DEVASTATED

Marrying My Runaway Groom's Powerful Father

Temple Madison

I was sitting in the Presidential Suite of The Pierre, wearing a Vera Wang gown worth more than most people earn in a decade. It was supposed to be the wedding of the century, the final move to merge two of Manhattan's most powerful empires. Then my phone buzzed. It was an Instagram Story from my fiancé, Jameson. He was at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris with a caption that read: "Fuck the chains. Chasing freedom." He hadn't just gotten cold feet; he had abandoned me at the altar to run across the world. My father didn't come in to comfort me. He burst through the door roaring about a lost acquisition deal, telling me the Holland Group would strip our family for parts if the ceremony didn't happen by noon. My stepmother wailed about us becoming the laughingstock of the Upper East Side. The Holland PR director even suggested I fake a "panic attack" to make myself look weak and sympathetic to save their stock price. Then Jameson’s sleazy cousin, Pierce, walked in with a lopsided grin, offering to "step in" and marry me just to get his hands on my assets. I looked at them and realized I wasn't a daughter or a bride to anyone in that room. I was a failed asset, a bouncing check, a girl whose own father told her to go to Paris and "beg" the man who had just publicly humiliated her. The girl who wanted to be loved died in that mirror. I realized that if I was going to be sold to save a merger, I was going to sell myself to the one who actually controlled the money. I marched past my parents and walked straight into the VIP holding room. I looked the most powerful man in the room—Jameson’s cold, ruthless uncle, Fletcher Holland—dead in the eye and threw the iPad on the table. "Jameson is gone," I said, my voice as hard as stone. "Marry me instead."

Billionaires Revenge Kickass Heroine Revenge Female-centered Ex-wife

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It was the day of love, the 14th day of February 2014. Arianna was seated patiently, waiting for her boyfriend. She had not received any special gifts, flowers, cards or letters today but she was still happy because she would spend time with her boyfriend.

She arranged for a romantic meal in a restaurant tonight and everything was set. Oh! Apart from him. Who knows why he is taking so long, it should have been him waiting for her here but now it’s the other way round.

She kept tapping her fingers on the table and continuously checking the time on her wrist watch.

The restaurant was blinking with red lights, and couples were walking in and out, with matching outfits of red and white color, some were with their kids dressed like little adorable angels.

Of course, the representation of Eros; the Greek god of love with his bow and arrow. She had thought of getting one of those cupid symbols but let it go on a second thought.

On her round table were red roses which she had ordered to make the moment more special. Her red strapless gown screamed “valentine`s day!”

***

Arianna was an orphan freshly out of college; she had studied creative arts and design. Hopefully, one day she can achieve her dreams of becoming a Model.

***

Just then, she saw her long awaited walk into the restaurant and she crumpled her face. Not only was he late for their date, but he was dressed in black. Why can’t he try to be romantic for once in his life? It was the day of love for the sake of Christ!

Dave Simons, her boyfriend for the past eight months. For her, they had something serious going on there. He was tall, handsome with an undercut hairstyle that looked real good. Just like her, he was not rich but at least you can’t count him in as a broke ass nigga.

He found her with no difficulty and took a seat at the table, directly opposite her. He was not even smiling.

“Dave… you promised me you won’t be late this time,” she whined and pouted her lips.

Arianna was a very beautiful young lady, the type that looks gorgeous without makeup. Her skin was pale as the moon, completely flawless. She possessed black, curly, silky hair and it was damn natural, she didn’t need to use a curling tool like most ladies would. She had emerald green beautiful eyes that fit just perfectly in their sockets.

She was blessed with long eyelashes and brows that she didn’t need an extra artificial one to look beautiful, her long nose hung perfectly at the right spot and her lips were glossy even without wetting them. She was like the U.S version of the goddess Aphrodite.

“Aria, I was buried with work,” he responded plainly, like it wasn’t much of a big deal.

Arianna was disappointed with his response. Like really? So his work was more important than their valentine's date? He wasn’t even sorry about it, and her looks, she had dressed up all for him but he hadn't even complimented her looks.

She decided to let it go anyway; at least he was here now.

“Okay it`s fine, so what gift did you get me?” She queried with a look of excitement.

She wasn’t expecting much from him but she would be happy if he finally popped the question tonight.

She has been dreaming of this day for a while now, she believed what was holding him back in the past few months was her schooling, but now college is done and dusted, it was time to move forward.

“Um… I was actually in a hurry so I couldn’t get something for you; also I have another reason for…”

“Oh come on Dave” she interrupted him feeling disappointed again.

He showed up late, he was on black and he didn’t get a gift either, what’s going on in his head?

“This is not fair at all Dave, you didn’t get me anything at all. As a rule of thumb, you should get me something on valentine's day,” she grumbled in that angelic voice.

“It's fine anyway, I got you something I am sure you would love,” she said, trying to brighten her face and hide her disappointment.

She took her Satchel handbag from the other chair and placed it on the table, and then she started to search for something in it.

“Um Aria, there is something I need to tell you.” He said, with a poker face.

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