Chapter 3

Dakota Lennix I walked into the hospital with 3 bodyguards behind me and everyone's eyes were on me. I hate that feeling but now all I want to do is to check on my grandpa. They led me to the VVIP room and I found my brother sitting outside. "Cameron!" I called him and he turned to me. He got up from his seat and smiled. He gave me a big hug and we both looked at each other before we decided to walk inside. He opened the door for me letting me go inside first. I saw my grandpa laying on the hospital bed completely pale and my heart broke. I thought he's joking but it's true. I walked to him right away and he smiled when he saw me. "Catherina.. I was waiting for you." He said and I held his hand tightly. I bursted crying right away and he patted my hand. "There there.. I'm still alive." He said and I glared at him. "Can you stop joking.. you're in this.. condition!" I was completely pissed. He chuckled weakly and I hugged him. "You'll get better soon, I believe that.." I said and he shook his head. "I won't get better, the doctor said that I only have 3-4 months left." He said and my eyes widened. I turned to my parents and my brother.. they all nodded their heads and I looked at them disbelief. "That's nonsense! I will talk to that doctor and-" "Catherine.. no.. please." My grandpa said and I kept crying and crying. "Stop crying please.." He said as he caressed my head. I cried a lot and he patted my hand until I started to calm down. "Catherine, you have to listen to me.." "What? Listen to what?" I asked as I wiped my tears. My brother gave me a box of tissues. "Before I die.. I wanna see you get married." He said and I turned to him disbelief. It was like he's joking again. "What?" "I.. I.. when I was young, I made a promise to my dear friend, Joseph. You know him right?" He asked me and I nodded. I remember Joseph.. okay. "He has a grandson and we made a promise to arrange marriage for the two of you." My eyes widened and I turned to my parents. They looked at me sadly and I turned my head back to my grandpa. He took a really deep breath with the help of the oxygen mask and he held my hand tightly. "His name is.. Jacob Williams." My grandpa said and I sighed. "Grandpa, I'm busy working.. I don't want to get married now. I still have my career and things that I want to achieve." I said because I hate the idea of arranged marriage. Besides I don't even know who Jacob William is. What if he's a psycho? Ugh! "Catherine, I want you to get married and take over Ashton company." "Grandpa, we have dad now. You don't have to worry." "But I need to assure you that you will take over the company. I know that you will keep avoiding this topic!" He said in an angry tone. "Grandpa, you don't understand. I love my job now and I don't want to get married to the guy that I don't know and besides.. I don't think I can love or like someone that you're setting me up with." I said seriously and he sighed. He suddenly started to breath weirdly.. My dad quickly called the doctor and my brother dragged me out from the room. I kept crying and crying seeing my grandpa like this. My brother hugged me tightly trying to calm me down when doctors and nurses rushed over to my grandpa's room. "Cameron! What should I do?" I cried and cried in his arms. "I'll just give up.. I'll let-" "No! You're not giving your dreams, Cammy!" I bursted angrily at him. He looked at me sadly. "I don't want you to get married to someone that you don't even know either. I mean.. grandpa is crazy! Arrange marriage? It's 21st century for godsakes!" Cameron said and he hugged me again. "Catherine, we need to talk." I turned to see my dad looking at me seriously. I nodded lightly and he gestured me to follow him. He brought me to the rooftop of that hospital and we stood side by side. The wind was blowing making my eyes dry right away. I turned to my dad wanting to say something but he gestured me to shut my mouth. "I think it's time for you to come back and take your place." He said and I crossed my arms in front of my chest. I closed my eyes feeling the wind hitting my face. "Until when will you be a secretary? You're supposed to be the boss not a secretary!" He bursted angrily. "I want to achieve something on my own, dad! I want to learn to stand on my own feet!" I answered him with a little bit of anger in it. "5 years is enough, Cathy! You still want to stay in New York after seeing your grandpa like this? You rarely come home and check on him! Imagine how sad he is!" He bursted angrily again. "You're going to resign and meet your future husband.." "I'm not going to get married." I hissed coldly. "If you don't, then come back and claim your throne. It's you or Cameron.. you two decide." He said and he left me alone. I closed my eyes and there's a lot of things going on in my mind right now. I love my job back in New York and I can't believe that I have to leave all of that behind. I can't believe this! I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated. "Catherine." I turned my head and my mom already opened her arms. I cried again and hugged her tightly. "Mom.. what should I do?" "I can't decide it for you, honey. You have to make the decisions." She said as she patted my back. "I love my job back in New York!" "I know.. but.. you know your grandpa won't get any better so.. I suggest you to come home." She said.