The Billionaire’s Hidden Legacy

No Escape

Gerald was wearing a black toxedo suit with black tie, he was a six-foot masculine male, a young delicacy to women and, to crown it all, he was one of the wealthiest people in the city. He planted a fake smile on his handsome face, his eyes not staring at anyone in particular.

“This is my son, Gerald, I am aware that you may know him, but this is to meet officially.” Loretta flung her hands around Gerald as she spoke to the man in front of her. Gerald extended his hands for a shake. He hadn’t seen this man before, but one glance, and he knew just how wealthy the man was.

“Gerald, meet Mr. Dawson, an old friend,” Loretta concluded.

Mr. Dawson would be around his dad’s age if he were alive.

“Nice to meet you, son. Your mum has told me a lot about you, and I hope we become good partners.” The man smiled brightly, and shook hands with Gerald.

‘Partners?’ Gerald thought, keeping the fake smile on his face.

“This is my daughter, Ruby.” Mr. Dawson introduced the girl that had been standing next to him and staring at him since he arrived.

“We should leave the two of you to catch up, while we discuss older people’s business,” Loretta giggled and left with Dawson, leaving Gerald and Ruby; two strangers to themselves.

Gerald already saw this coming, so he wasn’t taken by surprise. Ruby was a beautiful woman, maybe around her late twenties. She had black flowing hair which matched the black knee-length gown she was wearing, her eyes were hazel, and her nose was pointed, her lips fully painted in thick red lipstick matching her heels and bag.

“Guess you already know my name, and I already know yours. What else?” Gerald said jokingly. He wasn’t attracted to her even though she was beautiful and had all that a man would want.

Ruby looked like the kind of woman he’d have a one-night stand with, or maybe it’s because he hadn’t gotten to know her well, he’d give her the benefit of the doubt.

“I hope you understand what our parents are trying to do?” Ruby laughed, grabbing a glass of champagne from a waiter that was passing by.

“Oh! Certainly, my mum can be very predictable. Have you tasted the pudding that went round?” Gerald replied, trying to sway the conversation. He knew this was the woman his mother wanted him to get married to, but there was more to it than meet the eye.

“Yeah, sure I did, the best I’ve had yet,” Ruby sipped at her champagne, her eyes locked on Gerald. She knew what he was trying to do, but unlike him, this was what she wanted. Getting married to a handsome billionaire, she wanted his last name, she wanted fame.

“Guess it’s not just me, she’s a great chef.”

“She?” Ruby quickly replied, the color dropping from her face; that envious feeling rushing through her veins even though she hadn’t seen who “she” was.

“Yeah, met her a while back, before my mum came along and dragged me here, -“

“What do you think a wedding with you would be like, being the kind of family that loves partying?” Ruby interrupted him. She didn’t want to hear anything more about the disgusting chef, as she was already irritated by the pudding she ate a few minutes ago.

Gerald could see that she was pulling him back into the conversation he was running from, but he didn’t really notice her envy.

They were now walking to the middle of the hall, like they were a couple.

“Wedding? I don’t have any idea what it’d look like. All that you see isn’t me. It’s my mother, she’d probably want the whole world to come, knowing her.” Gerald gave a little laugh, holding both of his hands in front of him as he walked.

He didn’t want to go into the conversation, but he could see that Ruby had already agreed to get married to him on her own end. He wished he had someone.

….

“Have you spoken to him yet?” Dawson asked, sipping at his champagne. His gaze was on Gerald and Ruby as they walked past the other guests.

“About Ruby? Not yet, but he promised me he’d get married this year. You don’t have to worry he listens to me.” Loretta replied, she was also staring at them. She knew Gerald would have figured it out by now, but he’d want to play dumb. She knew him.

“The marriage will bring both families close, and then I’d partner with Gerald. It would be a big win for both of us, eradicating all competition in the city, we’d be able to monopolize the business. I hope Gerald shares my vision. I’m leaving this in your hands.” Dawson shifted his gaze back to Loretta, looking at her lustfully.

Loretta and Dawson had had an affair a few years back before Gerald’s father died, and then he got divorced. The way Dawson was looking at her, history might repeat itself, Loretta thought.

“Leave it to me,” she said, meeting with his eyes.

“Please don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Dawson chuckled.

“You know exactly what I am talking about,” Loretta bated her eyelids at him. She wasn’t ready for a fling, she had to stay away from Dawson else it’d happen.

Dawson looked away, it was just a matter of time, he wasn’t going to rush; everything would fall into place sooner or later.

….

Ruby and Gerald were standing and talking in front of the ladies. Gerald couldn’t escape from her so he decided to use the restroom as an excuse. The men’s restroom was just a few inches away from the women's.

“It was nice getting to know you, Ruby,” Gerald said, after evading wedding and marriage conversations all the while. It wasn’t nice at all, if he was being honest.

“When next we meet, you might be putting a ring on my finger,” Ruby winked at him. Before she could say another word, she was interrupted.

“Sorry, please excuse me, I need to get through.”

Gerald thought he was watching a movie when Ruby's hands landed on the woman’s face….