To Be Loved By You

CHAPTER 4

CHRIS' POV

I had just stormed out of my father's house. He had given me an ultimatum to get married or forfeit my position to my elder brother.

My family owns a lot of businesses. I run the hotel aspect while my brother runs the electronics aspect, his wife was also allowed to run part of the business under supervision.

I knew my father was up to something when I received his call asking to see him.

He had given me an ultimatum of three months to get married and if I didn't, I would have to give up being the CEO of Bridges Hotel and I wouldn't be allowed to compete for any of the positions in the family during the inheritance sharing.

I was livid with anger. Why would he ask me to give up on something I had worked so hard to build? He knew how much the hotel meant to me. I had gone to study hotel management and worked in hotels in about seven countries to be able to effectively manage the hotel. Meanwhile, my brother had done nothing and Bridges' electronics had been handed to him on a platter of gold.

I knew my father was like this because he wanted me to marry Grace, my ex-girlfriend. We had dated while we were in college and had broken up but she still kept clinging next to me. She is the daughter of one of our partners in the industry but her father is my dad's closest friend.

I called my friend and personal assistant after leaving my father's place.

"Louis, I am in a pickle. I need you" I said to him over the phone and he had asked me to come over.

Louis has been my friend since high school and has been with me ever since then. He is my only friend as my other friends are all my rivals or business partners.

He is the only one I can confide in. He has been with me ever since I was young. His family has been my family.

I grew up without a mother I don't know what she looked like. A nanny had nursed me till puberty. All I have are her pictures. I was told she died at birth but my elder brother always accused my mom and me of destroying his family. He said my mom was my dad's mistress. I grew up being hated by him so I always keep to myself.

I had become friends with Louis in high school when he transferred to our school. I had always taken first place in class but he came and took my spot. I developed a keen interest as to who the stranger might be and we gradually became friends.

I got to Louis' apartment and collapsed onto his couch with a groan.

"Are you okay?" he asked offering me a drink

He then sat down beside me. I accepted the drink and gulped it down.

"My father gave me an ultimatum to marry," I said in frustration

He chuckled

"You? Get married" he responded

"Well, if I don't heed to his words. I have to give up my title as the CEO of the hotel and hand it over to my brother"

"Wait…what" he was shocked but not like me when I was first told those words.

"Your job is on the line…I looked at him hoping that would prompt him to help me.

"You know my brother won't keep you once he takes over". I continued.

Louis had taken it upon himself to be my assistant as he knew I couldn't trust anyone else.

"I want to be with you" he had told me.

After he had worked with me for a few years, I suggested promoting him to one of the executives but he strongly refused

"You know I can get a job anywhere" he replied.

My little threat didn't work on him. I knew he could get a job anywhere. In fact, he had gotten a few job offers while he was working with me but had refused them. With his skills, he could work as one of the top executives in other companies but he had chosen to stay with me for which I will forever be grateful.

"Well..get married then". He uttered.

"What I can't marry Grace" I responded

"I can't marry anyone as a matter of fact" I continued.

"How many months ultimatum? He asked

"Three months"

" Well, you don't have to marry Grace but you have to get married".

I looked at him, not getting what he was going at.

"Look, you know your father will keep to his words and your brother is waiting to grab this opportunity as he knows how stubborn you are. So you will get married but not just to Grace".

"How" I asked him curiously.

"You get someone else to get married to you" he replied.

I still have no idea what he meant.

"You know why I can't get married. Right?".

Aside from not wanting my father to play me like a puppet, I have a bigger reason why I didn't want to get married. The reason why I had broken up with Grace in the first place.

Louis is aware of the reason.

"I know and that's why my method is safe. Getting married to Grace will expose you". He replied to me.

"So, how??" I asked again

"You get someone to marry you. A stranger"

"Oh God, Louis!. Are you for real? isn't that a bigger risk?

"No, it's not". It's the easy way"

"Look"…he continued

"You will pay someone to marry you and after a year you guys will divorce".

I wanted to counter him but he continued.

"After you get married, your father will still retain your position and you will pressure your father during that one year for him to share the inheritance after which you prepare your divorce". He explained.

Louis seems to be making sense. He had always been smart and strategic.

I had told him once how nice it would have been to exchange parents.

"You should have been my father's son" I had told him then.

"I don't like your world," he had told me.

"How are we going to get someone to do this?" I asked.

"Leave it to me" he had replied to me

********

After we had gone to see the progress of the new suite being constructed in the hotel. Louise had whispered in my ear

"I found someone"

We had gone to my office to discuss.

"She is a writer," he said and showed me her pictures.

"I don't know her," I told him

"You don't know anyone". He looked at me but she is a struggling writer. The perfect person who is desperate for money. Plus a bonus point. She can cook up stories since that's her job".

I looked at the picture in front of me and she looked beautiful.

"Elizabeth Craig?" I said looking at her profile.

"Yes, she has only published a book. All her other books kept getting rejected"

"And I drafted this contract for easy interaction. So go through it and tell me what you would like to remove and add to it" he said handing me a contract.

I looked through the contract and added my clause to it.

"How are we going to get her to get on board" I asked Louis

"Leave it to me"

******

The day when Louis had told me we were going to meet Elizabeth Craig came.

When she entered the room I was overwhelmed by her beauty. I kept staring at her as I was mesmerized and she kept staring back at me.

"Marry me" I blurted out.

Louis looked at me, this wasn't what we had practiced. I glanced at Elizabeth and from her expression, she had been caught completely off guard and I loved it.