The Billionaire's obsession

Aurora's POV

"Barry's son, Kevin, is looking for a woman to settle down with and I want you to marry him," My father had said to me on that fateful day.

His words were like a bomb on my ears and my mind went blank for the next few seconds. What he said sounded so abnormal to me that I would have said he was joking but I've never known my father to make a joke about anything except on rare occasions.

"I- I don't understand, Dad," I said, trying to wrap my head around his words. "What do you mean you want me to marry him? I don't even know who you're talking about."

"You'll meet him in due time," he said as he settled into the chair adjacent to mine and started surfing through channels.

"Dad, I don't think that is a good idea," I protested. His words were finally sinking in and they filled me with a sudden sense of dread.

"Are you countering my order?" My father asked.

Oh. So it was an order, not a suggestion.

He turned cold eyes on me and I immediately wished I could've taken back what I said.

I could tell that he was very pissed already but what he wanted from me was just too much for me to care.

I had my fashion school to care about. After many times of trying to get into the one and only most renowned Paris Fashion School, I finally gained admission but now, I'd lose it to get married.

"My decision is final," he said, rising to his feet, "you're going to get married to Kevin and nothing is going to change that."

The sound of a woman's voice jolts me back to the present and I realize it's been three months since the news. I've been meeting with Kevin since and gotten to know him. I may not have been in agreement totally with the wedding but the idea of being with a partner makes me giddy enough to come pick my wedding dress on time.

"Maria?" I ask the woman before me.

"Yes," she replies, smiling at me. "Follow me."

I follow her through the shelves and racks until we get to a corner of the store where mannequins are lined up. My eyes fall on it immediately and I can feel my heart almost melting at the sight of it. The dress looks far better than it had in the picture I was shown and I rush to it and run my hands along it. It is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen and I cannot wait to try it on. Maria assists me with that and I am unable to contain my excitement as I swirl back and forth, admiring the gown in the mirror.

"I love it." I confess.

"I'm glad you liked it." She smiles at me. "It's a pity no one is here to see this beauty with you."

I look away, knowing very well I could never have anyone follow me. Maybe my mom, but she's late. I'm left with a father who considers me an inferior child compared to his other daughter.

Years after bringing my stepmother and her four years younger daughter, Ira, to the house, it has been nothing but hell. And I've had to put up with their shit. At least, not anymore. I'll be getting married and stop being everyone's slave.

I get to my house and realize it's opened. Why would Ira leave the door open and not be in the living room? She knows it's not safe.

I proceed to go to her room when something stops me. It seems like two people are in a scuffle. I'm scared and I hope Ira is safe as I grab a pan from the kitchen.

The noises I am hearing are muffled so I am unable to identify them. My heart races at the thought of anything bad happening to her and I tiptoe towards her room. A few meters from her door, the noises become clear and I realize that what I am hearing are moans. Ira has a penchant for bringing different men to the house and I allow myself to relax when I remember that.

I turn to return to my room but the moans become intense and I am filled with a sudden curiosity to see who she is with. As much as I know what I am doing is wrong, I am unable to stop myself from opening the door to her room.

"Damn," she says, "who would have thought that the best orgasm I would ever have would come from someone I am not supposed to have sex with."

My ears shoot up on hearing that and I push the door open slowly to afford me a better view of the room.

"I do. I've always thought so because I know what it feels like," her partner replies. Time totally stops as I hear that voice and I feel my heart sinking inside me.

"Well, it's a good thing you have me," Ira says and leans forward till she is out of sight.

The next sound I hear tells me that they are kissing and I am filled with disgust. How can they do this to me? It all feels like a dream, standing there listening to my sister and the man I am about to marry having sex with my step sister in just a week away from my wedding.

I am about to open the door and barge in on them when an idea creeps into my mind and I pull out my phone and click on my camera icon. The tears finally come and I remain there, heartbroken and recording my sister and fiance having sex.

******************************

The time comes to play tapes of Kevin and I during courtship and I look at Ira where she is seated. She catches me staring and she smiles at me. I fake a smile back at her and avert my eyes.

Kevin's voice jogs me from my thoughts. "Aurora?"

"Yeah?" I say.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

"Yeah, I am," I reply, giving another fake smile. I've become used to doing that in the last couple of days.

"Alright. Our videos are coming up now," he says.

The hall falls silent as the video starts and I steal occasional glances at Ira. I can feel the anticipation from everyone present as their eyes are glued to the projector positioned in front of the crowd. Suddenly, moans blast from the speakers and loud gasps sweep across the hall. The gasps continue as the recording of Ira riding Kevin pops up on screen and I sit back and enjoy the confused look on the faces of the guests.

I can feel Kevin's eyes on me and I turn to look at him, making sure my face betrays no emotion. But he is not to be deceived by it. The look on his face tells me that he is fully aware that I am responsible for what happened.

Silence envelopes everywhere and I realize that everyone is looking at me. I have never felt so embarrassed in my life. The look of disappointment on my father's face is incomparable and I watch as he stands up and starts approaching our table. Kevin hisses and he also stands up. He pulls his ring from his finger and flings it at me.

"You're upset with me? Well, I should be the one who's upset! Not you. How could you do this to me?"

"You mean how can I fall for your sister who understands my needs better than you do? Face it, Aurora, this is why no one likes you. You think everything has to go your way!"

This bites a part of my heart as I stare blankly while he goes to Ira, grabs her hand and comes over.

"This wedding is over," he says and storms away.

My dad tries to hold him as he walks past him but he brushes his hand away and continues walking.

"You're a disgrace to this family and I wish you were never born," he says and walks away. The tears in my eyes prevented me from seeing anything after that.

***************************

"Another round," I say to the bartender as I slide my shot glass towards him. He raises an eyebrow at me and I frown at him.

He refills my glass and I empty the contents into my throat immediately. I wait, but nothing comes. The strong feeling I am expecting that should help silence the thoughts in my head is nowhere to be found.

The chaos at my wedding had happened days back. According to people, I was the ingrate, the evil daughter, the undeserving rebel, while Ira was the beautiful and respectful daughter that maintained the family's good name.

Kevin had been offered my sister and he did not hesitate to say yes. This made it all the more worse.

I slide the shot glass towards the bartender but he shakes his head firmly. Knowing that trying to persuade him would be effortless, I stand up from the stool and turn to go. I bump into something so solid that I am almost knocked over from the impact. Maybe it is the alcohol, or it was because of how I am feeling at that moment, I don't know but I am unable to stop the anger in me as I turn around after recovering.

"What the hell? Are you crazy, blind or both?" I ask, holding the stool to steady myself.

"Neither, lady," a very deep voice replies and every thought in my mind clears on hearing it. I look up and the only thing that comes to mind is-what the hell?