They were all seated in the living room of the house that belonged to Nova’s parents. Lynn was beside her, the lawyer was across from them, and Rodrick stood at the far end of the room.
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“So, Ms. Rose, like I said earlier, I believe you know why I’m here,” the lawyer said as he pulled some documents out of his bag.
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“To read your father’s will.”
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“Yes,” Nova responded with an uncertain look; she was not sure she wanted to know what was written in her father’s will.
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He cleared his throat and began. “This is the final will and testament of Mr Nathan Rose, and I read.”
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She sat in silence as she listened to him read out the fact that her father had left nothing to her name because he owed a lot of debts, and those people were coming for his properties.
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Lynn squeezed their hands together in an attempt to make her feel better. It wasn’t working.
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“… and finally, to Maxwell Queen, I leave my daughter, Nova Rose, to be claimed as yours on her 25th birthday, November 2nd.”
Nova shot up from her seat like she had been burned, her brown eyes opened wide with shock.
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“WHAT?”
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“Yes, Ms. Rose, that’s why Rodrick is here. To take you to him.”
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**********
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As soon as the car came to a stop, Nova dashed from it into the mansion like she was being chased by a rabid dog, taking Mrs Joy, the housekeeper, who had opened the door by surprise.
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“Where is he?” She asked, almost out of breath.
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“Upstairs, in his room.”
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“Could you go get him?”
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“Yes, Ms. Rose.”
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Nova stood anxiously as she waited for him to come down. She had a lot of questions to ask.
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Maxwell came down a few minutes later, looking like he was fresh out of the shower.
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She had almost forgotten her reason for being mad. Her heart was beating so fast she wasn’t sure if it was the anger or the attraction she felt towards him kicking in.
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“Good day, Nova.”
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“What type of business did you have with my father that resulted in me being used as payment?” She questioned quickly, paying no mind to his pleasantries.
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“I had no business with your father; all I did was help him,” Maxwell answered as he opened the fridge to get a bottle of water.
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“Help him how?”
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“You see, your father got into business with some very dangerous people, and it involved a lot of money.”
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“Okay, and?” Her patience was running thin.
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“And he took some of that money from them and could not meet the deadline for the payment. So he came to me.”
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He paused to study her face before opening the water and taking a sip of it.
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“He came to me for a loan, and I gave it to him, knowing well that he would not be able to pay me back when the time came.”
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“And yet you gave it to him.” Nova couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had always known that her father was reckless with money, but this was the height of it.
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“Yes,” he continued. “And he said if he couldn’t pay me back in cash, he would pay in kind. Now, that caught my attention. What could he possibly have to offer?”
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She shook her head with a sad look on her face. She couldn’t believe that her own father had sold her off.
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“He offered you as payment, and that was a very interesting offer. So I picked that; I picked you.”
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“So you bought me like I was a dog or a toy?”
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“Well, something like that,” he said with a little smile, like it was a fun conversation they were having.
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“But what if I work to pay it off?” Nova said, sounding a little desperate
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“That would take you at least 50 years,” He replied, sounding unbothered.
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“What?” She almost screamed. “How much does he owe?”
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“That doesn’t matter. What matters now is that you were given as payment, and I will take that rather than money.”
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Nova took a deep breath; it felt like she had been holding her breath since he came downstairs.
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“Why, what do you want with me?”
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“An heir. You’ll bear me a child.”
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“So, baby machine then.”
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“Surrogate,” he countered her words firmly. “And insemination will happen naturally.” He added.
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She let out a forced chuckle. “Why me? You can have absolutely anyone you want. You’re the Maxwell Queen.”
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“Exactly,” Maxwell agreed. “I can have anyone I want, and I want you.”
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“Well, that’s not going to happen.”
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“And why’s that?” He asked calmly.
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“Cause I’m not getting pregnant for you; I won’t do it.”
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“So what other options do you have then? Because you belong to me now.”
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“I’m not property to be owned,” Nova tried so desperately to counter him.
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“I have it in paper, Ms. Rose. Your father signed a document as evidence.”
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“Oh, wow. That man really used me as payment for a debt. Like I meant nothing to him.” Her voice almost broke. Tears had already gathered in her eyes.
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She blinked them back quickly before speaking again. “Fine, Mr Queen. I’ll do whatever you say, but I have one request.”
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“And what might that be?”
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“That we get married.”
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Maxwell let out a dry laugh.
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“I’m serious. I will not be having any children outside of marriage.”
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“What makes you think I’ll grant that request, Ms. Rose?”
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“It’s the only way I’ll agree to your terms, Mr Queen.” Her tone matched his.
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“And if I refuse?”
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“Then you’ll find someone else to bear your heir while I work off 50 years of my life to pay off a debt I had no hand in.”
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Maxwell looked her in the eyes to search for any signs of a joke; there weren’t any. She was serious, and she meant every word she said.
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Nova was willing to work for as long as it took to pay off her father’s debt if Maxwell wasn’t going to grant her request.
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“Okay then. I guess we have a wedding to plan, Ms. Rose.”
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and then Add to home screen.