My Proprietorial Billionaire

ENRIQUE MONTEIRO started to lose his patience, his lips thinned with irritation. He kept on glancing at the top of the carpeted grand staircase of the Castello Mansion then back to his Rolex watch. Where in the hell is she? It's already been fifteen minutes since we arrived here and still no sign of her. Damn girl, she's wasting my time. He gritted his teeth and raked a frustrated hand through his unruly dark brown hair. He stood up and shoved his hands deep in his pockets, emphasizing his tall, lean yet muscular frame. The rich outline of his shoulders strained against the fabric of his Armani gray suit and white shirt, displaying power and confidence. He strolled nearer to the full-size portrait that hung in the center of the living room. His brilliant blue eyes studied the portrait sharply. It was a picture of a beautiful young woman wearing a peach off-shouldered dress. Her dress was almost the same color as her skin. Her captivating hazel brown eyes, framed by long dark lashes, stared back at him intensely, so compelling and magnetic. A sudden gush of desire overwhelmed him..Dammit! What is wrong with me? Denying the effect of the stare to his senses, he blinked his eyes forcefully and stared at the portrait again. Her hair was as dark as midnight, long and wavy that fell in graceful curves down to her waist. She was wearing a set of diamond stud earrings and a crucifix necklace that settled between her firm high-perched breasts. She looked like an innocent princess in a fairy tale movie. His mouth twisted unpleasantly. This picture is a sham. Everybody knows that she is not innocent. Sophia Castello is reckless, a spoiled brat and a socialite. She is fortunate to be the sole heiress of multi-millionaire Fredo Castello, who owned the biggest agribusiness exporter in Brazil. Enrique wanted the day to be done. Meeting Sophia Castello, his future bride, was not an anticipated event of his life. He was not ready to get married because he was still at the peak of his bachelor life. He could not just give up dating different women every week and having mistresses all over the globe. However, he had no choice. He had to obey his father's wish: to marry Sophia Castello. Enrique's father, Joaquim Monteiro, became so forceful in fulfilling his promise to his childhood friend Fredo Castello, to unite their families' wealth through the marriage of their children. His father asserted that the Monteiros were men of honor who fulfilled their promises. Against his will, Enrique agreed but pledged to himself that he would not be faithful to this marriage. He had the freedom to pursue the lifestyle he enjoyed and continue keeping his mistresses. Go to hell, Sophia Castello! He recalled the first time his father opened up the issue of marriage seven years ago. He was still twenty years old, studying Business Administration at Harvard University. His father showed him a picture of fifteen-year-old Sophia Castello, who looked so young and pretty in her blue school uniform. Her long black hair was braided, and she was smiling at the camera, showing her braced teeth. Enrique found her very beautiful but still so much a child. Joaquim explained to Enrique his friendship with Sophia's father, Fredo. How they fought to defend each other when they were young. He even owed his life to Fredo for saving him from a blazing fire. Each became a protector, confidant, and best friend to the other. They were like brothers. Now that they were older, the desire to protect their wealth became their main objective. They agreed that the marriage of their children was the only way to achieve such an aim. "Fala sério! You're out of your mind, Pai. An arranged marriage doesn't exist anymore." "Filho, I gave my word to Fredo. His wife Marcella can't bear another child anymore because of her heart condition. There's no chance for them to have a son to inherit their fortune. Their daughter is a spoiled brat, reckless and irresponsible. She prefers hanging out with her friends rather than studying her lessons." Joaquim shook his head with disapproval. "They have to choose a good husband for her, who is trustworthy and capable of running their business in the future." Enrique pushed his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rested his shoulder against the wall. "I'm not a child anymore. You can't just tell me to marry someone. Marriage is not in my mind yet. I love my life, and I enjoy dating different girls every week." He groaned and continued. "I don't want to be tied down, especially with this type of girl. She's just a kid! I can't stand spoiled brats like Sophia Castello. I bet she's a pain in the ass." "She's still young. She will surely change when she's older." Enrique rolled his eyes and chuckled sarcastically. He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and faced his father squarely as the latter stood beside him. The family resemblance and Brazilian nationality were so evident in their chiseled facial features and olive-skinned complexion, although Enrique stood three inches taller than his father's six feet height. "Pai, I still have to fulfill my dreams, finish my studies, and help you in our business, to make it so big. Tell the old man that I'm not going to marry his daughter, ever." Joaquim started pacing in the living room of their two-storey mansion in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "I know, son, but you don't have to think about it yet." He paused and shrugged his shoulders. "You are right. Both of you are still young. You have to finish your studies first and enjoy your bachelor life." "Of course." Enrique breathed a sigh of relief. "But Filho, we're not done with this discussion yet. We'll talk about it again some other time." His father said before he left that day. Enrique dated many attractive and sophisticated women. Most of them were models, actresses, and celebrities. His relationships lasted only for a few days or weeks, and with some lucky women, for a month. He got rid of his women as often as he discarded his used shirts. He treated them like playthings or creatures not to be taken seriously. Likely, a doll, when it gets broken, you can throw it away and easily replace it with a new one. He did not believe in love because he had not experienced it. He thought that love never really existed in his world. His definition of love was that it was just another word of lust and a game that people play. He had not found the woman he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Not even one of the women he dated had ever touched his heart. She isn't born yet. Perhaps she belongs in another dimension. He usually thought with a smirk on his face. For him, marriage was a trap-a prison sentence. The man is imprisoned while his wife would act as his warden. His life no longer belonged to him; he would no longer have the freedom to make his own choices and live his own life. It would also deprive him of doing all the pleasures of a single man, especially bedding different women. Marriage was what middle-aged men do in order to have an heir to inherit their wealth. He knew that someday, he had to marry someone, to have an heir to the Monteiro's massive fortune. He had no choice. Of course, it would happen in the future, when he became older and tired of his bachelor life. When that time comes, he wanted to choose his own wife, a woman that he could be proud of. She has to be extremely beautiful and gorgeous, very sophisticated that all men would envy him. Of course, she doesn't have to be smart but with good breeding and most importantly, very submissive and a virgin! After Enrique earned his Business Administration degree at Harvard University, he started helping his father run their multimillion-dollar business of global chain of hotel, casino, and beach resort. He managed their business abroad and travelled in their private jet to different continents almost every week. He was very independent, confident with his strengths, and unafraid of anything. He knew what he wanted and went after it. He was unstoppable, a brilliant negotiator and a risk-taker. He showed no fear in dealing in businesses with the other skilled executives, magnates, tycoons, even with princes and kings. Now, at age twenty-seven, he was appointed as the CEO of Monteiro International Holdings, Inc. He made their company a hundredfold more profitable and earned billions of dollars annually. He took control of their company, making it more competitive in the global market. The marriage issue was brought up again by his father. A later picture of Sophia Castello was shown to him. He could not believe what he saw. She looked very different now. The shy, innocent girl at fifteen was gone and was replaced by a strikingly attractive, stunning, and gorgeous twenty-two- year-old woman. Sophia Castello was wearing a red skimpy dress in the picture that emphasized her sexy, curvaceous body and a pair of gold stilettos, accentuating her long, "nice legs." Her shiny long black hair cascaded down to her waist, giving her a demure and mysterious look. She looked more beautiful now, without her braces. Damn those lips and her killer smile that could melt any man's heart! Even her glassy almond eyes enthralled him, like poles of magnets hypnotizing and giving him a "come-and-get-me" look. At that moment, Enrique realized that he was in deep trouble. Hell! He could not be attracted to a woman he had only seen in a picture. NO WAY! He said to himself, forcibly denying the attraction he felt for Sophia. Enrique still did not like the idea of marrying Sophia Castello. No matter how beautiful she was. She didn't pass the high standards he has set for a wife. She's a spoiled brat, a wild partygoer, and probably has a wild s*x life, too!! couldn't stand promiscuous women. However, his father became so insistent and forceful on his marriage campaign. He said it was already time to fulfill his promise to Fredo Castello. "Then you should marry her. You've been so lonely since Mom died." Enrique reasoned out to his father. He was sitting behind his big mahogany desk in his office in New York. His father heaved a sigh. "Don't involve your mother on this, filho. Her soul already rested peacefully. This is all about you and Sophia. "I told you several times already, I won't marry Sophia Castello or anyone at this moment. I love my life! I'm not ready to be tied down by a nagging wife and change baby diapers. I enjoy my freedom." "Enough! The Monteiros are men with honor. We fulfill our promises. You are going to marry Sophia, as soon as possible. We already discussed this matter seven years ago. It's final, and I'll make sure you are going to obey me this time, Enrique." After a week of arguing with his father, Enrique finally gave in. With a heavy heart, he agreed to marry Sophia Castello. He had no choice but to comply because his father was so forceful in fulfilling his promise to Fredo Castello. "Okay, you win. I will marry her. I know that you are doing this for our own good. I will go to Brazil with you and ask for her hand in marriage." Enrique told his father on the phone. "I'm glad, filho, that you finally realized the importance of this union. I know that you will not disappoint me. You will not regret your decision. We will go to Brazil as soon as possible. I'll call Fredo to inform him." His father answered happily. "As you wish, Dad." Enrique answered somberly and put down the phone. He stood up behind his desk and walked towards the wall-to-wall glass window in his office. He looked at the skyscrapers of New York blankly, thinking of Sophia Castello. The vintage alarm of the grandfather clock brought Enrique's mind to the present. He finished his whiskey in one gulp. He was so restless that he often shifted position in his seat and checked his watch. He couldn't understand why he felt a bit nervous about his meeting with Sophia. His father, Joaquim Monteiro, was seated, drinking champagne with Sophia's parents, Fredo and Marcella Castello in the living room. They were chattering and laughing with excitement for the upcoming marriage of their children. "Marcella, Sophia hasn't come down yet. What is taking her so long? Ask a maid to tell her to hurry up." Fredo told his wife, sensing Enrique's restlessness. Fredo and Marcella Castello were both in their early fifties and already married for twenty-five years. They were an example of filthy rich and famous socialites in Brazil. They were very active in their church and civic organization. Marcella stood up from the elegant red and gold Victorian couch. Her long satin dress flowing as she walked, overpowering her short and stout body structure. "I'll go and get her. Kindly excuse me, gentlemen." She smiled charmingly and walked towards the red-carpeted grand staircase. Enrique went to the mini bar to get another glass of whiskey. His nerves tensed immediately. His hands were trembling, no matter how much he tried to control it. He couldn't understand what he felt. It was so unusual because he was a man full of confidence, courage, and command. Nothing scared him. Being a student council president in college and the leader of various civic organizations made him a tough and self-assured individual. He was used to giving long speeches and debates in standing up for his principles. When he started, running his father's business and meeting different types of people all over the world made him tougher, more brilliant, and very powerful. But now...meeting Sophia Castello in person made him so edgy. He felt like he was about to be nailed on a cross. What is wrong with me? She's just a woman, and she's not even my type. Dammit! "Fredo! Fredo!" Marcella shouted. She was standing at the top of the grand staircase. "Slowly, Marcella, what's wrong?" Fredo stood up and went towards the bottom of the staircase. "She's gone! Sophia is gone. She's not in her room." "What?" Fredo's eyes widened. He looked so shocked and hurriedly went up the stairs, to his daughter's bedroom. Enrique frowned, not believing what he'd just heard. Sophia Castello is gone? I thought she was dying to marry me! He was sweating profusely now and could not explain his ambiguous feelings. He felt relieved but also angry. and...rejected. His father, Joaquim, just looked at him and shrugged his shoulders. A tense silence enveloped the room. They both waited for the Castellos to come down. A few minutes later, Fredo descended the stairs. His face was gloomy and his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Joaquim and Enrique." He shook his head disappointedly. "Sophia is not in her room. She is gone." Fredo said in a very distressed voice. Enrique glared at the portrait of Sophia Castello. b***h!