The Ruthless CEO And His Substitute Wife

Chapter 2 His Dreadful Rules

Matilda talked to neither her father nor mother when she returned home. They both wanted to know how her date with Mr. Carnegie went, but she didn't spare them a glance.

Shutting her door, her phone vibrated in her hand. It was an incoming FaceTime from her best friend, Ariana, and she answered it instantly, warmth filling her heart.

"How are you, Matilda?"

Matilda held the phone in one hand while the other hand pulled at the hair-band, letting her wavy blonde hair cascade down her shoulders.

"It was bad but I took care of it." She said, honestly.

She and Ariana have been best-friends for three years. They met in the fashion institute where they schooled and instantly became close. Ariana was the only person she felt comfortable around and could tell anything.

"Tell me about it." Ariana said, a frown etched on her pretty face upon sighting the grim demeanor of her better half.

"Mum and dad told me yesterday evening that a guy named Arthur wanted to marry me. We met this morning, he's an arrogant piece of trash. And I no longer have intentions of getting married to him."

When Matilda was done narrating everything, Ariana cursed. "That son of a b***h!"

"What do I do, Ariana? I don't want to marry him." Matilda cried out, hoping that she'd get saved out of her misery.

An idea crossed Ariana's mind instantly and a smile lined the corners of her mouth. "Marry him," She said.

"What? Didn't you hear me? I hate him. I don't want to marry him." Matilda was beyond mortified.

"But you can not let your parents business fail. You are their only child and you can not fail them." Ariana pointed out.

"You are right. I have no choice. Can you believe-" Matilda was about telling her best friend the shocking truth of being an adopted child when the door of her room was flung open.

Tilting her head to behold who it was, Matilda gasped in horror, tossing her phone aside as she locked eyes with the last person she ever wished to set eyes on.

It was Cardi Smith. Her evil cousin sister who loathed her and probably, wished her dead. The feeling was mutual, but what terrified Matilda was the fact that Cardi was right inside her room.

"How the hell did you get here?" Matilda snapped, glaring at the maniac before her.

They never lived together. Her foster parents never mentioned anything about Cardi coming over.

Within a blink of an eye, Cardi walked towards Matilda in quick strides, and before she knew it, Cardi pulled her hair and dragged her across the room, roaring. "Because of you, my boyfriend broke up with me. My two years relationship is over because of you. You f*****g b***h. You should be thrown into a brothel and r***d by men every single day!"

Matilda tried fighting back but unfortunately, Cardi was stronger than her. Her evil cousin held her up against the wall, grabbed her by the neck, making her choke.

"You will pay for this, Matilda!" Cardi slapped her hard, screaming once more. "Wait till he sees how ugly you can be."

Matilda succeeded to get out of her firm grasp. She swore under her breathe to be the f*****g karma that would deal with her. Without hesitation, she pulled with same intensity at Cardi's hair before proceeding to tear her short, red, silk dress.

"Are you f*****g nuts?" Cardi yelled, her back hitting the wall.

"The crazy b***h here is you! Who the hell is your boyfriend and how is it my damn fault that your boyfriend finally broke up with your pathetic self?" Matilda glared daggers at her cousin.

"Don't dare pretend that you know nothing. You collaborated with my uncle and his wife to take Arthur away from me! I hope you know you're not their real daughter. You're a bastard without parents who got lucky to be adopted by-"

Matilda cut Cardi off by striking her cheeks so hard.

Just then, Matilda's parents- foster parents- walked inside the room, staring down at Cardi who pretended upon their entrance, to be unconscious.

"How could you be so callous? Your cousin came excited to spend some time with you. And you're fighting her like a maniac." Mr. Walton scolded.

Matilda's jaw dropped. "Callous? Cardi barged into my room and said all sort of absurdities, attacking me as well, and you call me callous?"

Her father wasn't listening. His eyes were suddenly glued on his phone screen as a smile creeped onto his face.

"Mr. Carnegie just texted me about his arrival. You must get downstairs now!" He deadpanned, looking up.

It was less than 48 hours since she got to know the painful truth of not being their real child, but they were already letting her see their true colors.

Cardi jumped the very moment she heard about Arthur's arrival. She pushed her uncle and his wife aside and rushed out of the room.

'Now you can see the b***h you're defending'.

With a scowl evident on her face, Matilda descended the stairs. Her face was covered with bruises but she still looked sweet and innocent. Her wavy long blonde hair bounced with every step she took.

It was going to be the second time she would meet Arthur today. He was spellbound by her beauty and could not stop staring at her. She was a temptress, without even knowing it.

His eyes caught and held hers as he rose fluidly from the antique chair he was leaning on. Then, slowly, his gaze slid downwards from her face, to her bared shoulders, to her breasts, and to her long hot legs.

Matilda tried to hide her disgust. She didn't care that he was a billionaire, CEO of a multi-million global chain of hotels and beach resorts. Neither did she care about the fact that he was one of the world's top youngest billionaires, according to Forbes magazine latest issue.

"Get out this instant, Mr. Carnegie." Matilda stated harshly, to the surprise of everyone. "Are you here to complete what your crazy girlfriend started? Or do you find bliss in riling me up?!"

"The first meeting wasn't enough for you to realize how ugly she is?" Cardi spoke up, staring at Arthur in disbelief.

"You were just there to satisfy my s****l desires. No strings attached, remember. Or do you think I can ever fall for you?!" His voice was condescending.

Cardi raised her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist right on time, gripping it tightly. "Think wisely before you dare act up before me. I don't spare fools like you."

Cardi arched her body and forcefully pushed him away. "I'll never let you be." She deadpanned.

"And you, Matilda. Be rest assured that he will never love you. He will surely treat you as the trash that you are. You lowly wench." She added before storming out of the private lounge.

Matilda was terrified at how ruthless Arthur seemed to be. She was torn between anger and jealousy at the fact that Arthur truly had a thing with her witch of a cousin- Cardi.

"Why are you here? What else do you want from me?" Matilda asked, riled up.

"To give you the rules, of course. Why else will I waste my precious time to see you twice a day?" Arthur bluntly, retorted.

Cocking him a brow, Matilda went on to ask. "What rules?"

Arthur smirked, walking in quick strides towards Matilda who couldn't help but take a step back. His breathe was fanning her cheek, and his lips were just an inch away from her neck.

"Rules that will ensure you live a happy and peaceful life with me, if you choose to follow them. But if you dare to do as you wish, I won't hesitate to make your life a living hell, darling." Arthur said in a deep, authoritative voice. "The choice is yours to make."

Matilda scoffed, folding her arms. "And what are those dreadful rules of yours?" She mocked.

He stared long and hard at her, not blinking. There was something about his sharp, piercing gaze that made her feel shivers run down her spine.

"One, you'll do what I say. You'll not meddle with my life. You'll be my escort to every gathering and every party and you'll wear whatever I want you to wear. Last but definitely not the least," His eyes locked with hers. "You'll not make any s****l advances at me."

Arthur was what you'd call a 'rare catch'. Famous beauty models and celebrities have sought to connect their names to his. It was like winning the ultimate grand jackpot in the lottery.

She should be grateful and feel so lucky that he decided to get married to a nobody as her, to save her father's company.

"I have a question." Matilda abruptly said.

She was suddenly nervous. How was she going to live with a man like this for the rest of her life?

"That is?" Arthur asked impatiently.

"Why do you want to marry me? I mean, you could get any woman you want."

Arthur stared at her, chuckled and asked. "Aren't you a woman too?"

"I am," Matilda muttered, instantly guessing that he wasn't going to tell her what she wanted to know.

"So why not you?" Arthur asked, raising a brow.