Chapter 3

I almost got choked on the food in my mouth when l heard that statement, l raised an eyebrow at my father, l have always known my dad to be an ambitious man, who always gets what he wants "Who is he to control my life?"l said inwardly, all l ever wanted was to be happy, l never imagined that my father will force me into a loveless marriage, at that point l could hear my heart beating faster, A lot of thoughts clouded my mind, l was at the point of losing my chances with my prince charming, a stranger that I have fallen helplessly in love with, l felt a sharp pain in my heart, l shrugged back into my seat waiting for him to explain further "I'm on the verge of losing the family empire Maya," he said dolorously, and l need you to save this family from this impending peril, my father owned one of the most successful construction empires in Batavia, l suddenly felt weak, l wanted to say something but I couldn't "I know you will hate me for this"he continued, but l need you to know that I'm doing this for us. So apparently my father's empire was about to go down the drain and he needed to secure a contract that will bring him back to his feet, Mr. Foster who happens to be one of the most influential men in the city of Batavia, and my father's business partner had offered him a contract with the condition that l marry his son My father, James Parker doesn't take "No" for an answer, and I knew there was no way I was going to turn him down "You're sure doing this for yourself, "l said coldly, l stood up angrily and walked out on my father, that was something I have never done before, l went straight to my room and locked myself up, l cried my eyes out that night, Ariana had consoled me over the phone, promising me that everything will be fine I heard a knock on the door the next morning, l had woken up with a migraine "Go away, "l said groaning in discomfort, l have never inferred that my life will be this miserable, l sluggishly came down from the bed, l moved to the door as soon as l heard Ma Grace's voice, l hugged her tightly feeling the warmth of a motherly body, l felt better after breaking the hug, she smiled at me and moved towards my table to drop the food she came with, she excused herself and came back with a dress "What's that, "l asked with my eyes wide open "Get ready Maya, you are meeting with the Fosters," she said trying not to offend me, l was livid hearing that statement, and l felt like my whole world was crashing, l knew I was about to lose the chances of being with my prince charming, l wasn't going to stop thinking about him, l will rather love him from afar However, I have decided to do this for my father, probably as a way of saying sorry for blaming him for my mother's death all these years I stood in front of the mirror wearing an exquisitely beautiful red dress that fit me so well, the dress gripped my body showing off my curves and the softly scooped neckline showed off the swell of my breast, Ariana has always praised my well-structured body, l have these mad curves that always draw people's attention whenever l go out… l sighed knowing that my misery was just about to begin I slammed the door of my room and went downstairs, my father and the driver were already waiting for me downstairs, l move closer, greeted my dad, and entered the car, the drive was quite smooth, but l kept wondering what Foster's son looks like "Will he accept me?"l asked inwardly, rumor has it that Jason Foster is arrogant and ruthless and l wondered if that was even true, well I'm about to find out Our car pulled up in front of this giant mansion and there was no doubt that the Fosters were incredibly rich, their mansion was in one of the most popular and richest districts, and l wasn't surprised Mr. Foster was one of the most powerful and influential men in the city and I didn't expect less, my father is rich and influential but not as the Fosters I alighted from the car, looked around, and walked majestically to the door, l opened the door to a warm welcome, the Fosters seemed very cheerful and quite accommodating, but l was yet to meet Jason, they led me to the dining table, l sat down as the servants were running around to serve me "Jason will join us shortly," Mrs. Foster, Jason's mother said smiling at me, l heard footsteps moving towards the dining table, and l looked up to see who they were "You?"l said in astonishment.