CHAPTER 14

Damien's POV

In order to exit the vehicle before Fred could open the door, the automobile stops in the driveway. I then open the door by myself.

Work was crazy today, and if my mother hadn't asked me to dinner, I wouldn't be here. She is tenacious and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

She wants to speak to me about planning the wedding, and I know that. I chose to see her now rather than tomorrow since I had been intending to see her for a while.

I could still see her shocked expression when I told her I was just getting married to my assistant. She may not be familiar with Lisa, but she found the idea of getting married to one of my staff members to be a tremendous bummer.

I'll find out today what she thinks of the pairing, and then I'll persuade her to let me do what I want.

I can't convince Lisa that marriage isn't right for everyone if I don't do this and marry Lisa.

I don't want to get into any lifelong obligations, and being married to her choice of woman would make things difficult. I don't have time to deal with any women who would be difficult for me. That's the one thing that makes marriage terrify me.

People continue to get married every day despite all the difficulties that come with it, which makes me question why people still see this as a top priority.

Despite the fact that it is not an accomplishment, they present it as such. At the end of the day, whether due to divorce or death, what good does it do to be married and to be divided?

Nothing!

nothing at all.

I have to enter the English country house of my parents because the footman unlocks the door.

"Good morning, Mr. Russell," the footman bows formally.

The woman maid who looks after Mother comes and smiles at me before I can respond.

I give her a grin and call her "Ms. Susan".

She makes a courteous bow. Master, welcome. Ma'am, I'm in the dining room already.

I say "thank you" before advancing past them both.

I immediately notice I haven't eaten a satisfying meal since yesterday when my stomach begins to growl. I don't like breakfast. I am used to having coffee every morning and seldom pack a lunch.

After a nice shower and going without food, I went to bed last night since I was so fatigued when I arrived home.

As I go closer, I can hear the conversation from the eating area. As I approach the dining room, I see that Mother and Father have already started eating without waiting for me.

When Mother looks up and sees me, her face bursts into excitement.

Mother calls, seeming pleased to see me, "Damien." Father raises his head to look at me as I approach and grinned at me as well.

The question "You came?" As the maid starts putting my food on the plate for me, he asks while gazing down at his meal. My Mother is seated exactly next to my Father at the head of the dinner table. Up until I pull one out, the other chairs are unoccupied.

I respond, "Yes, Father", and take a seat. "How are you doing, Dad?"

He had stopped working five years before due to a stroke and gave me all of his businesses, which I merged to mine to make me a multi-millionaire.

Even though I wanted to do things my way and didn't want to accept Mother's interference, I was forced to.

I nod and begin to dig my cutlery into the meal once the maid has served it because she said, "I thought you were going to come with your bride-to-be." Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

I mutter between bites, "She is busy getting ready for the wedding."

Even though I know Mother won't hide such a thing from him, I still plan to talk to Father about the wedding tonight after dinner.

Father would encourage me and isn't as demanding as Mother. The challenge is persuading Mom.

She frowns instead of smiling, heaving a "Uhmm" sound. We keep eating quietly.

I miss having meals here. I miss the flavor of Eva's specialties and the aroma of the spices. It makes me think of my home in a lot of ways.

The mother finishes her meal first and clears her throat to indicate that she will speak next. I wait till I'm done with mine before looking up.

Father says, "Your Mother informed me you're getting married. I am aware that this is why you were invited, and now you are here.

Yes, to Lisa. I toss the dishes aside and nod while slurping down the last of the fruit juice that is set in front of me.

The question "Your Assistant?" He asks, and I occasionally nod. "The person I met before?" I nod once more while relaxing a little more on the bench.

Mother's frown is still there, but this time it expresses displeasure.

Have you considered what others may say if they learned that you were getting married to one of your employees? I wonder what this lady must have told him as he interrogates with a more serious face.

Father and former employee. She no longer collaborates with me, I say firmly, disliking the direction the talk is going.

It doesn't matter whether she was your employee in the past or not. He shakes his head and says, "What counts is that she works with you or that she used to work with you.

I confidently say, "It doesn't matter," while demonstrating by opening my arms widely.

Yes, it does.

I keep saying, "It doesn't."

Father again complains, "It does. Have you considered what the general public would say? She is employed by one of your businesses. What about the workers at the other firms, if the other employees comprehend? What impression do you want to make on them? Where is the no-to-employer-employee connection regulation now? Remember that you brought that rule yourself? What took place?"

"Love happened," I realize as my rage builds. He must have been given a lot of bullsh*t by Mother for him to be so determined to persuade me to wed someone else.

Lisa is the only one I desire. She is the one lady who can offer me the tranquility I deserve. No wonder Lisa is the only woman who would comprehend the terms of this fake marriage. Only she will accept and abide by all the terms of the agreement we made.

Finally, Lisa is the only lady who would wish to leave after a year.

She had no desire to wed me. I made use of her predicament to my advantage.

I break the pause by saying, "I love her, Father," while turning to face my mother. Father's expression is emotionless, while Mother is shocked. "In the same manner that you married my mother out of pure love for her. That is what is taking place. Shouldn't you both be delighted for me? Already two years have passed. Nothing except utter pain for two years. After what happened, I never thought I'd fall in love again, but crap happens. Her humility and modesty enchanted me. I assume that you both want me to get married. I am now doing it. Why then does it seem that you are not behind me?

The stillness lasts for a bit until Father breaks it.

"We're going to stand by your side. We only want to make sure that you are doing it appropriately. What if she is a fraud and a money digger?

"What?!" I shout out loud. "A gold digger?"

"Yes. She has worked with you for more than a year, and...

"Dad, this girl is not looking for quick cash. I clench my teeth in irritation as I say, "She is good, honest, modest, diligent, and a f***ing virgin.

The final sentence is something I didn't want to add, but I keep doing it. Perhaps it will persuade them that she is unique compared to the other females out there.

I try to calm myself down by clearing my throat, taking a long breath, and observing how they are both looking at each other.

You must have noticed her. "You spoke with her and saw her twice," I say as I fix my gaze on Father. The question, "What do you think of her?"

He gives a nonchalant shrug. "Your Mother has a negative opinion of her, but I don't really think highly of her,"

He is abruptly cut off by Mother, who says, "Anna is a better person."

"Anna?" With brows raised with suspicion, Father and I turn to face her.

Yes, your new assistant, Anna Nicole. Her father has a sizable legal practice, while her mother owns Emily's Fashion House.

Are you attempting to pair me up with the daughter of your friend? I abruptly cut her off. It is clear that she withheld the cause of her disdain for my wife from Father. She limited her remarks to what she thought of Lisa.

She gives me an eye roll and says, "Of course not." "I'm just trying to protect my son,"

"Mother, you did the same thing with Helena. You just heard me say that I am in love, and now you want to introduce me to someone I don't even know. How do you see that operating? She is quiet once I yell at her a little bit.

My annoyance is growing as Father remains silent. I detest this about him the most. He has poor decision-making skills. He gives my mother practically complete authority. Even when he takes a choice, he doesn't follow through with it.

Father mutters angrily, as if he can hear my thoughts, "I am not in support of matching our son to Roger's daughter."

Why not?" He's your buddy, right? The mother responds, and I get more enraged at her lack of empathy.

Saying, "You know what?" As I immediately get up, I pull my seat out. Father and Mother look at me with interest. "Since this is about you and what you think, I'm not getting married anymore," she said.

"What?!" Her eyes widen as she shouts in shock.

She gets a "yes" from me. "I will no longer be getting married to Lisa, Anna, or anybody else you want me to. I'm going to live a single existence!"

I whirl back without anticipating their answer and advance toward the entrance.

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