Sweet 18

Ch 2: Cold Truth

Disclaimer: Dun own PR!

As much as she hated to admit it, Sydney didn't like her cousins very well, especially Uncle James' two daughters, Emily and Linda. Emily is studying at the same school as Sydney and they both were at loggerheads as long as they cross paths.

The worst part was whatever Sydney has, Emily has to have it too. They are both eighteen and Sydney can't stand much of Emily's immaturity.

The younger sister, Linda is constantly chasing the rich and handsome opposite gender.

Sydney had felt these two sisters brought disgrace to the family name and she wish she didn't have to meet with them at all. It was bad enough and the missus; their mum was the same whore too. She didn't meant to be rude but she knew her aunt was forever warming men's bed. Sometimes she pitied uncle James as well.

Sydney let her mind wandered off, unconscious of the clock ticking away. She ate her dinner absently while David Powell sat across, watching her constant bemuse expressions.

Adam had a beautiful daughter. Lucky man, him. If he, David had been twenty years younger, he knew he would court her. There was no doubt about it.

David glanced down at his Rolex, it was coming to eight. The visitor he was expecting should be arriving soon. As if right on cue, the bell rang, pulling Sydney back from her thoughts.

She gestured for her maid to send the dishes away, and then sauntered off to the bar for a glass of her favorite scotch. Her father would have disagreed and shook his head, forbidding his daughter from alcohol. Not today and not forever, Sydney thought. There was no one in the household who would care about her, she was all alone. She wanted to retreat to her room, to her inner shell but fought back.

What more can she do? She is the heiress, okay soon-to-be as long as the groom turns up but did she really want to send her future to the grave?

Sydney swallowed the scotch quickly and coughed. The burning sensation felt bad but not as bad as losing a father and his threatening will.

The door opened, revealing a tall and broad shouldered, muscular man. The hall's lights were too dim to actually see his facial expressions but David knew he was scowling.

The stranger wore a dark suit and his dark eyes bored down to the girl standing at the bar, opposite from him.

Sydney felt the smoldering eyes on her and couldn't help turning to face him. They stared at each other, trying to read their individual expressions.

Sky Tate, an ex-agent with the CIA watched her carefully from top to bottom, not tearing his gaze away from her.

She didn't know why but Sydney had a bad feeling about this stranger, standing at the hall.

Finally unable to stand the tension much longer, David stepped forward to welcome Sky. "I have to admit you are very punctual for a busy man like you, Mr. Tate." When the lawyer stood beside Sky, he had the urge to feel ashamed of his own height. Sky was easily six feet two.

"You had better give me a good explanation for this." Sky answered, his eyes still on Sydney.

"Yes, of course. This way please, Schuyler."

"Just, Sky."

"Oh yes, sure. If you would sit down here and," David stopped and turned to face Sydney whose face had turned to a darker shade of pink, "while I get Ms. Drew over. What would you have?"

"Whiskey." Sky answered with a bored expression.

The waiter gave him his drink while Sky watched at the two figures. David muttered some words while the lady, no, she's still a kid, glared at him. Then, reluctantly followed the lawyer to the living room's comfy.

Sydney sat down opposite from her uninvited visitor. That arrogant fellow, she hated the sight of him.

David sat between them. He could feel the tension building. But his he had to do his job.

"Ms. Drew, Schuyler. Mr. Tate, Sydney."

"You can call me Sky." Sky said in an amused tone.

"Syd." Sydney said and looked away uneasily. This stranger sitting before her is different from the other males she had known in her eighteen years of age. Why, she felt there was something dangerous about him, the not-to-mess-with-me kind of person.

Hell-bell, she thought. None other man bothered her as much as this one does. Sydney pondered over thousand of questions; who is he and mostly why he's in the house.

David set the papers down on the table and began explaining, mostly to Sky.

"As I already mentioned to you earlier, Sky, that Mr. Drew had passed away…"

Sky cut him halfway, "Straight to the point, David. I haven't much time." He said, raising his hand to look at the time impatiently as if there was something more important awaiting him.

Good grief no, could he be the man that her dad mentioned. Sydney almost cried aloud. This was an arrogant, dangerous and… and definitely a chauvinist.

"Okay, as you can see, Mr. Drew had drawn up a will and his wishes are for you to marry his daughter, Sydney Drew within this year."

Sky's brows rose in a mocking manner. "Why should I?"

Ignoring that, David continued, "You will marry her for a year and can arrange the marriage to be annulled after that or continue as the both of you may like. But the duration is for a year. On top of that, you will gain twenty percent of the company's shares, which Mr. Drew believed you have been eyeing on it for a long time. More importantly, Ms. Drew is still of schooling age thus entitling you to look after Drews and Drews Inc. till her twenty-first birthday."

It dawned on David to wonder why Sky had his knife on Drews and Drews Inc. when he, the very man himself is more interested in nabbing thieves.

Sydney could almost see the smirk in Sky's eyes. "If I don't?"

"You'll get nothing and Ms. Drew's inheritance will go to her uncle James. I believe Mr. Drew had left a letter for you." As David said so, he pulled out a letter from his file and handed it to Sky.

Sky turned his attention to Sydney. "How old are you?"

She held her chin up defiantly as if challenging him. "Eighteen."

"I didn't know eighteen is a marriageable age this day though I must say as a twenty-four year old myself, I'm not ready for marriage yet."

"Okay, with that I shall leave the both of you here to decide upon yourself and to give me a reply. I'll be at the front porch." David stood up and walked away giving them space.

Sky sighed. "I'm guessing you detest this arrangement as much as I."

"Mr. Tate," Sydney called. "As you already know, I'm still in school and marriage should be out of question now. I don't understand why my father would have decided on this silly idea."

"I've no idea as well. I've got to admit that this came too much as a surprise for me today."

"Yes, I'm aware of it and I don't have to tell you I hate you at first sight." Sydney said, almost too politely.

She saw his eyes darkened. "Excuse me while I read this." Sky held up the letter in his hand then stood up towards the floor-to-ceiling windows.

XXX

Half and hour later, Sky walked back to where he last sat.

"Mr. Tate." Sydney said.

He nodded. "I have come to a decision and I hope you have too."

Sydney had spent the time just now to read and reread her father's letter. "Yes, I have." She agreed in annoyance.

"Good. Let's hope that our decision be alike."

Sydney jerked her head away from him. This was too much to take in one day.

"My answer is yes and what about you?" Sky said slowly.

"What?" She stared at him as if he suddenly grew two heads.

Sky couldn't help but smile at the girl. "Listen, it will be a marriage of convenience for both of us. I'll get the twenty percent and you'll get your inheritance. I'm sure you loathe others from getting their hands on your father's company."

He can read my mind, Sydney thought. "You're right, Mr. Tate. I hate them a lot as well as his two daughters. This is no secret."

"So?" Sky asked softly. "What is your answer?"

Sydney bit her lips. "I'm on."

Sky gave a throaty laugh. "Let's call Powell in, shall we?" he gave her his hand.

"All right, Mr. Tate."

Sky furrowed his brow. "I don't think it is polite to call me that anymore if we are going to be husband and wife. Call me, Sky. I like that better."

"Very well, Sky." He's a heartbreaker; Sydney knew it from the beginning. A man like him, swift and smooth—a lady's man.

XXX

David smiled from a far when he saw the both of them holding hands. "I see you have reach a decision."

"Yes, we are going to be married."

"Where are the papers, David?" Syd asked impatiently, trying to pull her hand from Sky's tight clutch.

"Your father died a happy man." David replied after they signed the papers. "I'll see you at the wedding chapel when?"

"Not so soon, David. But it will be this year."

"Right, I shall take my leave now." David nodded to the both of them and left.

Sydney tore her hand away from Sky, forcefully. "You can leave now." She bit out the words.

"I am soon, let me speak to your butler first."

Sydney watched as he spoke quietly with the family's butler. She looked away quickly when he caught her staring.

When Sky came to stand in front of her, he bent down and whispered into her ears. "I shall play your personal chauffeur and bodyguard as of tomorrow, to school and back. Followed by dinner and an engagement ring."

Before Sydney have a chance to argue back, Sky walked out of her house. His laughter filled the house.

Unable to control herself, Sydney sobbed and fled to her room. She was right, he was an arrogant idiot. How is she going to school with a ring like that? People will talk and laugh at her. What if... what if they thought she was pregnant?

At the thought of that, Sydney cried even louder. The quiet night absorbing her cries.

XXX

TBC-Pls R&R!