THE BILLIONAIRES CONTRACT BRIDE

chapter 5-GRANDFATHER'S TEST

The Blackwood family lunch was not a lunch, it was an interrogation. At the head of the long table sat Grandfather Edward Blackwood. He was 80 but his eyes were sharp like an eagle.

So this is the girl who finally made my grandson settle down, he said, looking at Elena.

Elena swallowed hard. Nice to meet you, Grandfather.

Adrian squeezed her hand under the table. Remember, act natural, he whispered.

Grandfather smiled. Elena, tell me, how did my cold grandson propose to you? He has never brought any girl home before.

Elena panicked. They never discussed this part. She looked at Adrian.

Adrian quickly said, It was at the park, Grandpa. Simple.

Park? Grandfather raised an eyebrow. A billionaire proposing in a park? My grandson?

Elena suddenly got an idea. She smiled sweetly. Actually Grandpa, he proposed in my small apartment. He was so nervous he spilled coffee on my contract... I mean on my carpet. And he knelt down to clean it and I thought he was proposing. So I said yes before he even asked.

The whole table laughed. Even Adrian almost laughed. Grandfather laughed the loudest.

I like her, Grandfather announced. She has humor. That is what this family needs, not those plastic girls like Vanessa.

He then turned serious. One more question. When are you giving me a great-grandchild? I am 80, I don't have much time left. I want to carry a baby before I die.

Elena choked on her water. Baby?

Adrian coughed. Grandpa, we just married. We need time.

Time? I gave you 30 years to find a wife. Now you want time to give me a baby? No. I want good news in six months, or I will change my will again.

On the way home, Elena was quiet.

What's wrong, Adrian asked.

The baby issue. We never talked about it. The contract says no love, no physical... but how do we explain no baby to your grandpa?

Adrian looked at the road. We will cross that bridge later. For now, we just need to survive family dinners.

But as he said it, he stole a glance at Elena. And for a strange second, he imagined what their baby would look like. With her kind eyes and his stubbornness.

He quickly shook the thought away. What was he thinking? this was just a contract