1 Bankrupt

"Lili! Can I ask you a favour?" Andrew requested his only daughter, who just took a step inside the house. His head was dropped and eyes were wet and red. Holding Lili's palm, he cried louder as tears flowed out.

'What does he want from me this time?' She pressed her lips and shook her head in frustration. "What happened?"

"I want you to marry someone."

There wasn't even a tiny bit of surprise or shock on Lili's face, as if expecting such an answer. "Oh!! So, this time it isn't just a one-night stand. You have developed, dad." she gave a mocking smile and tapped his shoulder. "But I have a doubt! If you marry me away, how are you going to entertain your clients the next time?" she asked and walked inside. Sitting on the large leather sofa, Lili crossed her legs and waited for his father's reply.

"Lili! Please!" Sophie, her mother, suddenly fell on her knees.

Lili at once uncrossed her eyes and jumped back. "Mom! He wants me to marry someone." Lili yelled at her mother. Her eyes narrowed at her weeping mom. Completely confused with the situation. She couldn't believe that her always supporting and protecting mother was asking to marry some unknown person. "Someone, tell me what's happening?"

Sophie took the television remote and pressed a button. "Meyers Bankrupt" the news flashed, displaying the company's headquarters surrounded by thousands of people protesting and throwing stones over the building mirrors. "The companies haven't been doing well for a year. One by one, each of them got into trouble. When we were on the verge of being declared bankrupt, Niklaus Cooper came forward to support us and proposed a partnership deal, but he wants you as a collateral." Her mother said in a hoarse voice and took a deep breath with her running nose.

"Collateral?" Lili roared. "Does he think I am an object to use me as collateral?" She closed her eyes tight and sucked her bottom lips between her teeth. "Wait!" she abruptly screamed. "Did you say Niklaus Cooper? Isn't he the ruthless businessman who owns most of the multinational companies in the country? Why is he giving that offer?" she paused, still not understanding his reason or intention. "Wait!! Don't tell me he became rich by marrying every bankrupt daughter and wants me to be one of them!"

"No! He isn't married yet. He is the most eligible bachelor in the country." Her father pulled out a magazine from the cupboard and rushed to her.

Lili raised her brows and huffed. "I don't care, even if he is the prime minister of the country. Mom, didn't you promise me that you wouldn't let dad use me like a whore?" she shouted, staring straight into her mother's eyes.

Before her mom could reply, a group of people in blue shirts and black pants entered the house. "Andrew Meyers! We need to evaluate the house. Please cooperate with us." One of them said and as he completed the statement, others began examining the things.

Sophie loudly sobbed while his father stood in a corner with a dropped shoulder and head. Lili's heart sank to her stomach to see her parents in the situation. 'Am I being selfish?' she asked herself and 'YES' was the reply her heart gave. "Dad, give me his number. I need to speak to him."

Andrew's eyes brightened to hear that. "Sure!" He sang and shared Mr. Cooper's contact with his daughter. Sophie's voice softened too to see that her daughter was willing to help them.

Lili dialled to the so called eligible bachelor and walked out to the garden.

"Niklaus Cooper speaking!" a powerful voice answered. Lili could feel the level of arrogance and dominance in the voice.

"Liliya Meyers," she said in a firm tone to match his tone.

"Ok!"

Lili scratched her head on what to say. 'Ok…what? What do you expect me to say? Didn't you propose to my family? Speak about it?'

"Ah… I am Andrew Meyers's daughter!" she mentioned, in case he doesn't know her name.

"I know!"

Lili's level of patience hit the rock. If it was anyone else, she was sure to give a long lecture on phone etiquette and little manners. But it was Niklaus Cooper, the only person who could bring her family out of the sudden poverty.

With fingers tightened over the phone, she took a deep breath. "Can we meet once to talk about your marriage proposal?"

"Proposal? I think there was a misunderstanding. It wasn't a proposal!" he paused. Lili's brows raised and deep horizontal lines formed on her forehead. She did not understand what the hell was happening. "It's an Ultimatum" he stressed. "Hope you at least get it right!"

Lili's pulse raced and palms turned wet, just by hearing the level of his haughtiness. 'I can't marry him,' her brain and heart screamed at the same time. She removed the phone from her ear and turned back to see her parents standing near the door and staring at her with hope. Her thumb refused to click on the red button upon seeing their expression.

Pursuing her lips, she stamped on the ground, took a deep breath, and put the phone back over her ear. "Sure! When… when do you want to meet?" she fumbled.

"Why? .... I have already seen you. If you want to see me, that's easy. I am all over the internet and news. Is there anything else?"

Lili turned speechless and felt useless. "Wait!" she said, which in fact sounded like begging.

"I don't have time. Fast!!"

"Some people came to value my house." she blurted out.

"Oh!! You don't need me for that. I will tell my assistant; he will take care of it. Anything else?"

"No!" uttering that word, tears rolled down her cheeks. Never in her life was she looked down on and ill-treated. 'Control!' she told herself and wept the tears. With head down, she walked to her eager and tense parents. "He said he will take care of it!" she muttered and climbed the stairs to her room.

And just as Mr. Cooper said, the officers got a call. They apologized at once and left the house. Lili swallowed and continued climbing to her room. On reaching her room, her phone rang, and it was a message from Beau, Niklaus' assistant - "I have taken care of it!"

Lili threw herself and the mobile on the bed. She couldn't imagine how she could live with such a freak and proud person.

Her phone rang again. It was Beau again - "Your marriage will be this Saturday in Cooper Hotel at 7pm."