56__Marriage proposal

56__Marriage proposal
“You have got to be kidding me,” Erin muttered.

Her mother and Stephanie exchanged glances.
“You didn’t know about this?!” Stephanie asked. “You and Chris didn’t discuss it?”

Flustered, Erin shook her head. “No, it’s… it’s not even—”

“Bring him to me,” her mother said, looking meaner than Erin had ever seen. “What kind of boy sends his father to propose without even meeting your mother?”

“Wait!” Erin held up both hands. “I’m not dating Chris! Stop getting carried away, mom, you’d know if I got a boyfriend.”

Alicia sighed, shaking her head exasperatedly. “Why would a boy who you’re not dating send his father to discuss your potential marriage?”

“I don’t know!” Erin said. “Tell them, Braden!”
She spun around and blinked. Where had Braden gone?

“He walked away a few minutes ago,” Stephanie offered.

Erin looked at her, her eyes growing wider as realized where he’d gone.
“Oh, God…” Hurrying off, Erin raced up the stairs, wishing she could teleport herself to the Chairman’s office.

When she finally got there, she was stunned by a collision with Don Michaels who was leaving in a huff.

He looked down at her with a frown and then his brows slightly rose and she saw in his eyes that he’d recognized her. He was a big, imposing man with cold black eyes and a face you couldn’t imagine smiling. Chris must’ve gotten his looks from his mother’s side.
Strangely, he said nothing, loudly clearing his throat and marching away down the hall.

“I really wish I gave a damn!” Braden was saying inside the office.

Erin hurried in and halted, stopped by the completely furious expression of the Chairmans’ face. She hadn’t seen him so red since the night he’d made her a tool to control Braden.

“I won’t have your attitude, boy!” he shouted.

“I learned to give respect where it’s deserved,” Braden replied easily. “You can’t sit there and tell me that man deserves any kind of respect from me, grandpa!”

This wasn’t good. Erin clutched the doorpost, wondering what to do.

“It hasn’t got anything to do with you, Braden!” said Julius Stone, his face looking even more red in contrast to his white hair. “There was no reason for you to walk in here and speak so disrespectfully to Mr. Michaels!”

“Of course, it has to do with me, he was here trying to get you to sell Erin off to Chris!”

Julius’s eyes narrowed, the two wrinkle lines at the corners of his eyes growing deeper. “Firstly, not ‘sell’, marry! Secondly, explain to me in detail what the hell that has to do with you?”


“Chris is my friend and Erin is my—”

His words broke off. Silence filled the office for a moment.
“Your what?!” demanded the Chairman.

“Braden!” Erin rushed in and gripped his arm with one hand. “What are you doing?”

He pulled his arm away and turned on her. “Did you hear what your mother said? That bastard went past both of us and sent his father to grandpa! Like he’s trying to marry you even against your will! Do you know how much that pisses me off?!”

Flustered, Erin glanced back and forth between Braden and his grandfather. “Okay, but that’s no reason to yell at the Chairman. Calm down, okay?”

“Don’t tell me to calm down.” He faced his grandfather again. "Tell me this, grandpa, and maybe I’ll consider apologizing for being rude. Were you really considering giving Erin to them?”

The Chairman gave him an annoyed expression. “Do I look crazy?! How dare you totter in here and act like you know better than me?”

Braden leaned in with flaming eyes of anger. “You give her to them and watch me lose my fucking mind.”

“Braden!” Erin pulled him back. “Could you stop?!”

The Chairman rose. “What? What the hell’s gotten into you?!”

Erin laid a hand flat on the table. “Sir, please. Calm down, everyone, calm down!”

The Chairman looked like he was suddenly getting dizzy, shutting his eyes and pulling off his glasses. “Erin… get him out of my office. Right now!”

“Okay!” Gripping Braden’s arm, she started dragging him towards the door.

“I’m serious, grandpa!”

“Shut up and come with me!” Erin squeaked, terrified with the turn of things.

When she’d managed to get Braden out, she pulled the door closed and he tried to push past her.
A hard shove had him away from the door even though it left Erin breathless. “Can you stop?!”

He stared down at her like an angry bull, his chest rising and falling with harsh breaths. “Why are you acting like I’m the one who’s wrong, Erin? I’m on your side! I’m the only one here on your side! They’re acting like you’re a fucking parcel that can get negotiated over!”

She grabbed his shoulders, gripping them tight. “Braden? I know! Okay? I know. I just need you to stop yelling, your point won’t get across that way! It’ll only piss your grandfather off!”

He clenched his jaw, looking away in stony silence.

Erin sighed. “Now, I am just as pissed as you that Chris, that bloody psychopath, thought it was okay to send his dad here, but I know that all I have to do is tell the Chairman no. That’s literally it. Not Chris nor his dad can get me to marry him, nobody can make me do something I don’t want to.”

“And you don’t want to, right?” he asked. “Because even if… even if it isn’t me. It can’t be Chris, not for you, Erin. He’s insane.”

Erin calmly tilted her head. His was clearly so anxious, she wanted to give him a kiss just to reassure him, but she couldn’t. “I don’t want to marry Chris, Braden. And I won’t. I’ll never.”

Finally, he seemed to calm down, slowly nodding at her soothing words.

“I think,” she continued. “You should take a breath and then apologize to the Chairman. You can’t be bursting into his office and yelling that way, Braden. No matter what. He’s your grandfather and he’s old.” She looked sad. “I don’t like seeing him getting so worked up and I know you agree.”

A tired huff was his only answer and she smiled, knowing he’d understood. Her heart felt steady with reassurance, however. From what Braden had just done, Erin knew without a doubt that she could depend on him. He defended her better than she did herself.

His frowning face was adorably turning into a pout and she could no longer resist. Stepping closer, she pressed her lips to his for a quick kiss.
“Thank you.”

He was still frowning and it made her laugh. “Oh, relax. I’ll talk to the Chairman then we’ll get ready for work.”

“Okay,” he murmured.

Erin ignored the affection violently exploding in her heart as she headed back into the office.
Julius Stone was seated in his chair once more, his glasses on the table and a very unhappy expression on his face.

He looked haggard and it broke Erin’s heart.
He looked up when she entered, his eyes lined and tired.
She stopped, giving him a sad smile.

He shook his head slowly. “Did you see the way he yelled at me? I couldn’t believe it, Braden’s never done that.”

He sounded so wounded, Erin felt tears prick her eyes. “I’m sorry, Sir.”

“Oh, no, it’s not your fault.” Sighing, he picked up his glasses and put them on. “I don’t understand what his problem is. I agree that Don Michaels appearing here was odd but I don’t see why that’s reason enough for him to scream at me so disrespectfully.”

She pursed her lips, studying the deep frown on his aged face. “I agree. He got angry, but that’s no excuse.”

“Why did he get that angry?” asked the Chairman, splaying his hands open on the table. “I don’t get it. You’re beautiful and intelligent, it’s no surprise for any young man to want to marry you.”

Erin sighed, approaching the table. “But it’s not just any young man, it’s Chris. Braden thought you might really marry me off to him.”

“What right do I have to do that?! Knowing Don Michaels alone, I wouldn’t have allowed it, but I decided to hear him out because I thought that since you’re dating the boy, he must have a better character than his father, at least.”

“I’m not dating him, Sir,” Erin said with a sigh. “I’ve only gone as far as receiving flowers from him.” And those were confiscated by Braden and probably burned.

The door opened. “And he doesn’t have a better character than his father.”

The Chairman glared at Braden, sullenly turning away.
Erin looked at the door, giving Braden a look.
“Relax,” he said. “I won’t yell.”

Pursing his lips, he came in. “Grandpa.” His grandfather scowled at the wall so Braden walked around the table to crouch by his chair. “Grandpa?”

“My grandson doesn’t yell at me,” Julius stated. “I don’t know who you are.”

Erin smiled, lowering her gaze.

“Oh, come on, grandpa,” Braden said. “Fine, I apologize, I’m sorry. I must have lost a bit of my mind—”

“You lost all your mind!” corrected the Chairman. “Why yell at me when I did nothing wrong?”

“I know,” Braden nodded. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I know Chris, you know we’ve been.... friends... since we were kids.”

His grandfather finally looked at him. “Which is why I thought Erin really might be in a relationship with him! Well, I mean, his father spoke like they were dating for years and were a match made in heaven. Talking about their matching ambitions and whatnot!”

Erin sighed. “That makes no sense, I have no idea what’s going on in their heads. But we’ll find out, Sir. Sorry this mess got all the way to you so early in the morning.”

He huffed. “What a frustrating morning. And I had my grandson scream at me to make it all worse.”

“Aw, come on, I said sorry,” Braden insisted. He glanced at the photo of his late grandmother sitting on his grandfather’s table, sighing sadly. “Grandma would’ve forgiven me by now if she was here.”

“You rascal!” Julius spun to look at him. “Emotional blackmail?!”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Braden said, standing to wrap his arms around his grandfather. “I’m sorry I yelled, gramps. I got mad.”

The Chairman rolled his eyes, giving Erin a secret look as he glared up at Braden.
She quietly laughed in response.
“Why would you get mad?” Julius asked. “Since when are you so protective of Erin?”

Braden paused, his gaze slowly rising to meet hers. He suddenly looked extremely serious and Erin looked away.

He released his grandfather and then stood beside him, making sure they made eye contact. “Uhm, grandpa… I have something to tell you.”

Erin’s heart lurched. Frozen in place, she could only stare at Braden. What? What did he want to say? What the hell did he want to say?!

The Chairman frowned. “What? What is it?”

Braden sighed. “It’s about me and Erin.”