Chapter 54

“I don’t know how I feel about being away from Amiyah for an entire weekend.” Mia was busy tidying up her room when Gabriel had burst through the door with an invitation for them. A business associate’s daughter was getting married to another business mogul’s son. It was an affair that signalled money marrying money, it was definitely going to be a show for the ton.
Apparently, it had been a mere privilege just to be invited. Although, Mia was certain these men were going to use the situation to conduct business matters. She’d rolled her eyes when Gabriel told her she’d have to accompany him. It was a weekend long celebration at a little villa down the coast. She didn’t want to think about the money that was being shelled out just to impress other people.
This was the first time in a long time…or ever…where Gabriel hadn’t demanded her presence, however, she’d made that promise to keep up appearances for the sake of his business dealings. She would comply; his business matters were what would ensure her daughter the best life. To mess with that was to mess with Amiyah’s future and she would never.

“She will be just fine,” Gabriel had begun rummaging through her closet and fishing out clothes he thought appropriate and sending it to her bed. The wedding wasn’t for another two weeks but he’d already been deciding how to dress her up. Her value was based on how good she made him look, and her looks had to please him. “It’s already been settled, she’s staying a night with my mother and then the next with your sister, and she’s super excited.” He reminded Mia. Amiyah’s face had brightened up upon hearing her soon to come adventurous weekend. She usually either saw her aunt and uncle or grandmother never both in the same weekend.

“It bothers me that she is so unattached to either of us.” Mia mused, far be it from what her daughter felt, Mia was anything but happy. An entire weekend pretending to be Gabriel’s good little wife seemed exhausting. She was already pretending as it was.

“I rather thought you would admire her free spirit,” Gabriel responded, making a mental note of clothing ideas he’d sent for his personal shopping assistant. Mia’s wardrobe had ‘mommy’ written all over it. He barely selected a handful of pieces I would want her to wear. “She gets that from you, you know.” He teased.

“And look how far that has gotten me.” Mia muttered under her breath, praying for Gabriel to leave her alone.

***
Harvey took a measured sip of his drink. He’d been huddled away in the corner of the bar staring unseeingly at the men stumbling about, their loud voices grating against his ears so he’s made the mental decision to tune them out. Thankfully, the bar was rented out and the group he found himself around preferred their own voices to the blaring sound of music. He didn’t think he could handle music blasting so loud that he’s feel disoriented if he went outside. Harvey barely noticed as Tristan fumbled towards him behind the rim of his glass.
Tristan and Harvey had formed a friendship of sorts at university. Their dynamic was characterised by each one attempting to one-up the other. It hadn’t been much of a competition, now that Harvey thought about it.

“Guess I finally, without controversy, out did you at something.” Tristan refilled Harvey’s glass clumsily. He was shifting to and fro as if being manipulated by some imaginary wind. He was already pretty stoned. Harvey held out his glass as steadily as possible, manoeuvring to catch the flowing liquid every time it threatened to divert from its path.

“I didn’t know that marriage was on our list of competitions.” Harvey frowned as he yanked the bottle of whisky out of Tristan’s clumsy hands and set it down on the table. He really didn’t want to be doused in alcohol; he had no need to make himself flammable around so many men with cigars in their mouths, at least three of them had it out for him too.

“Didn’t even know we had a fucking list!” Tristan roared in amusement, plopping down next to Harvey. “But by God marriage would surely be on it.” He cackled.

“We should really transform it into a tangible list, that way I’d know what I need to kick your ass at.” Harvey took a gulp of his drink and bared his fangs lazily.

“I’ll let you in on a secret,” Tristan leaned all the way back into the seat and sighed. His eyes drooped a bit and a lopsided smile came across his lips as he thought of something. “Of all the things I have accomplished in my life, while I will admit has come second to your accomplishments…” he swallowed past the rising acid in his throat.

“You really are drunk.” Harvey muttered as he eyed him. Tristan had never, not once, admitted defeat whenever they competed against each other; not while they were in school together and not while they’d been formulating their careers.
Tristan chuckled, “but, getting that woman to want to spend the rest of her life with me has to be the greatest thing I ever accomplished.” He declared gleefully. Harvey considered him for the first time since he’d arrived at this bachelor party. There was a glimmer in Tristan’s eyes that wasn’t there before; similar to the one he saw in Ethan.

“I’m happy for you man.” Harvey patted him on the shoulder, “Wasn’t expecting you to fall for Cheshire’s daughter though.” Harvey couldn’t contain his laughter. “You always despised the man.” Harvey couldn’t help himself from recalling that one time Tristan and the man had almost come to blows…in the middle of a business arrangement. Harvey and Ethan had intervened only to also be put on Cheshire’s *list*.

“Fuck Cheshire!” Tristan growled with venom. “I am not marrying him, I am marrying his daughter and they are polar opposites.” He convinced Harvey, downing bottled water in under a minute.

“Fuck Cheshire.” Harvey nodded; he and Tristan knocked their glasses together and downed the remainder of liquid in their glasses.

“How did you manage to convince him to marry his daughter off to you?” Harvey questioned. If he knew Cheshire, the man would have rather sold his daughter off as a slave than allow her to marry Tristan.

“I’ll let you in on a secret.” Tristan leaned closer to Harvey, gazing back at the other men roaming about the bar. “We have been secretly engaged for two years. Her father gambled her life away in some stupid business deal to some old geezer. I paid off the debt because I was attracted to her and thought she could help me with revenge, didn’t expect to fall in love.” Tristan shrugged.

“You bought your wife?” Harvey said in half amusement and half shock. It didn’t shock him that Cheshire bargained away the life of his only daughter; it was shocking, however, that Tristan had indirectly become the purchaser. There were numerous underhanded deals being made by these wealthy businessmen and they often saw their daughters and wives as a tradable commodity.

“I had the intention of drawing her to my side to get revenge on her father; she had hated him as much as I do.” Tristan revealed. “Nothing untoward, I had made her my business partner and treated her with the utmost respect.” This Harvey believed. Tristan had been a raging feminist since they’d first met; having four younger sisters would do that to a man and in this instant it saved the life of Tristan’s soon to be wife.

“You got more out of that deal than you bargained for.” Harvey commented, feeling some comfort that he was not the only one to meet the woman of his dreams through some misguided conceptions and actions. Whether he was able to hold on to his dream woman was an entirely different story.

“Wouldn’t have changed it for the world,” Tristan said with stars in his eyes. It was a pity that his soon to be father in law wanted to reconcile with his daughter, he couldn’t bear to stand within one mile of that man. He’d put his daughter through hell and back, trying multiple times to curry favour with other businessmen by offering her up for their pleasure.
When he thought about it, the alcohol in his veins began evaporating. She’d been lucky the first few times, having to spike drinks or use her own wit to get out of the situation with her virtue intact, not that it would have been diminished if some scumbag took advantage of her. Sooner or later, that luck would have run out.
If it wasn’t for his wife accepting her father’s apology, the wretched man would have never been invited to their upcoming wedding. Nay, he never would have been able to set eyes on her again.

“Can’t wait to see the tears at the wedding then.” Harvey continued with his drink, he would definitely need a distraction for that weekend.