Chapter Three-Propositions

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when I hear a knock on my door. I don't say anything knowing it will most likely be my mother or father and I'm not in the mood to talk to them. They knock again, and then I hear my father's voice.

"I know you're in there, Christian. Open the door."

I stay silent.

"Christian I'd rather not have to go hunt down the keys to unlock this door, so why don't you just save me the hassle and unlock it yourself."

I sigh and get up, dragging my feet as I unlock the door. I don't say anything as I pull it open. I just go back to sitting on my bed, pretending to be doing something on my phone. He sits down at the edge of my bed. Neither of us says anything for a few minutes, but then he breaks the silence.

"You're mother and I have been talking, and we think that we have come up with a good compromise in a way of punishment."

I don't say anything. I don't look up at him either. But I want to ask why he's punishing me for not finishing college. But then he corrects that assumption.

"Not a punishment for not finishing college, but for knowingly deceiving your mother and I to pay for you to live out there, when you should have just come home if you weren't being educated."

I inwardly roll my eyes. I still stay silent with my focus on my phone.

He huffs out a loud breath, and I have a feeling it's because I'm not paying him any attention.

"As retribution to your mother and me, you will be working as your grandfather's assistant at his office. Your mother said it was terribly unorganized. And that he could use the help since Sabrina quit. This is your way of paying us back for all the money we sent you," he tells me.

I drop my phone and stare at him incredulously. "Wait, you're expecting me to work at Gramp's office in effort to pay you all of the money you sent me?" I shriek. I would be working there for years if they're really expecting that. They had to of sent me at least over forty thousand.

"That and then some." He gazes at me.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we all think you can be humbled a little more. I know you're only twenty-one, but you still have a little bit more growing up to do."

I turn away from him and roll my eyes. "Whatever," I mumble.

He stands up and walks towards the door. "We've spoken to your grandfather. He's expecting you at the office eight o'clock sharp Monday morning."

I don't respond. I just watch him leave.

I sigh and throw my head back onto my pillow. Could my life get any worse? All I wanted was a loan and some support but clearly I ask too much of my family. And now I'm being forced to work unpaid for my grandfather because my parents are fascists. Nothing against my grandfather of course, and I honestly don't mind working for him, it's the forced part that irks me. My grandpa Theo is really my favorite.

I look up at my ceiling. "What would you do if you were in my shoes, Kim Basinger?" Of course I'm not expecting an answer, but my answer does come to me. And it's living right next door.

I redress and as quietly as I can descend the stairs and slip out through the back door. I don't want Ray to know about this little rendezvous, so I run across my back yard into the Steele's and look up at Ana's glass doors leading to the balcony. The lights are on so I know she's in there.

I look around me and find small pebbles around the miniature pond Ray dug a few years back. I throw the rocks as softly as I can until I see her face come into view.

I watch as she moves her curtain, frowns when she sees it's me and pulls the door open. She glares down at me. "Stop throwing pebbles at my door, you ass hat!" she yells.

I put my finger to my mouth and shush her. I don't want anyone to know I'm here. I look around to make sure no one has seen me. Thank God it's getting dark out.

"I need to talk to you," I whisper yell at her.

"Then why didn't you ring the doorbell like a normal person?" she whisper yells back.

"Because no one can know about this."

"About what?"

"Meet me in the boat house and I'll explain." I turn around, not giving her the chance to argue and walk towards my parents' boathouse.

I go up to the bedroom with the big round window and wait for Ana on the small loveseat that faces the bed. I'm only waiting a few moments.

I look up as she walks into the room in yellow and blue bunny pajamas and smirk at her. "Cute jammies."

She ignores my comment and puts her hands on her hips as she glares at me. "Okay, I'm here now, tell me what you want. I do have better things to do, believe it or not," she gripes.

I hesitate. Should I just come out with it or lay it down gently? I look up at her, distracted for a moment by her eyes, and then shake my head. I'll lay it down gently.

"I need your help," I begin, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

"With what?"

I take a deep breath. "I need money to start my business, but I can't find anyone to give me a loan. Elliot told me that Nana Beth and Papa set up a trust fund for us when each of us was born, but the catch is we can't access it until we turn twenty-five or we get married, whichever one happens first."

I stare up at her. She only raises a brow, an inquisitive look on her face.

"Okay," she says slowly. "What is it that you exactly need my help with?"

I glance up at her, my gaze apprehensive.

"I want you to become my wife."

This is the shortest chapter in the entire story.

Thank you for all the reviews, favorites and follows. You guys are amazing.

SS&G xoxo

P.S. I'm turning 21 Monday and I'll be celebrating most of the week, so I'm not sure when the next update will exactly be. I'll try to update at least once or twice.