Imperfect billionaire

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

A union to regret.

Darius Anderson’s mansion was a very tall and magnificent looking piece of architecture. Darius Anderson was a very affluent man of society. He got majority of his earnings through his salary as a football player. While he was still active in the world of sports, he took a huge sum out of his earnings as a footballer and invested it in a hotel. It turned out to be a success.

Over the years, he hosted huge events that featured a lot of notable figures at the hotel. These actions boosted his net worth as the years passed. Affluent personalities invested huge sums of money in the hotel and he built his empire till he became a billionaire.

However, he felt his life become bitter after he had a ghastly motor accident that left him crippled for the past two years of his life. He became very gloomy and grumpy as the years passed. He had multiple staff in his mansion but his help John, was the only one that stayed with him over the years. The rest of his staff quit following his attitude towards them. They could not bear the beast that he seemed to have become.

While Darius Anderson coerced Charles and Helen to pay him back the money they owed him, he was also working out a business deal with a royal family from France. They were offering a huge contract to his hotel.

While on a phone call with Darius, he was asked by the King in the royal family if he had a happy home. Darius lied and added that he was also married. However, the royal family wanted to see the owner of the hotel personally and know first-hand if he was happily married. This posed a dilemma to Darius as he was not married, hence this added to his frustration.

Charles, Courtney’s father was a wealthy man. He married Helen his wife during his youthful days, and together they built their company and riches. Charles Bright was his full name. He was exactly six feet tall, light skinned, dark hair and was chubby. Helen on the other hand, maintained a nice fit looking body figure exactly like her daughter Courtney. She was light skinned, blonde and about the same height as Courtney.

“Good evening sir, your guests are here. Shall I let them in?” Asked John as he approached Darius while he was seated in the dining room. “Yes” replied Darius. “Okay sir” said John, after which he walked out of the dining room. Darius was seated at the dining table. He had the table decorated elegantly and different meals and wine placed on it. He was holding a fork and a knife slicing at a large piece of turkey on his plate and eating.

Charles, his wife Helen and daughter Courtney were welcomed into Darius Anderson’s home by John. He then led them to the dining room where Darius was seated, already eating.

“Wow, good evening sir. I…” “No pleasantries. I just want to go straight to the point while we have dinner” said Darius interrupting Charles. Darius Anderson’s facial reaction was stiff and grumpy looking showing he was utterly unexcited by their presence in his home. He just felt their meeting was compulsory, so he decided to accommodate them.

“Good evening sir. Pleasure to be in your home” said Helen. “I said no pleasantries” replied Darius, giving her a stern look. “I am sorry Mr Anderson, I can’t come into someone else’s home as a guest and not properly honour them. I was not trained that way” said Helen. “But I guess you were trained to owe people money right?” Replied Darius. “Hey! You don’t have to talk to us like that” said Courtney looking infuriated by Darius Anderson’s disposition towards them.

“Courtney!” Exclaimed Charles and Helen in unison as they each held her by the shoulder. She was standing in between two of them. “We are very sorry sir, she did not mean that” said Charles as he turned to Darius to apologise. Helen joined Charles to apologise as well. “You people don’t have to kiss his ass just because you’re owing him money” said Courtney. “Courtney!” Exclaimed Helen as she turned to her in shock. Charles was left in awe by Courtney’s statement.

“When you are done with that little family drama, you’ll have a seat so we can talk” said Darius, as he turned back to his turkey and kept slicing it to eat. “Uhmm, we are very sorry sir” said Charles as he moved on to sit down by the dining table dragging Courtney by the hand till she took a seat as well.

After they were all seated, Darius poured himself a glass of wine and told Charles and his family to do the same. They did so and after that, he told them to begin eating. They all ate in silence for a short moment.

Shortly after having dinner, Darius then addressed Charles and his family. “I have a way you can pay me back that will benefit all of us. I am in a bit of a predicament right now. I’ll just cut to the chase. I need to get married in a few days because I have a deal that is worth a lot of money. I can’t let it slip off my fingers. Your daughter here is a charming woman. She will fit into this façade I am trying to create in my favour” said Darius. “What?! I don’t understand. Can you please explain? What is going on?!” Replied Courtney astonished as she stood up.

“Courtney please sit down, let the young man keep talking” said Helen in a gentle tone and she held Courtney by the arm. Courtney then sat and looked straight at Darius. “I see you are very rash. Well, your other physical attributes do not matter to me. I just need your appealing physical features that would fit into my storyline. You are also from a noble family, so that makes you the perfect partner to display. I want to marry you, and in exchange, I would forget about the debt your family owes me and your family’s company would become mine for the duration of our marriage which would last for two years. At the end of this period, I would have amassed multiple times the amount of money your family owes me. We would sign a contract for this agreement” said Darius to Courtney.

“Wow! What sort of bullshit idea is this?!” Shouted Courtney as she stood up. “Courtney!” Exclaimed Charles and Helen in unison. “Don’t call my name, two of you. This is a ridiculous idea!” Shouted Courtney, after which she stormed out of the dining room. “Courtney come back here. Courtney!” Shouted Charles but was ignored by Courtney as she exited the dining room. “I am very sorry sir. We will talk to her” said Helen, as her and Charles turned to face Darius.

“I take it you have accepted my offer” said Darius. “Oh yes we have sir. It is a brilliant idea. I think our daughter would make a great match for you. Thank you for this opportunity” said Charles. Helen and Charles then stood up to go talk to Courtney after saying a few more words of apology and appreciation at the same time.

“Courtney! What are you doing?! How could you storm off like that?!” Shouted Charles as he approached Courtney. She had left the building and was within the compound, leaning her body on her family’s vehicle. She had folded her arms and was feeling distraught. “Charles take it easy on her, you know this is new to her. She needs some time to…” “She doesn’t need any more time” said Charles interrupting his wife Helen. “Courtney, this man has finally provided a chance for us to be debt free. You have to take it. Save this family” said Charles as he moved closer to Courtney.

“You are saying I should just take the chance like it is easy. You are just selling me off to a stranger and you call yourself my father” replied Courtney as tears rolled down her eyes. “Awww Courtney, it’s okay my baby” said Helen in a sympathetic tone as she drew closer to Courtney and wrapped her arms around her. “My daughter, I understand it is not easy, but we are going to become poor and still be in debt if you don’t do this” said Charles as he placed one hand on Courtney’s shoulder.

“Enough of this! My daughter is free to choose what she wants. Don’t force her into a marriage that would make her miserable. Leave her alone!” Shouted Helen, as she lashed out at Charles. “Helen what is wrong with you?! You’re supposed to be on my side here. You and I took this loan together, and we both understand what this situation is going to do to us if we don’t take this man’s offer” said Charles as he frowned at Helen.

“We need to let her choose. She is still our daughter, not something you sell at the auction” replied Helen, after which she gave Courtney a hug whilst wiping away her tears with her hands. “It’s okay my baby, it’s okay” said Helen. Charles, looking at the two of them then let out a heavy sigh. “Hmmm, I hope you know what you are doing women” said Charles, after which he turned around and went back into the house.

“Mum, it’s okay. Just give me some time to think about it” said Courtney. “My baby, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do” replied Helen. “I understand mummy. Let me just think, and consider all my options” said Courtney, as she withdrew from the hug and began comporting herself. “Okay my dear, I will go back inside and wait for you. Just know that whatever decision you make, I will be supportive” replied Helen.

“What is happening out there?” Asked Darius as soon as Charles stepped back into the dining room. “Oh nothing serious sir. Uhmm, my daughter is just thinking about your generous proposal” replied Charles as he nervously scratched his head. “Don’t think too much on it. Tick tock says the clock. I do not have all the time to waste. If she agrees, this wedding has to happen in just a few days, nothing more than that. Is that understood?!” Exclaimed Darius in a grumpy tone.

“Oh oh yes of course sir. I will…” “Hello Mr Anderson. I am sorry for my daughter’s delay. She is just gathering her thoughts” said Helen interrupting her husband Charles. “Well, she had better gather her thoughts properly, because I utterly have no time to waste” replied Darius with a sharp frown at Charles and Helen. Both Charles and Helen then rolled their eyes at each other.

“I will do it” said Courtney as she stepped into the dining room. She wore a frown and looked irritated. “Uhmm, hello baby” said Helen in a concerned tone as she stood up and stood side by side with Courtney. “Are you sure my dear?” Asked Helen while placing one hand on Courtney’s shoulder. “Yes I am” replied Courtney as she looked straight at her mother’s face, then looked directly at Darius and her father after that with a furious and stern look.

“Okay then” said Darius as he broke his silence, and rolled his wheel chair towards Helen and Courtney. “I will draw up the contract and in the presence of my lawyers, we will all sign the agreement. I will also…” “Wait! I have one condition” said Courtney interrupting Darius. “I don’t want to live here with you” said Courtney again.

“Hahahaha” laughed Darius. “Listen to me, for this farce of a marriage to look convincing enough, you have to move in with me. Do not deviate from my plan. You can do whatever you want with your life but this marriage must be complete in every single way. You won’t need to have s*x with me though. I have other girls I call for that” said Darius, as he laughed at those last words.

There was then a short moment of silence in the room. Courtney made a heavy sigh before speaking. “I can’t wait for this to be all over” said Courtney in a depressed tone as a tear rolled down her eye and she stormed out of the room. “Thank you very much Darius for your generosity. This would be a good union. You have my gratitude” said Charles as he stood up to shake hands with Darius. Darius ignored him and turned around, rolled his wheelchair back to the dining table and proceeded eating.

“I will call you when next I need you. Good-bye” said Darius. Charles and Helen then gave a sharp nervous look at each other then thanked Darius again, after which they exited the dining room.

Three days later, the contract Darius and Charles family agreed on was signed by all of them. Darius Anderson and Courtney Bright got married the following day with only their parents present. They displayed a happy home to the royal family that came from France and Darius successfully secured his deal with them.