The proposal

(Christian)

My name is Cristian Back, I'm 32 years old and I'm a Commercial Director at my father's companies.

I won't deny that I've always been a womanizer, and I've never gone more than a day without sex, and despite the rush of my work, I always had a number to call at the end of each shift.

Have I ever thought of marriage? No, that never crossed my mind, after all my parents had a failed and troubled marriage, and from a very early age I saw that that life was not for me, but everything changed suddenly, thanks to my dearest and self-centered father, and he forced me to change the direction of my own life, putting me in a marriage that is driving me crazy, and this hell has been going on for a year.

It all started with news that took everyone by surprise, my father had cancer in an advanced stage, and he needed to leave the companies in the hands of someone capable, the most appropriate would be me, since I would be his only heir, but the Things weren't as easy as I thought, and my dad put me on the edge of a big cliff.

Father: Come to the hospital please, I need to talk to you.

I went to the hospital worried, after all he was getting weaker every day, I just didn't know that my going there was a direct ticket to the asylum.

I looked at him weakened, with downcast eyes, and I saw that I was very close to losing him, and although our relationship was not one of the best, seeing him like that made me very bad.

Father: Sit down.

I sat in the armchair and waited for his words.

Father: I don't want you to think that I don't recognize your worth, because I do, and I know that you are extremely capable of taking care of my assets, but I need to leave with the certainty that I did what I promised my great friend Gil .

"Are you referring to his daughter?" Sara? Aren't you going to tell me you're thinking of putting her in charge? That girl doesn't even know how to communicate properly with people.

My disapproval of the facts was clear, and although Sara was my father's goddaughter, and he had promised to take care of her, I didn't think she deserved to take care of something that should rightfully be mine.

Father: You know Sara is my responsibility, I promised her father that she would have a good and happy life and that I would take care of her, and I refuse to die without being sure that I will fulfill that, and you are wrong when she says she doesn't know how to communicate with people, she's grown up, it's been many years since you last saw her, now she's a beautiful girl, she has a degree in human resources, she can speak three different languages and has so much capacity as you to be ahead of my companies.

— This is complete nonsense, a university degree and knowing how to speak other languages does not make someone qualified for a position of this magnitude.

Dad: You're right, but she can learn, and become as good as you, and I'll do my best to teach her before I leave, or...

He paused for a long time, and that was strange, after all my father was never a man of mincing words.

- Or what?

Father: Or you can marry her, be an excellent husband, give her a life like a princess, and ensure her happiness and safety.

I got up from the chair upset, I wasn't sure if that had really come from my father's mouth.

— You're not proposing such insanity to me, father, you can only be going crazy, I'm not going to marry that antisocial being, who looks more like a loved cat than a human being, I don't even know if she knows how to use language properly her.

Father: You will find out about this after Cristian's marriage, and these are my conditions for putting you in charge of everything, you will be equal owners of the companies, each with 50%, but only one will command them, and if you agree to marry with her, the chosen one will be you to be in charge of everything, but first you will need to sign a document, giving Sara all the rights of the companies, in case you file for divorce.

- What? This can only be a nightmare, you're just kidding aren't you dad? I can't believe I'll be forced to spend the rest of my life married to someone I've barely exchanged three words with in my entire life.

Father: These are my conditions Cristian, don't take too long to give me an answer, because I don't have much time, and if I die before that answer, it will be ahead of everything, because I already made my lawyers aware and a signed document with my decision if that happens.

"Don't you realize that by doing this, you'll be sacrificing my own happiness?" I'm her son, not her.

Dad: That's why I'm giving you the right to choose, you can be free, live the way you've always lived, full of women and intense nights out, you'll have a position at your height and help her in the company, but you won't be her CEO , for you to be the boss of everything, you will have to make this sacrifice, go home and think.

- I have a doubt.

Dad: Which one?

"What if I agree to marry her and she decides to separate from me?" Will I be able to continue being responsible for corporate decisions?

Father: If the decision to separate comes from her, she will continue to receive revenue from her shares, you will remain CEO,

And she can go on with her life, as long as she wasn't forced to make that decision.

"What do you mean thank you?"

Father: I know you very well my son, and I know that you will spare no effort to get her out of this marriage at lightning speed, but remember the rules, you will have to be a good husband, and...

— I know, father, and treating her like a princess and all that rubbish.

I said interrupting him.

The truth was that there was no way out for me, there was nothing that could get rid of it. Only her and the common sense I hoped internally she might have.

I left the hospital without really feeling the ground I was stepping on, and I had to sit on a bench to try to assimilate everything more clearly.

I knew it would go against everything I promised myself I would never experience, and marriage was at the top of my escape list.

“Egotistical, manipulative old man.

I spoke while trying not to freak out.