Chapter 10 Arabelle #2
“It has nothing to do with you, Raven, or Angela,” my father responds. “But it concerns the Williamson legacy, so that’s why everyone is here. Angela is right. It does have to do with Belle.”
“Of course, I’m right,” she sneers. “Doesn’t everything always have to do with your precious Belle?”
My father’s palm slams against the oak dining room table, echoing throughout the room, and we all flinch. The beer bottles my sister emptied earlier clink against one another.
“Because Belle is the only one of you that has made something out of their goddamn life! If it wasn’t for her, both of you would be dead or penniless. We all would be.”
Both my sisters roll their eyes. Although it’s shocking to hear my father finally acknowledge what I’ve done for all of them, they don’t care what I’ve sacrificed so they can have a decent life.
Not just a decent life, but a better life than they would have had if I wasn’t keeping them afloat.
They never will. I stopped waiting for them to care about me and what I’ve done for them a long time ago.
“Daddy, calm down,” I say, trying to diffuse the tense situation.
Although my father is telling the truth, I don’t need more hate from my sisters.
I don’t need any more to deal with. He’s always the reason we’ve been in these positions.
His gambling doesn’t help and not pushing my sisters to do more causes everything to fall on my shoulders.
Although my sisters are bitches, he could have put an end to how they treat me a long time ago. He just refuses to do so.
“Tell us about this deal, and if I can help, I will.”
“Yes.” He releases a breath, relief covering his features. “I told him as much.”
“You told who?” I ask as unease builds inside me even more.
“Florian Larsson. He’s asked for your hand in marriage, and I’ve agreed.”
I scoff, shaking my head. This is not happening. What the hell?
“This isn’t the 1800s, Daddy. Why in the hell is he asking to marry me if I’ve never met him, and why the hell are you agreeing to it?”
“The Florian Larsson?” Angela interrupts. It’s the first time she’s actually smiled since I sat down at the table. “Billionaire Florian Larsson? One of Forbes’s most eligible bachelors? That Florian Larsson? Are you fucking serious?”
My father ignores my sister and lasers his focus on me. “I owe Florian money, sweetheart.”
I run my hand through my hair. Of course, he does. He owes everyone money.
“A lot of money.”
“How much?” I pick up my phone and start scrolling through the contact list to call my accountant. “I’m sure I can pay it if I move some things around. Oh, and I have an upcoming shoot…”
My father shakes his head. “You don’t have this kind of money, Belle. And neither do I.” He sighs and moves his hand over his salt-and-pepper hair. “I’m sorry, but this is the only way. He’s agreed to let me keep the company and pay off any other debts I owe if you say yes to his proposal.”
Proposal! This isn’t a damn proposal! It’s blackmail!
I stand up and pace back and forth, my restless energy filling the room. This can’t be happening. How in the hell have I been pulled into my father’s business deal, and who the hell is Florian Larsson?
I stop pacing. “Angela said she’ll do it.” I toss my hand in her direction while she enthusiastically nods her head. “Why not her?”
“Yes, Daddy, I’ll do it,” she responds eagerly. “I have no problem walking down the aisle, especially if I’m going to marry Florian Larsson. He’s so hot. We’ll make the perfect couple. I’m sure he’s great in bed, too.”
“Don’t forget rich,” Raven chimes in, pointing the neck of her beer bottle at Angela.
“Yes. Very rich,” Angela says.
If this were a cartoon, her eyes would be flashing dollar signs with how excited she is that it’s possible she’s landed a handsome billionaire.
It’s not surprising to see that hungry look in her eyes and her eagerness to marry a stranger, considering she’s always searching for a wealthy man to support her while living off my money.
She’s a leech just like my father, and if she can take my place, this deal would be perfect for her and a blessing for me.
I can finally stop supporting her lazy ass, and it’ll be one less person or thing I’ll have to worry about.
The thought of getting married fills me with anxiety and uncertainty.
I’m so awkward around men, it’s pathetic.
The only time I’ve come close to having a man in my life is the mysterious man who sends me flowers and a note, which I’ve found myself pathetically looking forward to receiving.
Even after he violated my privacy by entering my apartment without my permission, I still look forward to his gifts.
I’ve been seeing a therapist to reconcile my feelings of dealing with the trauma of being roofied, while also the invasion of privacy by the mysterious man.
According to my therapist, I may have some type of ambivalent attachment to him where I have mixed feelings even though he causes me comfort and distress.
So, other than him, I’m completely clueless when it comes to the male species.
That’ll make for a very embarrassing wedding night.
Yes, Angela will be a much better choice. Hell, even Raven would be a better choice than me!
My father shakes his head and leans back in the chair like the entire conversation exhausts him. “I offered Angela and Raven because they’re both better suited for a man like Florian, but he insists it has to be you and no one else.”
A man like Florian? What the hell does that even mean?
“Why me?”
My heart plummets to my feet. I can’t breathe.
As I receive the news, my chest tightens, and it’s like someone sucker-punches me in the gut. With my hand against my chest, I sit when my knees buckle under me.
My father lets out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know, Belle.”
“Does it even matter? Belle, it’s Florian Larsson for fuck’s sake. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your place? Do you know they call him Beast?” she asks me, like she’s ready to divulge some deep dark secret.
“Beast,” I say, my heart rate picking up faster.
Why in the hell do they call him Beast?
“I heard they call him Beast because he has his enemies killed,” Angela says, shrugging like having people killed isn’t a big deal.
Panic surges through my entire body. “I can’t do this, Daddy. There has to be another way. I can’t marry someone they call Beast who has his enemies killed!”
“There’s no other way, Belle,” he says frustrated like I have the nerve to go against what he wants. Go against what Florian Larsson wants. This is my life we’re talking about. “You marry Florian, or we’ll lose everything.”
“You’ll lose everything, not me.”
He glares at me, but he knows it’s the truth. No matter how much I’ve helped my family, I’m wealthy outside of what my father has. His debts are not mine.
“Stop thinking about your damn self for once!” Angela scoffs, and Raven nods while she sips on another beer. “It could be a hell of a lot worse than Florian Larsson. Suck it up and do what the hell you need to do for this family.”
She stands and stalks away from the table.
“Angela’s right, Belle,” Raven says. “Stop thinking about yourself for a change. This affects all of us. Not just you.”
She stands and staggers out the same door as Angela. I slump in my chair. Besides dancing, my family consumes my life. I never think about myself. It’s always about them.
My father reaches over and places his hand on top of mine, giving it a light squeeze. It takes everything in me not to snatch away. He’s put me in an impossible position again.
“I’m so sorry, Belle.”
“Are you?” I snap. “How could you do this to me! You fucking sold me to some man they call Beast!”
He narrows his eyes, sliding the manila envelope over to me along with a pen. “I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but I’ll do everything in my power to get you out of this mess. I promise.”
Promises, promises, promises. He always makes promises he can’t keep.
He’s an addict. His gambling addiction is so severe that it’s become a serious problem.
Until he acknowledges it and takes action, nothing will ever change.
I’d be na?ve to think there’s a possibility he can rescue me from this predicament.
As long as he’s taken care of and doesn’t lose his precious company, he’ll always be content, no matter my situation.
I’m doomed to marry a man I don’t know to save my family. A man known as Beast.
I remove the papers from the envelope and scan the contract.
If I sign the contract, my father’s company will remain in his hands, and all his debts will be paid.
There’s also a stipulation that I must be treated well, and Florian must remain faithful to me for the contract to remain legally binding.
Although it’s straightforward, I still want my lawyer to review it for added assurance.
“I’ll sign it if Dale okays it.”
My father shakes his head. “Everything’s on the up and up, Belle.” He sighs. “Just sign the damn papers so we can get this over with. I don’t want to keep Florian waiting.”
“I’m not signing this,”—I wave the documents in the air—“until Dale looks it over. Florian Larsson can wait, and so can you.”
He glares at me but says nothing. I learned a long time ago not to sign anything without having a legal professional read over it, especially if it’s connected to my father.
He’s dishonest, and I have no doubt that it’s a very real possibility there’s something in here I might overlook that Dale would pick up.