C2 Choose Your Pain/Gain

I woke up and joined my parents for dinner, they couldn't get their eyes off me for a second as we all ate together in total silence, the only sound I could hear was the one coming from my dad's mouth as he kept chewing his turkey thigh with extreme delight. My mom's food had been tasty from the beginning and there was no argument that she was a better chef than me, and after wrapping up our dinner, my dad made me and my mom sit together even when I disagreed.

"I know you hate me at this moment, I understand the pain you must be feeling right now and I must say that I have hurt you badly," my dad said in a deep voice

I sighed and continued with my frantic glares at his face and white beard

"you did more than that dad, you ruined my love life, you ridiculed the man that gave me his heart, and even lied. How do you expect me to forgive and forget that it ever happened?" I asked

"I'm not asking you to forget, I'm setting a brighter path for you here, I don't want you to suffer and struggle in life. Getting married to my best friend seems impossible and insane but I can beat my chest boldly that you will kneel and thank me for pushing you to a man like him"

the silence that engulfed the room was frightening though and my eyes moved from side to side, trying to see how my mom was reacting to nonsense my father vomited out of his mouth

"what would make me do that?, do you think I care about his money or big company?. That's bullshit and I'm not a gold digger" I screamed at him without fear

"no, you are not and you are not going to be a slave before a man who won't spoil you and show you the amazing beauty of this world. Please, Rose, marry my friend and make him the happiest man in the world, when he initially asked for your hand in marriage, I was furious like you.

I even gave him a hard slap on the face but after seeing his depressed state, I couldn't help but agree and since I have known him for years, I can vouch for his every move. He has a heart of gold, my dear, he is still strong and active"

"Dad please I'm not in for this discussion right now, you have already made a decision for me, all you want is my consent to make you feel less guilty that you sent your only daughter to the hands of a man old enough to be her father," I said and stood up

my mom held my hand and drew me down slowly

"Mr Decker insisted on taking you out for a romantic date tomorrow, your father can't be the one to explain your husband-to-be character. Check him out for yourself and choose your pain or gain" my mom said with her hands on my shoulder

"that's just the best option here, check him out for yourself" he added

I sighed and walked to my room, "what a meeting", I said out loud to myself. The next day, I got up and took an Uber ride to the exact restaurant where he wanted to meet me, I declined him sending his driver to pick me up at home.

His facial appearance and looks, in general, weren't bad at all and I was a bit taken away by his fine voice which sounded just like my ex-boyfriend's own.

"Isn't it nice to see you all grown up and looking so beautiful?" he asked

"it sure is," I said with disgust

he ordered a large pizza and bought one of the expensive wines in the restaurant, I ate slowly and watched him keenly, if I was going to spend the rest of my life with him then I should know everything about him, I thought

"Why did you choose me out of all the fine ladies who will gladly offer themselves to you?" I asked

"Because I trust your father, I need a woman who will love me and not my wealth, I'm getting old, and getting married to a gold digger will surely end my life in a jiffy, that's why I chose you"

I sighed and stared at him for a while, I barely knew what to say next, seeing him so close to my dad when I was at the university made me feel no strings were attached and at that very moment, I felt like a scared goat for an arranged marriage

"Alright, then but bear in mind that I don't love you. I don't want to even love an old man like you, you are old enough to be my father so I'm going to get married to you and honor my parents since it has been planned out already" I revealed

"you will love me with time" he said with confidence

"in your dreams old man, I'm just after the luxury and extreme comfort I can get in return from your bank of wealth," I said to myself

he took me to a nice hotel and we lodged there, he kept touching me and kissing my neck but I wasn't even aroused for a second. I felt like a wooden sculpture being romanced by an angel, I pushed him away and went to the bathroom to clear my foggy head.

I knew this wasn't what I wanted but I didn't want to end up regretting why I threw up an opportunity like this because it wouldn't come again. He finally took me back home when I gave him some uneasy reactions in the hotel room

"how was the date my good man?" my father asked after he saw the both of us walk into the living room with Mr Decker holding my hands romantically

I just succumbed to his old romance so it didn't look weird to him but deep down, I was fading out slowly and I didn't want to live like that. I didn't have a choice though, it was either I was in this or another deep shit that I wouldn't understand

"it went well, I will start making huge plans for our wedding, and it will be in two weeks so prepare my bride for me. The CEO is about to become a married man again" Mr Decker said with happiness embedded in his voice

he and my father shook hands together and hugged each other before he zoomed off in his white Rolls Royce Phantom. I went to my room with a depressed look on my face and closed my eyes slowly after I laid on my bed...