Autumn was concern over this night visit, for two reasons. One was that the Pierce family was known for its ruthless methods of doing business but that could not compare to the fact that their empire was made from the broken bones of other companies. So, a visit from the head of their family was never a good sign, it probably meant that the business was in difficult times.
The other reason was that she had a bad feeling. Whenever things went wrong in that house it would rebound with her and she would have to sacrifice something for the problem to be fixed. And right then, she was not sure how cooperative she would be.
Her father called for her as he stood at the door of his study. Autumn stood frozen in that one spot for a while, that bad feeling making itself more prominent but after the third call from the man she finally willed herself to move.
The moment she walked into the study she noticed that her stepmother was present, that too was never a good sign, but also that the air was thick and heavy with unspoken words and kept secrets.
Not being able to take it anymore she asked, "Why was Mr Pierce senior here?
They two exchange a look that made Autumn regret asking. She heard her stepmother whisper to her father that he should just tell her. "Tell me what?" Autumn enquired.
Her father stilled himself and straightened his posture. Then he began. "Mr Pierce was here regarding a marriage arrangement." She stared at her father searching for any clues as to where this was going but was too confused to make out any. "With one of his sons, the youngest, as a business alliance between our family and his."
"What… Uh…what do you mean by that?" Autumn questioned trying to wrap her head around his father's words.
"It means you are set to marry into the Pierce household." Rowena blathered out, clearly annoyed with the dramatics.
Autumn said nothing to those words, mostly because even though they had reached her ears, her mind failed to comprehend. She watched her father move to his office desk and flip through some papers then walk back to her. He extended to her a hand with bound papers. Then began to explain.
"As you are aware the family business has not been doing great. Most investors wanted out and some already left. The shareholders needed something to be done to get the company moving again. I tried everything but nothing worked, so they were planning to sell to the Pierce empire, but Mr Pierce approached me with a better proposal. An alliance, a union between the families and we get to keep the business, and he even offered to help it do a lot better. So, I agreed."
Autumn made no move to grab the paper which now she assumed to be the contract. She stood in silences taking in all her father's words. Her mind trying it's very best to process but, in the end, she came out blank. "What does this have to do with me?"
"Wow you are slow. How did you ever manage to graduate?" Rowena remarked, "It has everything to do with you. Who do you think we are bargaining here?"
"Row!" her father scolded his wife, and she relented throwing her hands up as a sign that she was backing off, "Let me handle this."
"Handle what? The fact that you are telling me you sold me?"
"Autumn sweetie, it is nothing like that I promise you." her father tried to placate, "It is more like setting out your future and making sure you are well taken care off."
"By selling me to business tyrants? Without my permission? Or knowledge."
"The Pierces are a nice family."
"Nice? Is that why they are in the business of trading business for women?"
A loud sigh of annoyance sounded out from Rowena's direction. She moved to stand next to her husband, giving him a look then turning to Autumn. "Oh please, I do not believe you are that dense. Arranged marriages are the bases of the business world. It is how all business alliances formed… from obligation and duty to make your family's standing in the business world better. All in all, missy, it is your responsibility and duty to do this as the eldest daughter of this family. Autumn, it is time you pulled your weight; you are not a child anymore."
Duty? Obligation? Responsibility? All those words thrown at her again, to push her into a corner yet again. She felt suffocated by those burdens being put on her shoulders just because she was the oldest. She had a life too. She had a responsibility to herself too. Autumn calmed herself and gave them a dry laugh, "No." She started, "You know what? No. Fuck your duty and responsibilities and whatsoever. I do not care. I am not doing this. I just graduated from college, I have a job lined up, I am planning to move in with my boyfriend. You know Pete, you've met him a couple of times. I have planned out my life the way I want to live it, and it does to include getting hitched to some guy I don't even know."
"Pete? This is about that useless lowlife." Her stepmother commented with a laugh, "Please that boy is not worth losing this opportunity for the family."
"Look honey, I understand you had a plan and all, but I did not do this to ruin it. I did this because I do not have a choice. We are about to lose everything you do understand that, right?" her father coaxed.
"But…I – " she stuttered. "You had a choice, what about Lily? She is old enough."
The exchanged a look then her father opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by his wife, "You want my daughter, your younger sister to take on your duties? How selfish are you?" the words make Autumn swallow a heavy lump.
"Look Autumn, I agreed to this only because we will lose everything. Our back is against the wall here. And no one can do this but you."
"Why…Why me? why is it always me who has to sacrifice for this family? When have you guys ever done that for me?" Autumn could feel her voice cracking and her eyes threatening the tears she has been doing a great job keeping at bay.
"I raised you, did I not? Even when your mother…"
"What did you not want me?" she called the tears now slowly threading down her face. "You are my father; it is your job to raise me. you were not doing me any favours."
"You are my daughter and I am asking for one." He spoke his tone serious, "And besides it has already been decided." he hands her the papers again, but she made no move to take them not even look at them. "The contract has already been signed."
Autumn instead turned to walk away from them, her body was trembling with suppressed anger and hurt. She felt betrayed, she did not expect much from Rowena but her father, she would like to think the man would at the very least care enough to talk to her about it before hand.
"We will making a formal announcement at your graduation celebration party."
Oh, great! The one time they think to celebrate my achievements, they use to ruin my life. Autumn could not help the thought as it popped into her head. She found herself in her room, not sure how she got there in all the hazy thoughts that filled her mind. This was a betrayal that was on a whole new level, even for them. she could ask herself how such a thing could help but judging from why they did this to her, it was clear to Autumn where she stood in this family, where her place was. Below their happiness, below the company there sat her insignificant self. Abandoned and discarded.
That night was supposed to be a hopeful and happy night for her, but she spent it crying and not tears of bittersweet joy for opening a new page in her life but rather tears that come with so much hurt that it was unbearable.