AN ENTICING OFFER

Chapter Three

LIAM

Liam's father, Jonathan Carter, paced around the living room that morning while Liam sat on the couch with Alan, his best friend. His father had called for an urgent family meeting while they were about to leave for work that morning.

"Dad, are you going to spend all morning pacing around the room, or will you just tell us why you called us here? I am meeting an important client this morning, so I have to get going", Liam said.

"Have a seat, Mr Carter, you aren't allowed to move around for a long time". His father's caretaker said and then helped him to sit down.

"What is it you want to talk to me about, Dad?" Liam asked again.

His father let out a sigh, "This is why people keep releasing news that you are gay, a simple family meeting, and you brought your girlfriend with you", His father said, pointing to Alan, who had his legs crossed while sipping a cup of coffee.

"I might as well move into this house to become a proper wife to you, Liam darling," Alan said, touching Liam's wrist.

"f**k off" Liam snapped at him and Alan burst into laughter before turning to Liam's father. "I am a straight man, I very much love women and there are a lot of articles and pictures online to back this up. Your son, though, could be gay because I have never seen him with a woman before", Alan told Mr Carter.

"How can he go out with a woman if you are stuck to him like glue? Don't you have patients to attend to this morning, Doctor Morris?" Mr Carter asked.

"I have one of my patients here right now. Have you taken your medication this morning?" Alan asked, referring to Liam's father, and he scoffed in reply.

"I am not sick, don't treat me like a sick person," Mr Carter said, and Alan decided to keep mute.

"Dad, what do you need to talk to me about? My business is going well, and I have established another branch in the United States. Everything is going well", Liam said, and his father smiled.

"As always, you are a good businessman, I didn't ask you to wait this morning just to discuss your business, Liam. I am already proud of you," his father said.

"Thank you, Dad, but if it's not about business, then what is this meeting for?" He asked, and his father cleared his throat.

"Liam, you are almost 30 years old". His father started, but he cut him off instead, "I am just 28 Dad"

"28 is the same as 30, Liam, and I am not getting younger. You are old enough to start a family of yours. I want to have at least two grandchildren before my illness kills me" the old man said.

"I thought you said you weren't sick?" Alan teased.

"Stay out of this", Liam's father warned him, and Alan kept reading the newspaper.

"Liam, having a child will make the board of directors see you as a responsible man, so if I want to retire, you won't have issues inheriting the family business", Mr Carter said, trying to persuade his adamant son.

"Dad, you are not going to die anytime soon and neither am I ready to get married too. I don't need children nor a wife before my hard work and diligence are seen. I already own three businesses and had another one established last week. All these are enough reasons for me to gain the support and respect of the board of directors", Liam said, not wanting to see things from his father's perspective.

"Would you stop arguing with me for once and just do as I say? Liam, even the tabloids won't stop spreading rumors like how you must like other men. Staying around your best friend all the time had them suggesting that you are in a relationship with him too". Disgust was clear in his dad's tone.

"It won't be the first time. Dad and I have always dealt with it and made sure to take the articles down. I can assure you, Father, that I am not gay and Alan isn't in a relationship with me. The man goes to a strip club every weekend, how can one even think he will be gay?" Liam asked and Alan chuckled.

"The problem is you and not Alan, the world doesn't know you aren't gay, they will only believe what they hear and see. If an article comes out to announce your marriage, they will stop calling you gay", his father said, trying his best to explain to his son.

"Dad..."

"If you want Carter's enterprise, then you must get married, Liam". Both Liam and Alan stiffened upon hearing his father's statement. He knew how much Liam wanted the company business.

"That's not fair, Father," Liam said, anger evident in his tone.

"Life isn't fair, Liam. You have just five months to get married, or I will give the company out to a director and leave the city", his father threatened.

"Dad..." Liam said, short of words.

"All Liam has to do is get married, right?" Alan asked.

"Yes, and I have someone in mind," his father said.

"That is?" Both Alan and Liam asked.

"How about your business partner, the one who you grew up with?" His father asked.

"Katherine?" The men spat out and Alan burst into laughter. "Dad, you don't mean it. How in the world would I get married to Katherine? We don't even have feelings for each other and the only thing we talk about is business", Liam said.

"Love can grow. You have five months to get married. She is a wonderful woman who knows a lot about business. If she becomes your wife, both of you can expand Carter's enterprise together", his father suggested.

"No Dad, I cannot marry Katherine", Lian replied, adamantly.

"I have only given you a suggestion, Liam. If you have a better woman in your life, then go for it. All I know is that by the end of the year, if you aren't married, you can kiss Carter's enterprise goodbye", His father said with a tone of finality before getting up from where he sat.

"Father, you can't do this to me," Liam said, angry.

"My doctor asked me to rest, so you can go to work now, the conversation is over, and the decision is yours to make". His father added before leaving the living room with his caretaker.

"f**k!" Liam yelled as he punched the sofa he was sitting on. "What the f**k am I going to do now?" He yelled.

"It's high time we found you a wife," Alan said with a smirk.