PRETEND WIFE FOR HIRE

Chapter two

ONE WEEK AGO

CALEB POV

“Last year revenue in Brownlux shopping mall was 1 billion dollars. This is a reflection of how our company’s numbers have been on the rise, steadily at a rate of 4.1%, our gross revenue, for the last three years.”

“If our ongoing project, which was stated upon realization that a simple shopping mall alone could not sustain this rate of growth, is completed by the year 2028, the whole company revenue will exceed 15 billion dollars.”

“Excuse me,” Maxwell called out, cutting me off from my presentation. His sharp voice rang out through the room.

I held in my irritation, nodded my head, giving him the go ahead to speak out.

“I heard that you put in a bid with the city council to invest in the construction of the new shopping mall?” He asked, a wicked smirk on his face.

“A family member of the mayor has been suspected of accepting bribes from construction firms for many years,” Maxwell continues calmly. “Wouldn’t this be a problem later?”

I gulped hard, my eyes focused on the thick black goo spreading across the table, towards me.

It’s not real, it’s not real. I kept screaming in my mind, blinking rapidly to calm my racing heart.

“It’s been determined to be a rumor.” I replied coldly, gritting my teeth hard to remind myself of the present.

The shareholders shared a look among themselves, while I adjusted my tie, ignoring the black goo covering their faces.

“Have you confirmed for yourself if it indeed is a rumor?" Maxwell asked loudly, while the shareholders shifted uneasily on their various seats.

I could feel them all staring at me now, waiting for me to say something.

“Executive Caleb,” my father snapped out, his sharp glare reminding me of those seated in this room.

Vipers, the lot of them, waiting and watching for any slip up from me.

Immediately, the black goo disappears, my mind once again gaining back full control.

I straightened up, clenching my jaw as I turned towards my father.

“Yes father, I mean…. Chairman.”

“Everyone thinks that it's right and natural for a child to inherit his parents company,” my father’s cold voice rang out through the room. “But there are cases where incompetence ruins the company.”

“If any child proves to be incompetent, he forfeit his position. Understand?” My father gritted out, his hard stare boring into my soul.

“Our numbers will continue to rise,” I say firmly, my hard cold gaze, boring into each of the shareholders.

After coming to a conclusion, the meeting was concluded, and I was on my way to my next appointment.

Loud music was playing in the background, while different models showcased the various outfits our new line recently released.

“There’s a rumor that you don’t like girls,” my fiancee Alexa Justice whispers. “That must have been just a rumor right?”

“Pick whatever you like,” I say, gesturing towards the models. Blatantly ignoring her provocative remarks.

She smiles, before picking what she wanted.

“I can pick whatever I like, right?” Alexa asked, a small smirk on her face. “I just would love to try them on before deciding.”

“You should have asked for the entire mall.” I drawled out lazily, glancing at the various elite of New York gathered about.

“Then give it to me as a wedding present,” she replied, crossing her legs. “If you give me that much, people will be impressed by that for sure.”

“Why, is it too much?” Alexa drawls out, flickering her hair behind her back.

“Yes, it is too much.” I told her calmly, maintaining my fake smile.

“I don’t like stingy men," Alexa replied, before pointing at different clothes she wanted.

“You heard there’s someone I love right?” she asked, glancing at me. “Even if I marry, I’ll still meet him. If that causes a problem for us, then I can't get married.”

“You’ve read through the contract right?” she asked me. “No unwanted skinship, s*x. I will report to my lawyer, and also, don’t expect any child from me.”

“Keep that in mind for our honeymoon, since you could make a mistake after drinking.”

“Our company shares will be transferred to you 20 days after you sign the contract,” I told her calmly, cutting her off from whatever else she felt the need to say. “Two percent will be transferred to you immediately. If you violate the contract terms, without any justificable reason. You’ll be asked to pay for all the damages caused.”

“I hope it doesn’t get to that, since it wouldn’t be easy for your company to handle.”

“That’s a relief,” Alexa says softly. “I was worried we wouldn’t be able to come to an agreement, if we do this well, we could even become friends.”

I laughed coldly at that, prompting a frown on her beautiful face.

“You don’t become friends with those you do business with," I told her. “It really doesn’t end well.”

“Now if you would excuse me, I would like to retire for the day.”

Alexa didn’t say anything, just smiled softly, before following me outside, our guards trailing behind us.

We stopped in front of her car, while I snapped my fingers, one of my guards stepped forward, a small gift bag in his hands.

He gave it to one of Alexa’s guards, before stepping back.

“Check it,” I tell her. “It’s the deposit.”

She simply smiled, nodding her head.

“Does the person you love know that we are to be wed?” I asked, a bit curious.

“He’ll find out at my wedding,” Alexa says simply.

“It’s a pity, for you and that person,” I told her. “Really, I mean it sincerely.”

Alexa smiled tightly. “Don’t you have anyone you love?” she asked, her gaze boring into me.

“It’s a pity,” she says, at my lack of response. “And I mean that, sincerely.” She adds, before walking towards her car.

“Hey, Catherine,” an older lady called, walking towards us. “What are you doing?” she asked, glancing at us.

I furrowed my eyebrows, glancing at the lady, then towards Alexa who looked just as confused as me.

“Um.. sorry I am not Catherine, you have the wrong person.” Alexa says, before entering into her car, driving off.

I stared at the lady for a while, while she rendered apologies.

I shaked my head, my hands in my pockets, before entering into my own car, driving off.

I didn’t like it any more than Alexa, I don’t want to get married.

And as much as I maintained a cool front, deep seated fear was slowly choking me.

I wonder how long I could keep up the act, maintain my position in the company, or even keep up the act of a happy wedded man.

I could feel it, I was seeing things that were not real, hearing voices, skipping time, and honestly wasn’t sure what was real or not.

I am slowly, but surely running mad.

The question is how long before everyone finds out?