NATE

Going back to my ancestral home will never get old. I'll never get used to going back to the place where I was brought up. It had a lot of memories of a tough childhood but no one cared about the toughness of my childhood as long as I grew up to become who I was. It was build in the outskirts of the city away from the main roads and terminals. It was surrounded by a forest and a large perimeter wall. I was accompanied by my bodyguard and right hand man, Donald.

I arrive at the gate, it was black and huge with guards on both sides and their dogs. After checking for my information amd a little bow, they let us through.

“There you are. How are you?“ Said Bridget, my nanny from when I was young.

“I am good, and you?“ I ask trying to be as formal as possible. She was the one who took care of me when my parents didn't want to and when my grandparents were too busy running their business. She was more of a mother to me.

“They are all in the living room. And try to smile mika, you look more handsome when you do.“ She says with her smile on.

I smile back and walk to the living room to find my sister sitted with her child in hands. She was married off to another family for business purposes and to bring the two families together.

“Hey bro, how are you?“ She asks smiling as always.

“Hey sis, am good. You?“ I replie going over to her and kissing her head.

“Am good also just getting the hang of being a new mom.“ She says.

“Do I need to get down there and beat his ass for all that?“ I ask my little sister.

“No you don't. I am a married woman now and I have to behave and live like one. But am fine he is taking care of me.“ She says laughing.

“Okay then but if he does anything….“

“You'll be the first to know.“

“Good. Where's grandma?“ I ask.

“She was just here, I guess she went to get grandpa from his office.“ She replies going back to giving her child attention.

Later, we are joined by my grandparents at the table for dinner. This time round, they didn't invite my brother and so we were just four around the table. Saying that family dinner was boring or sucked is an understatement. The dinners are there for us to attend so that we maybe lectured about our responsibilities to the family business and not to be checked on. It's usually the day we are reminded about the mistakes we made and our achievements are never brought up or even celebrated. And tonight was no difference.

“Son, I have been told there is a low increase in sales and productivity, what's up with that?“ My grandfather asks as we continue dinner.

“It has increased by 15% from last year and we are not getting any losses so we are trying grandfather.“ I say looking at him. He sensed fear in someone and when you say something that's off he will figure out very quickly and so I try to be cautious about my words.

“That's it? You have to work harder and increase it even more. I build that company from scratch and giving it to you to continue it was everything I ever wanted. So don't destroy my company.“ He says authoritatively.

“ Yes sir.“ I replie.

Grandpa loves his company and just because I run it as the CEO doesn't mean I am alone, he still managed to pull strings and control the company from behind the scenes. He retired but he always seems to be there whenever he wants to be around. They continue to talk to my sister and I zone out trying my best not to let him get to me. To them business comes before everything and everyone else and whatever you do with your life it better be for the benefit of the business.

Dinner ends after a long time of nothing but advise and directions from grandpa and he calls me to his office.

“I want you to start thinking about marriage, settling down and getting an heir to the company. You are the next in the bloodline to inherite it and so you need to makes plans to have an heir so that he will start to learn early on his responsibilities.“ He says pouring two glass of whiskey and handing me one.

“But grandpa am not yet ready to settle down am still running the company and busy most days to even start considering marriage. Its a long shot and we have alot on the line.“ I try to make him reason and maybe get the idea out of his head.

“No its the right time for you to start thinking about it and because it seems you do not have the time to find one for yourself, I will take the responsibility to search for a wife for you. One of our business associates has a daughter and inorder for us to have good connections with them, marriage will be one way to acquire them.“ He says.

“No you don't have to do that. I will search for a wife by myself and get it over with you don't have to tire yourself.“ I say.

Letting my grandfather pair me up with some random woman is going to be the worst mistake yet.

“Good you have six months to find a wife and get her pregnant before I find you one for an arranged marriage.“ He says in finality.

And just like that my weekend is destroyed.

“Hey. Where you at?“ I ask into the phone while making my way to my car.

“At the club, why?“ Don replies sounding alittle concerned.

“On my way.“ I say. I cut the call and get in the car.

“You good?“ Don asks just as i make into his office and sit. He pours us a couple of drinks and u down them without a second guess. I have never been one to drink down my sorrows or anger but for today I would drink and think about the consequences tomorrow.

“Just come back from the family dinner we have every month!“ I say doing another shot.

“Shesh that bad. Do you have to keep going back their if they do this to you?“ He asks sounding even more concerned.

Don is the only person in my life who knows just how much I put into pleasing my grandparents and how much it affects me. He knows how much it drains of me and how much everything around me gets out of order because of them. I don't ever do something I like because am scared they are going to take everything back and so everything I do is what they would be proud of.

“You know I can't just stay away from them with everything they have done.“ I say.

“And now you have to continue being their puppet n doing what they want? You will just continue to suffer and never be truly happy.“

“You know today they said they wanted me to get married and get an heir for the future of the company. They even wanted to arrange an arrangement for an arranged marriage.“ I say taking another shot to drown the bitterness in my mouth. I feel the burn at the back of my throat.

“Shit! What's wrong with them don't they get that you also have a life of you own.“ He asks taking his shot.“ Please tell me you didn't agree to that because there is, no way you are getting married?“

“No, I refused.“

“Good, it's good you stood up for…”

“Because I said I'll find someone by myself and get her pregnant before his six month time line is over.“ I cut him half way.

“What!“ He exclaims.

I just shrug my shoulders and continue to drink.

“So what's your plan now?“ He asks sitting back in his chair.

“Drinking myself to sleep.“ I replie sippinganother shot.

We drink in silence watching the bar from above in his office. Relationships and marriage have never my to go to kind of thing or even dream and now I had to put it in my six month plan or I wouldn't like the consequences. I hated the idea but I could do nothing. My grandfather pulled the strings and I had to listen to him or face the consequences.