6. Accepting defeat.

Giordana.

Concluding another consultant session with an arrhythmia patient, I leaned back on my chair thanking God that it went well and the patient wasn't problematic.

It had been two weeks since my encounter with Mr. Philip Forbes.

I reckon he was just kidding that day and that brought me relief because I can't imagine getting married to that arrogant man, just the thought made me shudder.

'He's handsome and sexy though.'

I agree he is but as handsome as he is that is how terrible his character is. God shouldn't have made him so perfect. 

It irritated me that those that were so good looking had sour characters. Why couldn't they be perfect in everything?

Shrugging off my thoughts, I sauntered to Rita's office to pick her for the lunch break.

During lunch, we conversed about everything; our present lives, the weather, celebrity crushes, and whatnot. Rita like me was single and she had never dated before cause to her it was a distraction.

She told me about her teenage years. She was a kick-ass nerd whom no one really dared to cross paths with. 

I had a good laugh as she spoke about a boy who tried to feel her up but ended up with a broken arm because her older brother was passing by and saw the scene.

After chatting for the rest of the break, we went back to our offices.

I attended to the few patients I had left and finally retreated to my office to rest for a while.

While I was lazing about I heard my phone's ring tone.
'I wonder who is calling now.'

I really didn't want to pick it up as I was in no mood to take calls so I listened to my ringtone until it stopped ringing. 

To my utter irritation, it started ringing again.

'Who the heck is calling me?' I thought grumpily.

Taking a deep breath I picked the call without checking who the caller was.

"Giordana Eleanor Quinton I demand an explanation for what I'm seeing on the news channel!" The very familiar voice yelled.

Okay... For Ella to call me by my complete name means serious trouble. Baffled I replied to her.

"Please I'm too young to go deaf Daniella and what have I got to do with whatever you heard on the news channel?" I asked.

"Oh it has everything to do with you, just turn on the television to TVC and please tell me what I'm seeing right now is a joke!" She ranted.

"Okay, okay," I responded

Turning on the television, I switched to TVC. I wasn't prepared for what I saw.
I was thunderstruck to my bone marrows.

There on the TV was Philip Forbes announcing our 'engagement' party on Saturday and our 'wedding' the next week. With my pictures, the particular picture that caught my eye was one captured on Ella's wedding day. The place where he held me at the back of the church when he bumped into me.

From the angle it was taken, it looked as if we were two lovers gazing intently at each other.

"Dana are you still there?" I heard from the other side.

"Yes, I am," I replied, trying my best to be calm.

"How could you? I'm your best friend Giordana, and you didn't even tell me you were dating not to talk about getting married or is it a joke?"

"Ella I swear to you that I'm more dumbstruck than you are now, hell I've never had a decent conversation with Philip Forbes!" I exclaimed, cleaning my sweaty palms on my skirt.

"Then what the heck am I seeing?" She prodded.

"I'll explain everything to you," I began.

"So that day at your wedding..." I enumerated my experience with him that day.

So his silence was the calm before the storm. I didn't expect this. If he wanted to surprise me then I'm way over being surprised.

"That jerk!" She exclaimed.

"How could Phil do such a thing! For God's sake if he liked you he would have just said it nicely but this stunt he pulled is too much, I swear I'll kill him when I see him. No one messes with my best friend!", I could hear the rage in her voice as she ranted.

"Why didn't you tell me all these since I'd have found a way to help, I just pray it's not too late if not you'll have to marry him". She said

"I'm sorry babe but I didn't want to bother you, besides you just got married, I wanted to give you and Drew space and time for each other".

"Still you should have told me. You telling me your problems is not bothering me. In fact not telling me is a mistake because if you had told me I'd have found a way out but you young lady have put yourself in deep shit.

Think about your parents, everybody knows now that you're George Quinton's daughter if you deny this man your father's reputation is at stake. I've known Philip for a while now, the man is very manipulative. We would have to find a way out of this mess silently," She implied.

'Oh my God I really hope it's not true, I'll have to marry Philip Forbes.. oh no no no what have I gotten myself into now?'
I thought.

"Ella I'll call you back later..."

"Okay, bye."

Hanging up, I racked my brain for how I was going to handle the situation.

'Yes! I'm going to that jerk's office. I need an explanation, a serious one at that.
But where is his office?'

Ask google. 

I searched Google and I found it.

Bursting out of my office with my bag many people were staring at me strangely, I guess they saw the news but I couldn't care less.

On reaching the parking lot, I hopped into my car then I drove off. I was able to locate the office using Google maps.

By the time I got there, I ran into the reception area. Well, the building was grand but it was the least of my worries at that point.

"Hello, Miss what can I do for you?" The receptionist- a tall, redhead with hazel eyes asked me. She looked friendly and was polite.

"Umm I need to see Mr. Philip Forbes," I answered

"Do you have an appointment with him?"

"No I don't, but please can you call him and tell him Giordana Quinton is here to see him and it's very urgent?" I pleaded.

"Alright." She replied with a nod.

"Good afternoon Miss Davidson, Please can you inform Mr. Forbes that a Giordana Quinton is here to see him and she says it's urgent."

After speaking with the miss Davidson she referred me to the first elevator by the right which would lead to the thirtieth floor.

I Scurried into the elevator, thankful that I was the only one in it as I really needed the space. I tried to calm myself down because I did not know what would happen when I meet Philip Forbes.

Without bothering to knock when I came across the door that had PHILIP FORBES inscribed on it, I barged into the office.

The office was breathtaking. The background colors were white and black, a Black chair, and a cream table with an apple laptop on the top. Behind the chair was a large transparent glass window and you could see the city through it.

To the left was a large shelf with books of different sizes and colors, then to the right was a black wall with bold letters of ROYALTY in Golden color and a coffee table in a corner with two couches and a three-seater. All in all the office was just fascinating.

Behind the desk sat Philip Forbes in his glory staring at me, then he broke into a smile, an actual smile not his usual condescending smirks. His smile was cute and he had round deep dimples. The man is a fine specimen without any doubt.

However, that is not my reason for coming.

All the anger that I tried to bury came back with full force, scratch that I was livid. He even had the nerve to smile.

Glaring at him, I stepped forward to the front of the table.

"What the fuck do you think you are?" I asked with as much venom in my voice as possible.

"Well, well, well pretty Little Dana has decided to grace my office with her presence. You look beautiful today and by the way, I'm human so it's 'who' and not 'what'," He replied.

"Fuck you, Mr. Forbes, cos as far as I'm concerned you do not qualify to be called a human. A human does not force anyone to marry him. You're not even qualified to be called an animal either as that would be an insult to the animal kingdom in general!" I sneered.

He just sat there looking unbothered by what I said with a smirk on his face that I so wished I could wipe away.

"We'll talk about fucking me later, why not sit and let's discuss this like adults?" he answered.

"I don't want to sit down neither do I have any intention to discuss anything with you, I just came to ask why you pulled that stupid stunt on the Television," I demanded ignoring his crude remark.

"Well you're aware that we are getting married so I decided to let everyone know," he said with a careless shrug.

"Are you freaking kidding me right now," I shrieked. "'we are getting married', what's that supposed to mean? because I don't remember agreeing with you on any stupid marriage."

"Well I told you that you had to agree as it was not negotiable so why not sit down and let's discuss the terms?"

"To hell with you Philip Forbes, I'm not getting married to a jackass like you, not even at gunpoint!" I yelled.

"You really are stubborn Aye?, So you want me to tell them it was a lie? Or that it was a joke?"

"Whatever rides your boat, all I know is that I refuse to marry you!" I retorted acidly.

"So you'd rather prefer 'Giordana Quinton, daughter of George Quinton owner of the Quinton company rejects fiance Philip Forbes says he's not good enough for her' on the headlines? Don't be selfish, if you won't care about whatever they'll say about you at least think about your parents' reputation, what do you think the public will say about them?"

That Statement weakened me, Ella had told me the same thing.

Feeling defeated I dropped down on the chair with my head in my hands. If there was one thing I had come to learn about the man seating before me, it was the fact that he never gave out empty threats. 

"And what if I still refuse?" I prodded, unwilling to lose the argument.

"Then your parents bear the brunt of your actions. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like to see your father dejected because he's receiving termination of contract messages." He deadpanned, a dark look replacing the smile he wore earlier.

"You manipulative pig! I'll deal with you just you watch and see." I sneered.

"Mind your language and tone Miss Quinton, I can do so many things to you, things that you would not even imagine," He voiced in a cold tone. 

There was no other way out, I had to do it for the sake of my parents. They've done so much for me, I can't repay them like this because of my own selfish reasons.

So I did what was best it's now or never.

Taking a deep sigh, I asked the question that would change my life forever, "What are the terms of the marriage?" 

"Now you're talking. Was that hard to say? No, it wasn't," He replied, his plump pink lips curling up into that captivating smile.

Lifting my head, I glared darkly at him.

"Just get straight to the point please Mr. Forbes," I sighed, a tinge of irritation and anger still in my voice.

"Okay, first of all, as you saw on the news the engagement party will take place on Saturday. Today is Monday so you have four days to prepare. My sisters will be back tomorrow, you will go with them together with my mom and whoever you like to start the preparations for the engagement and the wedding which will take place next week Saturday it's up to you to choose your bridal train the funding will be on me," He ordered.

"Is that all?" I asked.

"For now yeah. You are to come tomorrow so that we'll meet my lawyer and draw up the contract, after that we'll meet your parents then on Wednesday we meet my parents, I'll call the hospital and inform them so no need to go to work for the rest of the month."

"Okay," I muttered.

Picking myself up from the chair, I turned to walk out but I paused then turned to face him.

"Why me?"

"What?" He asked.

"I said why me, why didn't you choose someone else, maybe a model or an actress or someone that fits with you, why did it have to be me?"

"I'm not answerable to you," He replied in a cool tone.

Scoffing, I marched out of the office, not stopping until I reached my car.

The tears I had been struggling to hold came pouring out, I shed tears of frustration.

I felt horrible like I had just sold my soul to the devil. Only that this devil was in human form, named Philip Forbes.

Maybe if I had told Ella she would have been able to do something about it, but it's too late to cry over spilled milk.

God, please help me, I prayed.