My name is Victor. My founder is a self-made millionaire. He is also a tyrant and a tightwad. An reactionary in his politics, he rants about liberal causes, tax and government outgo. That didn't stop him from building up a lucrative business relying in large part on government contracts. One of his favorite rants is about American nipper being spoiled rotten.

"They all ought to be tossed out on their own as soon as they reach the age of legal age,"he declared loudly and often."Let ‘ em sink or swim."

Knowing that, it still came as quite a shock when Dad turned me out of the home with not much Thomas More than the wearing apparel on my back on the day after I turned 18. I'd just graduated from mellow school the week before.

"Why ? What have I done wrong ?"I asked him.

"You haven't done anything ill-timed,"he replied."I've just decided to practice what I preach. Please sympathize it's nothing personal. I'd like to see what form of man this makes out of you."

"This is sort of sudden, Dad,"I said."What about my college plan ?"

"Figure it out for yourself. Just assume that I died suddenly and left you penniless."

"What does Mom cogitate about this ?"

"I think you'll discover your mother agrees with me completely on this so it'll be a waste of clip to go crying to her."

Well, Mom didn't really agree with Dad on this. She just didn't argue with him which she knew would be pointless. She slipped me some John Cash Dad didn't know about along with a telephone number of a personal contact. I still had to give up architectural plan to look the university I'd been accepted to.

I got a job through Mom's Quaker, rented a two bedchamber apartment with three other Guy and enrolled in the local Junior college. I had zero contact with my Fatherhood. It was okay if I never saw him again as far as I was concerned.

Mom called me a couple of calendar month later and advised me to beg, borrow and steal whatever money I could mug up up and clothe in a particular inventory. It was obvious she had some inside information learned from her influential social circle but I wasn't about to rat her out to the security system and commutation delegacy. She even hocked a bunch of her jewellery so I'd have plenitude of money to adorn. I did pretty well by that selective information and was able-bodied to pay her back so she could get her jewelry out of hock. I didn't suddenly start living it up though. I began to seriously meditate the inventory market and found I had a talent for picking devaluate stocks. I reinvested my earnings and continued to live a Spartan creation. Also, Mom continued to get off me stock baksheesh whenever she could so that helped, too. fast forward two years. I received a call from my mother.

"Your father wants you over to the house,"Mom said when I answered the phone.

"That's a surprise. What's the function ?"

"I don't know. He's being very mystic, but he says it's of import and the sooner the better."

"Do you remember I should have ?"

"I don't see the injury in listening to what he has to say. Maybe it's good news. I'd love to see you back home."

"In that causa I'd be Thomas More than felicitous to accept."

Dad greeted me as if he really missed me when I arrived yet he seemed kind of aflutter. I probably wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been around for a while but this was a label variety from his usual self positive aureole.

"I'm really proud of what you've accomplished, Vic."

"I really haven't accomplished anything, Dad, other than to support myself."

"fountainhead, that's an accomplishment in itself in this day and age. For a while I thought your mother was somehow supporting you on the sly, but I would birth found out if she did."I wondered if he'd been having me spied on. I was glad I kept a low profile ; very footling social life and no girlfriend.

"I think it's clock time I brought you into the company, son."

"I still want to get my degree, Dad."

"You don't need no stinkin'degree when you have an executive position waiting for you in the family business. There's money to be made and I'll display you how to take it. Of row, the work is hard and the minute are long but the rewards are well worth the effort."well, this was a alteration of heart. Dad was of the public opinion that bringing me into the company was outright nepotism which he thoroughly disapproved of unless I had proven myself elsewhere first. I wondered if he was ill.

"I'll certainly consider it,"I replied. I didn't really want to work for my dad. He was a total dork in my ruling. With my own chance, I wouldn't have to work for anyone.

"What's to look at ?"He took a foresightful pull on his potable and then said,"ejaculate into the study. There's something I want to hash out with you in private."I shrugged my shoulder joint and looked at Mom. She responded by shrugging her berm, too. I followed Dad into the subject and closed the door behind me.

"What I have to say has to stay individual between the two of us,"Dad said."Agreed ?"

"Agreed."He picked up a black and Elwyn Brooks White photograph up off his desk and handed it to me. It was a picture of a Brigham Young and beautiful woman.

"She's gorgeous,"I said."I think I'm in love."Dad smiled at that.

"She looks even better in someone. Her gens is Ana and she's 19 old age old ; a daughter of a moneyed Mexican client. Not only is she gorgeous, but she's bright and charming also. She speaks five linguistic communication fluently. Any man would be lucky to bear her as a wife."

"You want me to run into her ?"

"I want you to marry her."

"You want me to what ? Uh, I haven't even met the girl, Dad."She was a beaut all right but what if we didn't get along ? I wasn't ready to nail down down anyway.

"You'll meet her as early as tomorrow. You'll be a married man by this time future week. Where are you going ?"

"I'm leaving and I'm not coming back."

"This is affair of life and expiry, son."He sounded panicky.

"Whose life, Dad ? You secure stop dancing around and start being consecutive with me."

"I, uh ... had a brief affair with Ana on a recent business tripper to Mexico. She's carrying my tyke. Her father was about to have me tossed into a vat of acid when he found out. The only thing that saved my life was me agreeing to this match."I nodded my head. It began to pee-pee sense.

"Well, I didn't agree to anything."

"He'll have me killed if you don't go through with this. He's a man of his word."

"Money talks. Pay him off."

"He's not concern in money. He has plenty of wealth. He's interested in his mother wit of pureness and saving face."

"So, in rescript to pull through your ass, I have to tie some bimbo who doesn't know the word ‘ no'in five speech and lift your bastard as my own ?"

"You won't regret it. You'll be well compensated."

"But you've always preached that a man has to take responsibility for his legal action. And I know you're a man who exercise what he preaches. Don't take this personally, but I think you won't have me to bank on."

"But—

"Just assume I died suddenly and left you childless."

"Goddammit ! This isn't funny !"

"I'm not trying to be funny."

"I'll make certain you don't get a dime of my money."

"assume your money and shove it ! I've found I can get along quite well without it."

"What the heck is going on here ?"Mom was standing at the open door looking at us. We'd been raising our voices and that attracted her attention.

"We're having a private discussion, honey,"Dad said. Mom looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm pledged to secrecy, Mom. I'm leaving anyway."

"talking to him,"Dad exclaimed.

"Talk to him about what ?"

"Go ahead and tell her, please, Vic."He seemed release.

"Your husband knocked up a client's girl and I have to get hitched with her so her father doesn't have him tossed into a vat of acid."

"And just when was I supposed to be told about this,"Mom asked.

"After everything had been agreed to,"Dad replied.

"I wasn't to have any say in the matter while you ruined our son's future ?"

"I assumed your concord. I don't think you would suffer thought otherwise given the consequences."

"Oh, I don't know. I think I'm beginning to like the estimate of being a racy widow."Dad looked stricken.

"Even my wife is against me !"

"Don't worry about being cut out of the will, winner. Everything goes to me anyway."

"Thanks, Mom."

"You two are talking like I'm already bushed,"Dad screamed.

"You made your selection, dear. Victor and I have made our choices."

"The company won't be worth a dime without me."

"I'm not naïve, beloved. I know I can sell it for quite a lot based on the existing contracts the company has."Dad sat down and covered his face with his hands.

"I might as well blow my brains out to get it over with."

"Could you do it outside ? Then I won't have to ask the housekeeper to clean up the blood and mental capacity splatter."

"Too bad you can't run the companionship yourself, Mom."

"Oh, I think I could do it and quite well, too."

"You were a cocktail waitress when we met."










"I was working as a cocktail waitress when we met. I was also a fulltime student finishing up my concern level. You seem to have forgotten that part. You also seem to own forgotten about me helping you out in the early years of the business organization. And don't think I don't have my sources within the company that sustain me up to date on what's going on."The short man looked as if he was in shock. My dad wasn't used to not getting his way and it was going to cost him his life.

"I'll marry Ana and join the company,"I said.

"That's dandy,"Dad shouted. He was grinning from ear to ear. Mom didn't look too happy.

"So you're going to sacrifice your future in parliamentary law to save your sire's life, master. That's very applaudable. What happens the next sentence your father knocks up another little girl ? We don't have another son to save his worthless hide."

"That will never happen,"Dad swore."I've learned my lesson."

"Well, I do consume an significant condition,"I said."And it's a non-negotiable take it or leave it proposition."

"Anything !"

"Mom will call for over the company's operations. You and I will be working for her."

Mom liked the theme. Dad ranted and raved and claimed it couldn't be done. My parents were the sole shareowner so that was bullshit. I reminded him there was a vat of dose waiting for him if he refused. We called in the ship's company lawyer to get the agreement prepared and Mom called another lawyer to brush up the other lawyer's piece of work to check for loopholes.

Mom and I wanted to wait until everything was signed, sealed and delivered before meeting Ana and her kinsperson. Dad claimed there wasn't any clip. Ana's father wanted to suffer me right away.

"Don't worry,"Dad said."I'm going to sign the damned contract. I mean, what choice do I feature ?"

The contract arrived the very day I was to meet Ana. Dad immediately found fault with the wording even though both lawyers had approved it.

"Your mother and I will discuss it further while you're on your honeymoon."

"Your father won't sign that contract once you're safely married to this fille,"Mom told me privately."He's counting on your relationship not to let him get hurt."

"I shouldn't consume given in so easily. I guess I screwed up."

"What are you going to do ?"

"I'll think of something."

Our invitee arrived. Ana's father, Mr. Gomez, was shown into the subject field where Dad and I were waiting. Mr. Gomez was accompanied by a monster who looked like he'd spirit right at habitation in a professional wrestling pack. Mom was tasked with entertaining Ana and her mother. Mr. Gomez shook manpower with me and ignored Dad.

"It's a delight to meet you, sir,"I said. I didn't look that way but formalities must be observed. He didn't respond in kind nor did he smile. He also didn't waste any time.

"You are to wed my daughter. Are you aware of the setting behind this union ?"

"I am aware of the fate and my mother and I are deeply embarrassed by my father's irresponsible behavior. I offer my sincere apologies on behalf of my mother and myself."Mr. Gomez nodded. I could feel Dad's glare on me but he remained silent.

"Are you prepared to marry my daughter without wait and without reservation ?"

"fountainhead, there is a cause for postponement but I assure you the cause isn't of my doing."

"Please explain."

"My Father-God agreed—

"Now just one minute,"Dad interrupted.

"Shut up !"my future father in law shouted. The whale bodyguard made a rumbling sound and Dad shut up.

"My father agreed to certain direction changes in the troupe in purchase order that my mother's interests are protected from any of his reckless demeanor in the future. He's hesitant to ratify it now and I fear he won't preindication once I'm married to your daughter."

"Where is this understanding now ?"

"On top of the desk."Mr. Gomez nodded.

"Which is your key signature script, my friend,"he asked Dad.

"Uh, my right hand ?"

"You had right be certain because my associate will break every bone in your left bridge player if you haven't signed that text file within the next one-half min. He will leave behind your right hand alone but he will start on other os after that."

"But—

"twenty-five seconds."Dad's optic were fully of reproach, but I just raised my hands palms up in a helpless gesture. He reached for a pen on his desk and signed.

"Will you delight witness his signature ?"

"I will be pleased to do so. You will let me know if he tries to dispute this agreement."

"I'll do that. I guess I'm now cook to meet your daughter, but may I ask you a question ?"

"Of course."

"How does your daughter find about marrying a man she's never met ?"

"You may ask her yourself when you meet. In any issue, whatever she has to say won't stop this marriage."I shrugged my shoulders and led them out to the living room to encounter my fiancée.

Dad was rightfulness. Ana did look better in mortal, a lot better. A brunette mantrap, she was about 5'6"in summit. In her 3"heels she could seem me straight in the eye which she only did for an twinkling ; deep embrown center full of sadness. Her eyes remained fixed on the floor after that. Ana didn't offer me a smile when we were introduced. I knew ripe away none of this spousal relationship business was by her choice. Ana was dressed stylishly but conservatively. That outfit couldn't hide a very sexy body though. There weren't any outward signs of maternity yet.

"May I speak to you in individual, please ?"She had a soft melodic voice.

"Wait until you are married,"her beginner snapped.

"The wrong has been done, Father of the Church. What can he do that will construct things bad ? I will speak to this man in private."Ana seemed defiant despite her plight. This was a woman used to getting her way. They had a staring contest for a while and I guess pappa blinked.

"Don't go far,"he said finally.

"We can talk in the study,"I suggested,"and keep the door unlocked."

"Very well,"said Mr. Gomez. I handed Mom the signed contract and led Ana to the report. As soon as I closed the room access she began to speak.

"We were attending a fiesta and I was having my start discernment of alcohol ; substantial French Champagne. I felt so grown up. I drank more than I should have and began to flirt with your father, teasing him actually. I can only blame the alcohol because I was never attracted to him previously. We found ourselves alone and then one affair led to another. I woke up the adjacent morning with a splitting head ache and sore all over. I vowed right there to never again trace alcohol nor again engage in antenuptial sex. I didn't realize at the sentence that I was already pregnant. Two month later I knew I was pregnant.

"My parents were furious when I finally confessed to them. My Padre's plan to espouse me off to a rich and powerful man had been spoiled. He vowed to pop us both for besmirching his honor. He called me a slut and former atrocious names. I didn't caution if he killed me then. I wanted to die. My female parent calmed him down some and they hatched this program to marry me off to you. Your father readily agreed for my parents would deliver gone ahead and had him obliterate if he had refused. I begged them not to affect you since you were blameless but I couldn't convince them.

"I'm certain you agreed to marry me only to save your father's life. I don't blame you. I don't seaport any ill will toward him myself. I know I'm as much to blame as him. Consequently, I've resigned myself to a loveless and sexless marriage with you. I swear to honor and obey you in every way. I will always respect you. I know I don't any right hand to be respected by you in return and I won't aim to you having a mistress or mistresses. The lone thing I beg of you is to never publicly humble me."

"Is it my turn to speak ?"Ana nodded and continued to study the floor.

"It's true I agreed to marry you to save my sire's aliveness. Even though he's a summate jerk almost of the time I do roll in the hay him. I did get some measure of payback against him because of this predicament he found himself in and that was very satisfying. However, we might retrieve ourselves back at square one with my father in big trouble because I can't accept a loveless and sexless marriage with you."Ana looked up in surprise.

"You could bang me after what happened with your father ?"

"Only if you can bed me in return. look, nobody's perfect and everyone make mistakes. In any outcome, we never would have met if this hadn't happened. I find you caring as well as charming and beautiful. What else can a man ask for ?"

"Oh, Victor, I feel like my nightmare is ending instead of just beginning if we can begin this marriage with sexual love in our hearts."It was the like euphony to my ears when she said my name.

"You have a nice smile."

"You have given me reasonableness to smile. I think it will be very easy to love you."

"The feeling is mutual."I stole a kiss then. Ana blushed and then returned my candy kiss.

Ana and I were married in a quiet civil ceremony. She gave birth to a girl that we named Ana Queen Victoria. Mom tried hard to dislike Ana but she couldn't do it. I think Mom decided that since I was happy it wasn't worth holding a score. The company has thrived with Mom at the helm and Dad out drumming up business enterprise. I never did link the company. I make mass of money playing the blood line marketplace and have piles of clock time to make love with Ana. She's significant again. Ana and her parents have reconciled.

Dad has toned down his rants quite a bit. His only criticism of my action was that if he were in my place he would bear driven a much harder bargain. That's good to recognize. Live and learn .