F I L T H Y R I C H

0.5

"Where have you been Harley? You should have been home an hour ago! What did you do? Are you doing something you shouldn't do?" My mother flipped out. She paced back and forth the living room rubbing her left temple furiously.

"Calm down, Mother. I just passed by the library to search for some book I need to research for extra credit on. I must've searched too long that I wasn't able to notice that a lot of time has passed by." I lied.

"Good, but next time be mindful of your time." She sighed. Wow, that's the first time she let me off the hook for breaking her word. Must've been the enthrallment to meet the Hoods later. "Go up and get ready. I had your maids wait for you up there to dress you up. Meet me here downstairs in an hour."

I went inside my room and saw that my maids, Loretta and Georgina are waiting for me in the lounge. "Good evening, Miss." They greeted. I nodded at them and looked at the dress laid at my bed.

I ran my hands on the material. It is a white knee high skater dress with long laced sleeves, a sweetheart neckline and carefully placed cut-outs on my hips. It was a little showy for my liking despite the long sleeves but whatever my mother wants, I follow.

"Should we start dressing you up, Miss?" Loretta asked.

"Yes, we may so that I can avoid getting late." I replied sitting down on my vanity chair.

The two suddenly worked their magic on me. They helped me change out of my drabby school uniform and into the dress. I decided to pair it up with a yellow platform pump and no accessories. I just want Luke's bracelet and my Dad's wristwatch to be my only accessories.

Georgina put my hair up into a simple ponytail with a white bow to hold it up. Loretta frowned at the concealed circles under my eyes but her aged hands worked hard to hide it again. Once they were done, I checked myself under the mirror and I have to admit, it's very pretty.

Nice choice from my not so nice mother.

I grabbed my phone from the dresser and made my way downstairs. I was surprised to see that my mother out done herself by wearing a bright red tight dress and jewels. She's beautiful in it but my mother's such a show-off.

"You look stunning, Mother." I complimented her.

"Thank you darling. Same with you. I knew that the dress will suit you perfectly." She said. I faked a smile for her and smoothened out the skirt for a little bit.

"Harley, don't fail me tonight at dinner. This dinner is very important because this is the stepping stone for a bright horizon of our business. The wedding is only a part of it. We need to convince them that Irwin Enterprises has a shot in the global market, not only in America. If we succeed, then it is rest assured that they will invest in our company and help us expand worldwide starting off in New Zealand. The marriage will be a symbol of our success Harley. It will." She explained.

It sounds more like not "our" success but "her"success. "But why pawn me off? Can't you just merge without me marrying someone?" I retorted.

"Business is business, Harley. Some things need to be sacrificed for business to prosper. If you get married, the company will be a conjugal property, meaning you both will have to share with it. That's a factor for merging to make it more effective." She replied in a firm tone.

That's it I don't understand business and I never will understand business.

At exactly, 6.30 pm the entire Hood family arrived. There was Mr. and Mrs. Hood, Mali-koa, and of course, Calum. They were all dressed up for the occasion except for Calum who wore an understatement compared to what I wore.

He wore a black tee topped with a leather jacket, black skinny jeans, and a black Converse. Now, I feel overdressed for the occasion. We all shook hands with one another and entered the dining hall.

I was forced to seat across Calum and next to her sister, Mali-koa. Meanwhile Calum's parents sat next to him and my mother on the head of the table. Food was served and then we all started eating.

"So, what are the possible dates for the wedding?" Mrs. Hood asked.

I just sat in silence and played with my dinner. I looked at Calum who immediately sipped water after hearing the word wedding.

"I think 3 weeks after their graduation is perfect." Mother replied. "I also think that it's a good idea to keep the ceremony exclusive with about 300 people from the business industry."

Exclusive but with 300 people? What kind of exclusive wedding is that? I want to die already.

"That's a good idea." Mrs. Hood agreed. She must be very excited for her son's wedding.

I continued to play with my food because I don't really want to listen to all of this wedding dilemmas my mother and my future mother-in-law is talking about. "Hey, why are you not eating?" Mali-koa asked.

"I'm full. I ate cookies before dinner." I lied. Mali-koa was convinced and got back to her own dinner.

I snuck my phone out and started texting Alaska to distract me from hearing more words that I don't want to hear.

To: Alaska Watson

Alaska help me. I'm dying.

I muted and turned the vibration off my phone so that they wouldn't notice that I wasn't paying attention.

From: Alaska Watson

Why what's happening? Are you and Calum together?

To: Alaska Watson

His family's here for dinner and they're talking about wedding. It makes me want to throw up.

From: Alaska Watson

You can handle it, love. Trust me. Stop texting me. I'm with Louis. We're on a date. K, bye. Love you.

To: Alaska Watson

What? I need you Alaska! Please?

I sent the last message and Alaska didn't bother to reply. That girl always seems to be missing when I need her most. I guess that's how our friendship works? I glanced at Calum who's sneaking on his phone too. I can see him smiling every once and a while. I assume he's texting too.

Who is he texting? I bet it's his girlfriend. Poor girl, if she only knew that her boyfriend is going to marry someone he doesn't even know just for business. I observed Calum even more trying to get to know him from afar. I never really heard his voice and I'm kind of looking forward to hear it because it gets awkward seeing him but not being able to hear him.

Mali-koa had to leave early because she still has something important to attend to. So me and Calum are left alone with our parents. I'm really dying for this moment to finish.

"Harley, why not show Calum the garden? It's time that you get to know each other too." My mother suggested.

Please no. I don't want some alone time with him. My mother shot me a warning look motioning us to leave. "Fine, Mother." I said. "Uh, Calum let's leave."

I stood up and Calum did the same. I hope this meet and greet goes well for the both of us.

This is a filler chapter. The next chapter will be very interesting. All the love. -j