His Borrowed Bride

004

DAMON

My father's house was one of the few places I never visited without cause. Today, I was here to demand answers on why my business accounts were frozen. I slammed the car door and strode toward the entrance.

The butler opened the doors before I could reach them.

“Good morning, Young Master.”

“Where is he?”

“The Chairman is in his study.”

I nodded. Where else would Victor Blackwood be on a Tuesday morning? Either making money or making everyone's life miserable.

I didn’t wait to be announced; I pushed the study doors open without knocking.

My father didn’t look up. He calmly signed a document before placing his fountain pen on the desk.

“I was wondering how long it would take for you to show your face,” he said.

I scoffed .

“What is this nonsense about my accounts?”

Only then did he raise his eyes to meet mine.

“I froze your accounts. That isn't nonsense.”

I walked to his desk and planted both palms against the polished wood.

I walked to his desk and planted both palms against the polished wood. “You froze every single card? That’s absurd! What is your problem?”

“My problem…”

He folded his hands.

“My problem is that I have spent years financing the lifestyle of a son who behaves like he’s still in college.”

“I’m thirty-two.”

“My point exactly.”

“I run your company! You aren't financing me; I work for you. I earned it.”

“You run one branch. Don't make it sound like you run the enterprise.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“Oh, here we go.”

“You arrive late to board meetings and disappear for days.”

“I still deliver results. Good ones.”

“You spend money like you have an endless stream of income.”

“Money I earned!”

His expression hardened. He clearly wasn't going to agree.

“No, Damon, you did not.”

He opened a folder and slid a financial statement toward me.

“Read.”

“I don’t need to read it.”

"I said read!"

Against my better judgment, I glanced down.

It detailed company revenue, executive compensation, bonuses, and dividends.

My father tapped the paper.

“Every dollar in those accounts came from Blackwood Holdings,” my father said, tapping the paper.

“Those funds were generated by my company.”

“Our company. I own shares!”

“My company! I built it before you were born. Wait until I’m dead before you start claiming what isn’t yours.”

He took another step toward me.

“You simply manage a piece of it.”

I hated when he dismissed my accomplishments.

“I’ve doubled profits in the technology division and expanded into three new markets.”

“Yet you have failed to be a responsible man and find a wife!”

I was dumbfounded. How did marriage relate to business? I rolled my eyes and turned back to him.

“A wife? Really? Is that what this is about?”

“I will not continue funding a man who refuses to grow up and start his own family.”

"You've got to be kidding me!"

“I’m not.”

“You are intelligent, Damon, but you are also a nuisance. You treat work like a hobby while you club and drink. You are a public figure. Our competitors would love to use your scandals to damage this empire.”

"I still got the job, don't I?"

“For Christ's sake, Damon! This nonsense started two years ago when your engagement was called off.”

I clenched my fist.

“That's enough, Dad!”

“You have three months to get yourself together and find a woman, or you will be stripped of your position as CEO. Leave now.”

Without another word, I yanked the study door open and walked out, resisting the overwhelming urge to slam it behind me.

I was halfway across the foyer when I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

“Damon!”

I closed my eyes.

Not now.

“Damon, wait.”

I turned around slowly. My mother was walking toward me, catching her breath. She had likely heard everything.

She smiled the moment our eyes met.

“There you are.”

“I was just leaving.”

“I know.”

She reached for my arm. “Have tea with me.”

“Mom, I’m not in the mood.”

“It’ll only be a few minutes.”

“I said I’m not in the mood.”

She frowned.

“You haven’t had tea with me in weeks,” she frowned.

“I’ve been busy.”

“You always say that.”

“I have.”

“So has your father.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“And yet your father still manages to join me every afternoon.”

“That’s because he lives here.”

“You used to.”

“That was years ago.”

She gave me the same guilty look she used when I was a kid. It still worked.

The guilty look, It still worked.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Fine. You have thirty minutes.”

Her smile widened immediately.

“I’ll take it.”

She hooked her arm around mine before I could change my mind.

“Come.”

The sunroom was her favorite place. Large windows overlooked the gardens, and the air smelled of fresh flowers and vanilla.

A maid placed a pot of tea between us before quietly excusing herself.

Mom poured mine first.

“Still no sugar?”

“I grew out of that years ago.”

“I know.”

She smiled.

“I just like asking.”

I picked up the cup. Neither of us spoke for a while. She always let the silence settle before asking the real questions.

“So…”

There it was...

“How’s work?”

“Good.”

“Just good?”

“It’s been busy.”

“That’s a better answer.”

I took a sip.

“The Singapore deal closed yesterday.”

“Oh?”

She leaned forward with interest.

“And?”

“We secured the partnership.”

Her eyes lit up.

“I knew you would.”

I shrugged.

“Tell that to your husband who is on my neck “

She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. I stared into my cup, wishing for a whiskey. Unfortunately, the only alcohol in the house was hidden in my father's private bar.

“So…”

She stirred her tea absentmindedly.

“I ran into Isabella yesterday,” she said, watching for my reaction. I didn't give one.

“I see.”

“She asked about you.”

I nearly laughed. Isabella? She had the audacity to return and ask about me after breaking our engagement for her lover?

“I hope you didn’t answer her ?”

She sighed.

“Damon.”

“What?”

“It was a simple question, she was curious .”

“I don’t care.”

She looked at me carefully.

“Are you still angry with her?”

I stared at her.

“That’s your question?”

She blinked.

“What else would I ask?”

“I don’t know.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“Maybe ask if I’m doing okay.”

“I already know you’re doing okay , it’s been years .”

She scoffed, and I just nodded. Years had passed, but my trust was still shattered. I didn't know if I would ever let another woman in.

“Damon…”

She reached for my hand bringing me back to the conversation .

“If you two hadn’t broken up, you’d be married now, and your father wouldn’t be so hard on you.”

“Are you serious right now ? Mom !.”.

“I’m just saying….”

“I’m not marrying a woman who cheated. She married another man weeks after calling off our wedding!” My voice rose with the building anger.

“I’m sorry. We just want the best for you. Since the breakup, you haven't been serious with anyone. Don’t you want to start a family?”

I opened my mouth to reply but I just closed it. I had nothing to say because I was so frustrated and I wanted this conversation to end..

“Actually, there is someone. I have a woman in my life.”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

“There is?”

Mom sat upright. I nodded, hoping this would end the interrogation.

“I’m… seeing someone.”

Her eyes widened.

“You are?”

“Mhm.”

“When?”

“Recently.”

“Oh my goodness.”

She reached across the table and grabbed both of my hands.

“What’s her name?”

I took a slow sip, desperate for a distraction. There was no woman, but the questions kept coming.

She fired off questions faster than I could dodge them.

“Mom, I gave you the answer you wanted. Why all the questions?”

“You know what? My birthday dinner is next Saturday. Bring her.”

I nearly choked on my tea. “What?”

“What?”

“Bring your girlfriend.”

I coughed.

“Mom_”

“I’d love to meet her.”

“It’s still very new.”

“Perfect.”

She clapped her hands once.

“The sooner the better.”

Before I could object, she leaned over, kissed my cheek, and stood up.

“I have to go tell your father.”

She was already walking toward the door.

“Mom…..”

She waved without looking back.

“Honey!”

Her voice echoed through the hallway.

“Damon has a woman!”

My entire body froze, My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

Oh…Shit.

There wasn’t any woman.

“Damon!”

I rushed toward my car. I needed to get out of there.

“Don’t forget! Next Saturday!”

I raised a hand without looking back, whether she took that as a wave or an agreement…

I didn’t know, I needed to get out of this house.

Immediately I got into my car , I let out a heavy breath

“What have you done, Damon? A girlfriend? Of all the lies to pick...”

I let my head fall forward until it rested against the steering wheel.

I had one month to either convince my father I was serious about settling down…

Or kiss my position as CEO goodbye.

Thanks to my big mouth, I had to produce a girlfriend by next Saturday or kiss the CEO position goodbye.

“I’ve officially lost my mind.”

I rubbed my face. Maybe I could tell her we broke up before Saturday? No, she wouldn't buy it.

I sighed and reached for the ignition. Just then, my eyes caught the pink purse on the passenger seat. Curiosity won out.

“I should find a way to return this,” I told myself as I opened it.

I unfastened the clasp and carefully opened it.

Inside was a lipstick, perfume, tissues, and a wallet. I pulled out a driver’s license. A passport photograph smiled back at me. It was her.

“Maya Carter,” I read aloud.

The address was listed below: 218 West 83rd Street, Apartment 6B, New York.

I looked at her picture one last time before putting the license away.

“Maya Carter.”

I chuckled to myself as I started the engine.

“Maya Carter,” I chuckled, starting the engine. “I guess I’m paying you a visit.”