His Volition

"Mom, what's going on here?"

I walked into our home and was met with two men armoured in expensive monochrome suits standing by the door and an older man probably in his 60's sitted on our black leather couch with my mother.

Even with the smile he flashed in my direction I could sense he was no good. The man had jet black hair with streaks of grey; sleeked back with gel and cut razor thin. Unlike his guards, he wore a crispy ironed plain white shirt and navy blue trousers.

"Carmen Honey, come sit" She tapped the space on the couch close to her.

I sat down. Unsure of what was going on and doubtful it was anything good.

"Honey this is Mr Whitney. He was a friend of your father's" I heard Mom say.

"Good to finally meet you" the man said, with a tight smile, extending his hands from where he sat.

I took his hands and forced a quick nod.

He turned to my mother and said;

"I believe I'm done here Maria, do well to review the documents and my lawyers will be in touch. I'm sorry once again for the death of your husband" The man concluded, standing up and heading to the door. His guards followed behind him.

I immediately turned to my mother's disgruntled face;

"Mom what just happened, what documents and what lawyers. How did dad know a man like that?" I rambled not caring how I sounded.

"Calm down and let me talk. That was your father's former boss and business partner"

"The same one that duped dad and cut him out of a deal that was his idea?"

" Yes the same one"

" What did that Bastard want? and why were you sitting calmly speaking to him? why wasn't he running off hands in his pants?" I half yelled at my mother irritated at her meekness to a man my father had said only terrible things about.

"He gave me this, that's why" She handed me a paper.

The heading caught my attention:

CONTRACT MARRIAGE BETWEEN SEAN WHITNEY AND CARMEN GARCIA.

"What the hell is this?" I was on my feet filled with rage and hatred.

" You're getting married Car" my mother said quietly and I let out a stiff laugh

"You're kidding right?"

"This is not a joke baby, you're getting married in two months"

" What are you saying mom? Getting married to whom? I don't even have a boyfriend, have you forgotten you asked me to leave Carlos"

" Mr Whitney…" I cut her off

" Absolutely no way in hell I'm marrying that monster" I barked and immediately regretted it when I saw the look in mom's eyes.

"Do not raise your voice at your mother!" She hissed, brows furrowed in frustration.

"I'm sorry mom" I quickly apologized

"Now listen to me, that paper is a signed contract between your late father and the man that just left here. A contract marriage that states that if one company ever faces any major crisis you'll have to marry Sean in other to merge companies and continue the legacy. Right now the Whitney's are experiencing a big blow and he has to merge with your father's company." She consoled

"I can't marry someone I don't know mom"

"You remember Sean? The one you had a crush on back in senior year?"

I rolled my eyes

" Of course mom, Heartbreak no.1. Don't Tell me he's the same Sean" I stared at her eyes wide in realization. I was going to pass out if my mother said I was marrying that Asshole. He's no better than his father.

"Yes the same Sean. I'm sorry Car" she symphatized

" No way! I'm not marrying him. There has to be another way. You know how much he humiliated me. I can't marry him." I shook my head in disbelief, hoping all of this was some sort of prank.

"There's no other way, you either marry into their family or they take over your father's company anyway and now that you're the CEO they'll take you too"

" They can't do that mom, it's just a threat." I spoke up already trembling in fear of what's about to happen.

"Take your time to review the contract dear, you'll understand that they can" Mom finished and went upstairs.

I sat there Wondering how she was so calm in the midst of this chaos. Wondering what led to the signing of that contract without my approval. Dad was a good man even though he was in business with devious men, he still maintained his integrity. This kind of thing was unlike him.

That bastard must have done something to make my father agree to this without consulting me. To think I was marrying his overpampered bully of a son only made matters worse. I've had a crush on Sean since sophomore year. l'd painfully watched him date multiple girls and break hearts. In senior year my best friend, Adrain, had convinced me to ask him out for prom.

I dreamt of what it'll feel like for us to win Prom king and queen. I was certain that he was the love of my life and pictured a family with him. All those dreams were crushed after he humiliated me in front of the entire school. That's a story for another day.

++++++

2months later

The day of the wedding came faster than I'd wanted. I spent the entire 2 months contacting the best lawyers in New Jersey and beyond, searching for a loophole in that contract but I'd found None. Mom had handled all the wedding preparations because I just wasn't interested.

Now I was standing in front of my number one Nemesis in a court room filled with only family and a handful of business associates. I was his wife, we'd gotten married after all, I couldn't believe it. I'd just walked into my biggest nightmare eyes open, sober and without hesitation.

The ceremony ended and Sean disappeared.

"You alright babe?" Adrian my best friend walked up to me after my new husband had abandoned me to attend to God knows what.

"You want brutal honestly? I hate him–so much, and this pretentious marriage, and his family and most importantly this ridiculously heavy dress" I grunted out in frustration and for some reason my bestfriend found it funny so he burst out laughing.

I wondered the kind of material they used to make the dress. It felt like I was wearing concrete.

"Oh honey, beauty is pain. You look gorgeous though" He patted my cheeks and his eyes thinned in a smile.

He had definitely done a good job with my make over but I wasn't giving him the satisfaction of saying so.

"I look like shit, this is just a mask, I'm dying inside" The last part came out in a soft whisper.

" You're the most gorgeous bride I've ever seen.". Adrain said dismissing the conversation and taking my hand

"Let's go, reception is in 15mins. The car is waiting"

* At reception*

It was time for the new couple to be introduced and my husband was no where to be found. His family had no idea where he'd gone and no one had seen him.

"Perfect, just perfect. Tommorow's headlines would read 'The bride that got dumped less than one hour after her wedding' I'd give anything for a chance to dissapear from these prying eyes right now." I thought to myself.

"Where's Sean?" My mom walked up to me and asked

" No idea, Mother" I said in annoyance.

I was still pissed at her for making me do this, we could have fought together to stop this but she did nothing to help me just went ahead to make wedding plans.

"I'll be right back" she squeezed my arm gently and went out of sight.