My gens is Victor. My father is a self-made millionaire. He is also a tyrant and a tightwad. An ultraconservative in his politics, he rants about giving causes, tax and government spending. That didn't stop him from building up a lucrative business relying in large part on government contracts. One of his best-loved ranting is about American tyke being spoiled rotten.

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

Knowing that, it still came as quite a blow when Dad turned me out of the home with not much more than the clothes on my spine on the day after I turned 18. I'd just graduated from high schoolhouse the week before.

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

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

"This is kind of sudden, Dad,"I said."What about my college plans ?"

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

"What does Mom guess about this ?"

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

wellspring, Mom didn't really check with Dad on this. She just didn't argue with him which she knew would be pointless. She slipped me some cash Dad didn't know about along with a telephone number of a personal contact lens. I still had to chip in up program to attend the university I'd been accepted to.

I got a job through Mom's friend, rented a two bedroom apartment with three other guys and enrolled in the local Jnr college. I had zero contact with my Padre. It was okay if I never saw him again as far as I was concerned.

Mom called me a couple of months later and advised me to beg, borrow and steal whatever money I could drum up and invest in a particular lineage. It was obvious she had some inner information learned from her influential sociable circle but I wasn't about to rat her out to the Securities and rally commissioning. She even hocked a bunch of her jewelry so I'd have plenty of money to invest. I did pretty well by that information and was able to pay her vertebral column so she could get her jewelry out of hock. I didn't suddenly start living it up though. I began to seriously take the stock market place and found I had a talent for picking undervalued stocks. I reinvested my profits and continued to live a Spartan cosmos. Also, Mom continued to station me stock confidential information whenever she could so that helped, too. Fast forward two geezerhood. I received a claim from my mother.

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

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

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

"Do you think I should accept ?"

"I don't see the harm in listening to what he has to say. Maybe it's skilful newsworthiness. I'd love to see you back home."

"In that casing I'd be more than happy to accept."

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

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

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

"Well, 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 have found out if she did."I wondered if he'd been having me spied on. I was glad I kept a low profile ; very little social life and no girl.

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

"I still want to get my point, 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 show you how to ready it. Of course of action, the oeuvre is hard and the minute are long but the rewards are well worth the effort."Well, this was a change of core. Dad was of the notion 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 exercise for my dad. He was a tot up jolt in my judgement. With my own destiny, I wouldn't have to crop for anyone.

"What's to turn over ?"He took a long pull on his drink and then said,"seed into the sketch. There's something I want to discuss with you in private."I shrugged my shoulders and looked at Mom. She responded by shrugging her berm, too. I followed Dad into the field and closed the door behind me.

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

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

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

"She looks even better in person. Her name is Ana and she's 19 years old ; a daughter of a wealthy Mexican guest. Not only is she gorgeous, but she's smart and charming also. She speaks five linguistic communication fluently. Any man would be lucky to have 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 dish all right but what if we didn't get along ? I wasn't ready to sink down anyway.

"You'll sports meeting 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 matter of liveliness and death, son."He sounded panicky.

"Whose life, Dad ? You better stop dancing around and come out being straight with me."

"I, uh ... had a brief affair with Ana on a recent business trip to Mexico. She's carrying my tike. Her father was about to have me tossed into a vat of acid when he found out. The alone affair that saved my aliveness was me agreeing to this match."I nodded my head word. It began to make sense.

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

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

"Money talk of the town. Pay him off."

"He's not occupy in money. He has mint of wealth. He's interested in his sense of pureness and saving face."

"So, in order to save your ass, I have to marry some bimbo who doesn't know the word ‘ no'in five speech communication and resurrect 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 province for his action at law. And I know you're a man who recitation what he preaches. Don't take this personally, but I think you won't have me to rely on."

"But—

"Just take up I died suddenly and left you childless."

"Goddammit ! This isn't funny !"

"I'm not trying to be funny."

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

"hire 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 room access looking at us. We'd been raising our articulation and that attracted her attention.

"We're having a common soldier discourse, dear,"Dad said. Mom looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders.

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

"Talk to him,"Dad exclaimed.

"Talk to him about what ?"

"Go ahead and separate her, please, Vic."He seemed resigned.

"Your hubby knocked up a client's daughter and I have to espouse 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 throw any say in the issue while you ruined our son's future ?"

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

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

"Even my wife is against me !"

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

"Thanks, Mom."

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

"You made your pick, honey. Victor and I have made our choices."

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

"I'm not naïve, dear. I know I can sell it for quite a lot based on the existing contracts the company has."Dad sat down and covered his expression 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 stemma and genius splatter."

"Too bad you can't run the company 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 educatee finishing up my clientele arcdegree. You seem to have forgotten that voice. You also seem to bear forgotten about me helping you out in the early years of the concern. And don't think I don't have my sources within the company that stay fresh me up to date on what's going on."The inadequate 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 sprightliness.

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

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

"So you're going to sacrifice your future in ordering to relieve your father's life, Victor. That's very commendable. What happens the next sentence your father knocks up another missy ? We don't have another son to pull through his worthless hide."

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

"well, I do have an important status,"I said."And it's a non-negotiable take it or leave it proposition."

"Anything !"

"Mom will take over the ship's 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 only stockholders so that was bullshit. I reminded him there was a vat of acid 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 survey the other lawyer's employment to check for loopholes.

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

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

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

"Your female parent 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 girl,"Mom told me privately."He's counting on your family relationship not to let him get hurt."

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

"What are you going to do ?"

"I'll think of something."

Our guests arrived. Ana's father, Mr. Gomez, was shown into the study where Dad and I were waiting. Mr. Gomez was accompanied by a heavyweight who looked like he'd feel right at home in a master grapple ring. Mom was tasked with entertaining Ana and her female parent. Mr. Gomez shook hired man with me and ignored Dad.

"It's a pleasance to assemble you, sir,"I said. I didn't tactile property that way but formalities must be observed. He didn't respond in sort nor did he smile. He also didn't thriftlessness any time.

"You are to marry my daughter. Are you aware of the circumstances behind this mating ?"

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

"Are you prepared to hook up with my daughter without postponement and without booking ?"

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

"Please explain."

"My father agreed—

"Now just one mo,"Dad interrupted.

"Shut up !"my future Church Father in law shouted. The giant star escort made a rumbling strait and Dad shut up.

"My father agreed to certain management changes in the company in order that my female parent's interest group are protected from any of his reckless behavior in the future. He's hesitant to sign it now and I fear he won't mark once I'm married to your daughter."

"Where is this accord now ?"

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

"Which is your touch hand, my friend,"he asked Dad.

"Uh, my right ?"

"You had beneficial be sure because my companion will demote every bone in your left hand if you haven't signed that written document within the following one-half arcminute. He will entrust your right handwriting alone but he will start on early bone after that."

"But—

"twenty-five seconds."Dad's eyes were to the full 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 please witness his signature ?"

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

"I'll do that. I guess I'm now ready to fulfil your girl, but may I ask you a question ?"

"Of course."

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

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

Dad was rightfield. Ana did look better in person, a lot better. A brunette sweetheart, she was about 5'6"in height. In her 3"heels she could look me straight in the eye which she only did for an instant ; deep brown eye fully of sadness. Her eyes remained fixed on the story after that. Ana didn't go me a smile when we were introduced. I knew proper away none of this wedding business was by her choice. Ana was dressed stylishly but conservatively. That equip couldn't hide a very aphrodisiac body though. There weren't any outward signaling of pregnancy yet.

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

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

"The damage has been done, Father. What can he do that will make things worse ? I will speak to this man in private."Ana seemed noncompliant despite her predicament. This was a woman used to getting her way. They had a staring competition for a while and I guess pa blinked.

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

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

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

"We were attending a fiesta and I was having my first taste sensation of inebriant ; real French champagne. I felt so grown up. I drank Sir Thomas More than I should possess and began to flirt with your father, teasing him actually. I can only fault the alcohol because I was never attracted to him previously. We found ourselves alone and then one matter led to another. I woke up the next good morning with a splitting headache and sore all over. I vowed right there to never again adjoin alcohol nor again engage in premarital sex. I didn't realize at the sentence that I was already pregnant. Two months later I knew I was pregnant.

"My parents were furious when I finally confessed to them. My father's plan to marry me off to a rich and powerful man had been spoiled. He vowed to drink down us both for besmirching his honor. He called me a hussy and early atrocious names. I didn't forethought if he killed me then. I wanted to die. My mother calmed him down some and they hatched this programme to marry me off to you. Your father readily agreed for my parents would get gone ahead and had him defeat if he had refused. I begged them not to involve you since you were unimpeachable but I couldn't convince them.

"I'm certain you agreed to marry me only to save your Fatherhood's life. I don't blame you. I don't harbour any ill will toward him myself. I know I'm as practically to charge 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 to be respected by you in return key and I won't aim to you having a mistress or schoolmarm. The only thing I beg of you is to never publicly humiliate me."

"Is it my round to verbalise ?"Ana nodded and continued to hit the books the floor.

"It's true I agreed to espouse you to save my father's life story. Even though he's a total jerky nearly of the time I do know him. I did get some quantity of payback against him because of this predicament he found himself in and that was very satisfying. However, we might find ourselves back at square one with my begetter in big problem because I can't accept a loveless and sexless marriage with you."Ana looked up in surprise.

"You could love me after what happened with your Padre ?"

"Only if you can bed me in return. feel, cipher's perfective and everyone make mistakes. In any event, we never would feature 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 man and wife with love in our hearts."It was the like music to my ears when she said my name.

"You have a squeamish smile."

"You have given me reason to smile. I think it will be very easy to lie with you."

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

Ana and I were married in a lull civil ceremonial. She gave giving birth to a miss that we named Ana 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 caller has thrived with Mom at the helm and Dad out drumming up business. I never did bring together the troupe. I make sight of money playing the inventory mart and have lots of time to make love life with Ana. She's pregnant again. Ana and her parents have reconciled.

Dad has toned down his ranting quite a bit. His but unfavorable judgment of my action was that if he were in my place he would give driven a much strong steal. That's good to screw. Live and learn .