Chapter 8

"We are not going to force you to accept the alliance Alicia. It is your life but just know that there can't be any better man than Nathaniel Collins for you, he is not just the right but also the best choice for you, the signing of wedding certificate between the both of you is fixed for Monday, from now till then you have five days to think and make a decision about it"..

"And if by then you still decide not to marry him then believe us we won't force you but I hope you will think it through". Julie said and stood up.

"Think about it carefully Alicia we are your parents and we would never wish you ill, Good night my dear" Andrew also said, he stood up and kissed Alicia's forehead before following his wife to thier bedroom.

"I never knew dad came from such a background, no wonder, grandfather always avoided talking about his parents while he was alive" Justin said still in disbelief of the story he just heard, he turned to his sister and asked

"Baby what do you want to do"

"I don't know brother mom and dad...." Alicia said sobbing. " Hessh pumpkin, no mom or dad just you and you alone. Alicia you are this family's little princess you know that don't you, mom and dad will never force you to do something you don't want to. You are the one who will be getting married and going there this is your life and whatever you decide to do is hundred percent your choice, no compromise and no compulsion so don't think about anybody but yourself while making your decision. Marriage is a decision that needs selfishness and not selflessness Alicia, you can't compromise your whole life to make anybody happy. I know just how much you love yourself so don't allow yourself to suffer pumpkin". Julius said kneeling in front of her.

"Baby look at me, who are we" Justin asked.

"My big brothers" Alicia answered

"Exactly Licia and you are our little sister we will support you like we have always done no matter what you decide to do so just make a decision that makes you happy okay" Justin told her

"Now no more tears, wipe your eyes and give me that big bright smile, come on" Julius said and Justin started tickling her

"Brother stop stop, am ticklish" Alicia said laughing hard.

"Now that's the smile am talking about , come on its late you should get some sleep now". Justin said and they both escorted her to her bedroom.

"You can go to your rooms as well big brother, I will be fine now" Alicia said once they entered her room.

"No Licia, you go to sleep we will go once you have fallen asleep" Justin said.

"That's not necessary brother you are both also tired so go to bed, I promise I will be fine" Alicia said again

"Are you sure pumpkin" Julius asked.

"Yes brother am completely sure okay" Alicia assured them. Justin hugged her tightly and says

"Always remember something Alicia",

"And what is that " alicia asked confusedly

"That we love you more than anything else in the world, to the moon and back" Justin and Julius chorused and they all laughed.

"Sure brother I will never forget that" Alicia said while hugging them. "Good night baby" Justin said while patting her head, "Goodnight pumpkin", Julius also said as well. "Good night" Alicia answered with a smile and they both left her room locking the door behind them.

Alicia went to shower once they left, when she came back she sat on her bed and removed a picture from her bedside drawer, "I'm about to get married mickey doesn't look like I will be able to keep our promise. I am sorry" she said to the picture and started crying, After crying for a long while she finally fell asleep.

Lance Inc CEO's office.

Nathan took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. He had been signing documents for hours straight without a rest and his eyes and fingers had already become sore. He rested his head on the chair and looked at his Gold Patek Phillipe watch it was already 9pm, office hours were over four hours ago and the whole building was empty and silent but he still in the office.

He turned his chair to face the ceiling to floor windows of his office and thought

"What an obsession with ceiling to floor windows I have. It is present in every single building of mine just like the idea of been able to have a clear view of everything around me I wish i had such a clear view of everything within me".

In the midst of his thoughts his phone rang and he picked it up without even checking the caller.

"Hello" he said into the receiver

"Nathan" he heard, "damn, why didn't I check the caller before picking it up, my mom is probably going to nag me again if she finds out am still in the office at this time of night" Nathan thought.

"Nathan, son are you there" his mother asked from the other end.

"Yes mom I am how are you", "I am fine Nat, you are still at the office and don't you dare lie to me I know you are still there". "Yes mom but I am about to leave", Nathan said and took his coat and car keys.

"Nathan why on earth are you such a workaholic this is why we wanted to get you married, it's already 9pm how can you still be at the office at this time of night".

"I'm fine mom and there were some important documents to handle", he said while entering his private elevator. "Whatever, I called to tell you some very good news, Alicia has agreed" Kisha stated excitedly.

"Alicia who is that Mom, and what did she agree to" he asked confusedly "Nathaniel Collins are you trying to drive me mad right now Uhn..... how can you not know who Alicia is and what she agreed to?", His mother yelled through the phone.

Kisha only ever called her son by his full name when she was seriously mad at him and right now she was on the verge of being driven crazy by her non chalant son, why doesn't pay attention to anything.

"In what way am I trying to drive her mad now though I honestly have no idea who Alicia is but I couldn't tell her that" Nathan thought.

"Its nothing like that mom I just don't remember any Alicia", Nathan explained.

"Of course you don't because you never tried to meet her you fool, Alicia is the girl you are going to marry Stupid. The daughter of the James family and the both of you are getting your marriage certificates on Monday so you better clear your schedule", Kisha ordered.

"On Monday mom, why so soon" Nathan asked shockingly, he couldn't believe he was about to lose his bachelorhood in a week. He got to the parking lot and entered into his car "why do you want to delay it or should we hold a wedding banquet instead" he heard his mum ask from the other end of the reciever.

"No mom that won't be necessary, I will be there early on Monday", Nathan replied.

"Who organises a wedding banquet for a forced marraige, that's not happening" Nathan thought.

"Good, but right now go home and sleep its late, I still don't understand why you had to move out and live on your own, no one is there to take care of you. Anyways no worries am sure Alicia will do that very well". "Goodnight mom am about to drive", Nathan said cutting his mother short.

"Okay then Goodnight" he heard her say before he hung up.

"My parents and grandparents are really serious about this wedding of a thing now I was starting to get curious about who this girl was that she agreed to marry me without even meeting me. She is probably like those other girls who would do anything to get associated with "the Nathan Collins" and getting married to me is probably a jackpot to her. Anyways once we get married I am going to make it clear to her that we are only husband and wife in name and I want nothing to do with her" Nathan thought on his way home. In the midst of his thoughts he got home. On entering the house he saw his butler sitting in the sitting room and watching TV, Nathan looked at him shockingly and thought "he still waiting for me till this time of night seriously, its 10:00pm at night for goodness sake".