9 The Deal He Made

We boarded the cruise where we will be cruising to fish and relax for the weekend. The cruise belongs to our family so this is not the first time that I’ve been here with Lucien and Zak. First off to our rooms. Thank god the cruise was luxuriously huge and had enough rooms for everyone. Being rich has its perk for sure this time, I thought, otherwise I’ll surely be sharing a room with Angela. If that was the case, I’d rather sleep out in the open…

After freshening up and changing into my white bikini I headed up on deck where Lucian and Zak were busy preparing our barbecue lunch. There were maids around on this cruise but I guess Zak and Lucien wanted to the experience of cooking our lunch themselves.

“Hi, boys!” I greeted them cheerfully with the brightest smile I could put on.

Their faces lit up with smiles as well as they greeted me. At times like these, I try my best to forget the mess of my life and just enjoy the moment as it comes. I decided to help them prepare the barbecue.

Angela soon came on deck wearing a very revealing red bikini. She looks like an adult magazine model, which is smoking hot. I have to give her fair credit where it’s due. I wonder how Lucien feels seeing her like that. Their engagement was sudden and although Lucien never explained it to me, I can sense that the elders probably had a big say in it. I wonder if Lucien loves her…

…

“Lucien, we have decided that it would be in the company’s and the family’s best interest if you marry Angela Woodwick. Her father’s business in energy and his tight ties to powerful politicians is what we need to further grow the family’s business. Her family is also wealthy and well recognized in foreign circles. Having you marry her will be for the best,” Elizabeth declared in a commanding voice. Elizabeth is currently the chairwomen of the company and the head of the elders.

Lucien looked up from where he knelt on one knee on the deep red carpeted floor at the 3 elders. Our company and therefore, family, is run by the “elders”. The elders are chosen by vote from family members to take on management of the company and also of family affairs with the sole purpose of making decisions that would be best for the company’s and family’s interests. Strictly business and void of any human emotions, they view family members merely as resources to expand the business. Each family member’s path in life is destined by the elder group from a young age including: education, training, career, dating, marriage, etc. However, in the end the elders are human and if you please them well enough, there will start to be room for negotiations.

Today, Lucien is here to make the second big negotiation of his life with the elders and for that to go through, he must make big sacrifices.

“I will agree on two conditions,” Lucien said in a monotonous voice.

“So, you want to make a deal? Sure, what are your conditions?” Elizabeth asked without any surprise in her voice. She knew that Lucien would not agree to a loveless marriage without placing conditions.

“One, I will divorce her when the business deal has gone through and the set-up is complete or in two years, whichever comes first. Two, Natalia will become my lover and next marriage partner. You all will acknowledge her immediately as such and treat her so,” Lucien stated the conditions that he had prepared.

Lucien wants Natalia as his wife? Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed as she glanced to the other elders on either of her side. To acknowledge Natalia as Lucien’s lover and future wife would mean that we won’t be able to touch her or arrange any marriage prospects for her. Is this what Lucien is going after? He’s married her mother before and now he wants to marry the daughter, what does he aim to gain?

“Fine. We, the elders, agree to this proposal. You will announce your engagement to Angela as soon as possible. However, if Natalia does not wish to become your lover or marry you, we will not force her in the matter,” Elizabeth agreed to Lucien’s proposal. Future problems can be dealt with later, for now, the business contract comes first. Angela’s father is trying to cover up many of his daughter’s scandals and is willing to invest so much money in the company if that means he can marry his daughter off. The fact that Angela is smitten with Lucien is making this deal much easier for both sides.

The elders got up from their seats, signaling the end of their conversation. Lucien got up and turned to leave the cold hall.

“Wait for me, Natalia…” he whispered under his breath to none other than himself.

…

It’s not often that we’re on a cruise, so I am determined to enjoy myself. Zak and I went for a dip in the pool on the ship’s deck. The weather is so nice and sunny today, the wind in my hair feels refreshing, the birds flying up above seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.

“Feeling better? You’ve been feeling down for a while now, right?” Zak asked in a soft tone as he moved to sit even closer to me in the water.

“Might as well enjoy ourselves while we can. Are you ok though? You know, about Annie…” I trial off.

“It doesn’t bother me, to be honest. I’ve always known that I wouldn’t be able to choose who I marry. As you know, I’ve spent most of my life negotiating with my mother and the elders to pursue my career. They wouldn’t let me model outright but I eventually could get involve in fashion, arts, film and I could lead marketing for our family business. If dating Annie is the price that I have to pay to keep those things, I guess it isn’t so bad,” Zak explained his viewpoint passively.

--To be continued...