The wrong brother’s bride

The contract

Darcy pov

the glass tower of the Carter Beauty Headquarters where the morning sun reflected brightly as I walked into the building. I walked into my private elevator taking me high up to my office. “Good morning, Ms. Carter,” the receptionist greeted me as I stepped off the elevator. “Morning, Linda?” I said, walking past her into my office without waiting for her reply.”

My office was a massive suite, filled with long windows that offered me a view of the entire city. I sat in my expensive leather chair, took the black case from my bag and placed it on the white marble desk, the black diamond sat inside. “My trophy, delivered with his humiliation,” I whispered and smiled. immediately, Linda rushed in with an iPad in her hand. “Ms. Carter, you need to see this” she said breathlessly. “Twitter is on fire!”. I took the iPad. The number one trending topic was me.”. I smiled. I already had this planned, and it was working perfectly. I began scrolling, the first was from a blog called New Business: “Who is Darcy, the billionaire who humiliated Declan Voss at his own gala?” The caption gave me a sweet thrill, it was perfect. “The $60 million power move that broke the internet,” another blog posted. As I scrolled down, I saw a video of Declan**’s** face turning white. It already had 2.5 million views, and the comments were hilarious—praise for me, mockery for Declan. I handed the iPad back. “Let them talk,” I responded bluntly.

As Linda stepped out and closed the door behind her, I pulled up a portfolio on the screen, a portfolio that only I had access to. I went through the portfolio which showed that Voss Enterprises' current market cap has been down 8% since yesterday and thanks to me for making that happen. My stake in his company increased by 8% over the night.” Declan didn’t know about this, neither did his board, but I had bought shares from the company using shell companies, offshore accounts, and more. All the shares I bought were in the shadows, except the one from last night just to inflict pain on him. My target: 30% ownership of his company, enough to force a board meeting, Enough to make him bleed for everything he’d done. I wanted to be in the circle to achieve that, which was going as planned. And then I called one of my brokers. “Buy another 5%, no matter the cost.”

A few years back, I could not pay for my dad’s hospital bill, and he almost lost his life, That’s when my tragedy began. If I’d had the money, I would never have married Declan. Never endured that hell. How he made me feel so foolish! A tear rolled down my eye. It was only few months into my marriage with Declan. I spent four hours cooking his favorite meal. I wanted him to love me, how foolish to try making someone who hates me to love me. When the food was ready, I lit the candles and brought an expensive wine. I thought that maybe if we spent quality time together, he would stop hating me. I waited. it was 10 p.m., yet no Declan. I couldn’t help but fall asleep on the dinner table. Then the door opened and I woke up immediately. It was already 11 p.m. I moved towards him. “I made dinner for you, your favorite…” I stopped as I saw Victoria coming in, but I couldn’t complain; Declan does whatever he wants. “I’m not hungry,” he said to me as he held Victoria’s hand and walked past me straight to the dining room. He looked at the food with so much disgust and anger. “What’s all this?” he said leaving me short of words. “These candles and funny-looking food,” he added, taking out the flames. He picked up the plates that I had arranged carefully, and walked to the trash. My mouth fell open. I couldn’t say a word. I was just hoping he would not do what I thought he was about to do. He poured the whole food into the garbage, everything, and then turned to the cook. “Don’t let this woman into the kitchen anymore, she’s useless. The only thing she knows how to do well is scrub the floor.” Victoria was excited and could not help but laugh behind her hand. “Declan, what did I ever do to you?” I said with tears rolling down my eyes like a flowing river, but he knows nothing of empathy. He gestured for Victoria to leave and then only two of us were left in the living room. He moved closer till there was no space in between us. Then, his voice dropped to a whisper “Stop pretending this is a real marriage. I just want my father off my back and that is the only reason you are here today. Or tell me… what made you think I would want to settle down with a common cleaner?” He stepped back. “Stop trying to love me. We both know why you’re really here.”

Then he walked away with Victoria as they laugh through the hall.

I stood there in the kitchen, heartbroken, I didn’t cry until I heard his bedroom door lock. Just then, Linda’s voice brought me back to the present. I didn’t notice when she opened the door; I was so lost in my thoughts. “Mr. Voss is requesting for a meeting,” she said, and without hesitation I responded, “Tell him we are not entertaining meetings at the moment.” And then I dismissed her back to her duty post. Declan was doing all I had predicted.

A knock on the door and it was Linda again. I raised an eyebrow waiting for her to speak, and then she said, “There’s an urgent call from your lawyer.” I took the phone from her. “What is it?” I asked curiously through the phone. “Declan Voss just purchased 20% of Carter Beauty. He used three offshore accounts to hide the purchase,” my lawyer said. “How much did it cost him?” I asked. “Approximately $200 million dollars. I was able to find out that he liquidated some of his assets and also leveraged his real estate. He is now the second biggest shareholder at your company and can call for a board meeting and also stop major decisions,” my lawyer said and went silent, as if expecting some kind of reaction, but I already knew the man I’m up against so I was ready. “I know what he can do,” I finally said and cut the call. He has retaliated just the way I had expected. His ego won’t let him see what was coming next. I deliberately left the shares open for him to buy. I called my broker, “Buy 5% share from Voss Enterprises, and then start shorting his hospitality division,” I ordered. “But that would cost…” He was saying when I cut him off. “I don’t care how much it costs, just execute,” and then I hung up. Declan had no idea how close he was to my trap, and I pity him.

Twenty minutes later, my phone rang and it was Linda. “Linda, what is the problem again?” I asked. “Mr. Voss is outside and he is demanding to see you. We told him he needs an appointment but he is refusing to leave.” I could already hear shouting in the background. “Should we call the police?” she asked. I walked to the window and paparazzi was all over my building as I looked down. This is perfect, just how I want it. “Let him up,” I instructed Linda. “Ma, I don’t think it’s…”

“I said let him up,” I cut her off. “And let two security men escort him upstairs and make sure the cameras at the elevators are working.” I hung up, arranged my attire properly and reapplied my red lipstick. I was already hearing heavy footsteps from the hall and Linda’s voice trying to stop him, but he slammed the door open, and I turned back slowly with no expression on my face. Our eyes locked.

For three seconds, the world went silent.

He looked… wild. He has a loose tie round his neck and a messy hair, Breathing hard.

Something in my stomach tightened.

I crushed it immediately. “Mr. Voss, you should have called ahead,” I said to him as I walked from the window to my seat. “What the f**k do you think you are doing, Darcy?” he said with a dangerous high tone that sounded like he was shouting. “Language, please. This is a professional office. I think you should be used to that rule too, since you have an office yourself,” I said reluctantly as I was busy arranging the document on the desk. “Are you playing games with me, Darcy?” he said, leaning his weight on his shoulder as he rested his hand on my desk. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Mr. Voss. I’m only doing business which involves investing,” I responded as I looked into his eyes. “This is no business, Darcy. You left three years ago, and now you have turned into something I don’t recognize anymore,” he said. “Would you have still wanted me to kiss your feet, Mr. Voss?” I answered. He was quiet but walked round the office restlessly and then he said, “I looked for you, Darcy. I never wanted all of that to happen,” he said. This time he was getting closer to me, too close as he ran his hand through his hair. Too close that I could smell his cologne, the same scent that used to cling to the clothes I washed.

My pulse spiked.

I hated that my body still reacted to him.“You wouldn’t understand, Darcy,” he said. I stepped back, creating a distance between us. “I understand. You used me, paid for my service and threw me out like rags,” I said and he moved closer again. “No, Darcy—”

“It’s Ms. Carter.”

I corrected him which he felt like a slap. He clenched his jaw. curled his hand into a fists at his sides.

And For a moment, I thought he might—

What? Kiss me? Shake me?

But He did neither.

Just stared at me like he was trying to memorize my face.

Then he stepped back, composing himself. He cleared his voice, took out a document from his jacket and threw it on the desk. “Read it,” he said. But I didn’t touch it. “What’s that?” I asked. “It’s a six-month collaboration contract between your company and mine,” he said. “I don’t need it. You are trying to control me,” I responded almost immediately. “I own one of the biggest shares in your company and I can stop your expansion to Africa,” he said. “Are you blackmailing me?” I responded.

“We both lose if this turns into a war,” he said. “I really want to know who the fk* you are now,” he said and I felt a calm in my soul and I hated that I felt that. “I’ll have my lawyer review the contract,” I said. He was about to speak when I ordered him to leave. He slammed the door and I fell into my chair, staring at the ceiling. Silence, then

I stared at the contract on my desk.

Six months. Mandatory weekly meetings. His name on my business but If I don’t sign, he’d destroy everything I’d built.

And if I signed…

I’d have six months of proximity. Six months to break him completely. Six months to find the perfect leverage that I need to bring him to his knees. I picked up the phone and called him directly.

He answered on the first ring. “Darcy.”

“I’ll sign your contract,” I said. “But on one condition.”

“What condition?”

“We meet tomorrow night so we can finalize terms. Neutral location. Just you and I.” He was quiet for some seconds and then he asked

“Why?”

“Because if I’m going to work with you for six months so we’re going to establish boundaries on my terms and my way.”

He went pause again and finally responded.

“Fine. I’ll send you the location.”

I hung up.

Then I called my broker: “Buy another 3% of Voss Enterprises.”

If Declan thought this contract would give him control over me then he was wrong.

I know the trap I was walking into

But I was bringing a bomb with me.