An escape

Trista’s point of view.

FIVE YEARS LATER.

“Over here.” I heard someone call and I turned to see my father standing with a familiar-looking man. I sighed. I had barely gotten out of the airport and my father was already playing a matchmaker.

“Hello, Father. It's been a while.” I said as I hugged him. He returned it almost perfunctory.

“Hey love, welcome back. This is—” he turned to the guy by his side but I stopped him from going further. I knew who the man was. He was the son of my father's best friend and his favorite suitor, who had been trying to set me up with since I broke up with Leonard but this was the height of it, coming to pick me up from the airport with him!

“I know who he is. The one man who you keep forcing on me, even when you clearly know that I'm not interested.”

“Trista?” He called my name in a reprimanding way, while trying to make eyes at me but I acted like I didn’t notice any of that.

“Can we go already, please? I had a really long flight.” I had already begun walking, forcing them to walk alongside to where the cars were packed.

We got in and he tried to get me to engage in conversation with the man but I tuned them out. That was one of the reasons why I stayed abroad for so long. To avoid this exact situation.

I had told my father I wanted to go study abroad to be a better successor for the company and they had brought in the excuse. I told him several times when he brought up getting married that I wasn't interested, not yet.

We pulled into the house soon after. I missed the house. It was one of the things I wished I had abroad. It was a home growing up for me and a fortress after I got divorced. I wanted my daughter to grow up there too, to experience the magic I felt growing up.

Immediately we alighted from the car, I tried to escape into my room but I couldn't outsmart my dad.

“Please show Chad around the house, it’s been a long while since he came over,” father instructed me, causing me to roll my eyes. He was doing it again.

“But dad, he is your guest, not mine. You should show him around instead,” I said as he headed toward his study.

“He came because of you, so be a nice host. Besides, the two of you have a lot of catching up to do. Just keep him company until I get back.”

I plopped into a chair, feeling my entire body ache. I frowned when I felt the chair dip beside me. I opened my eyes to see that he had sat down beside me. I didn't know his name, even though I was sure father had mentioned it a couple of times. This was enough to show that I had the least interest in him.

“There are several seats you can take, other than this one.” Those were the first words I had directed at him and gave me this creepy smile. I hated guys like him. I could already tell he was overconfident and used to everything being handed to him on a platter.

“I'm already on this one. Also, I’d love for us to have a proper conversation. You seem to be avoiding that. Not big on talking, are you? I’m Chad, by the way. You didn’t allow us to have a proper introduction earlier.”

Even his voice was annoying to me and I had to force myself not to visibly cringe. His mannerisms were way too below average.

“I've said all I have to say to my father. I'm sorry if he didn't pass the message to you but as I said earlier, I am not interested in you and I would love for you to respect my decision.”

I decided I had had enough of his company so I tried to stand up only to be pulled back onto the chair. I turned to him in shock, watching as his face went from friendly to stone-hard. He didn't even seem like the man who had walked in with my father.

“You love playing hard to get, don't you? Don't fight it, you'll end up with me either way.” He tried to touch my thighs and I was immediately repulsed.

“Are you crazy?” I asked as I forced his hand away, successfully standing up. He stood up too, trying to make me intimidated by his height. In heels, I stood about the same height as him so we could see eye to eye.

“Who's the crazy one here? You've been rejecting my advances for years. Who the fuck do you think you are?” His voice was rising and I could see the veins popping in his neck. I can't possibly deal with a man like him so proceeded to walk out.

For the second time, he pulled me back and this time pushed me against the wall. My head hit the wall with a loud thump and I groaned at the pain. “You don't get to fucking walk out of me, you bitch.”

I couldn't believe my father had picked out the worst of men for me to marry. Even while meeting for the first time, he was already behaving this way. What would happen if I got married to him? It would only take him days to kill me off.

“Let me go.” I ground out. I hated how vulnerable he was making me seem. I needed a bit of space so I could shove him off but he had my hands trapped.

“Not until you apologize for wanting to walk out on me.” My eyes blazed with anger. He expected me to apologize when he was the one who nearly killed me? He had to be joking.

“I will do that when hell freezes over.” I spat at him, which made him angrier. He moved to hit me but I was faster.

I kneed him in the balls, enjoying how he doubled up in pain.

“I'm going to fucking kill you.” He threatened and moved towards me but I was prepared. I raised my hand and slapped him, dazing him.

The noise must have attracted my father's attention as he walked out of his study looking confused. “What's going on here?”

He looked between Chad and me, trying to assess the situation.

“Why don't you ask your stupid guest,” I said as I stormed out of the room, slamming the doors behind me.