good for all of us," Jona smiled.

Oh, this poor clueless bastard; I'm laughing internally at how stupid this man is. "Let's get a drink," Dad said, having him lead the way.

"I will follow you to the bar, I want a word with your son first," Jona said.

Dad nodded and left to wait for Jona at the bar. "Ezra isn't it?" Jona asked me.

"Yes," I said with disinterest.

"This is my daughter, Tali; she is all yours now." Jona snickered.

"What do you mean? We are not even engaged yet," I said.

"This is your engagement party, no? As of now Tali will live with you,"

"What?!" I was shocked at this news. Dad did not tell me about this fact. Why did Dad leave this part out when he told me everything? That slimy bastard.

Tali began to cry, and Jona slapped her. "Shut up, you are showing me up!" Jona turned back to me. "As I was saying, Tali knows her place, she is a good cook and cleaner and will make a good wife and will birth many children for you,"

I did my best not to punch this guy in the face for slapping his daughter. Is this prick for real? "I, Jona Santiago, welcome you to the family. I will leave you to get to know your fiancee," Jona left to join my father at the bar.

Now it was just Tali and I. "Tali, why the hell did you agree to this marriage? Are you fucking crazy?" I whispered angrily. Tali looked at me with fear and ran off. "Hey, what's going on, Ezra? Who was that girl?" Aerith said.

"She is nobody, Aerith. Anyway, are you having fun?" I smiled.

Aerith shrugged. "It's okay. It would be better with a few fit boys,"

"Don't ever let Dad hear you saying that," I said.

"Aerith laughed and went back to talking to Gianna.

Engagement party? Dad kept that part quiet! Where the hell is he? Is he not at the bar? "Mom, where is dad?"

"He is talking to Jona somewhere, they left the bar a while ago, what's wrong?" Mom said.

"Did you know this was my engagement party?" I asked.

"What? No. As usual your father leaves out the finer details, where is Tali?"

"How the hell would I know? She ran out of here crying when I asked her why she agreed to the marriage," I explained.

"And you didn't think to follow her?" Mom said.

"Why would I? I don't care where she goes," I scoffed.

"Ezra Halliwell! I raised you better than this, now go check on that girl," Mom ordered.

I grunted and went to find Tali; after looking for a while, I saw her crying on the roof. "What's the deal with you?" I said. Tali turned and gasped when she saw me. You're standing here crying, yet you agreed to this wedding. What the hell are you crying about?"

"Well you obviously agreed it also!" Tali snapped.

"I didn't have a choice," I said.

"Well neither did I," Tali said. "You think I would choose to marry you?" Tali laughed. "Boy, you have no clue,"

"So enlighten me then. Why are you trying to ruin my life?" I asked her.

"Ruin your life? You're a man whore," Tali said.

I laughed at her answer. "Is that the best you got? I've heard worse, sugar queen," Tali stomped her food as she growled. "Save your tantrums for someone who gives a damn, and pull out of this marriage while you still can,"

"Eveything okay out here?" Jona said, appearing behind my father.

"Just getting to know my fiancee. Isn't that right babe?" I said.

"Um, yes," Tali quickly nodded.

"Well come inside, it's time to announce your engagement," Jona said as my father rolled his eyes. "And Tali, Trevor is here,"

"What?! Why did you invite Trevor?" Tali yelled.

"Watch your tone with me child, besides, he has a right to know what is happening,"

"You bastard, how could? How could you?!" Tali seethed.

"What do you call me? Speak up, you ungrateful bitch! I have a good mind to teach you a lesson right now!" Jona threatened.

I put Tali behind me; she was shaking in fear. "Alright that's enough,"

"Get out of my way, before I shoot you." Jona growled.

"I would have a bullet in your head before you could even draw your gun," I hissed at him.

"I suggest you watch what you say next Jona," my father said.

"I will say nothing, but she is my daughter," Jona crossed his arms.

"And she is my fiancee, is she not?" I raised an eyebrow. "If anyone is going to teach her a lesson, it will be me,"

Jona nodded. "Very well. Damian, let's leave them to it. We will give you five minutes to be inside for the announcement," Jona and my father left us alone.

"Tali, what was that all about? Who's Trevor?" I asked.

"None of your business," Tali said.

"Fine, I really don't give a shit anyway. Let's go in and get this over with," I said.

"I'm going nowhere with you," Tali hissed.

"Really Tali?" Tali turned her back to me. "I don't have time for this shit. Last chance to get inside," Tali gave a loud humph. "Don't say I didn't warn you," Before she realized it, I put her over my shoulder, started walking back inside, and carried her back to the ballroom door.

"Put me down, you filthy pig!" Tali screamed, punching my back.

"Shut the fuck up," I growled, then I slapped her ass hard. I roughly dropped her to her feet.

"You, you-" But Tali couldn't find the words to insult me.

"What?" I gave a devilish grin.

"You caveman, you brute, you filthy savage," Tali grunted.

"I did warn you, did I not?" I laughed as Tali threw a fit. "You are aware that you're putting on a little show for everyone?" Tali stopped fussing and then started crying again. "Waterworks again? Stop playing the innocent act, Tali; it isn't working on me,"

"Who is this guy Tali?" A man appeared, and I'm guessing this man is Trevor.

"Trevor," Tali's face blushed. Oh, don't tell me.

"I'm Ezra Halliwell, her fiance," I said.

Tali's face turned to horror as she looked at Trevor's shocked expression. "Her what?"

"Her fiance. You are at our engagement party, yes?" I said, making sure he knew where he was.

"Trevor this isn't what it looks like," Tali said.

"Is he your fiance or not, Tali," Trevor asked.

"He is, but there is more to it than that. You don't know the whole story," Tali said. "Please let me explain,"

Trevor shook his head and walked away. Tali turned to face me with an angry expression. "Why would you tell him that?!"

"It's the truth isn't it," I said.

"You really are something else," Tali laughed and scoffed.

"I am and as long as you keep going with this wedding farce, I will get a whole lot worse," I smiled.

"Ezra, I don't have a choice here," Tali hissed.

"Neither do I babe," I winked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention for a moment, please," my father said. "Before we go any further, can we have Ezra and Tali over here,"

Tali and I walked up to Jona and my father. "As you all are probably aware, we are here tonight to celebrate the engagement of my son Ezra with Jona's daughter Tali,"

"The wedding will take place in six months. So everybody eat, drink and be merry. This is a celebration," Jona said.

Everyone clapped for Tali, and I. Tali pulled me aside. "Ezra, you have got to stop this wedding," Tali pleaded.

"I don't to do anything, because you're going to stop the wedding for me," I said.

"And how am I suppose to do that?" Tali was taken aback.

"Have a look over at Trevor. I have a feeling that you, too, have history, and looking at him, he seems pretty damn angry, doesn't he?" I chuckled.

"You bastard," Tali scoffed.

"Such a dirty mouth for such a pretty girl. How angry do you think Trevor will be, when he finds out that from tonight, you will be sharing my bed?" I said.

"What?!" Tali gasped.