⭐ Leona's POV ⭐

"Happy 23rd Birthday, Leona!" Someone shouted.

Groaning, I buried my head further into the pillow. "Let me sleep."

"Leona." I heard father's voice. "We are about to land. You need to get up."

"Land? Where are we landing? Aren't we in Houston only?" I mumbled with my eyes still closed.

I heard him sigh loudly and mother said, "We are about to land in Sydney, Leona. We are not in Houston."

Oh, yes.

I sprang up suddenly and rubbed my eyes and saw mother and father standing infront of the bed.

"Get ready soon. We will land in half an hour", father told me and then coming closer, he kissed my forehead. "And happy birthday, daughter."

Mother did the same and wished me happy birthday before going back outside.

Not wanting to waste anymore time, I quickly got up and freshened up, and dressed up in a comfortable, yellowish t shirt and a pair of black jeans.

I went out a sat down on one of the seats infront of my parents and buckled up my seat belt for the landing.

.

.

.

I love Australia.

There's no doubt in that. Ever since I first came here, I got addicted to this place. It gives me a warm, happy vibe.

And especially the loving family I got here.

Matthew Hamilton and Nelson Andrews friendship grew with my dad, Gareth Wilbrose over the years and now, they are like brothers and they both love me like their daughter. Their wives and children included except that one asshole.

A scowl formed on my face on remembering him. Fucking asshole. Rafe Hanzall Andrews.

I tried to be friends with him when I first met him but his rudeness just pissed me off.

I groaned realising we have dinner with them all tonight, on my birthday and he will be there. I can't let him ruin my birthday. Never.

.

.

.

"Can you please look over the soup while I set the table, Leona?", Delancy, uncle Matthew's wife asked me as I stood beside her in the kitchen at her house.

I nodded. "Yeah, sure."

"Thanks." She smiled softly and left the kitchen leaving me alone and I gently stirred the soup.

A few seconds passed by and I felt someone staring at me. I slowly turned around to see Rafe leaning against the kitchen entrance. He wore a black shirt with the top two buttons opened, his grey coat draped over his forearm. His black hair looked messy with a few strands falling on his forehead. A glass of whiskey in his hand and his striking emerald eyes fixed at me.

His gaze was intense yet his face neutral. He brought the glass up to his mouth and with his eyes still on me, he drank his whiskey.

I felt trapped under his electrifying gaze as his eyes trailed down my body, taking in my outfit.

With his drink finished, he stood up straight and walked towards me, his eyes still on me.

And then he was right infront of me, his tall figure towering over me and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Move", he ordered in a sharp tone.

And it was then I snapped out of the weird trance I seemed to be in. "What?"

His eyes narrowed at me. "I said move away."

My mind seemed to have stopped working but thankfully my body understood the command and stepped aside.

Giving me a glare, he opened the top cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.

Oh. That's why he wanted me to move.

"Aren't you gonna wish me?" I finally regained my confidence and folded my arms across my chest as he opened the bottle of whiskey.

He raised a brow at me and filled his glass. "Wish you for what? You dying or something? How wonderful. Happy dying." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

I gritted my teeth. "It's my birthday, asshole!"

He drank his whiskey and kept the bottle back inside the cabinet. And he rolled his eyes. "You finally turned eighteen?"

"I turned twenty three! Not eighteen." I reminded him, fighting down the urge to smother him.

He again rolled his eyes and started to walk away from me.

"Fucking asshole." I spat with his back towards me.

He stopped in his tracks and turning around, walked back to me with his jaw clenched tightly. "Watch your words, kid. I'm much elder than you, have some respect."

"I am not a kid and I won't respect you cause you fucking don't deserve it." I stated.

His eyes darkened with rage and he leaned closer. "Don't mess with me, Leona." His voice low, deep and threatening. "I might destroy your pretty, little company that you are going to take over soon."

I gave him a tight smile. "I would like to see you try, asshole. Father taught me everything, just because I am young that doesn't mean I will be able to break easily."

One side of his lips twisted up into a smirk. "Of course. A spoiled little brat, anything happens and you go crying to your father like a baby."

My body shook with anger. "I'm not a spoiled little brat. I studied hard for getting the company."

"I don't give a fuck about it. You are a spoiled little brat." Saying that, he stepped back and left before I could reply.

Aargh!

.

.

.

Dinner was served soon and we all settled around the huge dining table. And unfortunately for me, I had to sit beside Rafe. Thankfully, he didn't say anything and kept ignoring me.

Actually, no one was saying anything. Everyone looked to be in a deep thought. Which was weird because we all usually meet once every year and the dinner is filled with laughter.

This time it was different. I glanced at my father who sat beside mother, he had a frown on his forehead, his eyes focused on his food but he seemed to be ruminating and mother kept glancing at him in worry as if she knew what he was thinking.

Next I looked over to uncle Nelson, who was sitting there just like dad.

And I glanced around the table at uncle Matt, his wife, Addison, Harris, and Raven who were all silent. An awkward tension was in there.

I felt as if I am the only one who didn't know what was going on.

"What the fuck is happening?" I heard Rafe mutter beside me, loud enough to be heard only by me.

I glanced at him and shrugged my shoulders. I thought he might know.

Another minute passed by and Rafe raised his voice. "That's enough! Will anyone tell me what's going on here? Why are you all so silent? Shouldn't you all be talking and saying how much you all missed each other?" Irritation was visible in his tone.

Everyone paused eating and they all looked at Rafe, some with their eyes wide, some with neutral expressions like both of our fathers.

Father had a spoon paused half way to his mouth and he sighed and placed his spoon down. "We will have this discussion after dinner." His voice firm, leaving no place for argument.

It seemed Rafe wanted to object but decided against it and resumed eating his dinner, a bit hurriedly this time.

I did the same wanting to know what the hell is actually going on because whatever it is, I have a feeling it is not good.

Dinner ended soon and the dirty dishes were taken away and everyone just kept sitting in their places as we waited for that conversation to come up.

Rafe's eyes were lowered and he was constantly tapping his index finger against the table. Which started to irritate me soon.

"Can you stop it?", I snapped.

He paused and looked up at me and cocked his head slightly. "Stop what?"

"Tapping your fingers", I said in a duh tone.

He subtly rolled his eyes and continued tapping his fingers, irritating me further.

"Stop it", I hissed.

He didn't listen.

I placed my palm over his hand firmly, stopping him from tapping his finger. And his eyes snapped to me, filled with surprise.

He attempted to free his hand from under mine, his eyes on me the whole time but my grip was quite firm. And not easy to break free from.

"Remove your hand, kid", he said in a low voice, warning me.

"If only you promise to not tap your finger." I negotiated.

He gave me a blank look and his other hand wrapped around my wrist and yanked my hand away, freeing his.

"Spoiled little brat", he muttered underneath his breath.

"I'm not a spoiled little brat!"

"Leona." I heard father say, telling me to be silent.

I grumbled to myself and sat back straight as uncle Nelson took a seat beside dad, switching places with my mother. And uncle Matt too pulled his chair and placed it beside uncle Nelson. Everyone else were sitting where they were previously.

"So...", father spoke catching everyone's attention. "It's about the companies. Both the Wilbrose and the Andrews."

"Then why is everyone else also involved in this conversation?" Rafe interrupted glancing around the table at everyone who all had a sheepish look on their faces.

"I'm coming to that. Have patience, son", father replied to him.

"Fine", he muttered leaning back in his chair and resting his right elbow on the back of the chair.

I leaned forward, placing my forearms on the table, listening carefully.

Father glanced at uncle Nelson and Matt and they both nodded slightly and then only father continued.

"Abraam Enterprises has been our rivals for a very long time." Father started to speak, adjusting his spectacles. "It was started by Isaiah Abraam years back. He now has a son named Carl Abraam who has now being made the new CEO of the company."

"That much we all know, father", I spoke up.

Father gave me a stern expression which said that it would be better for me to shut up my mouth. Which I did instantly, gesturing him to continue.

He sighed deeply. "We happened to received this information somehow that Carl plans to merge the Abraam and Wilbrose Enterprises."

What?

I was baffled. "What?"

"Yes", father confirmed his statement. "And that's not the only thing. His main purpose is... getting Leona. He wants her."

My mouth fell open and from the corner of my eyes I saw Rafe's jaw clenching.

I remember a few meetings I attended along with father with the Abraam Enterprises where he was present and I hate the way he was looking at me, like a total creep.

"How dare he!" I got up angrily, slamming my fist on the table. "I'm not an item that he can buy."

"Calm down, Leona." Uncle Matt gestured me to sit down.

"No, uncle", I argued. "How can he say that?!"

"We are going to discuss that only. No one's agreeing with that moron. So, please sit down." He explained.

I took a deep breath and sat down, my jaw clenched.

"And besides that he plans to destroy our company", father said after a pause. "And Leona's safety is at risk." This time he seemed to be talking to Rafe more than me who was listening very carefully.

"And the solution is?", Rafe asked.

"Merging both the Wilbrose and Andrews Enterprises...", uncle Matt answered.

"And..." Uncle Matt didn't complete his sentence and he looked at uncle Nelson, gesturing him to complete the sentence.

When he didn't, father looked at him sternly, telling him to continue and he shook his head. "I'm not saying it! You say it."

"I'm not saying it either!" Uncle Matt argued.

"It's not that hard, Nelson." Father urged him. "Just say it."

"Why don't you say it?" He questioned to father. "I'm not saying it because I know what their reactions will be."

"Nelson, you better say it before I punch you hard. We don't have all day", uncle Matt spoke.

Why the hell they all are afraid to say it?

A few more threats and glares later... uncle Nelson dropped the biggest bomb in the entire history. "We have decided to merge the companies by getting you both married to each other."