Marriage? No way!

Damien wondered the kind of energy God gave women as he listened to his mother rant on and on without so much as pausing to take a breath.

"This is the sixth woman, Damien, the sixth! "

"You are not getting younger, Damien, so you need to get married and settle down. I have been trying so hard to find you a model wife, one that calm take care of you and tame you somehow"

"Are you even aware that you have to pass your business empire to someone? And if you don't, you are just going to let it die with you, young man!"

His mother never ceased to amaze him. Did she not just say he was not getting any younger, and then she called him a young man?

"Mom, would you let me breathe? I am just thirty and not that old yet." He replied and sighed. "Some men marry at forty, and I'm not even close to forty".

It was obvious mom was not pleased with what he just said. She looked ever ready to lash out her anger. Here we go again, another round of unending rant.

"Forty! Do you want me to have a heart attack" And now she was being dramatic.

"You are not 'some men' Damien! You are Damien Culhane, the owner of one of the richest enterprises in the state. Are you seriously going to compare yourself with other men? These men you speak of are likely broke and cannot fend for themselves, let alone a woman. That is why they get married at forty! Because they did not establish themselves early enough to be ready for the responsibilities that come with having a family."

He concluded his mother had possibly gone crazy. He was irritated and fed up with his mother's consistent effort to get him a wife and ranting afterwards when he rejected them. She had even gone as far as putting it in the tabloids to attract prospective brides.

He did not know how she got this marriage fiasco in the tabloids, but he did not think twice to suspect his mom. This woman could go to whatever extent to get what she wants.

"Mom, when I'm ready to marry, I will find a wife for myself. Thanks for trying, but you need to stop, please." Shutting his eyes gently, he prayed silently that his mom would leave and let him be.

"Would you at least look at her profile and picture? She used to be a market researcher, so she has to be smart, and she is beautiful too, more beautiful than the other five you rejected. You will absolutely fall in love with her." His mom said, handing over yet another file on women she had picked as compatible for him.

Guess he was asking for too much. His mom was not going to leave him.

"Drop the file at my desk, Mom. I'll look at it. Later."

"Promise?"

"I promise, Mom." Not that he was going to, he was just desperate to get rid of his mother for now. He was beginning to get a headache.

"Fine, but you had better do so." She said, she then turned and left his office.

Phewww, finally. Peace.

He picked up the file of this new woman, careful not to look at it. He shoved it into one of his drawers. He had looked at the files of the other five women his mother offered, and none of them tickled his fancy. This time, he had a feeling that this one might, so he didn't want to take chances.

He was grateful his mother had left. This topic of marriage constantly reminded him of his past, and he wondered why since it was not related.

His head was beginning to throb. Shutting his eyes tightly, he tried not to let his thoughts go there.

Maybe he needed to tell his receptionist to alert him whenever his mom came to the office. She was his mother, so he did not make her follow the standard procedures to see him. She always had access to him, and she was beginning to abuse that. Always taking him unaware and by surprise. The moment she catches him off-guard, she begins her rants. It left him with a pulsating headache.

Sighing, he stood up to get himself water from the dispenser. After a few more cups, the headache began to subside.

Was he ever going to get married? The truth is that he wasn't planning to, but his mom didn't have to know that. He was going to keep her hanging for the meantime. The guilt from his past wouldn't let him live a simple life. He did not deserve happiness, and he would not allow himself to have it. He had to punish himself this way to deal with the guilt. It was the only way he would be able to forgive himself. His money and his business would be the only thing he would ever allow himself to have.