No choice
Alright I'd go '' Arianna hit the brass lock in resignation. She had finally succumbed to going to beg for Mr Han's mercy after a week of so much torture.
"He's not picking the damned calls and he isn't replying my messages! Do something about it real quick or your father's company will go into shambles'' her uncle has bellowed at her.
"I won't do it. Why should I clean up your mess? It isn't my fault you mismanaged the company's funds. Now you want me to grovel before him? No, Arianna Huffington won't grovel! Be a man and sort this out!"
She was angry that they had turned her father's properties to liabilities. Arianna couldn't control her tongue as she lashed out at Reginald.
She remained adamant on not going. Why did her uncle suddenly cast the company's issues on her when it looked bleak? All these years, he has never asked for her advice or help but now he was. She would have gladly helped him in other circumstances. Not this!
"You bitch! How dare you talk back to me in that manner?! Have your manners gone on holiday!?" Her remarks had earned her two quick slaps from her uncle.
Reginald was angry. So angry that everything he worked so hard for was slipping through his fingers in one just one month. He didn't work his way here to have it all blow up in one day.
Arianna gasped. He had never touched her before. He just looked on while his wife did as she wished with her. Was this who her uncle was? Had he been hiding a demon within him all these years?
"Did you just slap me?" She was stunned. "Yes! And I'll do more if you don't go see him right away!" Her uncle had lost his temper on her.
"You lie, I still won't do it. You can do with me as you like. This time around, you will clean this mess up yourself. After all it is all in your benefit if the company bounces back. Watch it go into ruins if you wish so!"
Arianna didn't know where she got the confidence to speak to him like that. It was the first time she had dared stand up to him.
The fact that he laid his finger on her because of this irked her and her stubbornness reared its head. Vanessa took over by then.
"You must go or you won't eat any food in this house. I can assure you hell and you know what i mean" Vanessa had threatened her. Hell meant a lot. A dark room, haunting dreams, a growling stomach.
"Since you had a good rapport with him that night, find a way to solve this. The earlier you do it, the better for you!" She continued.
Vanessa's threats had been another reason she had succumbed to their wishes. A night in that room was enough to make her adamant stand turn to jelly. Vanessa's threats coupled with her loyalty to her father's company made her finally give in to them.
It was obvious that this was her mess to clean up after all.
"You will spend three days here if you don't agree to our demands. When you are ready, you know what to do" Vanessa had locked her up.
"You pathetic scum! You caused me this! Why did it have to be after your conversation? Why did he have to renege on his words after you both spoke!? You had better find a lasting solution to this or I'll make you pay" Sophia had grabbed her hair and screamed at her in the room before locking the door after her.
She rubbed her cheeks as she prepared to go to Mr Han's office. Vanessa's slaps had done a number on her and her cheeks were hurting her. She added more foundation to hide the red blotches on her puffy face.
Her stomach groaned and her eyes turned. "You won't take even a drop of water if you don't come back successfully!" Vanessa had lived true to her words. Arianna had tasted nothing for two days now.
"You can do this, Ari" she looked at herself in the mirror as she picked up her purse to go see him.
"It's about time, Arianna," Mr Han said as she entered his office. "Good afternoon Mr Han" Arianna said.
"Hello Arianna, you look beautiful as ever. You can have your seat" Mr Han had said after shaking her hands.
"Thank you" She took her seat behind his mahogany wooden desk. "How may I help you? This is an August visit" Mr Han pretended not to understand. Since she came, he wanted to hear her speak for herself. Maybe she had come on her accord.
"You know why I came already. Please, help my father's company" Arianna said resignedly. "The only way to do that right now, is to allow my cousin Sophia to marry your grandson. Please, for my sake. I don't know what they did but please help them" Arianna begged.
"Sophia? Is that her name?" He asked. Arianna nodded. 'Your father's company?' he adjusted on his seat. Now they had gotten to the real discussion which he had been waiting for. Arianna's hands flew to her mouth. How did that happen!? She had said it without caution.
She bit her lips as she tried to rephrase it. "My un…cle, I meant" she faked a smile. "You don't have to be worried Arianna, I did my findings on you the day I left your house" Mr Han revealed.
"What!? Are you for real? Why did you do that?" Her eyes widened. So Mr Han hadn't believed Vanessa? Was that good or bad news? She wondered. It didn't in any way put her in a good light.
"Yeah, I liked your spirit and there was something suspicious about what your uncle and aunt said so I had to do my own careful search, Arianna Huffington," he smiled as he coughed.
"Are you alright?" Arianna jerked up immediately. "Yes I am. Just my cold acting up" he motioned for her to sit down. "Thank you" he smiled at her.