Becoming Mrs. Martin

Austin's POV... "Mom! Dad!" I screamed from the top of my lungs as I try to free myself from the big guy who's holding me up as I see the others hurting my parents. "Stop it! Please! Mom! Dad! STOP!!!" "Oh, little boys SHOULD NOT meddle with adults business!!" One of the guys said turning to me. "UNDERSTAND??" "PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU..DON'T HURT MY SON..NOT MY CHILDREN..PLEASE.." My father begged as he cried and crawled over to the man. "I'll pay you..I'll pay you soon enough..I PROMISE!!" The man just kicked my father in his gut and my dad winced in pain. "NO!! STOP IT!" I screamed again. "KID, WILL YOU SHUT UP!!" the man yelled thunderously as he set his deadly gaze on me. My mom, bleeding with bruises all over her body, slowly approached me and my sister and embraced us protectively. She cried and held on to us tightly. "Just close your eyes, my babies. And cover your ears. Please just do what I say. It'll be over soon." My mom whispered, crying silently, as she embraced us more. "Just be quiet. Shhhhh..It's okay. We'll be alright.." "ENOUGH WITH THE DRAMA!!! I'm trying to get MY MONEY here!" said the boss angrily grabbing my father in his collar. "So what now??? Where's my money???" "PLEASE..give me more time..I'll get you your money.." my father pleaded with all his heart. "One week" said the man and released my dad. "One more week OR it's over..DON'T..TEST..MY..PATIENCE.." After saying those words, the man left with his little army. My mother then started to weep bitterly as she still held on to us tightly. My sister, eyes closed, is crying silently. She's still so young for this. And my dad..my dad just laid on the ground silently. He was crying bitterly, soundlessly, and I just can't see this anymore. "Dad?" I asked "Mom? Are you okay?" "We're fine, big boy!" said my Dad as he slowly got up and move to us to hug us tightly. I can see that he is badly hurt but he still managed to hug us. "We'll be fine. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry that you both have to see this, to experience this." "Dad, it's not your fault. Those guys are just mean and cruel. If you want, I'll just stop going to school. I can help you in the market instead. I can get a job and help you pay them back." I offered while getting out of our group hug. "Please let me help you, Dad..Mom.." My father was never a weeper. But right after I said those words, he groaned and tears started gushing out of his eyes like a waterfalls. He wept and he sobbed like a mad man, not saying anything. My mom let me and my sister go and hugged my dad instead, tightly. After a while, all our tears ran dry and my sister who is most probably tired of crying is now cuddled by my mom. My father spoke as he cleared his dry throat. "Son, I know you just wanted to help us. But you are just 10 yrs old." said my dad. "Don't ever say that again. Please." "I just want to help, Dad. I don't want to see you and Mom getting hurt every week." I cried "Please let me help you." "Big boy, you are already helping us by studying hard." Dad said firmly. "I want you to understand that your education is very very important. You are very smart, my son. I don't want you to waste your talent, okay? It's your gift for a better future. By studying hard and getting high grades in school, I know you will be having the brightest future. Your education will give you wings. Promise me, son..that no matter what happens, you will never give up on your education. Promise me that you will graduate from college with flying colors and land on a high paying job and secure your future." "But-" "NO MORE BUTS!!" my dad interrupted and made an eye contact with me "Promise me, my son!" "I PROMISE." I said wholeheartedly "I promise, dad..mom, I promise." "Good" my father said and hugged me tightly. "Very well. my son. Very well." My mom just smiled at me weakly with tears flowing from her eyes. I escaped from my dad's embrace and wiped my moms tears. "Please don't cry, mom." "Sorry. I just didn't realize that you really have grown up, sweetie." she said with a wide smile. "But still, remember, that you will always be my baby boy." "Mom.." I complained. I hate it when she says I'm still a baby boy. "Alright. Enough with our drama." said Dad and he checked on my mom. "You're bleeding, honey. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to protect you." "I'm fine, honey. You did your best. Besides, we are on this together." Mom said with a loving smile. I will never ever forget this day. This day, I promised myself that no matter what happens I will do everything to get my family out of this mess. I promised myself to finish my studies and get a good job. I promised myself that one day, I'll be able to bring good life to my family. So, whatever happens, I will fulfill that promise and NO ONE CAN STOP ME. Present Time... I shook my head to erase that memory of my past and smiled widely when someone covered my eyes with both hands. I can smell her scent and I definitely remember the size of her palms. I put down the papers that I'm holding and held on the hands that covered my eyes. "You don't have to do that, Alyssa. I know it's you." I said removing her palms from my eyes. "Ugh! I hate you! How can you be that good?" she complained and hugged me from the back. "I missed you, big bro..so so much!" "I missed you, too, cupcake!" I said and I turned around and faced her to hug her properly. "Why are you visiting me just now?" "Well, I was kinda busy with my gallery. And I just finished a fund-raising project." she explained and grinned. "I never missed to call you though." "I know. But still, I hate it when I don't get to see you for a very long time." I said as my shoulders shrugged. "It's like forever, you know." "Big bro, you just didn't see me physically for like a month! Duh? Plus, is video chatting me every now and then not enough???" she complained escaping from my embrace and sitting down the couch. "You really need to date, Austin." I see that she suddenly became serious. I knew it when she starts calling me by my name. And I hate it when we go to this kind of topic. "I am dating, my dear." I said laughing at her serious expression. "I mean seriously dating, Austin. Not just going out with some flings!!" she exclaimed. "You are not getting any younger, you know. Besides, aren't you afraid of karma? That by breaking all of those girls heart, someone will end up breaking yours in the end? " "Yeah, yeah. You sound like mom. Besides there is nothing to break." I said knowingly and felt a little pang in my chest. "Mine was broken years ago." "Austin.." Alyssa said softly and came to me with her comforting eyes. "You deserve to be happy. Don't you think it's about time?" "I am happy. My flings makes me happy, alright? And I'd like to end this discussion now." I said as I held her hand reassuringly and got back to the papers that I was checking on earlier. "You want to drink anything?" "No, thanks." she said as she sighed and looked at me intently. "You are really unbelievable! Why is it that every time I talk about you dating someone seriously, you always say something else or do something else like it's not a BIG DEAL?? ugh!" "Because it is really NOT A BIG DEAL, my dear cupcake." I calmly said and smirked at her. "Whatever, big bro. I'll make sure to let dad and mom know about this conversation. Lets see what they're going to tell you. Hmp!" she said like a child and relaxed at the sofa. She yawned after a while and dozed off to sleep. I weakly smile and went to her. I kissed her forehead and she winced but didn't wake up. Maybe because of the growing stubble in my face. I just laughed quietly and shook my head. I know that she is not just threatening me. She will really tell our parents. Well, even if that happens, they can't do anything about it. Mom and dad and Alyssa have been continuously annoying me about settling down. They always say that I am not getting any younger, blah blah blah and that I needed to settle down. I just smirked again and shook my head. Well, I am already 30 years old enjoying my life as it is. Now, I am the CEO of one the world's best chain of hotels and resorts. I am now a BILLIONAIRE. Yes, that's right. A self-made billionaire at a very young age. I worked my a*s off to get to where I am now. I did everything in my power to be one of the best. I had been patient and enduring. Now, I am enjoying the fruits of my labor. I am definitely satisfied and happy. Right? Am I satisfied now? Am I happy? YES, I SHOULD BE. I fulfilled my goal, my dream, and the promise I made to my family and myself. I am even blessed with more than I could ever hoped for. Now, my parents are living a good and comfortable life together, spending more time loving each other. And my sister, she is just so happy being an artist and travelling around the world showcasing her art skills and doing her fund-raising projects. No more loan sharks and gangsters chasing us. I shook my head again and dive into the papers waiting for me. "Get back to work, Austin." I muttered to myself That's what I do. I work and work and work. I am a certified WORKAHOLIC. And a certified PLAYBOY. Yes, as the magazines always say, I am one of the most eligible bachelor in town. I sighed knowing that deep within me, I feel like there is a missing piece that I needed to fill. I just don't know what but I know that it's there. A void space within me waiting to be filled up. Then I remembered her. I sighed out my frustration. It's always been her. Now, I can't concentrate. Good. I turned my chair over to the transparent glass that showcases the beautiful sight of the city. I just stared and stared and stared blankly. *** "Big boy, you are not getting any younger..and..besides, me and your mom are also NOT getting any younger. Of course, we already want to have some grand kids to take care of." Dad said firmly while we are all seated in the veranda having breakfast. "I hope you can consider it." "That's true, my dear. I definitely agree with your father. Austin, we believe it is time." Mom said while nodding her head continuously. "Ever since you graduated from that prestigious University of yours, you did nothing but work and work and work. And I know why you did that. I understand what you did. So now, we are all enjoying the fruits of your labor. And I am very proud of you. We are all proud of you. You have already accomplished a lot. And we are now okay. Austin, it is about time for you to settle down." "Mom, Dad, I really appreciate your concerns. But I just don't see the reason why I have to settle down. I mean I am happy now 'coz all of you are happy. I am satisfied. And that's enough for me." I said and ate a spoonful of my food. "Big bro, you are happy. Yes. But we just want you to be truly truly happy." Alyssa said with a wide smile. "Please, just think about it. I don't want to be the first one to get married, you know." I laughed at her serious expression. I looked at each one of them and they all are looking at me with hopeful eyes. I sighed and drank a full glass of water. "Is it still because of her?" Alyssa asked tactlessly. My eyes automatically turned cold and my body stiffened. "Sorry." she said immediately looking down upon realizing what she said. "Are you okay?" Mom asked. "Yeah." I said and breathe in deeply, surrendering. "Okay, fine. I'll think about it. I'll see if I can just find a suitable wife for me." "What about Cristine? I kinda like her." Mom suggested. "Cristine and I are just friends..with benefits..that's all." I said firmly. "Ew." Alyssa uttered as she acted to almost puke and I just laughed. "I'll handle this." I said looking at them. "My wife, my choice." Mom and Alyssa just shrugged their shoulders like they don't care. "Thank you, son." Dad commented. There faces lit up a bit after hearing my words and we continued having our breakfast. *** "Sir, here is the report that you asked for." Anthony said as he handed me a thick folder. "I have already prepared a slide for it as well." "Thanks, Anthony. I'll be in the conference room in five minutes. I want you to present it to me now." I said lazily as I wrap up the work that I am currently doing. "Okay, sir." he said and left. After 5 minutes... "So, is that all?" I asked after the presentation. "Yes, sir. So far, they are the top 50 finest ladies in town with a very good status and background." Anthony confidently said. "And choosing any of them will give us wider connections which can be very beneficial for our company." That's right. After that breakfast with my family, I thought about what they said. Maybe they are right. Maybe it's really time for me to settle down. I just needed a good wife from a good family. Someone who'll be a good mother to my future children. I looked at their profiles again. And a picture caught my attention this time. Well, this one looks..pretty! Anica Elaine Adams! Mr. Adams' daughter. Interesting. So I'll ask Anthony to look for some more details about her if she is a potential wife-to-be and make a presentation for me again. Right. I thought that I can just choose a wife from this presentation and marry. Why not? Marriage now can be treated like a business deal. It will give me more power and connections if I marry an heiress or someone with a powerful background. "Okay. I want you to check out further details on this lady. If she's already in a relationship, what happened to her past relationships and how is she with children." I said nonchalantly. "I want to know if she can be a good wife and mother to my children. That's all." "Copy, sir." he said "And make a way for me to meet her." I said and Anthony nodded. I stood up and went back to my office to continue working. I don't really care about it that much. Maybe I can think about it later when Anthony gives me the information I want. ***