"Eliza my child. Please, come sit next to me." Grandfather says.
"Okay Grandfather." I sit with my hands folded on my lap, on the sofa next to him, before turning to look at him. "The butler said that you had something of 'grave importance' to tell me?" I say, making sure to emphasize those words exactly.
"Ah. That's why I like you my child. You are just like me. You want to get straight to business. Well, might as well..... You need someone in your life." He says very plainly.
I sit there without changing my facial expression but dying on the inside. 'How could he say that so plainly and right to my face? I know I wanted to get down to business but not that way.' I say in my head before saying out loud...
"Oh? What could you possibly mean by that grandfather?" Looking as mature as I can.
"You are handling the business so well that I'm glad to call you my granddaughter but- you dont sleep well nor do you have any fun. Plus, not to mention you have no one to spend your time with outside of work." I rest my head on my hand.
"Grandfather. We talked about this. I am completely fine by myself." I close my eyes. "Remember the last person I dated only dated me because of my standings and my money and I think its going to be hard to find someone especially since I'm a billionaire." I say plainly and I dont open my eyes but can hear my grandfather scratching his long white beard.
"Hmm.. I remember him but not everyone is like him my dear." I open my eyes to look at him. "I dont exactly want to do this but it looks like I have to." I look a bit puzzled and I see him beckon to the butler who brings some papers with him.
"Elizabeth. I want you to find someone who you can be with for the rest of your life. Someone who you love and who loves you and cherishes you enough to care for the company too. Not to mention I would like a cute great grandchild." He says closing his eyes and smiling a bit like he was imagining a baby's cute face.
"O-kay... but why now? And what are these papers?" I ask filing through them.
"Ah. That is a contract saying that if you dont find someone to marry in the next 3 years that the company will be turned over to your father. And you, will never get it back." I basically blast up into the air.
"What? I need to get what now?!!" I say standing and looking at my grandfather. He beckons for me to sit so I do.
"Eliza. I know you have it in you so all you need to do is find your partner. Doesnt matter how but you need to have an heir sometime." He says looking serious.
I sigh before saying, "Where's a pen?" Grandfather takes a pen from his shirt pocket and hands it to me smiling a little like he's won.
"You're 24, my child, so you should be getting married soon. Think of this as a good thing. So many good men out there. Just takes you to go out and find them." He says relaxing into his chair.
I hand the papers to the butler standing up. "Got it grandfather. Now may I be excused? I have to go look for a marriage candidate." He laughs loudly before stopping and saying I can.
I walk out before closing the door nicely and then speed walking in my heels to my office, shutting the door and lying in my recliner in the corner of the room.
"Grandfather. What possessed you NOW, to force me to do this. Not even my parents have forced me." I sigh before standing and walking to the desk.
"I better get started now. 3 years might go by faster than I'd like it to." I say before texting my group chat with my friends.
Francesca: Wow! Your grandfather is savage. You really have to get married in 3 years?
Harriet: Hehe. I like your grandfather. Do you know how long Vicky and I have been trying to get you to find someone? After you know who?
Me: Please. I don't need anyone. Only you guys!
Harriet: Aww, thanks but I'm good. I dont swing that way. Sorry. I have my hubby here with me. 😋
Me: Smh.
Victoria: Hey. Sorry to hear that. I was forced to find someone even though I wasn't ready. Thankfully the person I'm with right now is a sweet, kind, person. Makes me not want to leave him. Or give him to anyone else..😆
Francesca: Lucky. I want someone like that.
Me: Lol. I actually came on here because...
Harriet: WHAT?
Victoria: PLEASE... DO TELL!!
Me: I need some help finding some people to date.
Harriet: ... O
Victoria: ... ... M
Francesca: . . . G
Victoria: ELIZA!!! NO WAY!! YOURE ASKING US?
Harriet: I'm so proud. I can definitely set you up with some guys that wont be after you because of your money this time. Promise 🤞
Me: Thanks 😢
Harriet: Mhm.. I'll be going to get started on that contact list for ya. Byee.
Me: Bye.
Victoria: I dont know anyone. Plus, my bf would be jealous if I was looking through guys' profiles. 😅
Francesca: Me too. I'm lonely remember?
Me: Lol. Thanks anyways guys.
I leave my phone on my desk and head to the sitting room to read a magazine. When I reach and sit down and pick one up, the first thing that greets me is my face on the front.
"Looks like they already caught wind of my relationship problems." The front was talking about how my last boyfriend was just a gold digger and bla bla bla. I wasnt into reading that right now so I just flipped around. My hand stopped mindlessly on a page talking about a guy named Charles Edward and his family and how they are forcing him to get married soon.
"I completely understand Sir Charles." I laugh to myself because his family is originally from England and the business they have is here but originated over there so he's back and forth quite often it says here.
Before I can humor myself any longer, a random guy walks in.
"Hi." He says.
"H-ello?" I say back.
"I'm just here to tell you that dinner is ready. I'm a new worker here. Sorry if you're confused.
"Oh. That's fine. I dont live here anyway. I come back every so often so I'm not familiar with everyone anyways. "Let's go then." I start walking and he's behind me.
I actually was worried a bit at first because I thought my grandfather was getting more and more impatient by sending a candidate to me instead of letting me pick for myself. Sigh. 'Grandfather, why did you start this now?' I say hitting my forehead with the palm of my hand causing the worker to worry a bit.
"I'm fine. Thanks." I say before walking in to the dining room.