Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"Dad, you can't force me into doing what I don't want, this is one of the many reasons I left home. Mom, talk to your husband, let him know he has no right to order me around."

Of all the things Noni had thought her parent would want to talk to her about, it never crossed her mind that it will be marriage. It's sounded so weird and foreign to her ears she has never thought of marriage.

"Noni," listen to me, this is the only way to keep the business in our family if Alex or Steven takes over the company completely without any kind of family bond our legacy of over fifty years will be lost. And I don't want that."

Her Dad explained. But Noni didn't even want to think about herself getting married not to talk of someone she has never met. Wait make that two people. Her dad just mentioned two names.

Throughout the night she had wondered why her parent asked to see her and why she had answered them at all. She could have just ignored the emails and calls. Now see even after leaving the house for ten years they still feel they have a hold on her. That's the only reason they dared to call her here talking about an arranged marriage.

"Dad, you are forgetting something it's not our company it's your company." She said getting up in anger. I have never considered myself a part of this family because you, the both of you never once in my eighteen years of living with you, make me feel like I am part of this household." She added.

"Calm down Noni," her mom said in a rather tiny voice. She was so different than the mom she knew. Her mom has always been a vibrant woman. But right now she looked timid and withdrawn.

"Noni, I am not asking you or forcing you but I am pleading with you to help save the family business, we both know that we were not the best parent to and we both regret it. But please don't turn your back on us completely, when you came here yesterday we were both shocked because we had not expected that you will answer our call. The fact that you are here means you still see us as your parent despite everything that happened. So please, can you consider doing us this favor?"

His father explained in a pleading voice that was so unlike her dad. He never begged he always command.

"Dear, please listen to your father." Her mom added.

"Mom," she called

"You guys should be happy that I still call you that do not expect anything, from me because I am not gonna let you rule my life by telling you to do something that I do not want I am no longer sixteen, that was twelve years ago." She added moving towards the door.

"But, why can't Nathan take over the business or Evans even though I know Evans wants nothing to do with you guys. Nathan is your heir dad, let him take over." Noni said.

Her oldest brother would gladly take over the business up until she had left home her father had been grooming him to take over. She just doesn't get why her dad won't give the company to Nathan and let him manage it himself since he was no longer competent. Why give it to a stranger? She thought.

Her father's sad laughter brought her out of her thought.

"What's funny she asked?"

"It's not funny, nothing is funny anymore Noni. Your brother is the reason we are in this mess I gave him leadership for only two months while I recover from an illness and he gambled with the company's money leaving us in debt. Giving the company out is the only way of saving it"

"So, your favorite child turned out to be a gambler? Wow, even the child you gave so much attention to turned out worst than the ones you neglected?"

Noni asked looking at both of her parents. Her mom bowed her head as if she was ashamed. They looked so different. Even acted so different. Or maybe they are trying to play a part so that they can manipulate her into doing what they want. Well, she is not gonna be a tool for business not when she had fought for her freedom from a young age.

They have aged so much in the ten years since she had seen them. The last time she had seen them was when they came to her hostel in school to tell her that if she doesn't return home they will cut her off completely. She had not bothered to return cuz she had made up her mind. She had left school and looked for a job. Thankfully she had managed to go back to school when she had gathered enough money. Working part-time jobs while still in fashion school had helped her a lot when she had graduated she didn't have to pay any student loan.

"Noni, we are not asking you to make a decision right now we just want you to think about it. and also we hope you give us a positive answer."

"No, dad I don't need to think about anything, I am not gonna marry someone I don't know just so you can keep your business. You didn't do anything to make you worthy of receiving such favor from me." She replied.

"Child I.."

"I need to go now I have a business to take care of today." She said cutting her dad off.

"Okay, we won't stop you but I will forward Alex's number to you and that of Steven too. Please meet up with them."

"You think I would do that?" She asked looking back to her father.

"Yes, you will because you will do anything for the people you love." Her father said.

Noni laughed.

"And you think I love you?" She asked

"Keep dreaming," she said and walked out of the house.