Chapter 14 — Jason

Jason POV:

A Month Earlier...

"I'm getting married, Jason."

As soon as those words escaped Blake's lips, I frowned.

"What do you mean you're getting married? To whom and why? Wait a second, did you meet someone else?" I asked, wondering what in the world he's going on about.

"Well, not exactly the way you're thinking. It's just that, after dad's visit yesterday, I had no other choice," he replied, and I couldn't help the irritated groan that escaped my lips.

"I'm gonna need you to be very clear with me Blake. What does your dad visiting have anything to do with your sudden announcement of marriage? Did he introduce you to someone else? Did he insist you marry her? Is that it?" I asked.

"He didn't introduce me to anyone, but he did give me a final warning to bring home the woman I'm going to marry or else he'll drop me as his successor and replace me with Zach," he explained but I still didn't understand how that had anything to do with the fact that he's suddenly getting married.

"I get that part, Blake. He's trying to pressure you as usual but what's with the sudden announcement of marriage? You want to get married? To who?" I questioned.

"Her name's Dana," he answered and I'm even more confused.

"Wait, hold on, I'm confused. Who the fuck is Dana and why am I just hearing about her? You need to give me a clear answer Blake and stop messing with my head," I hissed, not enjoying how confused he was making me.

He let out a heavy sigh, bowing his head slightly and I could tell he was struggling to come up with the right words to explain whatever it was he was going on about.

"Okay, let me start from the beginning. Dad paid me a surprise visit yesterday and he asked that I get married as soon as possible. At first, it felt like the usual pressure and all but he seriously threatened to take the company away from me and hand it over to Zach if I didn't come through with a fiancée and after the clash with him, I went to the usual nightclub, had a couple of drinks to vent and brainstorm on how I'd stop that from happening and that was how I met Dana,"

"She happened to be the bartender who served me yesterday and in my slightly drunk state, I asked her for advice and she and I talked for a while and in conclusion, I ended up proposing marriage to her in return for five million dollars," he explained, and my jaw dropped. I could not believe my ears and his ridiculousness.

"Tell me you're playing with me Blake. This has to be a joke, right? You can't possibly be serious about anything you just said," I replied but with that guilty look on his face, I already guessed he wasn't joking.

"I know it sounds ridiculous and all but think about it Jason, that's the best way to finally get dad off my back. Giving him what he wants and at the same time changing someone’s life," he said, attempting to convince me and I scoffed.

"Really Blake? Really? You're going to marry a complete stranger just to get your dad off your back? Does that even make any sense to you? You just said it yourself that you met her at a nightclub, and you suddenly asked her to marry you? Just like that? Do you perhaps sometimes forget who the fuck you are? You're Blake fucking Davies for fucks sake, and I don't think you should be proposing marriage to just anyone out of fucking nowhere. Also, what role am I supposed to play in this? Did you expect me to agree with your sudden decision after having to live as your best friend all these years?" I asked, angry at the fact that he didn't even think to consult with me first and ask how I'd feel about it.

"I know you have every right to be upset here Blake and believe me, I didn't think my decision over at all. I was quite drunk and desperate, so I took a drastic decision that when you hear it for the first time, it actually sounds very foolish and unreasonable, but I actually thought about it again and it is honestly the best option for us both. I know it's tiring that I always have to find ways to hide our relationship, but you know why that is. I've worked all my life to get to where I am today and losing it all because I like men would literally kill me, Jason.

"If getting married is the only way I can finally stop feeling suffocated and pressured then trust me, I'll take the option. I'm sick and tired of feeling like this Jason, it's so damn tiring and yes, you have every right to be mad at me but please try to at least understand me. My hands are literally tied here," he explained and I tiredly sigh.

If there's one thing, I was definitely tired of being all the damn time, it's being the understanding one. The fact that I always have to accept his conditions, however ridiculous they seemed was really starting to tire me out. In the last few years, I've had to live as his high school friend or sometimes business partner. I've had to try avoiding being seen publicly with him on several occasions since a few other people outside his friend group but part of mine know my sexuality and since he didn't want anyone to suspect him, I've had to keep my interaction with him very minimal.

The fact that I have to go through all of that every damn time was really starting to get uncomfortable cause the truth is, I can't do this forever. Hiding, pretending, lying and the likes, I can't possibly be in that position for the rest of my life. When we started our relationship, he actually told me that one he day, he would eventually embrace his sexuality and come out to his family but the fact that he's even willing to marry a complete stranger just to keep our relationship a secret shows that he won't be keeping his word anytime soon.

"So, you're going to marry this Dana girl just like that? Wouldn't you rather get to know her first? Are you sure you can trust her?" I asked and he sighed.

"I know it's weird and ridiculous but for some reason, I actually trust her. She seems like a really genuine person but of course, I will run a background check on her and look into her stories as well but yes, I will most likely be getting married to her if her story and her background isn't too upsetting," he replied and now I'm guessing, I have no other choice but to accept whatever it is he decides to do.

Being the less privileged one in a relationship can really drain you as a person and unfortunately, I can't seem to get myself out of it.

"Okay then. I guess it's time I prepare for a wedding and prepare to welcome the new lady of the house... interesting," I drawled, and he groaned.

"You really don't have to sound so sarcastic Jason. If you don't agree with the decision, be straight with me about it," he said.

I let out a dark chuckle before replying. "If I tell you I don't agree with your decision, would you actually change your mind? Would you drop the thought and maybe think of something else? Would you actually do that for me, Blake? Let me be the one to answer that for you. No, you wouldn't. You are way too desperate to keep your life and your career, Blake, and my disagreement will only make your decision harder, but it won't end up changing your mind. So, tell me, why would I bother trying," I tell him, and for the first few seconds, he couldn't come up with anything to defend himself.

He knew I was indeed correct about everything I just said and the fact that he couldn't even at least try to lie about how selfish he was being really didn't sit well with me. To what length was he willing to go just to protect himself and how do my feelings and my emotions matter to him in the grand scheme of things? Those were questions I've had to constantly ask myself in the last few years of our relationship and being stuck in this position without a clear explanation of what could eventually be later on was emotionally and mentally exhausting.

"Now I feel like shit," he hissed, and I rolled my eyes.

"As you should," I replied harshly.

"Do you hate me?" he asked, and I let out frustrated sigh.

"I don't have time for this, Blake, I really don't. There's absolutely no point dragging this conversation and playing this emotionally exhausting mind game. You already made your decision and I'm pretty sure it's final for you. You're getting married and that's good for you. As for your choice for a wife, I’m pretty sure if the Dana girl doesn’t work, you'll find another one to comply with your request. I just hope that in the process of searching, you don't overly expose yourself and get yourself into some irreversible mess because if that happens, I'll say I fucking told you so," I said to him, hoping he's reasonable enough to understand what I'm telling him.

"I'll be careful Jace, don't worry but what's important to me right now is that you're okay with my decision. The deal is only gonna be temporary. Five years at most and we'll both fake a divorce and go our separate ways and then, you and I can finally do whatever we want without the fear of my dad poking into my life and threatening me to get married," he said and I mentally scoffed.

If only he knew how tired I was of hearing that. For the next five years, I'd have to live like an intruder in his home and with his wife in it and he doesn't even see how uncomfortable that would be for me? How very ridiculous!

"Whatever you say Blake, I'm leaving." I replied, immediately turning to leave without bothering to listen to what else he had to say. I already knew that whatever would come out of his mouth would be nothing but more and more excuses to excuse his selfish decisions and I didn't trust myself not to lash out at him if he kept going on about his ridiculous idea.

I no longer expect anything from him and from our relationship at this point cause at the rate at which we're going, it probably won't end well for both of us.