Betrothed To The Hottie Billionaire

Chapter 5: A Twisted Fate

Elizabeth’s POV

"Elizabeth, there's something else we need to discuss," Dad tried to look away from me, his voice laced with a strange mix of anger and resentment.

"Your mother and I, we've... we've arranged a marriage for you."

I stared at him, disbelief drawn on my face. I opened my mouth, and air poured out. No words, the second trial, and a whisper poured forth.

"His family's business has fallen on hard times, but the alliance would be mutually beneficial."

"I don't understand," I said. My heart seemed to stop pumping blood.

"We once owed his now non-existent company some huge amount of money years back, and I and the rest of the board members, or should I say..." He gave a slight nervous cough.

" Your mother and I had decided not to pay him. You can't give a pig diamonds, you know." He said. He looked at Tana, who flashed a smile at him. "So we have come to the conclusion that we will not pay that debt and that in replacement, you will be his wife."

The last words. God… I almost died. What was happening to me?

"You are using me to pay off a debt ?" I shrieked. I shook my head vehemently. "No, I won't do it. I love Tony, and I won't marry someone else just because you say so. I won't be a kind of collateral."

My mother's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp, piercing, filled with thorns. "This is not up for discussion, Elizabeth. You will meet him, and you will do your duty to this family. You will do as we have said."

"Duty?" I scoffed, the bitter taste of the word leaving a sour note on my tongue. "Since when.... When have I been nothing more than a bargaining chip for your own gain? Why me?”

"If it's not you, who else do you want it to be? Me ?" Dad asked suddenly, drawing a muffled laughter from Tana

"I can't marry a stranger. I barely know him."

"You barely know him, or you are making excuses because he is poor. '' Mom retorted.

"Give him a few more years."

That was Tana."Who knows, he might win a jackpot." She said and burst out laughing.

"No, I won't, Dad." I shook my head, ignoring Tana.

My father's expression darkened. "Elizabeth, you will do as we say. This is not open for negotiation. The meeting between you and him is 3 pm, and you will be there.

You will be leaving for Ohio first thing tomorrow morning. How you both plan your wedding is none of our business. Don't expect any family members or media coverage to be there. We can't afford to be disgraced."

With that, he walked away, leaving me standing. My legs trembling with a mix of fear, bitterness and despair. "I won't do it. I won't sell myself off to the highest bidder." I tried to put up a fierce front, but I was quivering.

There was a calculating, cold glint in Mom's eyes.

"You don't have a choice. You must do as you are told, Elizabeth. You will do this, or you can forget about being a part of this family ever again."

She finished and was about to walk away when she stopped and turned to look me in the eyes. "Alexander Blackwood. That's the name of the pauper."

I packed a little luggage first thing the following morning. I headed to the airport with a sorrowful heart. I was relieved to be rid of the fragments of my life, but I needed to alter my destiny in order to reach my goal. I called a cab.

It was time to make a fresh start.

The taxi ride was a blur as a thousand ideas and feelings raced through my head.

I grabbed my things as the taxi pulled into the parking lot and stepped outside, my gaze fixed on the towering office building nearby. The cabbie, who had been waiting for me patiently, looked at me in confusion.

"Pardon me, I have to head to the address I gave you," I said, scowling.

The driver chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. It is the headquarters of Blackwood Enterprises, one of the largest conglomerates in the area, and you are already there, ma'am."

"Blackwood Enterprises? I was supposed to be going to a simple office, not a corporate headquarters," I thought as a wave of trepidation passed over me, making my heart skip a beat.

The driver shrugged, a tiny smile crossing his lips. "It appears that your journey has taken an unexpected diversion. I wish you luck, Miss. You're about to enter a world very different from the one you left behind."

I was skeptical about going in. I didn't know where I was or anything.

Shit!

I was supposed to be in a hotel first, but the repeated messages from Dad and Mom asking me a turbulent set of questions made me go into the magnificent towering building.

The receptionist welcomed me with a sad expression; she tried to smile, but it was shaking. "We have been expecting you." She said, helping me to keep my luggage in a safe place. She led me up the stairs and then to a magnificent oak door.

We stood there knocking before we had a ruffled voice. "She is here, boss." The receptionist said, staring down at her shoes

I stared at the most beautiful and opulent office I had ever seen. He stood there, his broad shoulders facing us, and his sleeves were so tight that they hugged his biceps like second skin.

One hand was thrust into his front pocket, and the other holding a wine flute.

"Leave us." Came the rich, deep, and silky voice in a rude tone.

What was going on here? This was not what I was told back home. My supposed husband was supposed… No, there was a mistake somewhere.

"It's not a mistake." He said as if reading my thoughts. "I won't introduce myself." He said as he slowly turned around to look at me

I gasped. The most handsome human being in the world stared back at me. His gray eyes stared back at me.

This perfect stranger.

"You can run a Google search on me." He said arrogantly and struck a pose that models on magazine covers would kill for.

"Elizabeth Juanita Bach, it's nice meeting you. I'm quite sure that you have been briefed on everything you need to do."

I stared and blinked back in confusion.

"I don't....."

"You don't have to understand." He said and walked past me. His shoulders hit mine softly. “Get ready. We are getting married tonight."