Song: I'm a man by Aloe Blacc
I believe every lie that I ever told
Paid for every heart that I ever stole
I played my cards and I didn't fold
Well it ain't that hard when you got soul (this is my world)
Somewhere I heard that life is a test
I been through the worst but I still give my best
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ELIJAH'S POV (yayyyy)
"You're not serious, right?" this has to be a joke.
"I'm sorry, son, but I am," he said sounding anything but sorry.
"No you're definitely not, do you have any idea how absurd you sound, dad," I stopped in my back and forth pacing.
"Behave yourself, Elijah, and calm down," is he seriously going to use his dad tone on me?
"Calm down... Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down after what you just told me?" my voice raised much to his dislike but I don't give a damn right now.
"It is what it is, son. You have to do it, I've already promised," is he even for real?
"But I haven't. For Christ's sake, this is my marriage we're talking about," banging my fists angrily on the table I shouted.
"You're almost 29, this is the perfect age for marriage and you're not dating anyone either, I don't see why this has to be a problem." He said unfazed as if it's the most normal thing to say.
"Problem, dad...? There are PROBLEMS. The problem is that you're telling me to marry someone I didn't even know existed until a few moments ago. I don't even know how she looks. The problem is that she is not someone I love or like or even someone I've chosen for that matter. The problem is that I don't want to marry anyone at all and you know it." I looked him dead in the eye, emphasizing words trying to make him see some sense.
"And since when did my age and relationship have to be any of your concern, huh? It's my life and I will do damn well as I please," he can't decide for me, no one can.
"You are the future CEO, Elijah. Soon you will be more in the limelight than you already are, your every move will be noticed more than ever. This playboy reputation of yours will not be good for our business and I can't let that happen. In the business world, men with family life are taken more seriously than the ones who make it to the headlines for their notorious way. Whatever happened in the past is in the past, this is no way to cope up with it." He said calmly but bluntly.
"With whom I sleep is no one's concern." I know what he's implying. "My personal life has never affected my professional one. What matters is how I do business and I am damn good at it, I'm fucking best at it and you know it, too. I have earned the right to get this position and I've worked my ass off for it. I've taken the business to a new level where no one can even touch us, I don't need a ring on my finger to prove my worth, my success screams for itself. If after all this someone is still interested in my marital status then it's their loss, not ours." What I said is not wrong neither it's a brag. Dad looked at me dumbfounded and I knew I've made my point.
I waited for him to answer but I knew he had none. Satisfied that this will put an end to his nonsense, I turned to leave, and just as I was to open the door his words stopped me dead in my track.
"Either, you will get married to this girl or I will disinherit you from everything and will cut all the ties, the choice is yours."
"What?" turning once again to face him I asked, I must've not heard him right, there's has to be a problem in my hearing.
"You heard me, son. If you want the position you will marry this girl or else yo..."
"You can't do this to me," I cut him off
"Oh, but I can and I will," he said.
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I hurried out of dad's study angrily slamming the door shut. I heard mom winced at the sound and I stopped. Apparently, she has been eavesdropping this whole time.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" I can't hide my accusing tone, she looked down with guilt.
"How can you let him do that, huh?" she looked at me with hopelessness and unshed tears, "You know what, forget it, just..." and I left as fast as possible, ignoring her crying pleas to stop and listen but I can't, this house is suffocating me.
I got inside my car and drove back to the office like a madman, angry beyond words could ever describe. My head is a ragging mess of thoughts with only one question running through my mind 'how could he'?
I was so deep in my thought that I almost didn't see the other car coming from the opposite direction. The constant honking pulled me back and I hit the brakes just in time, my head hitting the steering wheel from the impact.
I can feel blood trickling down from my temple, I can hear people talking in the background, some cursing, some worried, someone banging on my window but I'm still too much in a haze to pay any attention. I went numb as memories of the past fogged my mind. My mind went back to all the dark places I've been trying to fight for the past 4 years almost.
I can't do this.
I miss her.
I miss her so fucking badly.
In the same state of mind, I started the car once again not caring about the people around, and sped off to go to the place where I haven't been in these past 4 years.
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At night I found myself in a club, hoping the loud music would stop the chaotic voices in my head, drinking like there's no tomorrow which I haven't done in so long, just to forget everything, to stop every thought. It feels like my head will burst but the pain won't stop.
Pain.
The pain of the past, the pain of loving someone, the pain of them leaving you, the pain of losing them, the pain of the beautiful times that now are nothing but horrendous memories, the pain of never moving on.
Everyone tells you to move on but no one tells you how. If only it was that easy, if only you haven't tried. Time passes and things go back to normal, life moves on but what doesn't moves on is... you. You're still stuck in your past like a slave, unable to escape.
Dad wants me to move on, to get married like it's not a big deal but I don't want to move on nor do I want to get married. I am not capable of loving someone anymore and what good is a loveless marriage, right? She took all the love I had in me with her when she left. The images of her beautiful face still fresh in my mind, like she never left, like she's still here with me, smiling at me, comforting me with her presence. I smiled thinking about it but it soon vanished as reality kicked in and once again anger took place instead.
For the past 4 years only one thing is keeping me sane and today dad threatened to take it away from me. My business. It's been almost 4 years that business has been my sole center of attention. I've given everything to it just to make it stand where it is now and he wants to make me give it all up unless I don't give in to what he wants. How could he do this and what for, huh?
The daughter of some long-lost friend who until some days ago even he didn't know existed, she can be a scam for all we know or worse a gold digger. I don't know what his reasons are, neither he's willing to tell. Not only that but for her, he's even willing to cut me not only from the business but my own family too. It's not that I can't set up my own business or can't succeed without dad's company, in fact, I am very much capable of doing it even making It more successful than we are now, but I won't do it. My years of dedication and hard work won't go in vain because of some girl.
I haven't even met her yet and she's already getting on my nerves. I can't help but hate her already. But I won't give in so easy, I won't let this happen. Dad won't win this...... she won't win this.
With newfound determination I gulped down the remaining content of my drink, picking up a random girl for the night whose features I can't make out due to the amount of alcohol in my system, I left the place with only one thought.
I'm Elijah Alexander Norman; I won't go down without a fight. I never lose and this time would be no different.
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So, after a long wait, our hero finally decided to show up. Applause everyone (note to sarcasm) *eye roll*
How did you find him? I know it wasn't very elaborate but it's just the beginning, there so much story left for you to know him.
Still your views matter.
Feel free to throw in any suggestions, opinions and I'll write it up o your expectations.
Please vote and comment to show your appreciation!!!!!!!!!!!
Until next time, folks.
Regards,
Your insane writer.