An Arranged Marriage

by C. M. Bryden

  It was one of the happiest times in their lives, even though, as they say in Yorkshire, ‘they’d nowt, not so much as a brass farthing between them!’

  The newlyweds didn’t care about possessions at the time, they weren’t important. They had their love for each other and they all knew one-day the men would be successful and then they would be able to have everything they’d ever desired!

  All this happened in the early seventies, at a time of unrest in the country, when unions dominated the factories and work became scarce throughout the land. Men had to work hard at whatever they could find to do, or live by their wits if they were to survive. Andrew and Ernest were just two men, amongst many thousands, young and old, struggling to make a living.

  Fortunately, they were both wily and resourceful enough to get by, as well as willing to do whatever it took to feed, in Ernest’s case, a growing brood of children. Jane hadn’t been born yet, but when she did arrive in the eighties Andrew and Isabel were well established and thriving.

  In their spare moments, Ernest and Andrew, would argue, good naturedly of course, as to which of them would be the first to become successful.

  It was, as Andrew quite rightly suspected, Ernest. Of the two of them he was the most aggressive and what his brains couldn’t get him his fists could.

  For a short time, he became a boxer in his spare time, anything to earn extra money: being the right height and build for boxing, it was just one of the many means he used for earning extra money to fund his dreams.

  Leah was always at his side and, whatever she lacked in bodily strength, she more than made up in business acumen; even so, she was more than glad when her husband’s brains began to earn him more money than his fists!

  Andrew meanwhile, had found his own niche in life. He’d gone into engineering, as an apprentice, where he’d learnt to use his hands, as well as his brains and, it wasn’t long after he’d qualified he’d been made the manager at the engineering company where he’d learnt his trade.

  The owner decided to retire a few years later and, not having sons to follow him into the business, he encouraged Andrew to buy the company. Andrew talked over this offer with Isabel who encouraged him to take on the business, helping him in the office for many years, in the meantime using the profits the business made over the next few years to help pay for the loan on the business, until, on the old man’s death, Andrew found himself inheriting the company with his outstanding debt cancelled. It was from this lucky start he went on to do even greater things with the business, until this present fiasco, when his world, because of his complacency, had imploded!

  In the meantime, the friendships between the two couples never wavered as Ernest and Andrew pursued each other up the ladder to success. It was only when they’d moved from out of the rented rooms and into their first houses their lives moved in different directions.

  Andrew and Isabel eventually moved south, as Andrew chased his engineering dreams, while Ernest stayed put in Yorkshire where he eventually became the owner of a small paper and printing company; buying up smaller companies whenever he could. It was not only his and Leah’s judicious management, but also Ernest’s innate ability to know a good thing when he saw it that was the biggest contributor to his success. Finally, he became the owner of a hugely successful conglomerate of companies that was to see him getting a knighthood several years later for his efforts. It was then, only a few years later, that he too finally moved away from his beloved Yorkshire to the south of England, to be near his new business headquarters, settling into a large house in a village, not far from where Andrew and Isabel lived.

  It was Ernest’s fond hope the nearness of Isabel, Leah’s old friend, would salve her heartache at having to leave her latest grandchild in Yorkshire but, the saddest part for Leah was, after having spent so many years missing her dearest friend, she became heartbroken, when only a year or so later, Isabel died and she found herself living in a part of England for which she had no affection with hardly any true friends.

  Andrew and Ernest were alike in many ways both being gruff Yorkshire men, more inclined to plain speaking; and very forthright in their views, both believing in calling a spade a spade.

  That Monday morning, after they’d exchanged pleasantries and greetings in Ernest’s light and airy sitting room, adjacent to his office, and their coffee cups had been refilled, they started to discuss Andrew’s problems at great length, in the only way they both knew; straight to the point, with no messing about and with no holds barred. Andrew began to relax as he told his old friend the whole story and, after a while Ernest knew everything there was to know about his old friend’s sorry predicament.

  Of course, Sir Ernest was absolutely shocked by what he’d learnt, understanding the damage brought about by an employee Andrew had once trusted, knowing from his own business that being diligent was a requirement needed to keep any company safe. He knew from his own experience it didn’t pay to be too trusting.

  Sir Ernest’s heart went out to his friend for, like Jane, he too believed it had been the death of Isabel that was probably the main reason for the perpetrator getting away with his crime. He was even more shocked when Andrew told him the scale of the theft. He sat and thought, his fingers entwined and steepled as he mulled over the problems facing his friend and the options he now faced. For a while, he said nothing, aware any advice he gave might not be in time to save the company, until he had a sudden thought as the name, Jake Adams, came into his mind.

  Jake Adams, he knew was definitely the ideal man. He was the one person who might possibly be able to save Andrew’s company. He was well known and trusted in the city as a “business angel”. Someone who not only bought into a company and financed it but managed it as well, working alongside the owners as the company was put back onto its feet.

  Apart from being known as a “business angel” there were other less complimentary names Jake Adams was called in the city, all impolite, but Sir Ernest chose not to disclose those to Andrew, who was very apprehensive of such a plan when Ernest first suggested it to him.

  Even if he could find someone else prepared to buy into the company, it would still mean he would lose control of it, but Sir Ernest begged him to stop and think, pleading with his old friend to act sensibly and not allow his emotions to determine his actions. This of course was easier said than done, but Andrew knew he needed someone prepared to invest a huge sum of money in his company and how many men were there in the country who would be prepared to risk such an amount without having the most say?

  Sir Ernest left Andrew alone to think over his proposition while he went into his office see to his own business. When he walked back into the room an hour later, he smiled and shook his head. Andrew had fallen asleep in the chair, exhaustion and worry finally taking their hold. It was some time before he woke, just as his old friend again walked back into the room.

  ‘Sorry about that! I must have dozed off.’ He said, not realising he’d slept for a couple of hours.

  ‘No problem, you looked as though you needed to sleep. I don’t suppose you’ve had many nights when you’ve slept properly since you found out you were in danger of losing all you’d worked for?’

  ‘Yes, you’re right, of course. It’s been a terrible time. And the worst part was telling Jane. Thank goodness she’s got a sensible head on her shoulders and understands business. I should have told her right from the beginning. But I didn’t. I suppose it was my pride getting in the way. Anyway, I’ve been thinking. Perhaps it would be a good idea if I contacted your man and had a few words with him?’

  ‘Leave it to me. I’ll give him a call and fix a day, time and place where you can meet.’

  With that, Sir Ernest went into his office, where Andrew could hear him on the phone making arrangements: within a few minutes, he’d been set up to meet the young businessman who he hoped would turn out to be his company’s saviour.

  The meeting wasn’t going to happen for another week as the young man had to
go to Italy on business, but he’d promised Sir Ernest he would call Andrew as soon as he returned home. This delay caused Andrew to worry, until he realised he wouldn’t be able to find anyone else before then in any case, so worrying seemed to be a pointless exercise.

  By the time he returned home, Jane had completed clearing out cupboards and drawers that hadn’t been touched since her mother’s death.

  She’d spent the day sorting through several boxes that held old albums of photographs and letters her mother had kept for years. It was therefore, paradoxically, both a happy time and yet a sad one, as she relived memories of her childhood, glad to have done it, as it was one chore her father had been putting off for the past year.

  Jane could see from the look on her father’s face when he arrived home that his state of mind had improved, even in such a short time. He seemed more optimistic and relaxed than earlier and even appeared to have lost some of the worry lines he’d had before his meeting with her godfather, perhaps it was the knowledge there was a young entrepreneur in the city, who, hopefully, was going to help him financially that had helped.

  Of course, Andrew failed to tell Jane any financial help he received would probably come with strings attached and, as it was her birthright he was fighting to get back, he felt a little ashamed at his deception, but he was prepared to do anything to keep the company afloat, not only for his own financial gain, but to keep his loyal workforce employed.

  The next morning, Jane went back to London, but only after eliciting a promise from her father that he would phone and let her know as soon as he’d talked to Jake Adams. She also told him, in no uncertain terms that she wanted to be involved in all negotiations regarding the business, to which Andrew reluctantly agreed, but which he knew was inevitable, given what had happened.

  A week later, Andrew finally met up for the first time with Jake Adams. It was a difficult first meeting, caused mainly by Andrew’s embarrassment at what he saw as him having to grovel for help from such a young man, but it only took a few minutes for Andrew to realise Jake Adams was indeed the brightest young man he’d ever encountered. More than that, Andrew liked him, as a man, and as a businessman, especially when Jake told him how he’d become so rich and in such a relatively short time. Andrew could see Sir Ernest Miles description of the young man had been spot on! He was a young man of steel and, even though he was young, he was also arrogant and no doubt very aggressive in his business dealings; not traits Andrew shared, but admired in others, it just wasn’t his way of working but, given he was the one whose company was nearly bankrupt, he thought perhaps he ought to acquire some of Jake Adams’s traits!

  Jake, thankfully, had grasped Andrew’s problems straightaway, putting him instantly at his ease as he told him honestly he would help and even how he intended to do this, if what he was proposing was acceptable to Andrew.

  Mainly, any decision he made to finance the company would see him in charge and that for the time being Andrew would be his second in command. That wasn’t how Andrew had envisaged the deal, but he had to think of the men who worked for him. They came first and, as Jake Adams was a busy man with many interests, abroad as well at home in Britain, Andrew didn’t think he would get too much interference. But this was only one part to how Jake Adams worked, as Andrew was to find out.

  The two men spent some considerable time discussing the pros and cons of how to make the company profitable again, and how much Jake was prepared to invest. When Andrew told him he wanted Jake to meet his daughter, as any decisions made must be ratified with her, Jake Adams said nothing; his raised eyebrows telling Andrew much more than any words could ever have said! Jake obviously didn’t like women in business, especially when it came to his deals!

  And so it came about that a couple of days later Jane went to meet the company’s saviour. It was at this meeting she’d walked into her father’s office and met Jake Adams for the first time. More importantly, had she known at the time, it was the day her destiny was finally revealed!

  That first meeting had been charged with sexual tension, hers, and Jake’s. Their sexual interest in each other apparent even to Andrew, but had left them both wondering just exactly what it was that had happened. They’d been mesmerised by each other; so much so, Jake found it hard to concentrate on the business deal he was about to broker with her father. His only thought; he had to escape from the confines of Andrew’s office and get his mind back onto business rather than his thoughts on how quickly he could get Jane Reynolds out of her sexy high heels and business suit, and into his bed!

  Once he’d left the office, with not only his briefcase bulging, Jane had nervously laughed, shaking her head in her bemusement. She couldn’t believe what had taken place, neither could she believe how her emotions had surfaced to such an extent that she’d wanted to race after Jake Adams and beg him to take her to bed and have his wicked way with her, right there and then!

  There was something about him her body instantly recognised, even though she was quite sure they’d never met before.

  ‘So what was that all about?’ she’d asked her father rather ruefully, trying to hide her embarrassment from him as the outer door closed and she’d heard Jake’s car purr into life.

  Unlike Jane, Andrew had been able to interpret Jake’s body language. It was a man thing!

  The minute Jane had walked into the room the young man seemed to have changed. Suddenly he’d gone from being a confident and arrogant businessman he’d first met, one able to make split second decisions, to one whose mind had suddenly turned to mush, and all because his daughter had appeared.

  Jane might not have known what had happened, but Andrew did. He’d seen a young man falling headlong into love. As regards to Jane’s feelings? He wasn’t a hundred per cent sure, but he thought she might have been struck by the same thunderbolt as Jake, except she hadn’t as yet realised it!

  That same evening, Jane’s best friend, Sylvie phoned, inviting Jane, and Andrew, to a nearby country house hotel for a celebratory meal. She was still recovering from the birth of her second child, but knowing Jane would have to be back in London the next day, and with her husband, Leo, returning to America a few days later, she’d decided Leo should take Jane and Andrew out for the meal.

  The hotel she’d chosen was noted for its superb cuisine and, that evening it had excelled, making a special evening even more so, especially for Andrew, who’d confessed to Jane and Leo he’d had no social life since he’d lost Isabel.

  They were just about to leave the hotel when Jane stumbled, and would have fallen, had Leo not grabbed hold of her waist and held onto her tightly, just as Jake Adams happened to walk into the foyer with a beautiful young woman hanging onto his arm.

  He looked stunned for a moment as he recognised Jane and then he saw Leo’s arm around her waist. He’d glowered at them both with such intensity it caused Jane to stifle a nervous laugh, his venomous look taking her by surprise. For a moment or two she was speechless. She was just about to speak and introduce Leo when, to her surprise, he walked away without giving her the chance, the expression on his face one she couldn’t fathom at all.

  Leo on the other hand was highly amused and intrigued by the incident, as he’d realised immediately the man, whoever he was, had been overcome with jealousy. Trying to hide his amusement, Leo wondered when Jane had met the man and, more to the point, who the devil was he?

  Andrew, of course, had missed meeting his young saviour, as he’d been in the cloakroom, but later, when Jane told him what had happened, he wasn’t as much in the dark as Jane thought, knowing only too well why Jake had acted as he did; it was jealousy at seeing her with another man! If only he’d told Jane then, that when a man falls in love he becomes territorial, no other male is allowed near the woman he’s selected as his mate! As for Jane, she was curious to know the name of the attractive young woman hanging onto Jake’s arm, no doubt hanging onto his every word?

  Neither Jake, nor Jane, slept well that evening. Both of them
consumed with thoughts of each other. Jake’s were jealous thoughts, of course. As for Jane, even her erotic dream and the passionate antics of her pirate who’d suddenly taken on an uncanny resemblance to Jake Adams, did little to uplift her spirits.

  The next morning, Jane returned to London, with her father’s promise he would be in touch ringing in her ears just as soon as he heard from Jake with his proposals for the business: she could do no more than kiss him goodbye at the station, with a feeling of impending doom inside her. Why, she asked herself, did she feel that way? She’d only met the wretched man once and for no more than five minutes, but in that short time he’d created havoc with her feelings. They’d had no conversation, and then, the second time she’d seen him, he’d looked at her with such loathing she wondered what she’d done to make him feel that way? Why did he dislike her so much? And, would his dislike of her have an adverse effect on her father’s business? Jane tried to shrug off her feelings, deciding when her father called with the date and time of the meeting, she would confront the arrogant Jake Adams, face to face, and ask him to explain just exactly what his problem was?

  Jake, in the meantime, knew only too well what his problem was, but how to solve it was another matter. He knew he was emotionally cold! His emotions locked inside him and had been, ever since his parents had divorced when he’d been eight years old and he’d been separated from his mother.

  He’d been sent away to a boarding school, as his father had demanded; not prepared for any other man who might happen to fall in love with his ex-wife, to rear his son!

  Boarding schools are alien environments for all children, but especially for a sensitive and loving little boy like Jake; strangely enough, he survived his Spartan schooling, and years later even he agreed his upbringing and education was probably responsible for his cold-hearted personality. Over the years, he’d learnt to keep his emotions under control, hiding them away as he aged and the more successful he’d become.