Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“An arranged marriage just like you will. She did what was best for her family, and she’d be ashamed to see you shirking your duties now.” His words hit me like a slap to the face. “Now, stop arguing, Verana. It’s pointless.”
The finality in the sharp tone I’d never heard used with me urged me to plead harder than I’d ever done with him.
I was supposed to have more time to convince him I was more than a socialite. If I could just make him hear me. If I could just buy some time. I scooted to the edge of my seat, my hands out. “Papa, I’m smart. I can be useful to Mariano Shipping,” I said, going back to how the night all started.
“It’s not your job to be smart, Verana. You knew this,” he almost pleaded. Like he knew he was close to the edge, and he was begging me not to push him.
But I was too far entrenched in panic over marrying Camden.
“But I am. If you’d just let me work a little b—”
“No,” he interrupted with finality.
His harsh rebuttal snapped me back against my seat, my spine straight and tall. My desperation pleading for my father to hear me didn’t break through, so I shut down, leaving the professional socialite to mix with the iota of defiance I’d gained in my freedom at college.
“Fine. I’ll apply elsewhere.”
He barked a laugh. “I don’t think so, Verana.”
I clenched my sweaty palms into frustrated fists, desperate to hold onto my composure—to not crumble under the discomfort of going against him. Usually, I sat back, but this was my life, and a tiny voice inside urged me to fight.
“If you won’t hire me, then you can’t stop me from applying to a company that will,” I stated as I stood.
The man I only heard about from his coworkers made an appearance for the first time in my life.
His eyes narrowed to dark slits. “I’ll shut you down at every turn. I know every shipping company in New York. You’re a Mariano, act like it.” He stood too, mirroring my position. “Since God didn’t bless me with any male heirs, your job is to marry a man who will take care of our company. You’ll make a good wife, period. Like your mother taught you.”
Like a splinter in glass, I fractured—my father’s cruel words dumping water on my fiery anger and I sat down, hard. Tears burned up the back of my throat and pooled on my lids, and I barely managed to keep them from falling.
But he saw the hurt, and it—like his anger—doused his fight too. His lids slid closed, and he shook his head, sagging back in his seat.
“It’s getting late,” I whispered.
He nodded, his eyes sliding open, not bothering to hide his regret. I swallowed the last bit of my tears down and stood. He stood with me and walked me out.
“You know I love you, Verana,” he said at the door.
“I love you too.”
He squeezed my hand. “And I love this company. It’s what we have left of your mama. We must do what we have to, to keep it alive.”
Unable to think of anything to respond with that would be productive to the night, I squeezed his hand back, and with a forced smile, left.
I made it to the end of the driveway before I pulled out my phone to message my friends.
Bitches: Arranged marriage is on…Kill me.
Two
Vera
Raelynn: I thought you were joking…
Me: Nope. Welcome home to me. *eyeroll*
Raelynn: How about a girls’ night?
Nova: Boo to arranged marriages.
Nova: And I can’t do a girls’ night. I’m out of town.
Raelynn: Clubbing it is.
Me: How about just a dinner instead.
Raelynn: At a strip club?
Nova: Ew.
Me: Hard pass on the strip club.
Raelynn: Such a good girl. Live a little.
Me: …
Raelynn: Fine. Dinner.
Raelynn: Party pooper.
Nova: Have a drink for me and be safe.
Just knowing I’d be able to relax and talk the last twenty-four hours out with Raelynn tonight helped ease some of the stress that weighed on me since I left my father’s last night.
I hated that Nova couldn’t be there. She completed our love triangle, as Raelynn called it. She was the calm devil’s advocate, always challenging us to think of the other person’s point of view, while Raelynn plotted the murder of whatever hurt her or her friends.
We’d all met in our Freshman year of college when we stood by and watched in horror as someone performed all four parts of Bohemian Rhapsody by themselves for a talent show that didn’t really exist. We’d caught each other’s eyes and started laughing in unison, and the rest was history. We’d held each other through each crazy, emotional struggle and adventure over the last four years.
I was ready to laugh and have a little too much wine and pretend duty didn’t pull me down with each step.