Secrets & Deception: A Billionaire's Contract

Chapter Five

“The sky was never big enough for two birds to fly,” my father had once said to me. I had come to realize that in my business affairs.

I was the heir to the Michaelson's fortune, but it didn’t come without a clause attached to it and that was to get married. I could then inherit everything – damn that old bastard. Although I have managed to acquire wealth by myself and without the help of my father and now own a long line of personal businesses, I wanted more. I had to get my hands on the old man’s fortune, and that was why I proposed the contract.

The sky truly was never big enough for two birds to fly without hitting each other. My rivals and I had been bumping and colliding with each other very frequently now.

I now stood at the penthouse window, smoking a cigar, and gazing out at the city which I owned a significant piece of. However, my mind was not on the city, it was elsewhere. I had expected Simone Miller, the actress I had proposed the contract to, to call me immediately about her agreement to sign the contract with me, but she hadn't, which was beginning to annoy and infuriate me.

Who did she think she was? I thought. How could she possibly hesitate to take me up on my offer? I had done a thorough background check on her and I had figured out that aside he failing acting career, she was going bankrupt. She needed money, and money I had. But for time, I didn’t have much of it.

Time was one thing I also believed was never enough. This contract was a one-way ticket to more wealth for me, to overthrow my rivals, and delaying it could cause problems.

I had chosen her out of several other unaware candidates Michael had brought before me. He had sent me the information of eight women he thought would be perfect for the contract and I had hired three private investigators to do background checks on all the women. To me, Simone was the better option, even though Michael wanted me to go for Abigail, a climate change activist who needed money for her campaigns in East Africa.

Almost all the women seemed to be going bankrupt, but Simone stood out because a marriage to a not-so-popular actress would sound good in the headlines. Even though this was going to be a contract marriage, I still wanted to look good in the eyes of my rivals.

Michael Rowan, my best friend and business partner, sat on one of the chairs in front of the patio table, watching me closely.

“So, what exactly are you anticipating?” He asked. “You only proposed the contract three days ago, and you are already getting impatient?” He asked.

My face creased into a frown. “Come on, man,” I started, turning towards him. “Any woman would jump at the offer to be my wife - the offer to be the wife of a billionaire. It's a rare opportunity,” I said, a hint of pride in my voice.

“She might be an exception to that,” Micheal said, throwing me a grin.

“She isn't. That gender, all of them are the same.” I replied. “She is probably taking her time, so she won't look desperate.”

Michael eyed him. “Cami really does have an impact on you. She did and still does.” He stated.

“Micky don't - never again mention her name.” I growled. The name had become, to my ears, like poison.

Michael knew I would get upset at the mention of her name, but he occasionally teased me with it, and I wasn’t finding it funny anymore.

“You really have to get over her. You take the mere mention of her name too seriously,” he said.

I turned to the window again. “Any bit of news about what Marcel might be planning?” I asked. All I wanted to think of - to do was work and how to protect my businesses from the possible schemes of my rivals.

Michael paused. “Marcel has managed to get the President's attention. I don't know when or how.” Michael sucked at his upper dentition. “His investment banks generated over 1.2 billion dollars early this month.” He stated.

I banged the table angrily. “ How does he manage to be one step ahead?”

“It started when he sabotaged the company last year. Since then, he has been one step ahead,” Micheal said.

“I haven't forgiven him for that yet. I'd avenge that.” I swore. It was true that my greatest rival, Marcel Peters, had succeeded in ruining one of my businesses last year, but I had vowed to get my revenge, and I wasn’t planning on going back on my words.

“Before you start planning towards that, I suggest you get your company standards back and even higher,” he suggested.

“Oh I will. I'm definitely going to do that,” I replied.

I suddenly heard three raps at the door.

“Come in,” I barked and a slender blonde woman in a white shirt and black pants walked in. She also had blonde eyebrows and freckles splattered over her face. Her heels clicked on the tiled floor as she walked in a rhythmic pattern.

“Excuse me,” she said politely. “Mr Michaelson, you've got a call.”

“From who?”

“A certain Simone Miller,” she answered. “Here's her number if you would like to return the call,” she said, and handed me a small white paper.

My lips curved into a smile. I had been expecting this call, but something in me warned me that she might have called to reject the contract offer. “Thank you,” I said and Elizabeth, my secretary, walked out.

“So? Are you calling her right away?” Michael asked, grinning from ear to ear.

“Damn you,” I said to him before taking out my phone and punching in the digits from the piece of paper. I dialed her number and waited. After several soft rings, I heard a soft and smooth voice from the other end of the line.

“Hello, this is Theron,” I said, my voice laced with pride.

“Hello, Mr Michaelson,” she returned.

“You don’t need to be too formal.”

“Alright then, I’ll get to the point. I might be interested in the proposal.”

My eyes lit up, and I saw Michael wink at me. He could tell from my reaction what her decision was.

I grinned. “Alright, prepare your profile and send it to the email address on the card. I'll send you the location we are to meet tomorrow.”

“I didn’t say I had accepted it yet. I have a condition I want you to accept before I finalize the contract.”

“Okay, go on then,” I said boldly. I knew there wasn’t anything she could ask for that I couldn’t give her. I was Theron Michaelson after all.

“I will tell you about it when we meet,” she said. “Your response would determine my decision.”

“See you tomorrow, then,” I said before hanging up. Now that she had accepted the contract. I couldn’t wait to hear what her condition was.