“Xylina may be nineteen but unfortunately she lacks the ability to survive on her own.”
“That’s not true!” Xylina protested, stomping her foot.
My brows furrowed. She reminded me of a five-year-old, throwing a tantrum for not getting their way.
Ignoring his daughter, Phil continued, “Becoming a wife will help mature her. Eventually her looks will dwindle and she’ll be lost in the world with no skills or aspirations. Me and her mother can only carry her so far and without us she would have sank a long time ago. You’re a smart man, Yosiah, two degrees in computers as well as a minor. From what I understand, you’re planning to make a career in tech. Being with someone like you might whip her into a woman that’s worth it. And if anything, she’ll look good on your arm. In business I’ve learned having a beauty on hand can work in your favor.” He smirked.
Again, disbelief passed through me. The smug expression on his face made me want to crash my fist into it. I’d never heard a parent speak so lowly of their child before. Xylina sat next to him petting her dog and now on her phone as if she hadn’t heard him downplay her to just being a pretty face.
Silence passed through the office. Everything about this was wrong. Xylina seemed unbothered by her father’s harsh words which made me think this wasn’t the first time he’d voiced them around her. The longer I sat in front of Phil, the more my dislike for him grew. In the end he wouldn’t allow Dad to have his company back. He seemed like the guy who enjoyed making people uncomfortable and using it against them. He was power hungry and didn’t care who he had to step on to get what hewanted. His list of enemies was long and I wouldn’t doubt if it only grew.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched my dad. By how he looked, it was clear he was just as unhappy as me. Thoughts of my mom suddenly appeared in my head. It was clear she wasn’t aware of everything going on or she would have thrown a fit and Dad would probably be in a hotel. Mom was one of the sweetest women I’d ever met but she didn’t take any bullshit and didn’t play about her family. There was no way she would allow all this to happen so quietly.
Seeing there was no other way, I pushed a deep breath out and my shoulders folded forward. I closed my eyes, pushing the regret and resentment already building to the back of my mind.
“I’ll do it,” I answered reluctantly.
That caught Xylina’s attention, bringing her focus back to the conversation. She sat up straighter, causing the dog to pop its head up and look around. “You hear that, Princess, you’re getting a daddy,” she gushed, rubbing the dog’s head while it barked and wagged its tail.
“I thought you would see things my way,” Phil answered, that smug look still on his face. He grabbed the briefcase on the side of the chair and stood. Placing the case on my dad’s desk, he popped it open. “Here’s the contract and prenup I had my lawyer draw up, along with the NDA. We’ve already signed our parts. I’m sure you want your lawyer to look it over as well, so how about say three weeks? That’s more than enough time to get everything signed and the wedding out the way.”
“Three weeks? The wedding?” I blinked while furrowing my brows. “We’re not just going to elope?”
Xylina scoffed. “As if!” she huffed. “Do you know how long I’ve had my wedding planned? It’s going to be the event of the season. Good thing the planner has already been on standby with arrangements. The colors will be pink, lavender, silver, andwhite.” She tapped something on her phone then held it out. “Give me your number and I’ll text you the details. Your tux should be gray. I’ll send you the planner’s info so you can make sure to get her your guest list and details for the wedding.”
My eyes dropped to the phone.
“We can wait for the wedding to pass before Xylina moves in with you. That should give you enough time as well to find a suitable place to live.”
“Daddy’s going to purchase us a house as a wedding present.” Xylina beamed.
“Move in? Suitable place to live?” I asked, dumbfounded.
The more this meeting went on, the harder it was to keep my composure.
“I don’t need another grown man buying anything for me,” I expressed. “Also my house is fine and has enough space for?—”
“Absolutely not.” Xylina turned her nose up. “No offense, hubby-to-be, but I’ve seen your house. It’s cute and modest, but it won’t do. I mean, Princess doesn’t even have a yard to enjoy and you don’t even have a pool to relax in, in the summer. My closet is probably bigger than your bedroom alone. No, we need more space.”
The faint throbbing in my head began to intensify. I was trying to stay civil but all that was about to go out the window. It was one thing to agree to this ridiculous marriage, but being handled like I was beneath the Foxes wasn’t something I was about to let slide. My dad must have sensed I was losing my cool and was finally about to blow because he spoke up quickly.
“We’ll have my lawyer look over everything and get these back to you. Xylina, leave your number with my secretary and I’ll make sure Yosiah gets you everything you need.”
“Sounds good.” Xylina popped up. “C’mon, Princess, it’s almost time for your spa appointment anyway.” Xylina looked at me. “See you later, hubby-to-be.” She waved and settled herpurse on her shoulder. With that, she turned and bounced out the room.
“My daughter is used to a certain lifestyle, as you can tell. If you’re going to become my son-in-law, I expect you to live up to our standards.”
Phil didn’t bother glancing my way again. Closing his briefcase, he turned for the door. “Alonzo, I hope in the future you’ll take this as a lesson learned when it comes to doing business with certain people.”
Silence passed when it was just me and my dad. I was boiling inside. It felt as if I had just signed my life away to the devil.
My dad finally spoke. “Siah.”
I stood. “I need some time to gather myself.” Without bothering to give him another glance, I turned and stalked out the office, yanking the door open and storming out.
Nothing my dad was about to say would fix this bullshit he’d gotten both of us into. Phillip Fox had him by the balls and he knew that. The ball was in his court and there was nothing we could do to fix it.
For now, I had to play by the Foxes’ rules. Since I didn’t care about this wedding or marriage, I would allow Xylina to have her way with it. My parents taught me marriage was sacred and something beautiful. While I only ever wanted one marriage in my life, I knew now that wouldn’t be the case. For the next five years, Xylina would be my wife on paper to satisfy the terms her father demanded. By the end of all of this, the two of them would regret ever making this plan in the first place.