The CEO’s Second Choice

Elena

A knock at my bedroom door draws me out of my reverie. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide in here forever. “Elena?” came the voice of my father. This made me frown. He hardly ever came into my room. I would have expected it to be mother or Eliana to run after me.

Not the head of our family.

“Come in, father,” I called out, then I sat up, straightening myself out as a lady should. He then opens the door and pokes his head in. “May I come in?”

I nod and grab a tissue from my bedside table to dab my eyes with. Did he honestly expect me to tell him he could not enter my room?

My father takes a seat on my bed and takes my hand in his, “Elena, I do not wish for you to go through with this marriage.” He starts abruptly, causing me to stare at him in surprise. Didn’t he just agree with everyone downstairs?

“What do you mean by that, father? You just agreed with everyone downstairs that I should go along with this marriage to Sebastian.” I say, echoing my thoughts.

He sighs, but gives me a sad nod, “Yes, but it does not mean that I am happy with the whole thing. Eliana has shamed us with her actions, so we would need to make it right. We owe the Dumont’s that. This is the only way to right the wrong.”

Instead of facing the scandal, they would prefer to marry me off in my sister’s place. That’s how little I mean to my family.

I look up at my father and offer him a tight smile, “I got my acceptance letter from Harvard today,” I say wistfully, “I wanted to study law and got accepted without the Wilshire name’s sway.” I was so proud of this when I had received my letter earlier today. But now even this would be taken away from me, along with my freedom and Nicholas.

Oh my gosh, Nicholas. What would I tell him? He was to be my betrothed when I returned from Harvard, now we would not be. Instead, I would have to marry a man who basically called me fat the first time he saw me.

My father pats my hand, “I am afraid that won’t be happening right now, love. But perhaps we can ask them for an extension, for say 5 years?” He suggests, causing me to frown.

An extension for 5 years?

“What do you mean by that, father?” I ask him, not quite grasping what he was saying.

He offers me a warm smile, “Marry Sebastian Dumont, stay married for at least 5 years then you have my blessing to go study abroad.”

My eyes widened. Was this what the light at the end of a tunnel felt like?

“Do you really mean that, father?” I ask him, elated. I knew this was nothing, but a cleverly disguised bribe, but my dream and freedom were hanging mere inches from my grasp.

My father gave me a smile, knowing he had won, “Yes, poppet. I promise. After 5 years, you will be free to study abroad and make a name for yourself.”

My mind had already agreed to his conditions, but my heart was stuck. I loved Nicholas; He was the love of my life and my best friend. I would be choosing my career over him if I did this.

Sebastian was the last person on earth I wanted to be married to, but if this meant my freedom and studying abroad, I would go through with it.

Peering up at my father, I give him a small nod, “Okay, I will do it. I’ll marry Sebastian Dumont if I can study abroad after 5 years.”

This seemed to appease him, so he gets up and walks towards the door, “I will inform everyone downstairs. Join us for a nightcap when you’re ready.” And with that, my father leaves my room.

I look down at my hands as I place them in my lap. Did I really just agree to marry the one man I despise more than anyone else?

A jittery tone cuts through my thoughts, and I realise my cell phone is ringing. I pick it up and check the caller ID and my heart comes to a stand-still.

It was Nicholas.

I take a deep breath and decide to answer his call. There was no reason I had to ignore him, as I had always been forthcoming in our relationship.

“Hey, love,”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Hey sweetheart, I’m sorry I missed your call. Father had me sitting in on meetings with him,” Ah, that explains why my call had gone unanswered.

“It’s alright. I was calling to let you know I got my acceptance letter from Harvard today.” My letter, it seems like so long ago that I received it and I faintly remember how happy I felt thinking it had been my key to freedom.

“Honey, that is wonderful news! Shall I pick you up for a congratulatory drink?” My sweet Nicholas asks me, and I feel tears running down my cheeks again. I sniff and shake my head to get my bearings. Nicholas must have heard me because his voice suddenly became serious, “Love, are you alright?”

Am I alright? No, I don’t think I am. My life is in the midst of falling apart.

“Nicholas, something has happened and I do not think we can be together anymore. I will not be attending Harvard either. I am so sorry, my love, but this is for the best.” I say with sadness and end my call.

I take another tissue from my bedside table to wipe my tears and blow my nose. Then I take a deep breath and steel myself.

Getting up from my bed, I saunter towards my dressing table and fix my makeup. I had better get used to looking my best in public, seeing as I, Elena Wiltshire, will be the lady of the family now.

***

I straighten my back and poise myself to walk downstairs to face whoever was left of the wretched dinner party. The Dumonts, save for Sebastian, were still present and my parents. It appears Eliana and Robert had taken their leave.

Mirabelle spots me and immediately gets up from her seat, beaming. “My dear,” she gushes and draws me in for an embrace. “I always wanted you to be the one to marry Sebastian, no offence, Susanna. But Elena always had that spunk I liked. She never pretended to be poised and proper.”

Well, well, well. It appears I may have misjudged Mirabelle after all these years.

I smiled at my soon to be mother-in-law. What the heck. Was this really happening?

“Thank you, Mirabelle. I guess we will be more than family soon,” I tell her and she hugs me again.

She seemed to be happier about this union than anyone else.

I turn towards everyone, “I will marry Sebastian in order to right this wrong and prevent a scandal.” I proclaim, to the delight of everyone present. My father smiled up at me and gave me a wink.

The rest of the evening goes by in a blur, and the next thing I know I am showered and in bed.

Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my miserable life.