A fixed marriage alliance!

The morning felt like waking up in the morning, it was disturbing especially when one was trying to have a little sleep after a long night unfortunately for me I had to get up early hence the buzzing sound of the alarm had me jumping out of bed neat falling down but to my luck, I ended up on the soft carpet which was spread on the floor near my bed

"Oh goodness"I groaned in frustration and blows a few strands of hair off my face as I lazily stretched my arms and yawned carelessly

 For a second I thought it was a Monday when I had to wake up early for school but when my eyes lifted and shifted to my calendar I made for myself and saw that it was a Sunday. I beamed as I jumped to my feet feeling refreshed. I had nothing to do on Sundays that was why my aunt never bothered to wake me up, unlike yesterday when she had to come and disturb my sleep. My birthday already passed hence I just had to take a quick shower go downstairs and check all the lovely presents I received from everyone

"Aunt must have put them in the storeroom" I muttered as I opened my closet and started throwing my clothes out. This was my problem, when it came to finding what to wear, I got so freaked out that I didn't like anything. I wanted to go for a dark blue jumpsuit with long sleeves but then again looking out the window. The sun was too much, I could feel the crispy hot air blowing inside my room together with the chilled breeze

"No" I tossed a pink dress away

"Too baggy" I threw the loose white t-shirt away as well and a few jeans followed. I had no idea what I wanted and I was beginning to feel frustrated thinking if I had any new nice clothes to wear

"This?"I asked myself when I took out a strapped blue dress, it was a flora flair dress with soft fabric. It went well with some nice white sneakers and since I was a freak for sneakers. I smiled like a kid and rushed to my bed stepping on various clothes I scattered around

"This will do, "I said and quickly spread the dress on the bed and rushed to my shoe closet and took out the first pair of white sneakers I could find and set them beside the bed

I was happy to know I found something hence I was good to shower. It didn't take long before I had my warm shower, I hated long showers the most especially when I was in a hurry to go for a walk-in at the park

"Lucia...breakfast is ready, come down now!"Immediately I walked back to my room drying my hair with a white towel, I heard my aunt's loud voice calling on me and knew she was tired of waiting for me. I was stunned to find all my clothes packed away and my bed already made. My entire room was in perfect shape that I smiled mischievously and walked to the dressing table to get my body creams

After making sure I was ready, I rushed out of my room and went downstairs swinging my pink covered phone in my hands as I grinned happily to have some decent delicious breakfast

"Good morning Ms" one of the servants greeted me as I ran down the stairs and I nodded without stopping until I reached down. I had two choices to go to the dining room and have breakfast then again I received a text from Ariel and Eddie. We were supposed to go on an afternoon picnic to relax but I was damned if my aunt would allow it. I glanced towards my dad's study room which was on the ground floor and it was closed. Since last night I haven't seen him or talked to him. I was expecting a birthday gift from him as well as my brother

"Hey...Kenny...is my dad around?"I quickly asked our garden who was passing by heading upstairs and he stopped and smiled as he bowed to me. I felt bad because even someone older than me had to bow, Kenny was a middle-aged man who had been working for us for a long time. I respected him as my uncle and hated it when he treated me like a was a big deal

"Good morning miss...yes Mr Ramon is around as well speak '' Kenny said in a soft voice which cracked a little, he didn't speak much and I barely heard him talk. I understood him perfectly well hence I smiled at him

"Okay, thanks...you can proceed"I smiled back and bowed just like she did and scampered away to the dining area. Immediately I reached there I was stunned to find all the servants serving food. So many plates were on the table and the food smelled delightful that I beamed and rushed to my favourite seat which was closer to my dad's seat. 

"Good morning guys...is all this for me...wow..so much"I gasped, greeting all the servants who just nodded at me and carried on with their work and prompted me to sit down and smile. I had to take pictures of the food before I dug in and just as I was about to lift a lid from one of the covered dishes, a strong hand grabbed my delicate hand and without looking up I knew who it was. Fear washed over me as I felt sweat form on my forehead. Slowly I looked up and saw my brother glaring at me with disdain in his eyes. He was dressed in all black although not his usual suit

"M..Mateo...good morning" I stammered to say, not sure why I was so scared of my brother, but Mateo frightened me more than my father. He was too strict with everything and I was certain the dining set-up was important for him to be here

"What's all this?" he asked in a deep stern voice that carried no emotions. My throat went dry from fear as I slowly withdrew my hand and set the phone on the table and he let go of my hand

"Well...aunt called me for breakfast and…"I started saying but the look he gave me made me feel scared as I shut my mouth and lowered my gaze. My heart was racing fast as more sweat trickled down my forehead drenching me completely

"Go back and change...we are expecting important guests' 'he said and by the way, he voiced out the words I was certain he meant. I was confused as I looked down at what I was wearing and the dress was not that bad other than the fact that my shoulders showed and it was short reaching above my knees

"Mateo I.."I didn't even finish when I rose to my feet, if I wanted to be safe I needed to obey without question hence I distanced myself from my angry brother and prepared to head out when my aunt walked in

"Mateo...I don't think her dress is that bad...Lucia is my child...Mr Griffin and his family will be here soon" my aunt said with a smile as she walked to my side and made me sit back down. I didn't want to disobey my brother because he got angry very easily but my aunt kept her hands on my shoulders as if preventing me from standing up

"Then she better be on her best behaviour...we don't want this marriage alliance getting ruined"just like that my brother looked at me with anger in his eyes and said through gritted teeth. His words were like a sharp stab to my heart, not sure if I heard wrong. Did he say marriage alliance? I wanted to open my mouth and ask when he stormed out of the dining room leaving me confused as I quickly rose to my feet and turned to my aunt. She was smiling a while ago but seeing her facial expression now, I was certain something was going on

"A...aunt...marriage alliance...what's?"I was fully disturbed as I grabbed my aunt's warm hands into my cold ones. My eyes nearly watered as my chest tightened so much that I couldn't take it. My aunt Greta hesitated before she could answer and I was even more agitated as tears dropped for my face

"Aunt, say something...it's Mateo right..dad wants him to marry soon right?"I stammered to say hoping it was Mateo getting a marriage alliance, not me. We were only two children. Me and Mateo so who was it that was getting married. I was only 17 years old and I didn't want such things about arranging my marriage. I had plans to find someone I loved

"Lucia listen"my aunt finally said, more like whispered as she cuddled my face with her hand as if she wanted to console me and I knew what she was about to say

"No...no...dad can't do this...he can't do this to me" I cried out and shrugged my aunt away and ran out of the room. I needed to talk to my dad. He had to listen to me. My life wasn't a joke, I didn't expect him to make my life as if it was a business transaction. If he loved me one bit then he would listen to me

I rushed to the study room on the first floor but I found it locked and if Kenny said my dad was around. I ran towards the stairs as more tears flooded my face. I was hurt and didn't want my own family to treat me as if I was a possession to be given away on a platter like some contract for a multi-million dollar bill

Upon reaching the top of the stairs I didn't even mind the way I was heavily breathing. Tears on my face but I rushed to the left-wing of the mansion where our private lounge was and I heard male voices laughing. One was my dad's voice and the other one was none other than Mr Griffin's voice, he was my dad's best friend and Jace's father and once I reached the door I stopped abruptly not sure if it was the best time to bathe in on them knowing my dad would get upset with me. But I had to refuse. Yes, Jace was my friend but they had no right to decide for me. Marriage was a serious thing and I didn't want to marry someone I didn't love

I was about to push the door open boldly when I stopped upon hearing my father's words "don't worry our friendship will be sealed with this marriage alliance...your wealth and success plus mine will make us kings of Los Angeles" my dad said and I heard clinking of glasses and the two laughed even more. My knees went weak, tears flooded my face as I handheld the doorknob more like I was frozen in place. The marriage alliance wasn't with Mateo because Griffin didn't have any female children in his family. Jace told me he had an older brother too and no sister which meant. I was the one in the spotlight, my dad was busy planning my life like some business transaction.