Under the smile

“Father please!! I cannot marry him” I pleaded with him.

“I have made my decision. It is what is best for this family” my father said in a stone cold voice not even moved by the fact that I was wailing my eyes out.

“Mother please! Talk to father. I would do anything he asks but not this. I cannot do this. I cannot marry someone I do not love please!”

I could not do this. I have seen what entering into a loveless marriage could do to you.

There were nights were my mother would cry her self to sleep because she could not be with the one she truly loved. It might not be all that bad for some people as they might end up falling for each other or sometimes become the best of friends. But not my parents. There were times my father would not pay any attention to my mother. He would leave her locked up in the house while he went about his daily activities. It was obvious he did not like her. He only tolerated her existence and married her in order to join the two families together and form a stronger empire.

My mother was lonely. When she was finally pregnant with me she was happy. She thought she would finally have someone to talk to. But she thought wrong. As I grew I saw my mom less and less. Not because she did not have my time or something of that sort but because my father saw it as a form of weakness to get attached. So instead of staying by my mother’s side, he’d take me to his office to learn a thing or two. And on days where I did not go to his office I was trained to defend myself, While being home schooled. My father was a multi billionaire and it was not a shock that he dealt with underground business.

We were known for numerous dealings in and across the country. We weren’t just an ordinary family we were the kings family no one messed with us and got away with it. And to my father I was his glorious puppet. His to control and mold to the perfect child he wanted.

He taught me everything I know especially about family.

Family was everything. It was a mantra I recited when I was a kid.

You kill for family but can’t kill your family

You betray for your family but never family

You lie for your family but never to your family.

Above all else you are loyal to your family above anyone and anything else.

These words became stuck in my head. For everything there was a punishment attached.

Killing of a family member was death in it’s cruelest form.

Betrayal was death of your loved one. The worst part is you get to watch the person die because of your sin I don't think anyone can bear to see life drain from someone you loved dearly because of you. As if that was not enough you stay in the room with the decomposing body until you die or by some miracle was forgiven which was very rare.

For a lie, no matter how little, you either got two hundred lashes of the whip or you got your tongue cut off depending on the severity of the lie.

I remember on my twelfth birthday, I invited some friends over and a friend broke a jar. In trying to defend her I told my dad it was me. I mean I thought it was no biggie. It was just a tiny lie. That was the day I knew that when it came to my father honesty was best and there was no such thing as a little lie.

Finding out that it was not me who broke the jar ,my father ordered Rowan to give me the punishment. At first I thought it was something light. I was whipped till I passed out. I woke up covered in blood with my mother and the maids trying to do the best they can to clean to wounds from my back.

“Go get the doctor” she said addressing the maids.

“Why did you lie!” she said immediately after they left. I could not reply.

“do you like being hurt?! Answer me” she tried to shout but it came out as broken whispers.

“I’m sorry mum. I was just trying to protect my friend”

“ You will not see those people again”

“But mum!!!”

“ am I understood Sapphire”

“Yes mother”

She tried so hard to fight it but I saw the tears drop down from her eyes.

****. ***** ******

How would I tell Mark. How do I tell him that we could not be together because I was getting married in eight days to a man I have never met in my life.

How do I tell someone who I swore my heart to that that heart was going to belong to someone else.

I did the only thing I could do. I entered into the shower and cried out my eyes.

*** ****

Three more days to the wedding, a wedding I had no say in. Today was the day I was finally going to see the person I was going to marry. I did not have the strength to act like I cared. So I threw on a jeans and sweat shirt and went on my way.

“Saphy please be nice” my mother called out from the living room. I knew she was trying to look out for me. One wrong word from the guy to my father about me and my father would kill me and I was not ready to find out if it was literally or not.

“sure” I said I went out of the house. As I stepped out, Rowan immediately was at my side and opened the door for me. He already knew where we were going so there was no need to explain.

Rowan was ten years my senior and I saw him as an older brother that I wish I had. Looking at him now he didn’t look his age of thirty two and most times he did not act his age especially when we were alone. He was sold to our family as payment of debt and when I was born he was assigned to me as my personal bodyguard. Sometimes I wonder if he was okay. Okay with being a servant for the rest of his life. But he always reassured me that as long as it was me he was serving he was okay with it.

“Do you think it’s fair?” I asked in a low voice. It was ridiculous to think i know but sometimes, I felt as if was being watched by my father.

“Is what fair?” came his deep and velvety voice.

“Do you think what is happening to me is fair?”

“everything happens for a reason sthadwa wami. Your father would never intentionally put you in harm’s way and you know that. Besides even if he did, I would not allow it” I knew he meant the last part as a joke, but I did not have the strength to smile at it.

Of course he could not speak against my father that is how loyal he was to my father. But that did not mean he did not he did not know that what my father was doing was horrible. But compared to my father, Rowan was nothing but an ant at the side of a beast.

*** *** ***

“I don’t want this” were the words that dropped from my mouth immediately I came out of my mouth immediately I got down from the car.

“Come on, I’ve got you, if he tries anything he would have me to deal with”. Rowan said flashing me a bright smile.

“Thanks” with that being said I entered into the restaurant. Of course it had to be in a restaurant. Typical. Like any other arranged marriage, we would have to meet at neutral ground which in most cases were hotels or restaurants then we would discuss our terms and conditions and then we would be married nothing special.

On entering I sat down at the first table I saw which was by the door. I could not really be bothered whether or not others heard our conversation.

“Hello miss, would you please move to that booth over there?” it sounded like a question but we both knew it was a demand. Without thinking i looked at Rowan for some sort of confirmation then i got up and went to the booth he pointed at. As I entered I saw the guy I was supposed to marry or at least I assume he is the one.

“Hi, I assume you are Sapphire kings” the guy said stretching his hands for a handshake.

“Yes, and you are?” I said as I met his handshake

“Hillary Osborn” he said giving a warm smile.

After taking my sit, there was an awkward silence for at least twenty minutes before he let out a sigh.

“look I know we both don’t want this but I hope that at least we can be civil with each other. After all, we are doing this for both our companies”

I could not help but scoff, at least he got one thing right!.

“Look why don’t we just call it quits. You go home and give the reply to my father that you are not interested and we can all be on our merry way”.

“Miss, you know if it was that easy it would be done”. He was right. As much as it was in his hands if the wedding held or not, it was not that easy. it wasn’t just about joining companies it was about joining families and forces underground. Apart from the Kings family, the Osborns was another powerful family not only financially but also in the underground.

“So what do you suggest” I asked crossing my arms.

“What else do you suggest, we follow through with the plan as has been said alreadyBut these are my own rules I would like you to follow” he said and brought out a file. I took it and opened it to see a long list of things he wanted and how he wanted it.

1) No relationship with any other person for at least the first two years of our marriage.

2) Be home before 9:30 sharp

3) Always shower before bed

4) No bringing of friends over

5) No smoking

6) Always cook dinner

7) No drinking

8) If after the two years you decide to have a relationship outside our marriage, it must be in secret and out of the eyes of the media

9) No matter your relationship, the only children you shall birth would be mine

10) What ever I the husband says is correct as I know what is best

11) Never do anything to put the family in danger

12) What ever happens in the house stays in the house

13) Never ask questions about things that go on in the house

14) The first born shall and will be a boy if not, it is subject to death

15) Infidelity on the part of the husband is allowed if the woman cannot bring forth children/child at the end of the first year this is to ensure an heir.

16) The only way to leave the marriage is by death

17) Betrayal of the family leads to instant death.

18) If ever you put the family in danger you attract punishment

19) You are only permitted to bring one servant from your father’s house as security would be provided for you

20) Last but not least. Loyalty to the family is above everything.

I was in shock, I was in rage but most of all I was terrified. I was scared for my unborn children the girls especially. What If my first child is a girl. Does this mean she would be subjected to death before she has a chance to prove herself?. Was I a maid? What did he mean always cook dinner?

“I don’t agree with some rules”

“And what are they?” he said looking unbothered.

Did he not read these rules how was he comfortable. How could he look like he did not have a care in the world when I was completely melting on the inside!?? How-

“what are the rules you don’t agree with” he asked, this time more impatient.

“What do you mean if the first born is not a boy it should be killed?” I prayed with everything within me that it was a mistake.

“exactly what it means. You know, my mum had nine girls before me. But sadly they were killed.

Nine???!!!! Did I hear correctly?? I wanted to faint.

“Can I sleep over this?” right now I needed space I needed to think

“Sure, but remember you have just three days to the wedding so you do not have much time to think” it sounded like he was mocking me. Scrap that, I knew he was mocking me

Like he knew something I didn’t. I felt like smacking the smile off his face just to see his reaction.

“Let me think about it" I insisted and left .

“How did it go?” Rowan asked immediately I stepped out. I couldn’t answer. I was too stunned to talk. I simply entered into the car and sat quietly as he drove off. Really? Is this going to be my life? Was I going to live like this forever? With a fate worse than my mother?.

As soon as we reached home I stomped my feet to my father’s office and opened the door without knocking.

The look he gave to me as soon as I opened the door made me aware that if it was someone else, he/she would be dead.

“Why are you doing this!” I asked ready to explode.

“Where are your manners” he said sounding like he was seconds away from loosing his temper.

I really could care or be bothered right now.

"He gave me rules" this seemed to calm him down a bit.

"What did it say"

"One of them says if I give birth to girls they would be killed"

I waited for an outburst but got none. "Those are the ancient laws of the Osborn family I am afraid I would not be able to do anything about that.

My father's words shook me to the core. We were talking about human life and he was just calm like I was talking about the weather or something. I was annoyed.

"Are you deaf father. I am talking about my future children YOUR future grand children and you are calm?!!! I have not even told you about the other rules yet". I did not have the time to recollect myself from the outburst when it happened. My father was at my front in an instance and gave me a slap that sent my head ringing.