Shenanigans

Chapter 1

I looked at my watch, 30 minutes for the important meeting with Mr. Chance Stafford the CEO of Stafford group of hotels and resort.

I look at myself in the mirror, my eyes look dull, there are dark circles under my eyes. The only thing that I liked were my long wavy brown hair that somehow never messed up.

The door of my ensuite bathroom opens and my little sister walked in.

"What have you done ?" She looked at me, horror evident in her eyes. Her blond hair were up in a pony tail, she wore a black dress that reached a few inches above her knees, her dark blue eyes had been perfectly lined with kohl and her lips were painted pink.

"You look horrible Chloe ! Was your trip really to India or somewhere in Maasai Mara, you are un healthily tanned, and you have bloody dark circles wider than my friend circle."

"Gees thanks Emily." I say rolling my eyes at her.

"Change into these and come out quickly." She said shoving a bag in my hand.

I quickly change into a black dress which I was sure came out of Emily's wardrobe and walk out.
Emily sat on my chair her legs on my desk and was busy checking something on her phone.

"Em?" I called and she looked at me and whistled.

"Only if you wore clothes your size and consulted your sister before buying them, you would have had a long list of boyfriends sissy." She said getting up from my chair. "Now let me put some makeup, just a little bit."

"No Em I- " I tap on my door cut me off. My secretary Mrs. Sandra Skittles entered. Sandra was a middle aged lady, with big bright brown eyes that made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"Good morning Ms Wright and Ms Wright. Mr Stafford is here ma'am."

"I'll be there in five minutes Sandra, please make sure he's comfortable." I instruct her and turn to face my sister.
"Em I have no time for all that stuff you want to do, I need to go I'll be home tonight. My suitcase is umm somewhere ask Sandra and take it home with you." I told her running about my cabin picking things I would require.

"Alright Chloe I'll see you at home, oh by the way I'm flying to London the after for a show, I want you to be there." She said hugging me and then left.

Emily was model and had a few contracts signed with top labels. My head was spinning the jet lag and work load were taking a troll on me, to make it even worse was this meeting uncle Richard had planned with Chance Stafford that I knew nothing about.

My feet stopped at the door of the conference room. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
And the large conference room had just four gentlemen seated in their suits, two of which I had known all my life.

Uncle Richard my fathers best friend and business parter stood up and walked towards me, his salt and peppered hair were longer than what I remember, his eyes shined as he smiled, he pulled me into a warm hug and I could feel all the love he had for me in the fractional contact.

"Charlotte honey. How was your trip to India ?"

"India is amazing Rich, a little too over populated but the people there shower you with love and it very beautiful and serene." 

Richard laughed and guided me to table where the gentlemen sat. On the farthest corner of the room I could see my best friend, Richard's son Ryan Steel having a heated discussion on the phone and he clearly had not seen me.

"Chance this is Charlotte Wright, CEO of the Wright construction and co. and Char this is Chance Stafford whole and soul of the Stafford empire." Uncle Richard introduced me to a middle aged man wearing a dark blue suit, he an aura which emanated power, I had met a lot of businessmen but Chance Stafford made me want to sink lower in my seat.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Charlotte." He said extending his hand for a handshake. " I hope you don't mind calling you Charlotte, Ms Wright would be way too formal to address you considering our -."

"LOTTE ." There was a loud screech and I involuntarily giggled. I turned around to see Ryan frozen midway in his conversation, he looked at me and smiled making me feel warm and fuzzy inside, now was that I realized I was home.
Three long strides and he was in front of me, a blink of my eyes and I was already in his arms, his iron grip.

"Ry-yan can't bre-th."

"Oh sorry." He said pulling away. "Damn you Charlotte Wright I've missed you." He said hugging me again this time lightly for a second or so.

"I've missed you too Ray."

"Children you could share stories at home too, for now we need to discuss something very important." Richard said and all of us took our seats again. Richard on my left and Ryan on my right and right opposite to us sat Mr Stafford and the unknown man.

"Charlotte a few years before your father died and before you took over, your father drowned his share of Wright and Steel construction into debt." Rich said playing nervously with his thumb.
"That's when Chance took a step and helped your father to pay all his dues and debts. In return, your father promised that 10 years from then he would marry one of his daughters to Chance's son Zachary and merge the two companies and if not that he would pay all the money he owed to Chance with due interest." I listened to Uncle Richard with patience my jet lagged brain trying to interpret the freshly provided information.
"Char the money your father owed is more than what Wright as well as Steel can afford to pay." He said passing me a white sheet, which had numbers printed on it, it was the balance sheet of our company.
"I'm sorry honey but it leaves us with one option- either you or Emily have to marry Zachary Stafford.  

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A minute passes maybe two, I slowly realize the ridiculous information that was just poured down my head like a bucket of ice cold water.
I came out of the momentary daze and realized the scene before me had changed, Rich and Ryan were no more at my side. I looked up to see Ryan holding the unknown man by the scruff of his collar and Richard was trying to tear his son off the man who looked petrified.

"Find a way out of this you bastard, what do we pay you for." His voice boomed, an animalistic growl escaped his throat.

"Ryan. Don't." He looked at me and pushed the man down on his chair. He was furious I knew it, he looked at me once again and stormed out of the conference room.

I looked at Mr. Stafford, he looked un-frazzled  by the entire scenario.

"Cha-."

"Nobody. Nobody involves my sister in this mess, for any reason." I said my voice surprisingly strong.

"Charlotte trust me I didn't want to do this, I didn't." Chance states and I look at him, sincerity evident in his eyes. "But I need to. I have to or I'm going loose my son." He said.

My head felt heavy, by body was giving up and I started zoning in and out of the scene and then everything went black.

First chapter done .
I typed bloody 1280 words I've never done that even while making my projects and stuff.
Comment what you think should happen or could happen. Vote of you like my effort.
Lots of love
The insouciant lass