Chapter Three

she climbed the mountain with her hands and feet but she was also saved from falling with what she used as a hook around her waist. she had her black straight long hair packed in a ponytail style, she was putting on a protective google too and a life support jacket. The sun was scorching and she was sweating but she still enjoyed climbing the mountain. Suddenly her phone rang in her trouser pocket, she struggled to bring it out but she finally picked the call.

" Hello" her voice sounded a bit faint because of loss of breath from what she was doing.

"Maya, where are you?" a masculine voice asked anticipatedly"l... I'm pretty busy now dad" she replied reluctantly. Just come home right away Maya! "why? is anything wrong with ana or mum? are you okay dad?" she asked looking worried "I will let you know when you get back, come straight to my office," her dad told her" But dad... Before she could continue, the call hung up. " He hung up the call? What on earth could possibly be wrong...Well, I will just have to find out" She talked to herself before she continued to climb, but now with worries in her heart as so many things were going through her mind about the call she received some minutes ago.

*********

She walked into the company confidently putting on a pair of blue jean trousers, a white long-sleeved chiffon top, and a pair of high heeled shoes and a black handbag to go with. Her straight long hair was laid down to her shoulders and she was putting on crystal black dangling earrings.

" Good morning Miss Maya".

"Morning Clara" she replied. Please can you tell my dad am here?

Clara who was her dad's secretary and also a nice lady walked into her dad's office and came out later on.

"You can go in miss Maya," she told her still with a nice smile on her face.

"Thank you, Clara," she told her as she gave her a light pat on the arm with a smile before she walked into her dad's office.

" Goodmorning dad" she greeted as she walked into her dad's office. She gave him a tight warm welcoming hug at where he sat on his seat and then she took her own seat in front of his table.

" Maya I asked you to be here yesterday," Mr. Ethan said...

" I'm sorry dad, I was far away from enjoying my vacation, anyways am here now, so what is wrong? "Maya said as she crossed her legs smiling. She took a look at him and his facial expression suddenly changed to that of sadness, Something was definitely wrong." Dad what is wrong? " she asked him a bit more calmly as she slowly became worried also.

"Maya" he called her name sadly before he stood up from his seat and walked up to her. He took his seat close to her and put her hands in his hands.

" Maya, I hope you know I love you right? " Mr. Ethan said.

" Yes dad and I love you too" Maya replied as she cupped his face in her hands before she took hold of her hands again.

He took a deep breath and his face got duller. What on earth could be stressing my dear father like this much? She wondered.

" Maya... when you were still a young girl, our company went through some financial constraint. I took refuge and help from a good friend of mine who was the owner of Boston companies. Eventually our company never fully recovered enough to pay back Boston companies and now he passed away and his son took over... Unfortunately, his son is not very nice and he's not understanding. He demands I pay back every single dime I borrowed or he takes away our company. You know your grandfather worked hard to build this company, you saw how much sweat and devotion I have put into this company over the years. I love this company very much and I can't betray your grandfather by giving it up".

"You're right dad... we shouldn't give this company up in that manner, I know this company means a lot to you and I know how much sacrifice and suffering you have put in. Don't worry dad something will work out for us, I'm always here to help". She assured him as she gave him an assuring smile and squeezed his hands. He glared at her with a sad expression in his eyes. She knew something else was still bothering him.

" Maya my daughter.... in other to spare us company and a lot of trouble of a court case, he... he wants to make you his wife". Mr. Ethan said to his daughter with a trembling voice.

"What! " Maya exclaimed. She stared at him blankly for a moment. Maya, I'm sure you didn't hear well, she said to herself as he burst into laughter. " I'm sorry dad, I think I heard wrongly. For a moment I thought I heard you say he wants to marry me instead of... of something else... I'm sorry dad, what exactly did you say? she asked him as she finally composed herself. Mr. Ethan stared at his daughter still with the same look. No... no Maya, what you heard was right" he brought out his hand and stroked her cheek.

" No no, he can't be serious!", Maya said as she slowly stood up from where she sat and took a step away from him. She paced through and fro for a moment before turning back to him with one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead, she spoke " Let me get this right, you want me to marry a man I've never personally seen before in other to save our company? " she asked him in a weirdly calm tone.

He sighed sadly as he slowly nodded. She stared at him blankly for a minute.

"How could he do this?" she asked with sadness written all over her face. All she did was to shake her head at everything. She walked up to where she sat before and picked up her handbag, turned, and headed towards the door. She had no words again, she doesn't know what to say to her dad that won't hurt him as she noticed he was feeling worse at that point. She was confused and speechless, she walked right out of his father's office with a lot of thoughts in her head.

******

She sat in her car calmly as she recalled everything. She and her dad never had any problem, they were best buddies, they play tennis together, go on vacations together. She and her dad had no serious argument, they always understood each other, he was almost like a best friend. She knows her dad loves her soo much, she knew he wouldn't purposely want to hurt her if he wasn't so desperate. He has done soo much for her, he has been the best father in the world to her that is why she was confused. She doesn't know which step she will take that won't hurt him. She hates seeing him that way, sad and depressed. She swallowed down the lump of tears in her throat that threatened to trickle down her cheeks.

"I'm not that weak to let this guy beat me like this, I have to do something about this," she said to herself as she quickly gathered herself together and quickly drove off.