The Billionaire's Substitute Wife

Khloe’s POV “Dad! I think the best idea is to sell some of our branches and pay off the debts,” I said. “We took a big hit…” “Never. Selling my company is not an option,” my dad cut in abruptly. “Dad, we would only be selling some of our branches. We can rebuild it later after we've cleared our debts,” I said calmly. “Khloe! I said no!” he screamed. I opened my mouth but closed it immediately. McKay Enterprises is my family’s legacy. My grandfather built it from nothing, and my dad expanded it. It was more than a company. It was our name and pride. Growing up, it also became a competition between me and Olivia, my elder sister. In the end, my dad chose her. Not because she was better, but because she was the eldest. And now, we were paying for it. The Torredas deal was a reckless move she insisted on. I warned them, but no one listened. Now the company was drowning, and I was the one trying to keep it afloat. Being CEO never changed Olivia. If anything, it made her worse. All she did was attend the latest parties, flaunt expensive clothes, and drink under the disguise of “networking.” Even the board had complained more than once, but my dad always shut it down. He never held her accountable. “As the CFO, I’m advising this approach because it buys us some time. Olivia did…” I trailed off. The door opened. Olivia walked in like she owned the room, heels sharp against the marble floor, sunglasses still on despite being indoors. I shook my head. Who wears glasses indoors? I exhaled slowly, already tired of her presence. “Great,” I muttered and rolled my eyes. “Olivia did what, Khloe?” she asked, walking toward me. The smell of alcohol hit me. I folded my arms. “You’ve been drinking again, haven’t you?” I scoffed. “I was just about to talk about how you ruined the company with your bad judgment.” “You have some audacity,” she said, removing her glasses. “You think everyone is as boring as you are. Isn’t it your job as the CFO to manage our finances?” I clenched my fist. “I told you the Torredas deal was a bad one, didn’t I?” I grinned. “In case you were too dumb to see it, I'm doing my job.” “On what planet do you think you can talk to me that way?” she smirked. “You sucking up to Dad didn’t get you the company. Now you’re just bitter.” “Enough!” my dad shouted, slamming the table. “You are both my daughters, and you are both responsible for this company! I didn’t call you here so you can argue as always.” The room went silent. Olivia and I shot each other death stares, and we both sat down. “Our company has taken a major hit,” my dad said, lowering his voice. “And that's your fault, Olivia, so it's only fair that you fix it,” he said, facing her. I smirked. Finally, dad was holding her responsible for her mistakes. “Dad, what’s that supposed to mean?” Olivia asked. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I have spoken to a few people who could invest in our company, and one of them has agreed to help us. The Holloway Enterprise. However, they want something in return.” I gasped. “Holloway Enterprise?” I said, shocked. My stomach dropped. I had only ever heard of them in magazines and Forbes lists. “That’s a multi-billionaire company. How did…” “Dad, that’s great,” Olivia cut in quickly. “That means our problems are solved, and I don’t have to be here anymore. I especially don’t have to listen to her spew rubbish,” she added, pointing at me. I opened my mouth to respond, but my dad spoke first. “Olivia, you will be marrying their son.” The words hit the room like a bomb. “It’s your mess, so you should fix this,” he added coldly. Everywhere fell silent. A cold chill ran down my spine. Arranged marriage… to save the company? What? “Hell no!” Olivia screamed, jumping to her feet. “I will not marry for money. The Holloways can chew on their money!” “No, they will not,” my dad said firmly. “You will marry Justin Holloway and fix this mess.” “Justin Holloway?” Olivia let out a nervous laugh. “Isn't he the one that runs after his father like a little dog? Always obedient? No father!” I stiffened. The Holloways were known for controlling industries across the world, but their private lives were a mystery. Father hesitated. “And you will marry him regardless. This company is our legacy! We need to protect it!” my dad said. “Father, I…” she tried to protest, but my dad cut in. “No more. This meeting is dismissed,” he said, raising his hand. Olivia stormed out, her heels clicking against the floor, and I stayed behind, leaning against the table, my mind racing. “Khloe, go to the office,” my dad said after a moment, breaking my thoughts. “We need those documents tidied up. The Holloways will be reviewing them.” I nodded silently and made my way to the office. My office was quiet, a stark contrast to the tension in the meeting. I spent hours working, sorting through files, double-checking every figure, making sure nothing was out of place. My mind kept drifting to Nathan, my fiancée. I picked up my phone and typed a message, “Hey babe, I need to see you. Drinks tonight?” Next weekend will be our third anniversary. I’d planned something special,a wristwatch he’d been talking about for months. It had cost almost everything I had left, the last of my savings, but I bought it anyway. I wanted him to feel how much he meant to me, even if it meant stretching myself thin and nothing was going to ruin the night for me, not even Olivia and her drama. I hit send and waited. And waited. There was no reply. I continued my work and after a while, I checked my phone, there was still no reply so I decided to just stop by at his apartment The drive was a blur. My mind raced through what kind of changes the company would go through and if Olivia would really marry into the Holloways. When I arrived at his apartment, a sick feeling twisted in my stomach. The door was ajar. A cold chill ran down my spine. “Nathan?” I called, stepping inside. There was no response. There were clothes scattered on the floor. Not just any clothes, but clothes that looked exactly like what Olivia wore earlier. My heart thumped, sweat dripping down my forehead. I made my way to his room and then the smell of s*x and perfume hit me. My hand hesitated on the doorframe, my grip weakening, hoping and praying that it wasn’t what it looked like. And then I heard their voices. “I can’t believe my dad wants me to marry for the company,” a female voice snapped, sharp and bitter. “If anyone should clean up this mess, it should be Khloe.” My entire body went cold. That voice… It was Olivia. I forgot how to breathe, my stomach dropped even further. “I’m not going to let that happen,” Nathan’s voice said, calm but firm. “You're mine alone.” She laughed. “Wait till your fiance hears that,” Olivia teased, pushing him slightly. I froze, every nerve in my body screaming. “Oh please, we both know that’s just a ruse so I can get her share of the company and hand it over to you,” he laughed. I felt it deeply. My hands went to my mouth. My chest felt hollow, like the air had been sucked out of the room. He… Nathan… was using me. Using me? All these years! For money and power! With Olivia! My own sister. Even though we have always been at each other’s throat competing for the company, this betrayal was deeper and harder. How could she do this to me? With my own fiance. My knees went weak. I wanted to run, scream, break something, anything in that room. But my feet felt glued to the floor, my hands trembling uncontrollably. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I blinked it back. I stumbled backward, my shoulder smashing against a table. A vase toppled, shattering on the floor. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Nathan appeared, eyes wide in shock. “What the hell? You’ve been sleeping with my sister?” I whispered, my voice breaking.