I'm Getting Married? To My BOSS?

"Zach…are you talking about our deal?" I asked in a whisper.

"Yes," he replied swiftly and in a dead voice.

I closed my eyes for the dizziness that followed. I tried swallowing, but my mouth was dry and my throat happened to be in the same situation.

How could this be?

"How?" I asked slowly.

Don't cry. You can't trust anyone in this world this is the truth, but don't cry. Not in front of this man.

"Our parents…set it up," his voice was sad now, "They told me this was going to happen whether I agreed or not. I thought this would have been the easiest way."

"So you tricked me into-in-into …falling in lo-love with you?" I stuttered the sentence. I couldn't say those words anymore. His sudden betrayal, the way it dawned on me, it was too much too soon.

"I'm sorry. I love you."

"That's too bad," I said bitterly as we pulled up in his drive way. I was surprised that conversation took that long. In my head, it played out in five minutes. Instead it had taken the whole twenty minutes it took to get to our…his house. It wasn't mine anymore. It would never be.

And then it struck me that there was a bigger picture to this. His parents…my parents…they sold me out. Every single person I had come to care about in this place had sold me out…to the least significant employee here.

And the betrayal dug deeper.

He came around my side of the car to open the door, but I couldn't step out. How could I go into this house again? How could he embarrass me like this? How could Martha and Vance do this to me? My own parents? Sell me like common stock….because I knew that's what this was about. My parents sold me to buy into this company. How could I live with these people knowing they did not care about me?

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my upper arm pulling me out of the car. Zach was pulling me up the stairs and then we were in the house. Everything was a daze.

"Val," Zach pulled me out by shaking me.

"Don't call me that," I said hoarsely, pulling my arm away from his touch.

"Valerie," A woman's voice interrupted Zach's next apology. I could see the words forming on his face, on his lips.

I turned to face his mother, my eyes dead.

"Well, let's hear what you have to say then," I moved into the sitting room. The same room Zach and I had spoken about the deal. How we met…how long we had been dating…to think, I was being played while trying to play others.

Martha glanced at Zach with worried eyes, but I began to lose my patience, "Come on then, what excuse do you have?"

Vance sighed, "Valerie, please understand, we did this for our son. He was dying working at that company. He needed fun and passion in his life. He needed love. He's found it with you."

I laughed, scoffing at him, "You think that's love? Lying to someone, selling someone? No, that is not love. It's a thirst for money."

"Zach has all the money he needs, why would he need to marry to get it?" Vance asked, "We didn't do this for money."

"Vance, whether it's a thirst to make money or to keep it, everyone has it. What did you tell him to convince him to do this? Do you really think it was the "We want you to be happy" line? I don't think so. It was cutting off the inheritance that convinced him."

Martha sniffled, "We are sorry, Valerie. Please forgive us…we love you."

"Love again!" I stood up, "What does love have anything to do with this? My own parents sold me," I looked at Zach, "And you knew! Everything…you knew everything this whole time. You lied to me. Everything was a lie." A tear rolled down my face, "Everything you said was a lie."

"No Val, please…it wasn't a lie. I love you. My parents love you. Please forgive me," he came towards me trying to hold me.

"No," I moved away, "I wasn't a lie."

"I will not marry your son," I looked at his parents, "Tell my parents to give you your money back."

Martha stood up, "I don't care about the money! I care about you. I want you to stay." She was crying now.

"I can't," I said simply.

"Forgive Zach, please Valerie, if not us," Martha said coming over and taking my hand in hers. She held in clasped in both of hers, gently squeezing it. She was offering support. "He loves you. Everyone can see it."

I looked into her eyes, "I don't…I, " I looked away, "I don't believe that anymore."

I slipped my hand out of her grip, "I'll have someone come by to get my things tomorrow. I…I have to go." I said walking away.

"But, where will you go?" Vance asked trailing me.

"When did anyone start to care?"

"Valarie," Vance said sternly.

Another tear slipped down my face hearing that. He had become sort of a father I never had. While my parents were always there, provided me with everything I needed, they were never really loving parents. They never expressed their love to me, held me as a child, or played with me. When tragedy struck, they moved even further away than they were. They were looking to get into higher circles of society and it seems like they had almost gotten it. But Vance…he was different. I thought he had come to care for me like a daughter.

It was all an act.

"I'm moving back into my apartment. I didn't get rid of it. It was an act from the beginning. On all our parts. Until I fell in love," I said, looking at Vance.

"I fell in love too," Zach stepped forward, "Why can't you see that? I love you so much. I am so sorry Val, please don't leave me." He grabbed my waist and pulled me into him.

I stiffened because I couldn't get out of his strong hold.

"Martha, let's give them some privacy. They need it," Vance held out his hand.

"But…," Martha sniffled, but took his hand and let him lead her out.

"I'm so sorry," His voice muffled by my hair.

"Please let go," I cried into his shoulder. But that was it, once I opened the door it wouldn't stop. I started crying in his arms. I was letting the man that broke my heart comfort me. I cried harder.

"No..no no no, please don't. Don't cry. I can't take it," he murmured in my neck as his face curved into it. He kissed my tears away one by one. I cried harder.

I had to leave. I couldn't stay here. And I could never come back. How do I trust him? How does this make him different than Mike?

"I can't stay," my voice heavy from the crying.

"Yes, you can," he brought me closer, "We are so good together. Please, don't leave me."

"You lied to me. You betrayed me." I knew he would know I was talking about Mike.

I could see the flicker of pain in his eyes, "No no no no! I will not be compared to him. I swear to god I know what I did was wrong," He let go roughly and stepped away, "But by god, I will not be compared to that asshole."

"Why not? You did the exact same thing he did! You lied. You manipulated me for your own gain. Oh, I suffer? Who cares, right? At least you get something out of this."

"You got something out of this too," He said glaring back at me.

"I tore up those checks."

"I know, but that is not what I'm referring to," He paused and he face became gentler, softer, "You got me."

"No, not if it never belonged to me in the first place." And that stopped me again.

"Did Katherine know about this?" I asked, the thought of him and her sitting in the living room laughing over me...I couldn't bear the thought.

"No, of course not! I'm not a monster, Val!" he came towards me again, "Tell me what to do. Please, tell me how to fix it."

I shook my head stepping away, "You can't. I have to go." I sniffled again, "I'll send someone to get my things tomorrow. I don't want to see you ever again."

"But-"

I stopped him, "No more. I can't take being here anymore."

I looked at the house. It wasn't that this was a mansion and so I'd miss it, it had become a home. I didn't have trouble saying "I'm going home" and thinking about this place. But it wasn't anymore.

Before I started balling again, I ran outside. I stopped at the bottom step when I realized I didn't have my car here.

"Someone will take you to your car," Zach spoke softly behind me.

"Why. Why did you do it?" I asked in reply.

"I-I didn't know what to do. I couldn't lose the company. I didn't- I thought it would be easier if you liked me before I had to tell you…but I didn't think I would fall in love with you…" he trailed off.

A car pulled into the drive. One of his drivers was in the driver's seat waiting for me to get in. So I obliged, I got into the back seat without another glance to Zach.

-AUTHOR'S NOTE-

Hey y'all! How's everyone doin'?
Here we are…so close to the end! Just a few more chapters and it'll be all over for Zach and Valerie.
You think they'll be able to work it out? Or do you think Val just won't be able to forgive this betrayal?

Read and Review, people! I think the next few chapters may depend on it! ;) lol

As always,

jd.