The CEO's Naughty Curvy Girl

Secrets...

POV Kais's:

"Your father has signed a contract where our marriage will grant him major control over his companies in California. And, in exchange, a considerable boost to my stake in Chicago," Elton says neutrally, as if I were nothing more than a withered branch on a tree. Or someone with absolutely no say in the matter.

"I wasn't asked if I wanted to marry you, Mr. Elton," I say, my voice laced with fire.

"Do you really find me that distasteful, Kais?" Elton asks with far too much self-assurance. He knows damn well how sexy and handsome he is, and it irritates me to no end.

"Enough with the childishness, Kais. I’m just securing your future as best I can. Stop the tantrum; the media is starting to arrive, and so is your mother," my father hisses, flashing his well-rehearsed smile.

Just as I’m about to snap back, I see the slender, elegant silhouette of my mother—the all-important Kristen Pritzker—wearing a skin-tight, sand-colored dress that fits her like a glove, of course. I’ll never be like her.

Beside her are my older sister, Kristina, her husband Liam, and my brother Zoe. They all look flawless. My brother carries a bouquet of flowers as he approaches me. They’re all heading my way.

Suddenly, the place swarms with paparazzi; flashes begin to flood our faces. My father puts on an act, appearing uncomfortable. But of course, it was all planned—a low-class public spectacle for the daughter they’ve always considered inferior...

The most pathetic, press-fueled stunt to make it clear that I am marrying Elton McMillan. To show that I did manage to find an important husband and that I won't bring shame to the Pritzkers. Is that what this is about?

Yes, they want to make it look like "the fat girl" is winning. Humiliating myself. With a lie.

Could they not have gone any slower?

Why is my father doing this to me?

I wouldn't be surprised if this was my mother’s doing; she has always despised me for who I am. She’s made it clear since I was a child: I would never be like Kristina, or her precious niece, Dasha.

"I need to leave, Dad. Please," I whisper to my father, while everyone else smiles discreetly for the cameras, searching for their best angles.

Elton’s large, strong hands find my waist, catching me off guard with the firmness of his grip. My brain short-circuits at his touch—having him so close, noticing how good he smells, how masculine he is... It makes me so nervous.

"Smile a little, Kais," Elton requests, gently tilting my chin up in a gesture that’s almost imperceptible to the others—except for Freddy, who watches us from the corner of his eye while trying to focus on his conversation with my brother, Zoe.

I’m unable to respond as Elton brings his lips to mine, leaving me stunned. It’s not an intense or passionate kiss, but the fact that he... this stranger, this extremely handsome man... dares to kiss me... in front of my family and so many press figures...

Isn't he embarrassed to be seen kissing me?

My mother watches the scene, covering her mouth as she laughs. But it isn't the laugh of a mother happy that her daughter just got engaged.

It’s the laugh of a mother mocking her own freak of a creation.

What did I ever do to deserve such contempt?

"Get me out of here. I’m begging you," I say, this time directed at Elton, since my father has decided to ignore me.

"Fine. I think the show is over for today," Elton replies, taking my hand again.

I nod reluctantly. I never dreamed the day I got engaged would be a tacky media circus.

I believed in something private, romantic, intimate. Not an imposition in a hotel mall with a stranger, leaking the news to the press just to prove that it’s "real" that someone actually agreed to be my husband.

"See you tonight at the hotel reception to celebrate, brother," Elton adds, speaking only to Freddy, who gives me a look filled with secondhand embarrassment.

My eyes feel heavy, as if they can't bear the weight of what’s happening... My first kiss just happened, in front of a crowd, with my father’s business partner.

Elton leads me by the hand to one of the private lounges in the mall. I feel like I'm suffocating; he walks so fast I can barely keep up.

"I'm sorry, Kais, but I have to be honest with you. I’m not doing this for fun; I’m in the same position as you. I don’t like you—at all—so I hope you never get any illusions about there being something between us. The one I actually like is Dasha, your cousin. I would never be with a woman like you... no offense," Elton drops the words with total confidence, making my entire body falter.

This day couldn't get any worse. Not only have I been forced into a humiliating marriage, but the man I'm supposed to marry loves the woman who has spent her whole life trying to make me look like an i***t.

"I’m not marrying you, Elton McMillan," I add with what little dignity I have left.

"You will. If you don't, your brother is dead. And you must have realized by now that I’m not a man who jokes around. My marriage to you means a lot, Kais. Because of this, my father is going to sign over all his property in Chicago to me, and I’m currently broke. Your father trusts me because he thinks his little princess will be cared for and in love, and won't need him anymore," Elton sneers.

Oh my God, a f*****g mobster? Is that what I should call someone who threatens to kill my brother if I don't fulfill his whim?

The sensible part of me feels like this is pure s**t. That I need to have a serious talk with my father and avoid being married off to this thug. Meanwhile, the senseless, hormonal, immature part of me is only thinking about the fact that I’ll be the wife of this hunk, even if it’s a farce... It’ll be the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in my entire life.

"Kais, take it easy. We’ll be married, but you can do it with whoever you want. And I can be with whoever I want. We’ll just respect each other publicly for the duration of the marriage. In five years, I plan to set you free, and you can blame me for the divorce. I told you, I’m in love with Dasha," Elton says, his tone softening slightly.

"I accept, Mr. McMillan," I say without even thinking.

Was I really that desperate for attention that I just accepted a marriage to a man who will treat me like everyone else does?

Why does my dad want me married so badly?

"It’s best if we save ourselves the trouble; your cooperation will save you a lot," Elton adds, nodding toward me.

"But there are a few things I’d like to ask of you..." I say softly, the words trembling in my mouth. "I’d like to join the family business. I’m a graduate and I’m prepared; you can verify that. I want to have an active role. And I want there to be no secrets between us," I blurt out, without waiting for his approval.

"Oh, you’re a little striver, aren't you, Kais? I have a feeling we could be good friends," Elton adds. Just hearing him call me a "little striver" made my panties soak.

"I guess." It’s all I can say.

"Kais, are you sure you don't want any secrets between us?" Elton asks in a low voice.

"Yes."

"Even if the secret I’m keeping is very painful?" he asks again, and my heart starts thumping against my ribs.

"Yes."

"Kais, the reason your father decided I should be your husband is because he is very sick. Very. And he wants you to have someone to look after you when he’s gone," Elton says gently, adopting a tone I don't even know how to interpret.

"You're lying to me, you piece of s**t," I snap without thinking.

"No, Kais, let’s leave the swearing out of this. Don't be a little foul-mouth," he adds, stepping toward me, flooding my senses with his fragrance. "I've tried to be honest with you. Your father’s life expectancy isn't very long. And I’m aware your mother is a b***h to you, so he prefers you be away... So, I plan to take you to California with me for a while." Elton is standing too close for me to process his confession.

"Are you telling me my father is going to die?" I ask, feeling tears slide down my cheeks.

Elton approaches me gently, his arms pulling me in and resting my head against his chest. The height difference between us is staggering.

"I'm sorry, Kais," Elton says softly.

"But... why... Dad..." I sob.

"Kais, you have to be strong. Your father has cancer, and it’s terminal. Your mother doesn't know; no one knows. I found out because he’s been fond of me since I was a kid, and I’ve been accompanying him to his treatments a few times," Elton says, avoiding my gaze.

How is it that my father trusts a stranger more than my own brother?

I know Zoe is withdrawn and different, but he’s a good person. He’s the only one in the family who treats me like a human being, to be honest.

Why didn't my father tell me?

Elton is a cold and ruthless man; his eyes show it... there is no kindness in them, no real empathy.

Does my dad really want me to become the wife of my cousin’s lover?

Why is he doing this to me?