Being A Michelson

Chapter 3:Agreement

Maddie's POV

I recognized that voice. It was the same guy from the mall. What the heck is he doing here?

"Sorry for my tardiness, I was stuck in traffic," I said, offering an apologetic smile to my brothers as I made my way to sit down next to them.

"Don't worry, principessa, we were just getting started."

Why does he have to be so damn hot? The way his suit hugs the right parts of his body, those muscles. His dark brown hair looks messy, almost like he's been running his hand through it multiple times. How would it feel to have his body against mine? Is he the type of man to take a lady on a date, or is he the one to go straight to bed? Either way, it wouldn't be bad to shoot my shot.

"Maddison, are you listening?" Elijah's voice brought me back to reality.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"Maddie, this is Raymond Stark from Stark Corporation and his son Xander Stark, your future fiancé."

"My what..." I couldn't even finish my sentence.

"I'm your fiancé, principessa."

"No. You wouldn't do this to me, you guys promised," I screamed at them, trying to hold in my tears. "You can't, I won’t." All those thoughts I had for him suddenly turned into disgust. I got up and ran out of the meeting room, not caring about my brothers' reactions. I ran straight to the fire escape, making my way towards the roof of the building. They promised...

1 Year Ago...

'M, you know that your eighteenth birthday is coming up, and you know what it means, right?" said Elijah.

"Elijah, I don't want to get married just yet. I want to party for a while, enjoy college, maybe travel around a bit before I settle down. I still have all these plans and goals I want to accomplish. Please don't make me do it."

"You know it's tradition. Once a young lady is at her rightful age, they are ready to get married, especially when it comes to being in an old-money family."

"So you're telling me that my job is to marry someone for their money, and it sounds more like a transaction instead of an actual marriage. I want to marry someone for love, not for power. Please, big brother, promise me you will give me the chance and let me find someone I will love with all my heart, please." After giving him the biggest puppy eyes, he agreed and promised me he wouldn't do it, and now look at what he did.

"Maddison, that was rude of you to walk out like that. You're putting this whole negotiation at risk," said Cole.

"Does it look like I give a damn?"

"Maddie, please calm down," said Nick.

"Calm down? You want me to calm down after this big bomb you guys dropped on me? Especially since you promised me you wouldn't do this to me," I yelled directly at Elijah.

"Look, M, I’m sorry I have to do this to you. But this marriage gives us the opportunity to expand more into European countries..." I didn't let him finish his sentence. I raised my hand and slapped him in the face. I'd never gone rogue, but with all my emotions all over the place, I started to punch him. "Fight back, why won't you fight back?" Eventually, I slid down his body, trying to prevent a panic attack.

"M, please breathe, breathe, Maddie," said Cole. After about ten minutes of trying to compose myself, I tried wrapping my head around it, but I couldn't. I know it's my duty to do it, but I couldn't forgive them for their betrayal. Maybe if they had told me months before, I wouldn't have reacted like that. But no, they decided to keep this from me, and that hurts like hell. So I told them I would pay my part, but don't expect me to be the same little sister they had before this whole mess. They are dead to me once this contract gets signed. I might forgive them, I might not. They say it takes time to heal, but I don't know if time would work for this situation.

Heading downstairs again into the meeting, my brother apologized for my behavior and continued with the signing of the contract. Each of my brothers signed, and once it was my turn, I heard them say, "Always and forever," our family motto. But what happens when a family betrays you in the worst way? I signed, trying to hold back my tears. Nick told his assistant to bring out champagne and some glasses. I didn’t let his assistant fill my glass; instead, I got up and left. I was trying to get to my car as fast as I could. I made it to the garage when someone pulled me by the arm. That's when I saw those green, beautiful eyes—Xander.

"Let go of me."

"Principessa, don't cry."

"I said let me go." He released my arm. "Aren't you happy? You got what you wanted, didn't you?"

"Mi amore..." I didn't let him finish. I got into my car and drove away. I didn't feel like driving back home, so I drove to Davi's house. Once she opened her door, I let all my tears out. I told her everything that had happened. After crying for about two hours, I couldn't cry anymore. I needed something to take my mind off it. I needed to forget, even if it was just for a few hours. We decided to drink that night, so we called for backup and went to one of my family's clubs, Lightfall.