THE CEO'S HIRED

Chapter 1

DAMON FOX

I wanted to toss my cell phone off the hotel balcony. Jesus, what time is it?

The migraine I was having made it a struggle to answer the phone. The brunette stretched her arm in an attempt to answer the phone.

“What are you doing?” I questioned in a sleepy tone.

“It's been ringing for a while now.” She said,

“Give me my phone.” Even though she was amazing last night, with her perfectly rounded t**s, she had no right to answer my phone. I groaned and took the phone from her.

“Fuck.” I mumbled as I placed the phone on my ears.

“Damon, where are you? Don't tell me you're in bed with another girl.”

Great. My grandfather.

“You know it's Saturday, don't you, Mr. Fox?”

“The day when the Spanish will come to see our new line of engines. Boy, have you forgotten your role in the company?!”

“Mr CEO..You don't necessarily have to teach me my work. We rescheduled for next Monday, as it is one of their daughter's birthdays. I think your company spies forgot that detail.”

I may be a bon vivant, but I am no doubt diligent in my work at Fox & Co. I practically moved the automobile economy and I generated more profit in these two years than my grandfather had ever done. But for Edmund Fox, this is never enough.

Grandfather still wants the traditional, perfect family that is displayed as a symbol of perfection in the social columns. I don't think business should be tied to pleasure. I know I can be a lucky son of a b***h when it comes to women, but none of that distracts me from business.

Our family never knew how to balance business with their happy existence. The saying applies to us; Lucky in gambling, unlucky in love. But instead of trying just like my mother and grandmother tried, I followed the same path my father and grandfather took. “Luck in the game and nothing else”.

And that's exactly what I've been trying to do with the Spaniards—to be lucky in the company. While my personal life is all about the occasional excellent f**k, I must admit the Spanish are difficult to deal with. They are extremely conservative and my grandfather is aware of that. Punctuality and a good family are unequivocal signs that a man knows how to manage his money. The logic? I have no clue because it has never worked for me. I needed to convince them to close a deal with us because Formula 1 is the pinnacle we can reach. It's about going beyond the sports cars and multimillion-dollar models we make. We will make history.

To get them on our side, I needed to appear to be a serious-minded man with hopes of getting settled but hadn't found the woman of his dreams. The right wife. If Miguel Hidalgo believes this, he will trust me to sign a billion-dollar contract. I hope so.

My grandfather continues to ramble on the other end of the line.

“No, they didn't forget. He invited us to his daughter's birthday. Do you know she's single?”

“Who is?”

I'm here thinking about how to convince myself that I'm a patient family man waiting for the perfect woman.

“Foolish boy! Isobel Hidalgo is a worthy and single socialite. And she seemed interested when we mentioned you.”

“I'm going to pretend you're not orchestrating an arranged relationship for me”.

“You know that Miller Companies will get this contract and emerge as the best in the country if you mess up. The Foxes can't lose to the Millers, not while I'm still alive. So up your game Damon.”

“Impossible. Our product is superior to theirs, and I'm sorry, but I think they forgot that I'm in charge now.”

“Adam Miller is engaged. See tonight the difference with which you will be treated and tell me if I'm not right.

“I'm going to get this contract,” I said to myself more than to my grandfather.

“Do what you have to do.”

“I will,” I said and Grandfather disconnected the call from his end.

One thing about the Foxes is that we are ruthless in business. The business had always come in the way of our relationship, it affected my parents' marriage and now they're divorced.

Now Grandfather handed the company over to me after my dad died, but he keeps getting involved and seems to be challenging me now not to lose this contract.

‘Do what you have to do, Damon’—means do everything, no matter the means. This has always been his approach and we didn't get here by chance.

I got up and wore my clothes from last night. leaving the room paid for, with a good breakfast for the brunette. I left the sleepy brunette in the hotel room with some snacks and a change of clothes.

I make a call the instant I get into my sports car. Fortunately, the red traffic light came on and my friend decided to pick up.

“James, did you get the information about the Hidalgos?” I asked him. James has been an amazing friend and my company's lawyer.

“Nothing that can help you.”

“I need to be ahead of Adam Miller. We're better, any i***t knows that. But apparently, he managed to jump the starting line by putting a ring on some unlucky woman's finger.”

“Being better doesn’t matter to Hidalgo. It simply doesn't matter. You understand this and you don't want to accept it.” I finished.

“What do you suggest then?” James asked.

“You won't love what I'm about to say.”

“You know what? Save it. You're almost at the office so when you get here, we'll talk about it.” He said and I ended the call.

I knew James wasn't going to love the idea, I hated it too. But it was the only way I could save myself from getting married to f*****g Isobel Hidalgo.

●●●

“A bride?! You want me to find a bride, to escape an engagement?” James asked with a hilarious expression on his bearded face.

“Yes.”

“Damon, can you hear yourself? This is finding a bride and not some easy game.”

“I know but it's the perfect solution right now.”

“You're so desperate you can't reason, Damon. A fake bride. A woman who will be your bride, to whom you don't need to swear eternal love, understand?”

“And would someone find a woman willing to do something crazy like that? We're talking about marriage here, it's not magic!’ He finished.

“Stop with the criticism. I need your help here man.”

“Okay. What about your secretary?” He suggested.

“My grandfather knows her. Plus, it would be suspicious, you know he would prefer a real marriage with an heiress than a fake marriage with someone who works for me. So my secretary is a no-no.”

“Lauren.”

“What Lauren? That Lauren? No way.”

“Yes. Blonde, tall, socialite and crazy about you.”

“No f*****g way. The woman is fixated on me, do you know the problem that would cause?”

“Well, those are the most reasonable options I thought of. The list is immense, but all of them would certainly cause you even greater problems than Lauren herself.”

“Of all the women in Los Angeles, Lauren is left? This is impossible.”

“I can call her and tell her you need to see her on Monday. If for some reason you don't have a more brilliant idea, she will gladly help you. Otherwise, two options remain.”

“Getting engaged to Isobel Hidalgo and tying myself up forever due to a billion-dollar business contract that is affecting my personal life.”

“Or you find a woman crazy enough to help you.”

The simple fictional idea of ​​having a bride haunts me. I remember the screams, the fights and the few moments of peace we had when my father was alive and the absolute peace that was established when he was gone. My mother wanted to be loved and my father wanted to be successful. He married her for her name and never hid it. Despite everything she could to support that weird thing called marriage. My grandmother tried to help her as much as she could, but she survived.

My mother experienced her grief and soon after went to find her happiness. From time to time she tries to convince me to be more myself and less of a Fox, but she fails to realize that this is impossible. Negotiation, ambition and the desire to always achieve more are in my essence a thing implanted in the Fox's blood.

I'm stuck in a frustrating position and James' idiotic plan seems to be the only solution. Lauren is the only woman that can help me.

I needed a woman. But who would agree to my conditions out of the blue?