Million Dollar Marriage

Prologue

“Edgar, I think it’s finally time you found someone and settled down,” mother whines at me.

I glance up from where I’m laying on my black leather couch turning towards the voice. My mother stands at the foot of the couch sneering down at me. Her look of disappointment almost makes me sit upright. Her slim nose is upturned as fiery lips twitch downward. I sigh running a hand through my hair. I know where this is going.

“Are we seriously doing this again?” I question exasperated.

“Edgar you’re almost thirty years old for god's sake,” she cries out folding her arms across her chest. The expensive diamond-laced bracelets decorating her wrist clank together as she moves. Her dark hair is tied up in a tight bun atop her head adding to her stern aura.

I raise an eyebrow at her, “I’m only twenty-five,” I say.

“Your father and I married at twenty. I think it’s time you stopped fooling around and getting caught up in so many scandals. You’re making out family look bad,” she scolds me sternly.

“I don’t make our family look bad-”

“It’s time you finally started a family of your own,” she presses on.

I pull myself into a sitting position smoothing out my waistcoat as I do.

“So what are you expecting me to do? Meet someone today, fall in love, get married, and have children? I’m almost certain it doesn’t work like that,” I spit out.

“There are plenty of young women interested in you. Why Cecil’s daughter had been asking for marriage since you were five. She’s not her head on straight and is beautiful too,” mother says.

I run a hand through my hair releasing a long sigh.

“Legal arranged marriages don’t exist in the US anymore. It’s the twenty-first century not the seventh. I don’t want to marry someone for business,” I sigh.

“If you want a marriage of love then you were born into the wrong family. The only way to keep our wealth from spreading amongst swine is to marry your own kind. It has been like this for generations and it will continue to be so,” mother snaps.

Talking to her is like arguing with a stone wall.

“I am simply not interested in marriage at this time. Now if you have anything else to discuss I’m listening,” I say trying to move on.

She stomps closer to me her face flushed red.

“I have given you twenty-five years of freedom. You have gotten everything you could as for and more. All I ask is that you do one thing for me. This one thing is all I’m asking of you,” mother pleads.

“And I will, just not right at this moment,” I tell her.

I rub my temples as I suddenly feel a headache coming on. What could possibly be eating at her to make her act like this so suddenly?

“You seem to think you have a choice in this matter but I’ve finally had enough! If you do not settle down I am taking both your car and your house,” she threatens.

“I own both my car and this house you can’t threaten me,” I growl.

A smile begins to creep up mothers lips, “You’re wrong if you think I can’t find a way around that,” she laughs.

Panic overcomes me when I realize she isn’t joking. I scramble off the sofa patting down my slacks only to discover empty pockets.

“Wait just a moment,” I sneer.

“Wait for what,” mother says.

“Aren’t you being a little abrupt? I need time to think about this you can’t just barge in here and expect me to go along with this,” I shout.

“This shouldn’t come as a shock Edgar. You can thank your brother for this,” she says.

A surge of anger pierces through me. I clench my teeth and hands causing my fingernails to dig into my palms. Just ignore her.

“Your brother wouldn’t be giving me problems like this,” she continues.

“Are you trying to use Victor against me?” I snap.

“This is your choice Edgar,” she says.

“I’ll get married,” I grit out.

“Will you really,” mother questions skeptically.

“Yes,” I sigh.

“I’m glad to hear you say those words Edgar,” mother praises.

“However I need a year,” I tell her.

Mother's eyes narrow as she quirks an eyebrow at me.

“Why exactly would you need a year?” she asks.

“I don’t want an arranged marriage, I want to marry someone of my choice. At the end of the year, I’ll bring them to you then we can talk about marriage,” I say.

A deafening silence falls over the room as I wait for my mother to respond. If she agrees to give me a year then I just might be able to think of a way out of this situation. But if she says no I’m not sure what I’ll do if she uses Victor as leverage.

“Six months,” she suddenly says.

“Six months?” I repeat.

“You may have six months to court someone and not a day more. When your time is up you must bring the girl of your choice to me and I will decide if she will be allowed to marry into our family. If she fails you will marry someone of my choice,” she states.

Of course, she would do something like this, she always does this.

“Fine,” I agree.

This is better than nothing.

Mother's face relaxes and a pleasant smile makes its way onto her lips.

“Good, you may now keep your car. Don’t forget you need to come into work today,” she reminds me.

As soon as she leaves I fall back onto the sofa. I rub my temples as a headache begins to form. Why is she so adamant I get married? I am perfectly content being alone. I don’t need a girlfriend and even if I did have any of those needs I’m sure I could find a willing partner.

For now, I have to find someone to at least trick mother. It wouldn’t be that hard to do. It’s not like I don’t have the looks to goad someone into doing it. I’m on the cover of multiple business magazines that paired with my conditioned polite and charming personality I’m definitely a good catch. And if that didn’t work then surely my bank account would convince them.

I sigh, if only I didn’t have to find a girlfriend.

Then it comes to me.

I need to find a woman, hire her to date me for six months then break up right before she meets mother. I would then tell my mother I’m too heartbroken to move on. This way I won’t be forced into a loveless marriage. With this plan, I will be able to avoid marriage until I meet the right one. My mother would surely feel pity for her son's first heartbreak.

I grin adjusting my tie, this is going to be easy.