Choosing

The declaration of Xavier's words had made everyone stop and stare at him in utter disbelief. One, it was Xavier saying he wanted to get married and two, to a girl he knew nothing of. The same man who didn't allow women in close proximity with him and always kept a 1000 m distance from them because of well no tangible reason whatsoever had now gone out of his way to propose marriage to someone. Unbelievable! Had the girl's beauty struck him that hard? Or even from the picture had the girl somehow charmed him? Again this was Xavier. The Xavier Castillo. CEO of King group of industries and the youngest billionaire in the world. The man whom everyone else bowed to, literally worshipped him like the king he had been made to be in the eyes of everyone. How could you convince the mass of people that this enigma had fallen in love with a mere picture? He was either bluffing or pulling Jeremy's legs to satisfy his own sadist nature. He was the savior in other people's stories but to his own family he was the villain who had yet to be killed from the story for peace to reign. "It's this some kind of joke Xavier?" Freda asked, narrowing her slant eyes at her step son. "Take it however you want. How is that any of my business," he shrugged nonchalantly, leaning against his chair in a relaxing stance as a slight smirk made it's way to his lips. "The girl is arranged to marry my son. You don't have any right to take that away from him," Freda gritted her teeth in annoyance, glaring at the boy who sat in front of her. "Too bad then because I remember me having rights to fucking everything in this house. I don't suppose you think this is any different," mirth filled his blue, blue eyes as he cocked his head to the side. "Xavier. No cussing in this household," his grandpa scolded. Apologies grandpa but sadly that is the language a lot of people understand," and by a lot of people, they all knew who exactly he was referring to but no one spoke a word. I really like this girl brother and you didn't even want to get married up until now so can't you just let me have her," Jeremy's voice sounded strained but the polite words that filtered out of his lips could fool anyone, well not Xavier because he stared at him with nothing but amusement coloring his eyes. "Like you said...brother, up until now so you should know this is as important to me as anything else I've ever prioritized in my life," if it was any other girl Xavier wouldn't have given two fucks about this stupid alliance but they just had to go and choose her and not for anyone else too, his psycho of a brother. The monstrosity of it. He scoffed, breathing in the hatred that was being directed at him from all angles. If they thought it fazed him then they were wrong, so wrong in fact he was enjoying their squirming very much. Ever since he started talking, those damn innocent light green eyes hadn't left his mind, invading his thoughts to territories he didn't want to delve into. He was well and truly fucked. He chuckled and all the people in the room looked at him as if he was losing his brains. Considering the fact that he was doing something so out of character, he really was losing his brain. "Settle down everyone," grandpa Gary said, silencing the murmurings. "My grandsons seem to be enamored with my granddaughter," a light chuckle followed after his statement and it died down almost immediately as his face turned grim. Indeed, this alliance was arranged with Xavier in mind but after further discussion we considered his lack of enthusiasm on the marriage subject and ruled him out," his eyes met Xavier's and he saw his grandson's eyes narrow in suspicion. He smiled. Nothing went past his grandson without him noticing. He was as smart and as cunning as they came. "I am willing grandpa. That's why you chose me so there's no need for any argument right?" Jeremy wasn't ready to let Xavier take this woman away from him. He was always taking things away from him; he was the favorite child, the favorite grandson, the one who was always in the good graces of the teachers at school. Even when he didn't want it, he was the one all the girls gave their attention to and it irked him to a fault. Now, he was still taking things that belonged to him but unlike when they were children, he wasn't going to sit around and let him steal everything like he pleased. It was time to fight back. "And I don't understand his sudden interest in this girl he knows nothing of or does he not?" The insinuation behind his words had everyone questioning Xavier's true intentions about this marriage. Murmurings exploded around them and Jeremy smirked in victory. "I think if anyone has a motive here it'd be you considering the fact that you have a girlfriend and are still wanting to get married to another person. I don't recall you breaking up with Amber now. Does the poor girl who is so hopelessly in love with you aware of the fact that you're ditching her for a more powerful heiress. She would be so heartbroken. Tsu tsu tsu, poor girl," Xavier spoke as if he was deeply hurt by the prospect of his step brother hurting someone but anyone who knew him also knew he didn't care about anyone especially not the matters of this leech of a brother. Jeremy's eyes widened so much it looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets. "How...how did he know", he brooded over it in his head. He had made sure to hide his relationship thoroughly from anyone and everyone but he wasn't expecting the least of persons who cared to find out like this. He gulped a mouthful of saliva, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He looked at his mother who stared at him with a disappointing glare and he shifted in his seat uncomfortable. "Is this true Jere," their grandfather asked, his face mirroring his mother's. "It wasn't my intention to hide it from the family grandpa. It's... it's just that Amber doesn't come from an affluential family and I thought you wouldn't approve of her that's why I kept it a secret and besides we broke up some days ago so there's nothing to worry about. I'm sorry for not telling you and everyone else," he apologized and if everyone believed him then it wasn't Xavier. He knew the brat hadn't broken up with the girl but was just trying to save himself from the situation. Stinking bastard. He didn't want to blow his cover though after all whatever damage he had hoped to make had already been achieved. Jeremy's eyes travelled to his brother and he saw the victorious smirk that made it's way to his stupid face. Arrogant prick. One day, when he was done with him he wouldn't be having that triumphant look on his damn face. "I believe this fight for my granddaughter's hand in marriage isn't going to end soon. We're not in a hurry for this wedding to proceed so that's the good news and since my grandsons are all interested in Gia, then I give you the permission to woo her. Whoever she chooses wouldn't have anything to do with us but make sure the both of you play fairly," a solid decision had finally been made and the man of the house had spoken, leaning against his seat in an authoritative stance. "I don't mind," Xavier spoke. Jeremy clenched his hands. He had never won anything his brother was interested in and he knew this wasn't going to be an exception except he fought hard for this. " Hm. I accept," he responded after a while. "Since she doesn't know whom she is arranged to get married to, you can both approach her at convenient times and try to gain her attention," grandpa Gary added making Xavier grin. That girl was naive but she wasn't stupid, tsk. They asked for everyone's opinion on the matter and they all agreed with slight hesitation. Their opinions had never mattered anyways. That rude and obnoxious boy had made sure of it. "It was anything but great having dinner with you all and if it was up to me we wouldn't do this again. I know we all share the same sentiments," he smiled briefly, his eyes hardening at each one of them."I do hope we have a fair competition. No cheating was it, let's hope you understand that word as much as I do," his words were directed at Jeremy whose hatred hadn't died down from his malicious eyes. He got up from his seat. "Grandpa," he acknowledged as if he was the only person in the room and with that he walked out of the house in elegant steps. They all stared at his back and grandpa Gary sighed. This little scoundrel was going to cause him high blood pressure one of these days. He was insufferable sometimes it was annoying. Xavier took in a breath of fresh air as soon as he walked out of the suffocating house. He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the sides. One thing a predator was good at was making sure the preys knew exactly where they stood and that was knowing they were preys and not predators just because they had claws that could scratch sometimes. That's how this family was. He was the predator and they, his preys. The sooner that was established, the faster they'd learn to not get on his bad side. Annoying little twats. The chauffeur who saw the young master quickly went to open the car door for him to enter. "To the company," he said and the chauffeur nodded as he started the ignition of the car, veering them out of the mansion, leaving behind a smoke of dust to remind people of their earlier presence.

A slap resounded in the confines of a room with little light and if it wasn't the soundproof surrounding it, it would have echoed for the people outside to hear. "Can you ever do anything right?" Freda seethed in rage as she stared at his son who was still holding his cheek at the impact of the slap. But mother...Enough! You had one chance just one chance to finally won over that narcissistic prude of a step son and you blew it. Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend? If you did then all this would have been avoided. Use your head for once Jeremy," she kept screaming on top of her lungs bombarding the boy who looked like he wanted to shrink from his surroundings with insults. "Now, I don't care how much you love that girl. You're going to break everything you have with her and never look back understand," Jeremy looked like he had something to say but on second thought decided against it. Yes mother," he responded politely not bothering to argue or refute her words. Good! We have to now find a way to make sure that girl chooses you over that self absorbed boy. Use your head for once will you," the woman shook her head in disappointment as she walked out of the room. Jeremy fumed, pushing the sofas to God knows where and breaking the many vases in the room. He screamed in both pain and anger. He had had enough of people always telling him what to do including his own mother. It was time he took matters into his own hands and proved to everyone that he wasn't as stupid as they all thought he was. His step brother included. He looked at his face in the mirror he had broken when he threw one of the cases, his bloodshot eyes staring back at him. He was done being a fool anymore. He laughed manically, throwing his head back and still laughing with reckless abandon.