She woke up and slowly took the blanket off her. The room was warm and cozy and she felt like sleeping all day. It was morning already and she needed to get dressed for work.

She sat up on the bed and looked around her room which was looking so untidy. There were clothes scattered on the floor and bed, sheets of papers and books could also be seen littering the well tiled floor.

She heaved a sigh and placed a palm on her forehead which was aching so bad. She felt like she could stay in her room all day as she felt no appetite to work that morning. A tear escaped her eyes as her head banged again. She could recall the conversation with her mom last night and it was heart wrecking.

Her mom had broken the news about her engagement to Jason Johnson, the son of her father's best friend. It sounded all like a joke at first not until she was asked to come back home to Nigeria in order for the marriage preparations to begin.

She scoffed at the thought as she stood up from the bed.

"What's all this shit about?" she asked herself. She couldn't believe her parents would actually want to do this to her. How on earth would they even think of making her get married to Jason, "That scum," she thought. She reached for her phone on the bed and called her mom.

"Hello baby," a sweet voice spoke from the phone

"Good morning mama,how are you?" she asked

"I'm fine but I would be better if you would do what you are being asked to do baby. You know how close we are to the Johnsons and how happy the two families would be if you both can get married. It's the only way we can finally become a family," her mom stressed.

"Mom this is crazy you know. We are already a family mom, i mean becoming a family with the Johnsons doesn't depend on this thing called marriage. Mom, don't do this to me. I already have a job here at oxford and I'm enjoying everything I do here. I can't come to Nigeria to get married to one scumbag called Jason. I have a life here already mom," she cried

"You better stop that now!" her mom flared. "Don't get your dad and I angrier than we already are. First thing tomorrow, book a flight to Nigeria for us to get things done.

Bye!!" she said and hung up.

Madison slumped on the bed. She doesn't even know what to do right now if to cry or not.

"Over my dead body I'm going to get married to him!" she flared as she stood up from the bed.

* **

LAGOS NIGERIA

"Dad, of all the girls in the world, why would it be Madison? Dad, this is unfair!" Jason yelled, pacing around the beautifully decorated living room. He was standing in front of his parents who were both staring at him.

"Jason, you are no longer a kid who can not comprehend what we' ve been saying all these while," Mr Johnson said as he stood up on his feet. He is a tall and muscular man, in his early fifties. He is dark in complexion and he has an oval face which was still smooth without wrinkles. He walked towards his son who was filled with rage at the moment

"Son, we know what is best for you. Marrying from the Thompsons is what's best for you. Madison is beautiful, she is intelligent and has all you need In a woman son".. he explained.

"But I don't love her dad, I don't even like that girl. I have someone I love already and if you want I can go bring her now so you could meet her," He suggested

"Enough son!" His mother chipped in as she walked up to meet him. Her name is Beauty Johnson. She is an average heightened woman already in her late forties. She is beautiful and light skinned in complexion with a round face and black short hairs.

"It's either Madison or you forget about marriage," she added while looking intently at her enraged son.

"Then so be it!! I can't get married to Madison. It's not gonna work out!!" Jason flared as he walked out and slammed the door angrily.

As he drove along the road to his home, he thought about the conversation between him and his parents.

He couldn't believe they would want to do such a thing to him. How could they even think of such a thing? Making him marry the Thompsons daughter? That annoying brat who left him a long time ago without saying goodbye? He thought as he took a trip down memory lane.

She used to be his best friend back then at highschool. But things changed suddenly and she started acting weird. Then she won a scholarship to Oxford and left without a goodbye. He hadn't seen her for ages and he imagined how she would look like by now.

"Gosh... why should I even be thinking about her," he mumbled under his breath as he increased the speed of his car. He almost lost control as he hit a car which was right in front of him.

"Shit!" he cursed under his breath.

"Are you insane!!!" the driver yelled as Jason sped past him at once.

"Sorry," he said, raising his hand in apology as he sped past the car. He was glad he didn't do great damage to the car, it was just a little scratch.

"Gosh, we haven't even met. Just a little thought about her and I'm already getting into trouble"... he cried. "What if we meet? Bigger trouble," he reasoned and let out a chuckle.

***

"It is our wish for them to get married and so be it,"

Mr Johnson said as he walked to and fro in the living room which was beautifully decorated with large green curtains hung on the windows. Beautiful and executive sofas were neatly arranged in the room, with a golden table in the middle of it.

His wife sat on the sofa watching him in silence.

"I've watched him grow and I know what's best for him. He can't survive without Madison. She's all he needs, and the company won't survive if they don't get married to each other," he added and turned to his wife.

"You're right dear, I'll reason with him so he'll get to understand why we are doing all this"... she said

"Please make him do. We can't afford to lose all that we've worked hard to achieve," he said calmly.

"We won't lose anything. They're gonna get married whether they like it or not!" She affirmed and he smiled.

***

She looked across the window of her bedroom as she sipped her coffee slowly. It was dark and cold as she thought about all that life was about to throw at her.

"I have someone I love already. I can't love another.. Gosh what is this. That boy is so annoying and irritating, Why him of all people?" She lamented as she stirred the coffee slowly.

"Boy, I can't do this no.. no," She cried as she tried to sip the coffee but it spilled on her dress.

"Ewwww!!!!" she exclaimed as she looked at her ruined sweatshirt.

"Mere thinking about him and I'm already in a mess!" She flared as she took her dress off slowly.