Lucia was devastated by hearing such a call. She threw the car keys to Johnson who drove off with her.

"Where are we heading?"

"Harcourt Drive, number thirty, is before the Garbage Hotel."

She managed to answer, but she became so confused like never before. Her phone was ringing, but she couldn't pick up.

Johnson understood how she felt. How could her company be engulfed in fire? He picked up the call after ringing the third time.

"We are very lucky, the firefighters came on time, only the wall got a bit damaged."

The voice said. He tapped her and informed her of the development.

She wasn't listening, her mind had gone off. She doesn't know what she is doing anymore.

She loves her company and has promised her parents and workers prudence.

How would she face the present challenge of the company's part being engulfed by fire

The mother was busy calling without giving her space, the Lemon group contract is one of her worries.

Lucia just signed a contract; she needed to mobilize part-time workers, scrutinize them, and ensure they deliver.

Her father's health is another thing bothering her. The father was doing great when he was managing the company, while she was assisting till she fell sick.

"The fire has been extinguished, " your staff said. But your mother was calling. You need to pick " Johnson told her

Lucia, who was lying on the car seat, came up with a smile on her face.

"Please, take Harrison Avenue, I am going to see my mother now."

"In that case, I will drop you at the junction so you can continue. That's not my route; I would board a taxi. My journey isn't far anymore."

John said and stopped the car. He asked Lucia to call her company to find out if the information is accurate.

"You are such a smart person, I will do so immediately."

When she called the company, the information was accurate. She thanked Johnson as he handed the keys over to her

She directed her workers on another call she had with them not to expect her and to ensure that everything is in order.

He proceeded to see her parents. She had made it known to her parents that she would get married when the time is right, even though she doesn't know when the right time will be.

At the ripe age of twenty-seven, she is not even in any relationship. Well, blame it on the guys; none of them seems to be what they were at first, and she is definitely not going to get into a marriage of expediency.

She angrily stepped out of the car and walked straight to the door. Getting there, she observed that no one was in the sitting room.

She followed the back door which is closer to the kitchen. "Why did you choose to ignore my calls, has it gotten to that"

Her mother spoke angrily, holding the door like she didn't want Lucia to come in. "Please, can I go to Mom? I will explain." Her plea was ignored. "Until you respond to my question" looking at her mother's expression, she hugged her and begged for leniency

She moved out of the door and proceeded to the kitchen to continue what she was cooking. Lucia changed up immediately and came down to the sitting room. The mother sensed and joined her.

"Is Dad home?" Lucia asked.

"Will be soon, called to say he was delayed at the meeting. How is the company going now?"

"Splendid. My team and I are doing our best"

Monica turned to look at her, and Lucia sighed. She knew that look. "Please don't start now, Mom," she groaned.

"Don't start what? I'm not going to say anything. You just sit there and wait for your dad to come home" she said and walked into the kitchen.

Lucia walked into the kitchen to meet her. "So, about what you want to tell me, what could that be that you can't tell me over the phone when you called the first time?"

"I said; wait for your dad to come home to my daughter Lucia. Don't put words in my mouth."

Lucia nodded and looked around the kitchen before grasping the chopping board to cut the vegetables for her mother.

Andrew settled with his family after dinner. He looked at his daughter and smiled, "Lucia darling, great news."

Lucia couldn't help but smile

"What news, Dad?" What is the news all about"

"We received a very interesting proposal," he replied.

Lucia furrowed her brows. "What proposal?"

"Now listen to me, young lady, we have been considering this for a very long time and realized that you are really going to benefit from it," Monica put in.

Lucia wrinkled her brows more tightly, what are they talking about? "I really do not understand."

"I know you don't," Andrew smiled. "We received a proposal from a renowned family; they are asking for your hand in marriage."

Stop

Lucia glowered, "An arranged marriage? For whom please, if I may ask?"

"What do you mean, for whom, please? How many daughters do we have?" Monica asked with a frown.

Lucia gave a desperate sigh "I can't believe you people, do you really want me to get married that much that you have to accept an arranged marriage? Mom, I have told you I will get married when the time comes. You don't need to bother yourself?

"Well, the time is now, my sweetheart believes me, it's anybody else, the person is not ordinary, and he is a man from a good home and has a track record.

He is dependable, fine-looking, treasured, and every inch of what you want. Trust me, I know a guy you will like when I see one, and you are definitely going to like this one," Monica smiled brightly.

Looking at her parents. All they were saying meant nothing. The mother told her she would be going to her younger sister's place to check on them.

"Well, I heard all you said but I must tell you. I am not interested in all you have said." She said and walked away

"Lucia, Lucia, are you walking out on us because we want the best for you?" The mother was calling but Lucia continued going.

She turned on her car, ordered the gatekeeper to open the gate.

"If you open that gate you will lose your job." Mr. Harcourt said

Hearing her father's voice, she stepped out of her car, took her keys, and moved out through the pedestrian gate.

The father asked her mother not to bother and proceed on her journey to her sister's place.

He insisted that Lucia cannot be bigger than them and she will come back to his senses.

She proceeded on her journey while her husband returned to the sitting room.

It was a big shock that Lucia left them in such a manner

She's a well-trained girl, very prudent and outstanding. She worked with her father and understood the best way to run their company.

The father was reflecting on what must have gone wrong with her only child. He was worried.

To him, Lucia should be in her husband's house and not his at her age.

All he was doing was to ensure she had a better life. Marriage of convenience is far from Lucia. She forbids it and wants to choose her own man by herself.

The nature of her job is very demanding and most times doesn't give her room to associate.

She meets only her business partners. Though she wants to marry into a multi-billionaire home. She doesn't want to settle for less

Most of these people don't come to her office, and she doesn't visit them in their offices.

Despite her father being retired, some of those he had built trust with call him directly whenever they want to transact with his company.

Lucia doesn't bother about it. All she wants is the sustainability of the company. Whenever the father gets such a demand, she sends a proposal and invoice to them via email.

She has been successfully transacting with those kinds of people. They pay, and she supplies them through her staff, who are in charge of delivery.

Lucia went back to her hotel room to get some rest. She had a stressful day. She had to take her bath and rest her body.

The news of the fire incident in her company hasn't gotten to her parents. No other person will deliver such a message except her

She was unable to go back to the company because of the worries her parents were giving her

After meeting with them, nothing was achieved. The father, her mother, and even she got angry and parted.

The father had returned to his garden where he usually takes fresh air and reads newspapers.

His domestic staff had provided him with the fruits she ordered. He decided to take things easy.

His driver travelled to see his wife and children, the wife travelled, and his daughter, who was supposed to be with him, is chilling in her hotel room.

Lucia knew she didn't do well by walking out on her parents. She started feeling bad about it.

There are better ways to handle the matter, but not the decision to walk away.

Her parents have given her all she wanted in life. She schooled when her mates schooled and attended one of the best schools.

She never lacked anything except the husband, who isn't forthcoming. So many guys have asked her for her hand in marriage, but they are not her spec.

Who could the one her parents are arranging be? She doesn't know him and they do not want to mention his name.

Why keep it a secret from me?

Why should I marry someone I know nothing about?

Her father is one of the prominent people in town. He has a lot of friends even before he married Monica.

Andrew Harcourt is a well-respected personality. He has contributed a lot to the betterment of many and society too

He once contested an election but stepped down to another along the line without grudges. That boosted the trust he earned.

Lucia went to work without her car. She told her workers she sent it for servicing to avoid many questions.

She went on an assessment of the part of the building that was damaged by fire

After the assessment, she approved repairs and wrote an appreciation letter to the firefighters' management for their quick response.

Her face couldn't be bright because what happened previously still bothers her.

She tried to put on a smile. She handed over the contract files she signed with Larry to the operations manager.

The news was all over and they were all happy they had a new contract.

Mrs. Douglas had called Mr. Harcourt to know the situation of Lucia and the proposal.

He was positive towards her. He told her not to worry, and soon they would hear from his family.

He immediately called his wife to know how they could handle the situation she told him to call Lucia to come over

He was reluctant to do so but had no option. He called Lucia immediately and asked her to come home.

Their wife had informed them she was on her way back.

Lucia picked up and told him that she wasn't sure about coming home that day.

That got the father angry. He was at the pharmacy where he picked up his drugs.

With the response of Lucia, he became furious and couldn't see the vehicle that was reversing, which knocked him down.

Lucia did not cut the call nor did he. Someone used the phone and spoke with Lucia about what happened.

She understands her father's health condition and needed to rush so she could explain to the doctor

She called twice, but no one picked up. She left the office and took a taxi to the family hospital but the father wasn't there

The mother got to the place before him. One of the nurses picked up her call and directed her to where the hospital is.

Lucia got to the place, trying to find out the situation. Her heart was panting, and she worried about what could have happened to her father.

Going to the room where her father was admitted, the mother ordered the security to block her and never let her in

Realizing herself, Lucia pleaded for forgiveness and agreed to join them to see the man in question. They forgave her and went home together.

Her mom is good at appreciating handsome guys. Most times the young men she acknowledges are nothing to write home about when you come across them. "I am shocked at you, my parents."

"Listen very attentively my lovely daughter, without being told, you know that we love you so much and want the best for you. We have done our checks and the odds are not against you. You will be well taken care of, you will lack nothing." Andrew stated.

"I don't lack anything now, Dad," she interjected.

"Without being told, we know you are capable of taking good care of yourself, and we are proud of you for taking the company to another level, but we need a man in your life. Meanwhile, this is an awesome privilege to rise higher. You don't even know the person in question."

"Who please?" She asked.

Monica smiled, "You will know when you see him," and Lucia rolled her eyes. He is even a mystery guy.

"Sweetheart listen to me, do you know that Lemon Group contract you have been eyeing for months?" Andrew asked, and Lucia's eyes brightened at the mention of the contract: "They will get you that and more."

What the hell? Shocked and wondered which family would get her that contract. "Dad, don't play games with me."

Andrew chuckled, "Will I deceive you, my daughter? I'm telling you the honest truth."

Lucia wrinkled her brows. "If they can get me that and more, why did they choose me to be their wife?"

"Well, according to the mother, she said they had arranged three marriages for the son, and he rejected them, but immediately they brought yours to him, and he accepted." Monica smiled that her daughter was chosen above all else.

He chose her at first glance?

Did he know her? Or perhaps it could be an old associate? She thought.

"So, what do you say? Think about the worthy part, sweetheart," Andrew insisted.

Lucia sighed. She had always been against marriage of convenience, and this here now, what is it? "First of all, I need to meet this enigmatic guy. If I will be ok with him, then I will accept, and if I don't, you'd better forget about it."

Monica smiled, "And I tell you, you will like him."

Two weeks have passed; the day both families are to meet has come. The long-awaited day. Inquisitive, disordered, thrilled, and a little bit concerned. Those feelings kept Lucia throughout the weeks.

In a ride with her parents, she has a nice and frightening sensation about this gathering. What if he turns out to be one of her exes who wanted to get back to her for dumping him?

What if he is an old acquaintance she had refused to sleep with? Just who is he that had to accept the proposal to marry her with just a glance? She kept worrying.

Getting into the country home, her eyes broadened, damn, she is getting married into a rich family. A serene environment, per se.

They had already passed the gate but were still driving past a lot of trees, flowers, painted artworks, designs on the wall, and various molded statues.

Everywhere was green and wow, captivating. After a ten to sixteen-minute' drive, they pulled over in front of a mansion with fountains every hundred meters from the first and a lot of statues, the house looked like a fairytale palace, surrounded by a lot of green and flowers, it's beautiful and amazing

Lucia wowed in her mind; she was already in love with the buildings. A few house servants came to meet them with smiles.

Monica accepted their greetings, beaming a smile. They were led into the house, and a tall, beautiful woman walked up to them in a gracious movement. She looked astonishing.

Her height is amazing like she is the tallest amongst the females. Lucia couldn't remove her face from her. She almost cut her, looking at her keenly. She had forgotten that they had yet to get inside until her mother touched her.

"Welcome, welcome," she smiled at them, and there was something about her that looked so familiar; her crystal blue eyes really reminded her of someone, someone she doubted she would ever meet in her life again.

"Thank you," Monica smiled, and so did Andrew.

The woman intensely looked at her and smiled, "This must be Lucia, then. She is more beautiful than I expected."

Lucia was amazed. She smiled at the woman, what a flattering tongue, she thought, "It's nice to meet you too."

The woman smiled before leading them into the sitting room, where Lucia believed she would get lost if left alone in the house.

The house was huge, she meant huge, her eyes broadened as she admired the decoration of the sitting room, with a chandelier that had eight to ten steps, shining brightly in the room.

A spacious place you could call heaven on earth. A place everyone would wish to live

Four huge portraits were hanging in the hall. One was of the woman and another of a man with dark blue eyes, a brunette who she believed must be her husband. Wealth smelled from him. Their portraits were bewilderingly stunning.

The third and last of the portraits were of a young man who should be at least two years older than her age, he has a pitch black hair that was relaxed on his head, shiny and wet like as if he had just stepped out of the shower, his crystal blue eyes seems to burning into hers as if the portrait was alive and he was looking at her.

He had a chiseled jaw, and his nose was perfectly pointed; there was a thin, sexy pink line where his lips should have been.

He looked so familiar, and when it finally dawned on her, she gasped; after all, one never forgets one's first love, while the other was another. She lost control of her emotions and made a request." I want to use the restroom."