Signed Without Love

Jackson Green Anderson, or Jay Anderson as most preferred to call him, sat alone in his office with the city spread beneath the tall glass windows. At twenty-one, he was the CEO of Anderson Global Holdings, one of the country’s biggest investment and technology companies. Many said the position came too early, but Jay had grown into it quickly. Feared by competitors and admired by the media, he had learned to carry it well. His laptop was open, numbers filling the screen, but he wasn’t seeing any of it. A cup of coffee sat untouched across the room beside a plate of ginger cookies, his favorite. His thoughts drifted back to the day before. The smell of antiseptic still lingered. The steady beeping of machines. His mother, Olivia, lay on the hospital bed, thinner than he remembered, tubes running into her arm, her breathing slow and careful. He had tried to smile when he entered. She smiled back, weak but proud. Olivia loved Jay deeply because he was her only child. “Jay,” she had said softly, patting the space beside her. He sat and held her hand. It felt lighter than it should have. The doctors had been honest. Her heart was failing. Complications had set in. Time was short. They both knew it, even if they didn’t say it. She looked at him for a long moment before speaking. “I don’t have much time. I’ve lived a good life. I only have one wish left.” Jay felt his chest tighten. He already knew what was coming. “I want to see you married,” she said. “I want to know you won’t be alone. I want to hold my grandchild, even if it’s only once.” He tried to protest, saying he was busy, that marriage couldn’t be rushed. “Life doesn’t wait, my son. Please do this for me.” The memory faded, leaving a dull ache in his chest. Back in the present, Jay leaned back and closed his eyes. Marriage, an heir, a wife chosen from a list. It sounded more like a deal than a life. Love had not been kind to him. He remembered trust given too freely, promises made and broken, everything falling apart when he least expected it. Since then, he had built walls around his heart. Now he was being asked to tear them down. A knock broke his thoughts. “Come in,” he said. The door opened and Mark walked in. Mark Anderson, his cousin and personal assistant, had been by his side since the company expanded. He handled what Jay didn’t have time or patience for. “You zoned out again,” Mark said with a grin. “We need to leave if we’re going to make it back for the next meeting.” Jay stood and picked up his jacket. “How many today?” he asked. “Five blind dates,” Mark replied, checking his tablet. “Your mom approved every name herself.” Jay sighed. “Of course she did.” They left the office together. At Daria’s desk, she was bent over files, flipping pages quickly. She looked up immediately when he passed. “Good morning, sir,” she said with a bright smile. “Entries are coming in for my position. Should I shortlist the best CVs for when you return?” He didn’t answer and walked on. In the elevator, he remembered her words from days ago. She had said she wanted to resign to focus on herself and her love life. He had tried to change her mind, but she refused. It had taken him years to adjust to her presence, and they had worked together for three years. He didn’t want her to leave, but he couldn’t stop her. They reached the lobby, where people greeted him respectfully, some bowing slightly. His driver opened the car door. The ride was quiet. By the time they reached the restaurant, he already knew he disliked all five women waiting for him. One by one, he went through the dates, feigning interest, asking questions, smiling when necessary, and excusing himself quickly. By the fifth, he was exhausted and relieved it was over. That evening, back in his office, he opened the folder of job entries. He scanned quickly before one name caught his attention. Arielle Mark Laurent. Twenty years old, fresh graduate in Business Administration with a focus on corporate management. A strong fit for his company’s work in investments and global partnerships. She seemed grounded, capable, not flashy. Something about her stood out. He noticed another entry similar, though Arielle’s was slightly different in a good way. He leaned back and rubbed his temples. “Why does everything have to be a choice now?” He sank deeper into his chair. Daria’s resignation, the job entries, his mother’s failing health, marriage, and the five miserable dates all crowded his mind at once. It felt as though he was slowly losing control of everything. But he couldn’t let his mother down. “I have to make her happy,” he told himself. “I have to do what she wants before she leaves this earth.” With that determination, he grabbed his jacket and left the office. Little did he know that one blind date would change everything.