Family meeting

Rose's eyes widened with disbelief as she checked her analytics dashboard. She had expected a few hundred views at most, yet she saw the numbers rise exponentially here.

"Ten thousand views?" she asked. Rose never expected her post to be so popular. Rose's thoughts were interrupted by a notification. Her position has been shared over a thousand times and reached a wider audience. She was overwhelmed by the sudden attention and popularity her role gained.

But her thoughts were soon swept up by fear, and the idea of her father seeing her most viewed video. Her father prohibits her from using social media.

If he saw her own daughter dancing on YouTube, she knew his reaction would be harsh. She wanted to delete the video, but it was too late. She had to face the consequences of her actions.

Rose thoughts of ideas to explain the video, but her heart sank as she realized there was no way to convince him. She knew she had to face his wrath head-on and be ready to take whatever punishment he had in store.

Just then, her bedroom door opened as Theo walked in holding a tray of cheese, omelets, and three kinds of bacon. Rose was taken aback, unsure of what to make of the situation. She glanced at Theo, who simply smiled before setting the tray down on her desk.

"Oh? What's the matter, Rose?" Her butler asks. "What's with the long face?"

Rose took a deep breath before responding. "Well...is this." Rose handed him her phone and showed him the video. He watched in silence, his face slowly morphing into a frown. "This isn't good," he muttered. Rose nodded sadly, her eyes glassy with tears.

"Father will be so disappointed in me." Rose cried as she wipe her tears. "If he finds out, I don't know what he'll do," she said, her voice trembling. "I need to find a way to fix this quickly. I can't let him see it."

Rose was scared and didn't know what to do. Rose tried to think of a plan, but nothing came to mind. She was out of ideas and felt helpless. Taking a deep breath, she decided to face the consequences and tell her father the truth.

"I got an idea," Theo said. Rose turned to Theo and asked, "What is it?" Theo smiled and said, "It's better if I don't tell you. Just leave everything to me."

Rose was curious but decided to trust Theo. She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll leave it up to you."

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Rose and Theo exchanged glances before Theo opened the door. It was Sally, one of her maids, a middle-aged woman who brought her clean clothes.

Sally's face changed when she spotted Theo in her young mistress's room. "Theodore? What are you doing in the young mistress's room?"

Rose gave a nervous laugh. "It's fine, Sally. Theodore and I are just talking and he brings me breakfast." She shot Theo a warning glance. After nodding, Theo bowed and left.

Rose let out a sigh of relief when he departed. She turned to Sally with a forced smile and said, "See? Nothing to worry about."

Sally seemed unconvinced but nodded in agreement. "It's alright...Anyhow, I came here to bring your clean clothes and inform you that your father wanted to discuss in the dining hall. He's waiting for you." Sally said, handing over the clothes. "I suggest you don't keep him waiting." She warned before walking away.

"But wait!" Rose yelled back at Sally. She had an uneasy feeling about it. "What does my father want to talk about?"

Sally shook her head and sighed, "I'm sorry, I don't know. You'll have to ask him yourself." With that, she walked away, leaving Rose to her thoughts.

Oh no, her father must have found her video on YouTube. Rose knew she was in trouble. She had been caught and now she had to face the consequences. She steeled her nerves and prepared to talk to her father.

Rose sighed before closing the door behind her.

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Chandeliers hung above the dining table lighting up the room. The glimmering crystals sparkled in the warm light, creating a dreamy atmosphere. Soft music played in the background, setting the mood for breakfast.

There at the dinner table was a middle-aged man in a suit. He was reading the newspaper, a cup of coffee by his side. He looked up as his daughter entered the room. His eyes narrowed as he returned to read his newspaper.

He had a stern look on his face as he read. His daughter, sensing the tension in the room, quietly sat down and began to eat the breakfast that had been prepared for her. She assumed Theo made her breakfast without the chiefs knowing. The man read the newspaper silently.

Her father was the CEO of a large oil company and his reputation was well known. He was known as a strict man who didn't tolerate any mistakes. She knew she had to be careful and not disappoint him.

She was also aware that he expected her to be perfect in everything she did. That's why she worked hard to be the best in everything she did, even though she was scared of making mistakes. Rose could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Rose knew she had done something wrong, and she was scared. She nervously waited for the man to say something, but he continued to read in silence.

Rose could have thought her father had found out about the video on YouTube this morning before she knew it. Or was it something else?

Rose froze instantly when the thought came to mind: Did he find out she was sleeping with her butler?

Rose felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't dare look at her father. How did he know? Was it from last night? Did she moan loudly for her workers to hear? She wished she hadn't slept with Theo last night. She knew she had to come up with an excuse, fast.

She could feel her palms sweating and her heart racing. She had to think fast and come up with a plausible excuse for why Theo was in her room.

Just then, her father cleared his throat. "So, how was it?"

Rose looked at her father blankly. "What?"

Her father sighed. "Your breakfast. Do you like it? Or do you prefer English breakfast?"

Rose smiled. "I love it. You make the best French toast ever." She took a bite and sighed contentedly.

He sighs before placing his newspaper on the table. "Rose, I have a crucial discussion to conduct."

Rose took another bite. She swallowed and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Okay, what is it you want to talk about, Father?"

He looked at her intently. "What do you intend to do with your life?" He paused, waiting for her response. Rose shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "What do you mean?"

The man sighed before lying back in his seat and looking out the window. "Rose, you know this company I'm ruling has been passed down in my family for generations. However, ever since the pandemic, our business has been struggling. I'm trying my best to keep it afloat, but it's becoming more and more difficult."

"Everything will be alright, Father," Rise said. "Once you retire, I'll take over the family business and I'll do whatever I can to make sure it thrives. I won't let you down."

"You're not listening to me," he growled. "Listen, I have a plan that can save our company and our lives as a family. You are familiar with Mr. Red, right? Who owns mining across the states? He has a son named Jason who is around your age and just graduated from high school. I suggest you go out with him and - you know, get to know him better."

When Rose heard her father's words, her heart sank. She couldn't believe that her father was trying to set her up with someone. She had never met Jason and didn't want to be forced to go on a date with someone she had never met. She knew she had to say something and decided to let her father know that she wasn't interested.

"Father, what are you saying?" Rose asked stunned. "Are you suggesting I have to marry some guy I don't know just to save your company?"

Her father looked surprised for a moment before composing himself. "No, of course not. What I meant was that you two would spend time on dates. And if you two get along well with each other, then you can talk about getting married. This would be an arrangement that would benefit both parties - your husband's company and ours. It could help both companies become more successful."

"But what about my life?" Rose asked. "I'm not interested in a romantic relationship. I didn't finish my education yet and I'm not ready to be a wife."

"ROSEANNA!" Her father yelled silencing her. "You need to stop thinking like that and focus on finding a husband. That's the only thing that matters."

Rose's heart sank as she realized her father's words were final. She knew that no matter how hard she tried, she would never be able to change his mind. She had no choice but to accept her father's decision and follow his wishes.

"Very well, Father. I'll do what you ask." She said with a heavy heart. Sighing, she resigned herself to her fate and prepared to do as her father asked.

"Excellent, you'll meet him tomorrow at the restaurant where you two have your first dinner date there." Her father smiled relieved. "Today, I want you to do some shopping to buy a new dress for this special occasion. Get something that makes you feel beautiful and confident. Don't forget to pick up a small gift for him as well."

She nodded silently and stood up from her table without finishing breakfast. She walked away, dreading the thought of what tomorrow would bring.

"Have a nice morning, Rose," Father said turning back to his newspapers. "Your mother would be so proud."

"You think so?" Rose cut him off as she stood between the doors. "Tell me, Father. Would she be happy to see me this miserable? Seeing her daughter, treated like a slave just to save your skin?"

He didn't answer. He only looked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Rose shook her head and walked away, her heart heavy with sadness.

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Rose arrived at the mall in two hours with Theo and some of her maids while getting out Bugatti. She walked inside the mall, looking around for the store she was looking for.

Rose didn't talk much when she came here. She was still down after talking to her father that morning, and her sadness was palpable. She was in no mood to shop, but she needed to find a dress for the upcoming date.

After a few minutes of searching, she found it and quickly made her way inside. She looked around the store, trying on a few dresses with the help of the maids of course.

"Young mistress, what about this one?" One of the maids - named Diana - held up a yellowish short dress with intricate embroidery. Another maid named Kelly interrupted her before she examined it carefully.

"What? No! Not that KIND of dress! Mistress' body is already too exposed. We cannot let her wear something that will make people talk even more. Let's try something more subtle." Kelly held up a bright pink puffy dress.

Mistress shook her head. "No, this won't do. I'm not a child anymore. I need something more elegant and sophisticated." She searched through the racks.

"How about this one then?" Rose looked back only to see Theo with a grin on his face holding a beautiful, long, deep red dress. "This one is perfect," he said. "It will look magnificent on you."

Rose smiled in agreement, and with a twinkle in her eye, she reached out to take the dress from his hands. She got into the changing room and gently put it on as she admired herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe how beautiful it was. She stepped out of the changing room with the dress on and a look of satisfaction on her face. She thanked him and said it was the perfect fit. He smiled and nodded in agreement.

"No problem." Theo shrugged. "The moment I saw that dress I knew it would be the perfect dress for your upcoming video."

"Video?" Rose asked not sure what he meant by it.

"Yes, the dress for your upcoming Youtube dance video with your friends?" Theo replied. "The whole point of shopping was to get something for the video!"

Rose thought for a moment then said, "Theo, first of all, my friend and I are not making a dance video. The point of the project is to create a bucket list challenge. We're making a list of all the things we want to do so we can get views. Second, we're shopping because my Dad arranged a date for me with his friend's son tomorrow."

Theo's eyes were wide as his mouth hung open. "What?"

"Oh? No one told you? I'm going on a date with a guy's name - uh." Rose paused trying to remember the guy's name.

"You don't even know his name!" Theo mumbled pulling Rose into a changing room. "Did your father push you on being in a relationship with someone you don't even know?"

Rose pulled away from Theo, her face turning red. "Of course he did, and he only wanted it because his business is struggling and he needs a connection to the wealthy family I'm potentially marrying into. It's not like I have a choice."

"But why can't YOU take over the family business?" Theo whispered. "You're an only child!"

Rose shook her head. "My father won't hear about it. He thinks women can't be trusted to make critical financial decisions. His only chance is if I marry into money and he can use the connection." She sighed and looked away. "It's not what I want, but it's the only way."

Theo grabs her arm taken back by what he heard. "But, it...it's bullshit! To think my rose be sold off like that! It's not right." He turned towards her, his eyes filled with determination."I won't let that happen. I'm gonna do what I can to stop this. I'm not gonna lose my rose!"

Rose was shocked at what Theo said as she stepped back. "Wha- what the hell are you talking about? We're not a couple. Just because we slept multiple times doesn't mean We're anything more than acquaintances." Rose's voice was trembling, and her heart was racing. She had no idea what Theo was getting at.

Suddenly, Theo squeezed Rose's arm and leaned in close. She could feel his breath on her neck as he whispered, "But I want us to be more than that." Rose's heart skipped a beat. She felt a shiver run down her spine.

Rose was confused and scared. She felt her face flush as she stepped back and looked away. "Please let me go."

"No," Theo whispered, squeezing Rose's wrist. Rose tried to free herself from Theo's grip but he wouldn't let go. She could feel panic rising in her chest as she realized she was trapped. Theo leaned in closer, his lips only inches from her ear.

"You're not married to some rich man's bastard's child after everything we have done," Theo mumbled. "I took your virginity, so I'm the only one who gets to marry you." Rose gasped, unable to move or speak as Theo's grip tightened. Tears began to fill her eyes as she realized there was no escape.

Rose would normally push and scream for help in this situation but that was not the case. Ever since she was a child, she has known Theo liked her and she told him she did not feel the same way.

Every day, he acts like a prince charming hoping to win her heart. However, her feelings for him never changed. Over time, he developed an obsession with her. He would follow her around and watch her from a distance. He would also send her gifts and letters professing his love for her.

Rose was scared and felt very uncomfortable with Theo's attention, but too afraid to confront him.

Things got worse and worse as Theo became increasingly desperate. He started to threaten her, saying that if she didn't love him, he would do something to hurt himself. Rose didn't know what to do, so she told him to seek help.

But then Rose's life changes when she receives a letter from Theo stating he hacked her father's documents about the family's dark history. Rose was shocked to learn that her father had been involved in a criminal enterprise and that Theo had known about it all along. With this knowledge, Rose confronted her father and asked Theo not to share her with the public.

Theo will keep his promise if she becomes his slave. Rose was wary of Theo's offer but was desperate to keep her father's secret safe. She reluctantly agreed to be his slave and Theo kept his promise. From then on, Rose was the master's slave, doing whatever he asked of her.

Within a second, a voice called out. "Rose? Rose, where are you?" It was Diana calling outside the changing room.

Rose saw her chance and broke away from Theo, running to the door and pushing it open. She ran into Diana's arms, relieved to be safe. Theo watched from a distance, his face contorted with anger and hatred.

"Rose! Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you!" Diana said.

Rose looked over her shoulder at Theo and said, "I'm so sorry, Diana. I was... I was so scared." Diana hugged her tightly and said, "It's ok. You're safe now."

"What's going on here?" Kelly asked as she walked in. "Why is Rose crying? Theo, do you know what happened to her?"

Theo looked away, not wanting to make eye contact. Rose shook her head and said, "It's ok. I'm ok now." They all stood in silence, not knowing what to say.

"I...I'm buying this dress now." Rose said before quickly walking away. Theo and the others watched her go, feeling a mix of emotions.

Theo sighed and smile, "She's quite odd."