Billionaire Leader and his Dr Wife

Chapter 4- The family meeting

Daniel Stuart Cooper

“I want to marry her”

Every eye is now staring at me. There is pin drop silence in the room. My dad seemed to be shocked; my mom looks like she wants to cut me apart. I know my parents will be hurt because their son is going insane over an unknown girl for the first time in his life. Silence was broken by William

“Do you love her? Who is she? What is her name?”

“I don't know,” I said awkwardly. 

“Then how could you kiss a strange girl in a public elevator. Even if the elevator is reserved it is in a public place. And what was she doing in our family elevator?” My mom was furious at me. 

“Did she seduce you? Was she actually plotted by someone or was she a w***e? It was Abraham who asked the question as he had always faced such a situation in his life.

“No, she didn’t seduce me. I don't think she is plotted by someone either. It is the first time I have seen her. She might have entered the elevator without knowing it is a reserved elevator. I don't know why but I want to make her mine at first sight. I am not falling for a woman. It's just that she had an innocence which is eternal. That's why I want her. I want to marry her” I defended the girl.

“You should at least know her name. She might be a characterless b***h or else she wouldn’t have kissed you.” My dad yelled at me.

“No it was me who kissed her before she could resist. It's my fault” I again defended her. There was a knock on the door just after I finished. Harold, my mom's secretary, came in and greeted everyone.

“Good morning Cooper family. Mrs Cooper, I have investigated and obtained the details of the girl.” So I assumed that mom had already sent her men behind the girl in the elevator. My heart beat increased as my eagerness to know about her is going to end. I fixed my eyes on Harold.

“Go on Harold” mom said

“The girl in the news with young Mr Cooper is Dr Hazel Maria Mathews. She works at Medicare hospital as a general practitioner. She is the second child of Thomas Mathews and Helga Mathews. She has an elder sister Tessa who works as secretary to the CEO of genesis builders and younger brother who had recently joined as a trainee in our Kingsville office. Mathews family is a middle class family and Mr Thomas works as an accountant in a private firm. Her mom is a housewife. About her character, she is a simple girl with self respect. Most importantly she is a virgin. She never had any relationship neither in her college nor at her work place. Yesterday she had come to meet her sister at Genesis builders. Only Ms Hazel knows why she entered the private elevator.” Harold finished his findings.

I felt relieved and happy. She is neither a spy nor a w***e. I could see various reactions on the faces of my family members. Uncle Wilson was the first to react

“Thank God she is a virgin. At least we could consider her."

“But what about her family? They are in no way a match for the Cooper family. It’s like we are pulling ourselves in the dirt” Mom was against my wish.

“But we have to react to the news or else we will destroy our political reputation and family name. We can’t afford it.” Uncle Henry backed my wish. My cousins nodded their heads in approval. Everyone now looked at my dad.

“Dani is our only son. I want to see him happy. If he wishes to marry that girl then I would support him.” I never expected these words to come from my dad’s mouth. Mom stood frustrated as she was outnumbered and she had to agree for the marriage. I was happy that I am going to get that girl as mine and only mine. 

Harold arranged the meeting of two families at one of our hotels. The hotel was situated at the centre of Manchester city. A private room was arranged for the meeting. Mathews' family were already there when we arrived. I looked around to find my girl. My eyes met hers. She looked away from me as soon as our eyes met. Everyone greeted each other and seated around the table. Hazel was sitting opposite me. I wanted to talk to her but she looked away from me. I could understand that she was embarrassed with what happened yesterday. 

“We are here to discuss an alliance between the families.” Dad said.

“Discuss? What’s there to discuss. We are here to tell them our decision to marry their daughter into the Cooper family. It’s their good luck or else they won’t even get a chance to be a servant of the Cooper family.” Mom cut-off dad’s words and I can’t understand why mom is behaving so arrogantly. I could see Hazel clenching her teeth. She was looking as if she wanted to shout. Hazel's father stood up and bowed his head in honour and said

“We are honoured. It is obviously my daughter's luck to get an alliance from the Cooper family. We are really grateful that you invited us for dinner.” Her mom stood up beside Hazel’s father and supported her husband.

“The Cooper family has the full authority to plan the wedding. Our daughter is now your possession. We are honoured to give our daughter to your son.” 

“Okay then we will register the marriage in a week and will have a royal wedding in one month. Tomorrow Dani and Hazel will meet the press along with the Cooper family and announce the marriage.” My mom declared. Both families tossed in the name of me and Hazel. With that food was served and all ate in silence. I watched Hazel who was just sitting dumbstruck and was barely eating.

Hazel Maria Mathews

After our discussion about the event in the elevator Tessa and Robin went to their workplace. Dad took leave as he was feeling ashamed to face others. He was always a man with pride. He would rather prefer to die than lose his pride. I had already switched off my phone, fed up with the constant ringing.

A man came in the afternoon and introduced himself as Harold, secretary of Mary Cooper. I was at home as I took leave because of the news. I was not in a mood to face the questions. Harold said that the Cooper family wanted an alliance with the Mathews family. My parents were excited as was my brother Robin. Except me everyone was happy. The Cooper family has invited us for dinner tonight. After Harold left I burst out.

“How could you all do this to me? You are ready to give away your daughter to a person who had molested her. I will never marry that bastard. I will not go to the dinner”

“You filthy creature, how dare you speak against your family's decision. We have not asked your consent. You have put our name at stake. No one will ever believe us. Even though it's not your fault the world will always blame the weaker one. Here you are the weaker one and people will only blame you. They are more powerful and we could never stand against the Cooper family. It's their great heart that they have accepted you. We have decided and you will marry Daniel Cooper.” My dad blasted. 

“Baby, look it’s your good luck that you have got such a man whom you could never dream of. After the news it will be really hard to get a new alliance. You have kept yourself innocent till now. Might be this is a reward for your good deeds. Now be a good girl and get ready for the dinner” Mom then took the phone to call Tessa. I could hear her explaining things to Tessa and telling her.

“Tessa, go and get the best designer dress for Ria to wear for dinner tonight.”

I couldn't do anything. I am moving with the waves. Tessa will be going to buy designer wear. It will be the first time I will be wearing a designer dress but I am not happy. I don't want to marry him.

We reached the hotel early and waited for the Cooper family. Cooper's family arrived almost an hour later. I recognised the man who kissed me. I now know he is the most handsome bachelor in the country. He is a billionaire who is getting ready to enter politics. When our eyes met I quickly diverted my eyes. We greeted each other and sat down. I was thinking how uncultured they are. They didn't even feel sorry for keeping us waiting. The man I thought to be Daniel Cooper’s father first spoke in a polite way about the marriage alliance. But a rude and arrogant voice of a woman came who stated that it is their decision to marry me to their son. She was Daniel’s mother Mary Cooper. She again insulted my family for not being worthy of being their servants. I was about to speak when my mom held my hands under the table and motioned me not to speak. My parents bowed to them and accepted their words without any objection. They even stated me - their daughter as Cooper family's possession. My life is being decided without my consent. I couldn’t eat anything as I have lost my appetite. My marriage is being fixed. I will be married to a man who I hate, in one week and a royal wedding will happen in one month. It’s the dream of every girl to have a royal wedding but not mine especially at the present situation. I am going to marry a man about whom I don’t know anything and I am sure I am going to be in hell if I marry him. Do I have to sacrifice my life to save my family’s pride? I have to do it because for my dad his pride is more valuable than anything else in this world and if I oppose the marriage, dad and mom will be devastated.