No Say
My mother walked out on him, leaving me, and if that wasn't enough. My stepmother did the same, but she took my little brother, and he could have cared less. I tried running away to college, but somehow, I got dragged back into his web. Maybe it was because I loved him and was the only one he had left in his life. So, he repaid me by making me his CO-CEO.
That should have meant something to me, but the love wasn't there. He only saw me as his employer first and my dad second. I didn't need that; I needed my father, and he couldn't see it. Therefore, I did everything in my power to make the man see me, but I was losing the battle. So, I was stuck doing stupid shit like going out on a work night, hoping I was late for work in the morning.
"Dominique, are you with us or somewhere in la-la land?" One of my friends spoke. I was listening to them, but I was also thinking about everything that was happening in my life. I couldn't focus on one thing since my life was always in fast motion.
"I was listening but also thinking about this meeting in the morning. I don't know what it's about, and you know how I hate surprises."
"Yeah, but it's my birthday, and you're supposed to be having fun. Not thinking about your Dad and the bullshit he has you doing. Here, drink this." Again, I shouldn't have been partying, but it was Imani birthday, and I promised I would be here enjoying myself, but I didn't say I was getting drunk.
"I'll pass. I've drunk enough today, and I need to call it a night."
"No! You promised you would stay until eleven. It's not even ten, and you're trying to leave."
“That’s true, but I have a meeting in the morning, and I don't want to hear my Dad's mouth about me being late. I'll make it up to you this weekend. Maybe we can take a short trip to the beach or somewhere of your liking. I'll ask my Dad for a week off." I spoke as Imani and the others looked at me like I was crazy. They knew as well as I did that my dad wasn't going to let me off for a full week, but I could talk him into a few days.
However, they agreed and allowed me to go home, but I wasn't expecting my dad to be sitting in the foyer waiting for me when I walked in. Sometimes, the man treated me as a child. I hated it, but what could I do? He wouldn’t let me move out until I was married, which wasn't happening anytime soon.
"Where were you, Dominique?"
"Out with friends."
"On a work night. I swear, sometimes you don't know your right from your left. Partying is meant for the weekend, not on work nights. Then, you have the nerve to turn off your location. What if something happened to you?" I sighed because I didn't have the time for my father's bullshit. He needed to remember I wasn't a child anymore, but that didn't seem to get through his rock-hard head.
"I'm twenty-two, not two. I can go and come as I please. If you don't like it, then let me move out."
"That's not going to happen, Princess."
"Of course, it's not. Look, I'm tired, and we have an early morning. Also, I want a week off– next week." I said, turning for the steps until he stopped me. I sighed since I knew his next words were about to be no, but I was standing on this.
"We'll talk about that later. Make sure you're at the office before nine. There are some things we need to discuss."
That was weird. I was looking for the man to start yelling or flat-out tell me no. It had me worried about what he wanted to discuss with me. Maybe I had done something wrong. Was he about to fire me, or sick? So many thoughts were going through my mind, and they stayed there all night, making it hard for me to sleep.
So, that morning, I was tired as hell when I finally dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. I would have said it was refreshing, but I was half asleep and didn't want to go to the office. Yet, I got dressed and made my way down the stairs, being met by my father's dogs.
"Did they forget to feed you again? Come Cooper and Kodak, let me feed you before I leave."
"They are fooling you again. I just fed them. Come, you and I can ride together to the office." Now I was really scared. He was always at the office an hour or two early and for him to wait for me. Something was up, and I wasn't ready to hear it.
I wanted to argue about it, but it wasn't wise. So, I followed him out to the awaiting car, and from there, we made our way to the office. I had so many questions for him, but when I turned to face my dad, he had that look that said don’t fuck with me today.
"Dad, about what I said last night—"
"I said we will talk about that later."
"Okay, then, can we talk about the meeting? I would like to know what I'm walking in on. From what I can see, everything is running smoothly. Our numbers are up twice as much as last month. We have over two hundred more companies who signed to our security company and using our tech. Plus, there has only been one complaint in the last two months after letting them test the software I created."
"Nic, I know the numbers." Then what was this all about? If it was nothing about the company or the numbers, what were we having a meeting for? I hated the way he did things. I was supposed to be his equal in this company, but most of the time, I felt I was only in that position to make him look good.
"Then what is the meeting about?"
"Dominique, I taught you better than this. Stop questioning me and wait until we get in the conference room. I hate when you act like your weak mother. I raised you to be strong like me and you should act as such." That was the point. I didn't want to be like him. Christopher Summers was cold and heartless. He only cared about himself. He claimed to care about me but wouldn't let me do any of the stuff that made me a normal person.
I had to work hard and earn everything I had. If I wanted a new toy, I had to work for it. I had to work my way through college, which I had two more years of. I didn't have a life because the devil himself owned it. Plus, how could I be like a woman I barely remembered? She ran off and left me with the man getting out of the car beside me when I was two. I couldn't be that angry because I did have a good childhood. He was a father first, then a businessman, but over the years, he changed.
That's what people did as I got older. Therefore, I couldn't expect the man to treat me as that little girl. I only wish he would see I was more than his business partner. I was his daughter, and I loved him. "Dad."
"Yes, Dominique."
"I love you. You know that, right?" I questioned, making the man stop in his tracks to turn to me. He smiled, and it was something I hadn't seen in a while, which warmed my heart.
"Princess, I know you love me, and I love you —"
"Then why won't you tell me what this meeting is about?" I questioned as his smile faded. Instead of answering me, he took me by the hand and led us into the conference room where another man sat. His eyes stayed on me; it made me feel uncomfortable, but I said nothing as my dad pulled out a seat for me, which I took, watching my dad sit across from me.
"Dominique, let me introduce you to Kingston Wilson. He’s the new CEO of King’s Technologies. His Father and I have been looking to combine our companies for a while now and worked out a great proposal. We agreed on having the two of you marry. It will be great for our companies.”
"WHAT?! Dad, you cannot expect me to marry a man that I don't know for a damn company. I don't know this man, and I will not fucking marry him. Have you lost your damn mind?" This had to be a dream. There was no way he thought I was marrying a man to combine our companies. It wasn't happening. I wasn't for sale. I was a person... his daughter, and he sold me off to the highest bidder.
"Sweetie, this is non-negotiable. You will marry Mr. Wilson within a month. I'll allow you to have the wedding of your dreams, but you will marry, and if you try to run— I'll have to put you in your place. I told you there were things you would have to do in order to uphold our company. This is one of those things."
"Dad, I'm your daughter, and you're making me marry a man I have only heard of. Please, allow me to marry someone I want and can love."
"Nic, I know you're not talking about who I think you are. That man only wants you for your money. Look at how he's in and out of your life. He's fucking other bitches! And I will not allow my daughter to be used! Do you understand me?!"
I nodded without saying a word. He was right. The man I was seeing wasn't there because he loved me. It was for what I could do for him. Still, I wanted a life of my own, one I could choose my lover, but my father made it clear. I was to marry the man sitting quietly at the head of the table.
"Do you understand me, Dominique?"
"Yes, Sir, I do." I sighed, holding my head down. This wasn't the way I wanted to start my day, but the world had a way of slapping me in the face. I couldn't argue or fight the situation unless I wanted to be kicked out of my father's home and company to live on the streets. At the moment, I didn’t have a thing in my name. Not even my car, and now I knew why; my dad wanted to own me, and he got it. This was fucked up in all types of ways. I hated my life and the fact I had no say.
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