Married To My Devilish Rival

Chapter 2

Tristan Carrington

Rage.

My fist tightens beneath the table as I struggle to keep my expression unreadable.

The last thing I’ll give the other Carringtons in the room is the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.

A Carrington never show his emotions.

I’ve learnt that from a very young age. Keep your face unreadable, your composure intact, especially in the face of your enemy.

Let your emotions only exist in your head.

Grandfather’s voice fills my head, drowning out the sound of the rain battering hard against the large floor-to-ceiling window.

“Read it again,” I command.

Harold Weiss, Grandfather’s trusted lawyer, blows out a breath, raking his fingers through his greying hair.

“To my grandson, Tristan Carrington, I leave my estate, Hollowmere and the Chief Executive Officer Position of Carrington & CO Enterprises on one condition.”

Harold casually flips through the pages..

“Provided that within sixty days of the reading of this will, Tristan is legally married, and remains legally married to someone he genuinely loves for a year.”

I almost scoff.

This is ridiculous.

Sixty days to find a bride? That I genuinely love?

The same man who taught me that love is a distraction is now making love a requirement for my inheritance.

The irony.

I’ve been anticipating this day for the longest. I’ve put in all the work that took Carrington & Co Enterprises to where it is today.

I can’t help the tinge of betrayal that creeps over me.

“Maybe it’s time to let someone into that cold heart of yours,” Dominic says.

I pay him no attention.

“Dominic,” Vivienne, his mother, warns.

I want to punch something. And Dominic’s amused face is begging for it. I stretch my fingers out, an attempt to stop the need.

I feel a small hand close up on mine.

The contact catches me off guard, and I instinctively pull my hand away from Vivienne’s grasp.

If she’s offended about the action, she doesn’t show it.

“Tristan, darling. I’m sure we can figure it out,” Vivienne says, forcing the little bit of remorse she can into her voice.

I meet Harold’s tired gaze. “There must be a loophole.”

“I’m afraid the terms of your grandfather’s will are quite explicit, Mr. Carrington.”

“Then explain them to me. I want to understand how a marriage certificate and a year of pretending to be in love are supposed to determine who runs a multi-billion dollar company.”

“The condition is not simply marriage. You must marry someone you genuinely love and remain married for a period of one year before you can assume full control of Carrington & Co.”

“And who exactly determines whether I'm in love? You?”

“No. Your grandfather appointed an independent trustee to oversee the fulfillment of the conditions.”

“And if I refuse?”

Harold gestures to Dominic. “Then Mr. Dominic Carrington will assume full control of the company.”

“So I'm expected to marry, fall in love, and stay married for a year or my cousin gets everything?”

“That is correct,” Harold says.

I can’t let that happen.

So I do what I do best. Think of a solution. A way out of this mess Grandfather put me in.

Before I can hatch a plan, Harold says something that deeply unsettles me.

“Also…”

A pause as he skims the document.

“Your grandfather’s will also names Dominic as the interim president of Carrington & CO Enterprises, effective immediately.”

I sit up straighter, fingers curling into a fist.

“Interim president?” I ask, keeping my voice cool despite the turmoil unraveling inside me.

Dominic looks surprised. Even Vivienne looks delighted, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

“Until the conditions of the will are fulfilled.”

Dominic leans forward in his chair, practically leaping with joy.

“Well, isn’t this a delightful turn of events?”

“Enjoy while it lasts,” I say through clenched teeth.

“Oh, I intend to. Someone has to keep the company running while you search for your one true love.”

I lean back into the chair. “That almost sounded like jealousy.”

He scoffs. “Jealousy? Of you?”

He looks offended.

“Please. I’m simply fascinated by the idea that the great Tristan Carrington might have to ask someone to marry him.”

“Better than having to wait for someone else to die before I can get a promotion.”

His smile falters, and a muscle in his jaw tightens.

I might have struck his ego.

Pleased, the corners of my lips lift.

“Watch your mouth.”

“Or what? You’re president now, Dominic. Try acting like one.”

Dominic’s eyes glower, something dark flashing in them.

“Gladly. And as your president, I suggest you start looking for a wife.”

Oh, I will.

“Enjoy your first day in the chair, Dominic.”

“I plan to.”

I turn to Harold. “One year. That’s all the will requires?”

He nods. “One year of marriage following which the trustee must be satisfied that the condition has been met.”

With a curt nod, I stand up, buttoning my jacket.

“Then I'll find a way to satisfy the condition.”

I leave the conference room, my mind already turning the possibilities.

Sixty days to find a bride.

One year to convince my family that I’m hopelessly in love with her.

How difficult could it possibly be to fake something I don’t even believe in?