Emilia loosened the ribbon on her hair and let it fall on her neck. She was looking so tired that evening. She was about to slump on her bed, when she heard a knock.

"Jason," she said to herself and walked out. He stood at the doorpost smiling at her.

"What's it with you looking so excited today? Has the marriage been canceled?" she asked, walking inside. He smiled and followed behind.

"Baby guess what," he said and grabbed her waist.

"What?" she asked, looking at him surprised. "I'm not good at guessing," she said. He smiled and pecked her on the cheek.

"I have something important to tell you, let's sit down," he said. They both sat down facing each other on the sofa.

"It's a secret and I don't want anybody to know about this," he said with a serious tone

"What, you're making me anxious," she said. He laughed and looked at her

"Have you ever wondered who the real owners of TJSONS are?" he asked and she looked at him surprised.

"Yeah, but I heard it's ownership is hidden. It's such a big company and the last time I checked, it's going global. And I heard Billions of naira are being made each year from the steel company" she said

"Well baby, My Dad and Mr Thompson are the founders of TJSONS, '' he said.

"Wow! Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed and stood up excitedly. "Pinch me baby pinch me, '' she said excitedly.

"Yes baby, just sit down," he urged and She sat down still smiling excitedly.

"Dad wants to hand it over to me," he announced

"Wow!!!!! this is amazing, o my gosh!" she screamed in ecstasy and hugged him

"We're gonna be billionaires in no due time baby," she said happily

"But we've got a problem," he said and she frowned. "What?" she asked

"It's Madison. The company is only going to be mine if I get married to her so she would have a share too and we will both run it together," he said.

Emilia sighed. She took in a deep breath and looked away.

"So what are we gonna do then?" she asked

"I don't even know baby" he said

"We can't lose TJSONS," she said

"So you want me to get married to her?" he asked and She kept mute.

"Baby I think I have enough already and I don't really need it, cause I love you and I want to marry you" he said

"But what about the company? You will lose it," she said sadly

"You matter more to me than that," he said, placing a hand on her cheek.

"Yeah but....." she tried to speak and he plunged his lips into hers at once. After kissing for a moment, she broke free.

"You'll have to speak to Madison," she said.

"Yeah I will, but I need to attend to my baby first,'' he said and kissed her again.

**

Madison paced around the room as she couldn't believe what Jason told her on the phone about TJSONS. She walked out of the room to her dad's room. The door was locked and she knocked. It took him some minutes before he opened the door.

"What is it, daughter? it's late already," he said grumpily

"I can't sleep daddy, I want to have a word with you," she said

"Ok" he said and walked out.

They both went to the balcony and sat on the couch facing each other.

"I'm sorry for waking you up," she said smiling

"I wasn't sleeping, I was busy talking to some important people about your marriage," he said, looking at his phone which he was busy operating

"Hmm," she muttered. "Dad, why didn't you tell me about TJSONS?" she asked.

He looked at her and removed the spectacle he was wearing.

"Jason told you?" He asked

"Yeah he told me," she replied.

Mr Thompson smiled at his daughter.

"So now you know," he said and turned away with a smile on his lips

"But you should have told me," she protested

"I was planning to tell you soon but only after your marriage because, you are gonna be the next CEO of TJSONS" he announced and she laughed heartily

"Dad, that's such a huge responsibility, I need to prepare for it," she said, smiling

"Hmm, I know how intelligent you are baby, you don't have to prepare for anything, '' he said and she laughed again.

"But I can't get married to Jason dad," she said

"Then you're gonna marry an intruder who might end up ruining everything I've ever worked hard to achieve?" he asked

"Dad, trust me. Dave is intelligent, he is hard working and knows how to manage a company better. Jason's just a dullard. He doesn't have a single thing in his head. Dave would never bring the company down dad, trust me" she said appealingly

He laughed and looked at her.

"My dear, I'm not talking about intelligence, I'm talking about a legacy here. Dave doesn't know a single thing about us. He's an outsider. He won't be able to value our hard work just like Jason would do. Jason wouldn't want to let us down, he would want to work for the future of our families and keep the legacy going dear,"

"Dad, Please take my feelings into consideration," she pleaded.

"Enough daughter! We are done talking about this!! he said angrily and stood up.

"Keep this a secret,. Even your siblings don't have to know,'' he said and walked out. She stood up and placed a palm on her head. She felt so confused more than ever before.

"I should let Dave know" she said to herself and picked up her phone to call him

**

The next morning, she hurriedly got dressed and went out of the mansion to see Dave at his hotel room.

"Hey love," he said happily and kissed her. She giggled and wrapped her hands around his neck.

"I miss you," she said smiling

"Me too," he said and plunged his lips into her. They were locked in a moment for some minutes before she broke free.

"I want us to talk about this whole thing love," she said looking into his eyes

"Hmm, I'm just so confused I mean TJSONS is an offer one cannot afford to lose," he said

"But what about us?" she asked. He kept mute for some seconds

"Call Jason" he said at once.

**

Not long, Jason and Emilia arrived at the hotel where Dave was with Madison. They met Dave and Madison sitting at the pool side laughing together.

Jason sighed as he approached them.

"Hey guys," Dave said excitedly and stood up to meet them,

"Hey man," Jason said and they both shook hands

Madison waved at Emilia who waved back in return and sat close to Jason. They ordered some drinks to refresh themselves.

"So what's the plan now?" Jason asked as he sipped his wine

"I don't think the elope plan's gonna work anymore," Dave said.

"Yeah.... me too" Emilia added

"So what are you guys saying? That we should get married?" Jason asked angrily

"Hell no but...." Dave tried to speak

"But what love? if we don't elope then am gonna marry him.." she said looking at him

"There is no time left, we have less than the three weeks given to us,'' Jason said.

Not long, Alex walked in majestically. She was dressed in a pink jumpsuit. She wore a black sunglasses and a black hat to match.

"You invited her?" Jason asked, looking at Madison

"Yeah, she's a part of the family," she replied.

"Hey guys" she said to everyone

"Hi Alex," Emilia greeted, smiling.

"You're getting fat," Jason said jokingly

"She's got some life forming in there, '' Madison said and they all laughed. She smiled and sat down.

"So what are we gonna do now? Because I'm tired of this whole shit.." Emilia said tiredly

"Oh about the marriage saga?" Alex asked, removing her sunglasses

"Yeah we can't get married and we can't lose the company either," Jason said

"You can't serve two masters remember? You'll have to stick to one and leave the other. The case is simple, choose between love and money, " Alex opined and glanced at each one of them. They all kept silent

"She's right. We have to choose, and I've chosen love. So I stick to the elope plan, '' Jason said.

"What! baby?" Emilia shrugged looking at him disgustingly

"I thought you also stuck to the plan then?" Alex asked, looking at her

"Yeah... but…"

"Ok I get it, What about you Dave?" Alex asked

"Um… I'm confused.." he said, scratching his head

"Ok, so you guys don't want to elope again. Then let the marriage begin, " Alex said as she placed both arms akimbo

"That's not gonna work," Madison refuted

"So you wanna elope because of love? what happens to the responsibilities entrusted to you both then? Your parents trusted you that's the reason they left such responsibilities to you and you just gonna let them down?" Alex asked

"Hmm....." Madison said and sighed. They all kept silent for almost ten seconds with no one ready to speak. Alex glanced at their faces as she sipped her wine slowly. Just then, she exclaimed" I have a plan"!!!!!!