The marriage alliance

The only thing that was heard at the dinner table was the clustering of the metals against each other as everyone ate their meal in silence. The atmosphere made Xavier's skin crawl but the sadist side within him was enjoying the discomfort of the other people in the room at his presence. It was nice to know he wasn't the only one wanting to claw eyes out. At least the woman sitting across from him had made it very clear with her piercing gaze. It would even scald him if the woman had fire shooting from her eyes. Amusing really. His eyes settled on the other family members in the room, either cousins or uncles and aunties and he realized they weren't people he could stand either. Towards the end of the dinner, the old man put his napkin down after dabbing the remnants of food on his lips. He scanned every person in the room and he smiled lightly. At least trouble hadn't been stirred during dinner. "I'm glad all of you could make it today," grandpa Gary gauged everyone's expression seeing how they all had their attention on him. "I have a very important announcement to make and I believe this would probably change the way things work in this family and the company as a whole," he informed, a tinge of seriousness in his voice. Xavier knew exactly where the old man was headed to and his mouth twitched. Gianna Michaels, daughter of Daryl Michaels, a reputed business mogul in the world with his network spanning to far and beyond. They had always been second to his company and he knew an alliance between the two companies would make them invincible in the business world. A marriage of convenience however didn't seem like the most plausible decision for it to be made possible. Xavier didn't know what games the old cunning fox was playing at but it wasn't going to work. He knew his grandfather would never do anything to compromise the Castillo name and certainly there was more to this marriage than meets the eye. "A marriage alliance has been formed," he dropped the bomb and it had whispers and mutterings errupt from the others. Xavier remained calm although he didn't understand why his mind kept drifting back to the conversation he had with Gianna. She obviously didn't want to get married and whether this marriage went through or not, he knew the Michaels' didn't need this alliance to thrive business wise. For the first time in his life that day, he had enjoyed the company of someone. He liked how expressive she was. Even if she wasn't talking her eyes conveyed all her emotions, making one see how pure and innocent she really was. Her beautiful light green eyes. He didn't think she was even aware of that. How cute. "Xavier," the call made him snap out of his daze. He looked at his grandfather who stared at him and he raised his eyebrows. "I know I should have told you before arriving at any decision but this I believe is going to be life changing for the company beyond what anyone can comprehend," an understanding passed between them at this. "As long as it is that beneficial to the company it's fine. That's all I want to hear anyways," he drank the wine in the glass he had picked earlier, his blue eyes settling on Jeremy through the glass cup. He realized he hadn't spoken since. "Alright then. "Gianna Michaels, daughter of Daryl Michaels, our strongest competitor in the business market, Avalon corporations has been arranged to marry Jeremy to establish an alliance; a marriage of convenience. Xavier raised his eyebrows in suspicion at the old man's words. Now he really wondered what game this man was playing at. He didn't want to get married anyway so not much of a bother. He looked at Jeremy who was already watching him and he saw the jerk smirk. He clenched his hands. Jeremy didn't deserve Gianna. He wasn't even a quarter of the person Gianna was and he didn't know why but it gnawed on his conscience. He was the legal son of his father and the only heir to his empire so why did his grandfather set an alliance like that. His gaze settled on the old man and all the other people who weren't keeping their mouths shut and their filthy thoughts to themselves. "If this alliance is that important then won't we be cheating the Michaels if Jeremy marries their daughter instead of Xavier," one of the aunties spoke, quickly averting her gaze when it settled on Xavier. He could stare daggers into a wall. Xavier would admit, he didn't want to get married but Gianna was too innocent and naive for someone like that leech sitting in front of him. "True but I know Xavier doesn't want to get married and Jeremy isn't that bad of a candidate either," grandpa Gary explained with pursed lips trying to guilt trip his grandson. That increased the murmurs in the room and it had Xavier frown. "For those of you who don't know who Gia is, here's a picture," the butler placed the said picture in front of the old man on the table. He gave it to the person on the right indicating for it to be passed around. The gasps that left their lips at how breathtaking the girl looked was like they all planned on synchronizing. Jeremy lewdly stared at the girl in the picture when it came to him and all the while Xavier had his eyes on him. The look on his face disgusted him, and he wanted to tear his eyes and brains out for looking and thinking about her in any shrewd way. The picture reached his side and not wanting to seem suspicious stared at it as if he was curious. Indeed she was like an angel in the photo. She was smiling. She looked so happy and so carefree like an innocent prey who had been born to a world full of wild predators. He couldn't believe such joy was going to be taken away with a marriage of convenience. Jeremy was definitely not marrying her and he was going to make sure of it. "I never said I didn't want to get married," he addressed his grandfather and the old man looked interestingly at his grandson at this new information. "So there's no need to put this on anyone else. Father left the company in my care and if it's anything involving it then I'm willing to corporate," everyone stared at him as if he had grown a third eye, Jeremy fuming at his attempt to take even this girl away from him. With resolution, he calmly declared,"I want to marry her."