Marry For Convenience Book 1: The Corporate Clause

The last thing Celina Quinn expected on a rainy Monday morning was a marriage proposal. Especially from Justin Mason, the rival CEO she had spent three years trying to defeat. The executive boardroom smelled of expensive espresso and polished wood. Across the mahogany table sat Justin Mason, CEO of Mason Industries and the man who had once described her in a business journal as “a walking PR disaster with great legs.” Today, he looked infuriatingly calm. “I’m completely serious, Celina. You need a husband. I need a strategic corporate merger. This arrangement could benefit us both.” Celina crossed her arms. “You’re out of your mind.” “Possibly. But your grandmother’s will is very specific. You have exactly twenty-nine days to marry a suitable business peer. Otherwise, your majority shares in Quinn & Co. transfer to Henry.” Her pulse spiked. Quinn & Co. was more than an inheritance. It was the marketing firm she had built from the ground up, the company that supported two hundred employees and their families. Without her majority shares, she would lose control of everything she had worked so hard to create. And Henry Quinn would be waiting to destroy it. “Why offer this to me?” she demanded. “We’ve been undercutting each other since 2023.” Justin’s dark eyes met hers. “Because you’re competent, ambitious, domesticated and you don’t bore me. Besides, my board could use a reminder that I have a personal life.” “Domesticated?” Celina laughed sharply. “I’m not a golden retriever, Mason.” “No,” he replied, his smile widening. “You’re a cat. Claws out at all times.” Celina stood, her chair scraping against the floor as she gathered her files. “This conversation is over.” “Think about it,” Justin called after her. “I’m the only executive with enough leverage to protect your company without dragging your name through a public probate battle.” She left without answering, determined not to let him see how much his offer had unsettled her. Her assistant, Mia, looked up as Celina entered her private office. “Is everything okay? Mr. Mason’s security guard was waiting outside the boardroom.” “Everything is fine. Get Marcus on the phone and send me a copy of my grandmother’s trust codicil.” Celina shut the door and pulled the legal document onto her desk. She had read the clause dozens of times, but the words still felt like a threat. Twenty-nine days. Her grandmother, Eleanor Quinn, had attached a brutal condition to her inheritance: Celina must legally marry a suitable peer in commerce within thirty days of probate opening, or her majority equity would transfer entirely to Henry. Her cousin had never cared about the employees, the clients, or the reputation her grandmother had spent decades building. He cared about power and profit. Her phone rang. Henry’s name flashed across the screen. “Heard you had an interesting visitor,” he said when she answered. “Was Justin Mason offering to rescue you?” “My decisions are none of your concern.” “They will be in twenty-nine days.” Henry chuckled. “I’ve already spoken to three board members. Once your deadline expires, we’ll call an emergency shareholder meeting and sell the core assets.” “You wouldn’t dare.” “My lawyers are watching the county clerk’s office. If you try to arrange a fraudulent marriage to keep your inheritance, we’ll challenge it. You’ll spend the next several years fighting us in court.” “You’re disgusting.” “Thank you, cousin. I learned from the best.” Celina ended the call before he could say another word. Her hands trembled with anger. Henry was already preparing to take her company, and she could not afford to waste a single day. A knock sounded at the door. Before she could answer, Justin walked in, his suit jacket discarded and his sleeves rolled up. “Who gave you permission to enter my office?” Celina demanded. “Your security guard tried to stop me. I suggested he take an early lunch.” “You cannot simply walk into my office whenever you please.” “Then perhaps we should discuss that after I tell you what Henry just did.” Justin placed a thick black folder on her desk. Celina stared at it. “What is this?” “A copy of the motion his lawyers filed twelve minutes ago. They’re attempting to freeze your access to Quinn & Co.’s operating accounts.” The color drained from her face. “He can’t freeze company funds without a legal basis.” “He’s trying to make it expensive for you to fight him. If you can’t pay your legal team, he believes you’ll surrender before the deadline.” Celina looked at Justin suspiciously. “And you know all this because?” “I’ve been watching Henry’s moves. Two of his legal consultants recently joined my team.” “You bought them?” “I made them better offers.” “Of course you did.” Justin opened the folder and revealed a marriage agreement. “My lawyers drafted this. It protects our existing corporate assets, establishes financial safeguards, and prevents either of us from taking control of the other’s company.” Celina scanned the first page. “And what do you get out of this?” “Access to the global distribution rights held by one of your grandmother’s subsidiaries. They would be valuable to Mason Industries.” “So you’re not saving me out of kindness.” “Kindness has never been my strongest business strategy.” At least he was honest. “How long?” she asked. “Twelve months. We maintain a shared residence, attend public events together, and convince the world that our marriage is genuine. In private, we keep our relationship strictly professional.” Celina turned to the final pages. One clause stood out in bold print. NO ROMANTIC ENTANGLEMENT. She let out a dry laugh. “You actually included a clause to prevent me from falling in love with you?” Justin leaned closer, amusement flickering in his eyes. “I was thinking about myself, actually.” “In your dreams, Mason.” “Frequently.” She ignored the heat creeping into her cheeks and continued reading. “If I discover you’re using this marriage to dismantle my company, the agreement is over.” “And if I betray you, you’ll have contractual remedies against me.” He slid a silver fountain pen toward her. “Have your own lawyer review everything. I want you to understand exactly what you’re agreeing to.” Celina looked at the folder, then at the man who had been her fiercest competitor for three years. Twenty-nine days remained. She could reject his offer and risk losing everything, or accept an alliance with a man whose motives she still couldn’t fully understand. “I’ll have my lawyer review the agreement tonight,” she said. “If the terms protect my company and my employees, we’ll talk again tomorrow.” Justin nodded. “I’ll arrange the revisions.” As he reached for his phone, it vibrated against his palm. He glanced at the screen. For the first time since entering her office, his confident expression disappeared. His jaw tightened, and something resembling genuine fear crossed his face. Celina noticed immediately. “Who is that?” Justin turned the phone facedown. “Nobody you need to worry about.” “That’s not an answer.” His phone vibrated again. Justin looked at her, and the teasing CEO she knew seemed to vanish. “The call is from Hector Vance,” he said quietly. Celina had never heard the name before, but the tension in his voice made her stomach tighten. “Who is Hector Vance?” Justin stepped closer, lowering his voice. “If Henry is your biggest problem, you have no idea what’s coming.” He paused, his dark eyes fixed on hers. “Hector Vance is the man who could get us both killed before this month is over.”