Forced To Love

Twenty-four-year-old Luke Rogers was finding life hard these days. His girlfriend, Sara, left for Paris on a two-year internship for a high-fashion modelling agency as a fashion consultant. They promised each other that they would resume their relationship when she returned to Cedar Hills. He owned a small ranch, cattle and a few horses. His house was a two-story house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large modern kitchen, and a cozy living room. Having lost his cattle to poisoning and the mortgage on the ranch coming due, he found himself in a financial bind. Since the bank in his hometown wouldn’t give him a loan, he went to the nearest city and took out a six-month loan from an investment company run by Mr. Martino. He was known for being heartless and a shrewd businessman. He grew up in Italy, but after escaping the mafia as a young man, he moved to America and started his new business.

Luke’s loan payment was due, and he didn’t have the money, so he decided to drive three hours into the city to see if he could get an extension. It was worth a try. All he had to do was explain that once he took his cattle to the auction, he would be able to pay the loan off in full and still have plenty of money left to start over. The problem was that the auction wasn’t for another four months.

He sat waiting patiently in Silvio’s office, arms crossed and ignoring the looks he was getting from the receptionist. She was eyeing him as though he were a piece of meat and wanted to devour him. It didn’t go unnoticed how she undid a couple of the buttons on her top, showing off her cleavage.

“You can go in now, Mr. Rogers,” she said as she leaned over her desk, letting him get a good look at her breasts.

“Thank you,” he said, removing his hat. He walked through the door she pointed to, shutting it behind him. He looked at the man behind the glass desk. Silvio Martino was in his mid-fifties, tall and lean, with dark hair turning grey.

“Mr. Rogers, take a seat,” he said, not bothering to look up as he signed some papers.

Sitting down, he crossed his right leg over his left, hat resting on his knee, and he waited for him to finish doing whatever it was he was busy doing.

“I take it you’re here to make your payment. You could have sent it from your bank,” Silvio said snarkily when he looked up. “I’m a busy man, Mr. Rogers. Why are you really here?”

“Well, Sir, things have been a bit rough the last few months. Most of the ranchers have lost many of their cattle to someone who poisoned the watering holes where the cattle drink, myself included. I’m here to ask for an extension on my loan. If you could give me a few months, I’ll be able to pay off the loan in total.”

Silvio sat back in his chair, stroking his chin as he stared at Luke. “I can’t do that, Mr. Rogers. I’m running a business here, not a charity camp.”

Luke wanted to punch the smug look off the man’s face. His hand clenched, he stared back. “I’m not asking for charity, just a few months to come up with the money.”

Sighing, Silvio picked up the phone. He spoke, telling the woman at the front desk to bring in Luke’s file.

A few minutes later, she walked in, smiled at Luke, dropped the file in front of her boss, and walked out. Opening the file, Silvio was quiet as he looked over the papers, checking out the figures and the pictures of Luke’s ranch.

“You have a nice piece of property here.” He shook his head and looked at Luke. “I’m sorry, Mr. Rogers, but if you can’t make the payment by Friday, I’m afraid you’ll lose your ranch. Thanks for coming in, but I suggest you try to find a way to make that payment.”

Luke jumped up and banged his fist on the desk. “How the hell do you expect me to come up with that kind of money by then?” Sweat formed on his forehead, and his body shook from anger. His head was spinning. “Surely you can wait a few short months. This is my home, my livelihood.”

“Sit down, Mr. Rogers. What if I told you there was a way to keep your ranch? A way of clearing your debt in full.” Silvio saw this as the perfect opportunity to address the problem that tormented him, a way to be free of it.

Luke's eyebrows furrowed together; he was so confused as he sat back down. “Just how would I do that? If you are suggesting anything illegal, you can forget it.”

The older man laughed. “No, nothing illegal. It says here you are a single man.”

“Yeah, what about it?”

Silvio leaned in closer to his desk, his eyes stared into Luke’s eyes. “I have a proposition for you, more of a business transaction if you’d rather think of it that way.”

“I’m listening,” Luke said, eyeing him suspiciously.

“If you agree to marry my daughter Sofia, I’ll tear up your loan.”

Luke couldn’t believe he heard what the man had said. He must be hearing things. What father in his right mind would offer up his own flesh and blood to a stranger? “Is this some kind of joke?” he asked.

“I assure you this is no joke,” Silvio answered with a smirk on his face.

“There is no way I’m going to marry your daughter.”

“Come now, Mr. Rogers, what’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal? My God, man, you’re asking me to marry a woman I’ve never met. What’s wrong with her that you would want to do this?” He could picture her as an overweight spinster who couldn’t find a husband on her own, so her father had to go to great lengths to find one for her.

“There’s nothing wrong with her.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“Look, Mr. Rogers, the reasons are my business. Are you in or not?” When he got no response, he carried on. “If it helps, I only expect you to stay married to her for one year; after that, you can divorce her.”

Luke thought about it. What was one year out of his life? Who cares what she looks like? It wasn’t as if it had to be a real marriage; he wouldn’t have to sleep with her. He could keep his ranch and maybe turn things around for himself. “If I say yes, it will be in name only, and I want a prenup, don’t want her taking half of what I got.”

Silvio nodded his head. “That can be arranged, and you, too, will have to sign one.” He stood, and they shook hands. “It’s a deal then.”

So what happens when the year is up? I mean to your daughter?”

“She’ll leave your home; where she goes is up to her.”

Just then, Silvio’s phone buzzed, and he answered it. “Good, send her in.” He looked back at Luke. “You’re about to meet your bride. Oh, and the wedding will take place next Friday. I’ll have all the papers drawn up by then.”

Luke swallowed the lump in his throat; he wasn’t expecting it to happen this quickly. Being a cowboy and a gentleman, he stood when the door opened, his jaw dropping when he saw the woman he had to marry. She was not what he was expecting. Sofia was of medium height, slender, with long, thick, almost-black hair. She was drop-dead gorgeous, wearing long black leather boots that went up past her knees. Wearing a short leather skirt and a white, low-cut blouse, he couldn’t help but notice what a great rack she had. Her nails were long and painted red, matching her lipstick. For a moment, he thought she was an angel, that is, until she spoke.

“Father, I didn’t know you had someone with you. I’ll come back later,” she said, her eyes looking Luke up and down with a hint of disgust. Though he was good-looking, he wore ripped jeans and a white T-shirt. He smelled of horse, and she wrinkled up her nose.

“No, I want you to stay,” her father said. “I’m glad you’re here. Meet Luke Rogers.”

Luke leaned over, holding out his hand to shake hers, which she didn’t offer. Right off, he realized that though she was beautiful, she was also a snob.

“Sofia, I have arranged for you to marry this young man next Friday.” Silvio sat back, waiting for the fireworks to start with a smug look on his face, and he didn’t have long to wait.

Jumping to her feet, she glared at her father, sweat formed above her eyebrows, and her body trembled ever so slightly. Her voice became high-pitched, arms flailing around, and she looked over at Luke. “No way I’m going to marry this loser, this, this country hick. You can’t make me,” she screeched at her father.

“SIT DOWN,” he yelled at her, slamming his fist on the desk. Turning to Luke, he handed him a piece of paper. “Be here at this address around two P.M. on Friday.”

“Look, sir, she obviously doesn’t want to marry me,” he said, ignoring the blazing fury in her eyes when she looked at him.

“You let me handle her,” Silvio barked. “Now leave me alone with my daughter.”

Luke glanced over at Sofia before walking out. Something was terribly wrong with those two, but he shrugged it off. After all, it had nothing to do with him; he made a deal and made it clear it would be temporary. Now the hard part would be telling people he was married, which he would take care of after the wedding. There was one person he had to tell: his longtime friend, Andy Ward.

As soon as they were alone, she whirled around, facing her father defiantly. “I won’t marry him, you can’t make me.”

“Sit your ass down,” he growled. “You listen to me, young lady. You will do as I say and marry that man.”

Sofia started crying, looking at him. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Silvio shook his head, knowing her tears were fake. She was a good actress and could turn the waterworks on and off at the drop of a hat.

“You know damn well why I’m doing this. Since your mother passed away four years ago, you’ve been running around wild, embarrassing me. I’m fed up with you, and just maybe married life will knock some of that behaviour out of you.”

Her tears instantly disappeared, and her lips curled up into a scowl. “So you think sending me to live in some God-forsaken place with a stranger is the right thing to do? Why not just send me away? Far away to another country.”

“You know why, Sofia. Now get out, go home and pack whatever you want to take with you. Here is my credit card, go buy a dress to get married in, something conservative and fitting for a wedding.”

Standing up, she took the card. “Why do you hate me?” she asked, but not receiving an answer, she turned and walked out.