In the Billionaire's Bed

I hated Tuesdays.

There was never enough work to make up for the extra hours the day provided as it dragged by, neither was there frequently anything fun and engaging to do. Today was no exception.

I walked casually out of the boardroom with my stack of folders clutched tightly in my hands and took a survey of the general office space. Almost as expected, there was little to no activity. Workers faced their desks mindfully, typing away at desktops or filing stacks of papers. In the years I'd worked in this Accounting firm, I was yet to make sense of the general idleness of Tuesdays in particular.

Just as I was about to make my way to my cubicle, I spotted-at the corner of the room, with his legs angled on his desk-the one person I was a little less than thrilled to see, Michael Wu. Michael was a coworker that'd grown to be a thorn in my flesh. Unfortunately, he'd also been selected to be my project partner for the meantime. He sat at his desk chatting away with some of our coworkers. Seeing him laughing on a Tuesday did everything to push my buttons. And knowing that he'd made a 'mistake' that could've screwed me up during my presentation earlier today gave me all the courage I needed to walk up to him.

"Breathe in, breathe out." I chanted mentally as I walked towards where he sat, his noise getting louder the closer I got. Somehow, I felt a little jealous that his corner had to be the one corner that got to be lively by 3PM on the worst day of the week.

I could hear his hoarse laughter from where I stood. He had to be the one who had that hoarse, cracked, wild laughter. If laughter could generate energy, his could probably power this whole building. His voice wasn't only loud but annoying. My ears itched.

"Micheal," I cut him off as I approached him. He barely turned to look at me and didn't bother to hide the sudden change in his demeanor.

I didn't like him either, so I scrunched up my nose, my face slowly weaving into a frown.

"What is it Didi?" He faced me, wearing an exaggerated smile on his face. His friends watched on in amusement, their eyes twinkling and smirks playing on their lips. I didn't even bother to spare them a second glance. I was here on a mission, and I was determined not to allow them make a fool of me. All I did was remind myself we were still within work premises, and as much as I'd have loved to give Michael a punch in the face, I had to remain 'courteous and polite' as long as I was in this building.

I couldn't afford to lose my job. Especially not because of Michael Wu.

I mirrored his smile, extracting a sheet of paper from my stack and holding it out for him. "Don't call me Didi." I warned before I began confronting him, even though I was certain he knew why I was at his desk.

"Can you explain to me what this is?"

"What does it look like?" He scowled.

I did my best to ignore his tone, and went on. "It looks like whoever printed this is trying to blind me, perhaps?"

"Then go look for them, I was not the one who printed it." he turned to his friends, dismissing me as he continued his earlier conversation. The paper was one I needed for my presentation, and Michael had undoubtedly printed it in an illegible font to spite me. I was amazed at his devotion to pissing me off.

I laughed a little before walking before him. This conversation was nowhere near over until I said so.

I slammed the paper on the table littered with papers and disposable cups. My eyes bore into his as I leaned closer, a serious expression on my face.

"No, Michael. It was your responsibility, so you find them and get this shit fixed".

"What?" He laughed, looking over my shoulder to his friends. His friends gave a weak smile.

"You will also take care of this part of the project while I'll do the others; I have no time for your bullshit. It's either you get it done or we both get fired." I didn't smile as I walked back to my desk, catching a glimpse of his surprise in the process.

I looked over at him when I finally got to my desk, and he grabbed the paper from the table, made some sort of excuse and sauntered out of the room.

Quickly, I picked up my bag and set to pack up my belongings, as the hand of the clock hit 4PM. Tuesday at work was finally over.

I rushed out of the building, boarding the nearest taxi. Earlier, I'd received a frantic call from Mom, pleading with me to come home straight from work. I sighed,

recalling how I'd assured her I would return, even though all I wanted to do was be alone right now.

Every other minute on the drive home, my eyes met my wristwatch anxiously as I wondered what the issue possibly was at home.

On getting home, I pushed the door open and walked through the corridor where different photos of me hitting different milestones lined the wooden paneled walls. I walked further as I heard the sound of voices in the sitting room, calling out for my mother.

"I came as quickly as I could, but you know New York traffic and all-" I stopped in my tracks as I noticed a stranger in my parents' sitting room.

My mother's voice broke the silence before it could get any more awkward for me. "Diahanne, we need to talk."

My gaze shifted from the man on the sofa who seemed just a little bit older than my parents, to my mother who'd just spoken, sitting not too far from there.

I dropped my bag on the chair by my side, narrowing my eyes slowly. "Okay."

"Come, sit." My dad motioned to me and it was as though I floated towards them. Although I was yet to know what exactly was going on, my heart thumped loudly in my chest.

"This is Mr Bennett Lewin," my dad introduced as soon as I sat down. "He's an old time family friend, and your soon-to-be father in law."

My heart dropped at the announcement, and I turned to face my father, eyes wide. For some reason, I couldn't summon words to speak. All I did was stare helplessly at my father, hoping as he spoke, that he would laugh it off and say it was some kind of bad prank.

"Actually, his father, Henry Lewin, was a very good friend of my father, your grandfather," my dad explained, but I was yet to make sense of how it had anything to do with me getting married to a stranger's son. "And unfortunately, his father is very sick right now, and his only dying wish is that the deal he made with your late grandfather be fulfilled."

"Deal?" I finally managed to speak, my voice coming out as a croak. I turned to look at my mum, she avoided my gaze.

"You have to get married to his first son, Marcel." My dad said firmly. "The deal was struck years ago. We can't afford to go back on our word now."

"Dad?" I croaked. "Wh-what's this, dad? Mom?" I asked as tears began to well up in my eyes. Helplessness weighed a ton on my chest in that moment, as neither of my parents turned to me. They'd made up their minds.

"Diahanne," the stranger finally spoke. I shot him a glare. "You don't have to be afraid. Everything has been set in place for your arrival. I'm sorry it has to be this sudden, but my father doesn't have much time yet. All we need now is your presence."

I was stunned at the audacity. Who did this man think he was, coming into my parents' house to completely alter the trajectory of my life? I rose to my feet silently, watching their eyes follow me cautiously.

"I'd rather die." I announced, storming up the stairs to my bedroom.

Tuesdays suddenly just got worse.

***

All Marcel had to do was take one look at his ailing grandfather. The man who'd been the pillar of their family for years was wilting away quickly. Marcel knew he had to make the right decision.

He clutched the older man's hand firmly as he lay asleep, making a mental promise to make his grandfather proud whatever it cost. Even if his future laid at stake.