THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM

THEY HATE HIM

The house was far more beautiful than Xaden expected. He was used to living in a modest country home, not a house like this.There was a Japanese painting hung on one side of the room. Xaden recognized the painting. He had seen one back at home though he wasn't allowed to touch or go near grandfather's stuff. He came across the painting when he was trying to clean up the store room one time. He didn't realize that his eyes were still fixated on the painting until Trevor tapped him on his shoulder and asked if he was okay.

“I'm fine, I'm fine. I just got lost in the painting. My Grandfather has one exactly like it."

Trevor smiled. "That was my father's favorite painting. Come along, let me show you where you'll be staying for the meantime."

Xaden followed suit. He was tempted to ask where Bianca was but he stopped himself before he even muttered a word. He understood why she was mean to him earlier. Suddenly a stranger appears on your doorstep claiming to be your father's friend's grandchild and also claims to be the one to marry your daughter, that could make anybody mad and furious. He would apologize to her later. The room was dark and also filled with cobwebs and dust. Trevor sniffled and ushered Xaden in but couldn't go in any further because of the musty room. 

"You'll stay here for the meantime. I know it's not as pretty as the rest but it is comfy. Probably later, we'll arrange a better place for you. Just make yourself at home for now."

Xaden nodded and dragged his stuff inside the room. Trevor was right. The room wasn't pretty. The walls were all paint-washed and the ceiling fan looked like it hadn't been operated in years. Meanwhile the rest of the house had air conditioning. He dropped his bag on the worn-out table opposite the bed and sat on the bed. As he did that a cloud of dust emerged from the bed covers and had Xaden coughing. He had no idea that he had been taken to the abandoned servant’s quarters to live in instead of being given one of the guest rooms. Even the staff of the house stayed in better rooms than this.

He stood up from the bed, held his nose and went out of the room. Xaden wondered where everyone was. Luckily, he met one of the servants who was just on his way to serve Xaden some food. 

"Do you know where I can find a brush or vacuum cleaner or anything of that sort to clean the room?"

The servant frowned. "Madame Bianca told me not to speak to you or listen to your orders."

Xaden folded his arms." I just need to clean the room, that's all. Plus there was no way I would eat in a dusty room."

The servant ignored him and walked past him to drop the food on the table. 

Xaden watched him go down the hallway. That was weird. Why was everyone treating him like he was an outcast or something?

He found the vacuum cleaner in one of the store rooms after thirty minutes of wandering aimlessly and hurriedly took it back to the room given to him. In about an hour, he was done with cleaning the room. Now, he could sleep in here. He unpacked his bags, hung his clothes in the worn-out wardrobe. Once he was done, it was time to replenish the energy he had used up. Looking down at the tray of food, he was disappointed. The food didn’t even look edible, it looked like a mix of leftovers of different meals thrown together. But he had no other choice. He ate up and once he was done eating, he fell to the bed and soon he was asleep. He was that tired. 

"You're still sleeping? Geez, wake up. They are having a meeting in the dining room and you’re late." One of the servants said and looked at him with disgust. 

Xaden struggled to open his eyes. Was it morning already? How long was he asleep? He stood up and stretched his arms. He then rubbed his eyes and walked down the hallway. He could hear the hushed voices in the dining room. Everyone seemed to be there. Xaden was excited to meet them but deep down, he had a feeling that they wouldn't feel the same way.

 He then took a deep breath and walked into the dinning room. Suddenly everyone stopped talking. Trevor sat at the end of the table. 

Bianca was the last to join the table. She sat down next to Ashley.

"I’m sure you all are wondering why we called you guys here. Xaden, please stand." Trevor spoke.

Xaden stood up abruptly. 

"This is Xaden. He’s the son of father's old friend. Xaden, meet the family. That’s Jay, Connor and Catherine, my children. Ashley, Emma and Mason, my sister’s children."

"Hi everyone." Xaden waved.

Nobody paid any attention to him. Jay was already arguing with Connor who was trying to pour the whole bottle of ketchup on his plate. Catherine and Emma were chattering and talking about some boy named David, Mason looked bored out of his mind and Ashley's eyes were on her phone. Xaden couldn't get a good look at her face. But he liked her auburn hair. It was carefully detailed and all packed up into a bun and there were few strands dangling freely on her face. He was tempted to help her push them behind her ear but he knew what would happen if he did that when she didn’t really know who he was. She was obviously the oldest female, and even if he couldn’t tell that from her looks, he was told by his Grandfather that he was to marry the Miller daughter named Ashley.

Trevor slammed his hands on the table and he got everyone's attention. 

"Why are you guys misbehaving in front of Xaden? He’s our guest."

"No no, it's all fine, sir. They're busy. " Xaden said as he sat back. He didn’t want to cause any trouble.

"Who are you wearing?" Connor asked with a piece of turkey in his mouth. 

Xaden was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Jay laughed. "He doesn't understand what you said, Con." And to Xaden, he said, “He’s asking who designed your clothes, who your fashion inspo was? Because you looked like you picked your clothes from a garage sale or a dumpster. In other words, you look poor."

“Oh. Xaden said as the others started laughing except Ashley who was still on her phone.

The laughing got Ashley's attention. She dropped her phone on the table and started eating. Xaden was mesmerized. She was prettier than grandfather's description. She had the most wonderful green eyes he had ever seen. But she had a disgusted look on her face but she wasn't looking at the food but at him. 

"Uhm, is there something wrong?" He muttered.

"They’re right. You look disgusting. Did you even have a bath before coming here? I can see dust on your hair.”

Jay and Connor snickered. Catherine rolled her eyes. Xaden could see Bianca smiling from the corner of his eyes. 

"I had to clean the room that was given to me, it was very dusty."

“So you’re basically just a servant?” Ashley asked and then turned to her mother.

“So this is who Grandfather wants me to marry? A nobody and a pathetic excuse for a human being? How disgusting.”

Xaden had doubts now. Would this family ever accept him?

“Bianca, please talk to Ashley. She needs to understand that she doesn’t have a choice in this.” Trevor said and the two women left the dining room.

"Ashley, would you calm down?" Bianca said as she got to her daughter’s room. 

Ashley stopped pacing and fell into her bed. "But Mom, why? Why would you let me marry that piece of trash? Just look at him, his clothes and everything…"

Bianca cut in. "That's enough. You can insult him all day but you'd still end up with him. Let me tell you something. There are so many sacrifices me and your uncle made before we could get to this position and now the ball's in your court and it's time for you to make your own sacrifice for the family."

Ashley furrowed her brows. "As far as I can remember, Aunt Roberta didn't show up as a raggedy princess when she married Uncle Trevor nor did Dad propose to you in his dusty clothes, Mom."

Bianca frowned. "That's not what I meant, Ashley. I meant that me and your Uncle Trevor did things against our own free will and that was how we got all these things. The money, the power and influence. And now it's your turn now to sacrifice for the future."

"Oh. So wait, if I marry Xaden, I can inherit all my share of grandfather's properties?"

"Yes. Same with the rest of us. That’s why I agreed to this. Let’s all just go with it for now, and later we can get him out of our lives for good.”

Ashley gasped. "Mom! Are you saying we should kill him?" She whispered.