The Contract Marriage

CHAPTER THREE

Liz could only hope the reason her aunty called to meet with her at her office was as good as she said it was over the phone

'Hi Lizzy, I know my call is the last thing you expect to see right now but I have great news for you. Meet me at my office tomorrow noon'

She hoped it will be good enough to keep her from seeing Mr. Raymond this night as she had planned to, while standing in front of the mirror for hours and trying to convince herself that it was for the best. She could only pray….

"I have a proposal for you Lizzy"

Sitting with abrupt seriousness to find out what help her aunt was offering that could possibly make her aunty this excited..

"Mr Reid Grendor needs someone to play wife for him while he acquires his grandfather's company to himself"

Okay…. Lizzy couldn't really tell why her aunt was telling her all this

"The proposal?..." Itching to find out

"...that's where you come in my darling niece" Lizzy raised a brow at her still trying to figure out the 'proposal'

"Oh for goodness sake Lizzy, surely you can't be that daft. He needs a wife, YOU.."

"Me?....how?....when?.. besides who the hell is Reid Grendor"

"Language…"

Right now Lizzy could really care less about language, all she needed to understand was what was really going on..

"Okay for starters, how don't you know Reid Grendor like 'the Reid Grendor '?" Lizzy's blank stare at her, proved she really didn't know who the Grendors were.

"My God Lizzy… in this modern society, how can you be this blank"

Leave it to Ms. Marie to know all the wealthy men, business tycoons and billionaires in the city. She'll spend the last Kobo on her to connect with them in their space, even if it meant paying her way into where she wasn't welcome or in this case selling off her only neice

"Reidon Grendor is the only surviving heir of Mr Linus Grendor, after the loss of his son years back in an accident…" she looked at Lizzy for any cue after she found non, she rolled her eyes and continued

"... Owners of 'Grendor groups', the small family that swims in wealth. There's his mum who's popularly known as a no nonsense woman and his younger sister whom no one really knows her whereabout until she decides to make it known and then of course his grandfather"

"You do not really need to concern yourself with all this information, all you need to know is his wealthy and he can sort your brother's bills…no need to thank me" Ms.Marie said with a girlie giggle

'Typical'...'Typical of aunt Marie to careless of whom I'll be living with but instead be focused on wealth. I'm pretty sure she has a cut in it' Lizzy just stared blankly at her aunt for the next five minutes before standing up from where she was sitted to leave.

"... he's willing to pay $600 for just two years, your never going to get such an offer our there no matter how many person's you beg" Lizzy caught a glimpse of her aunt's demeaning face just before she turned to face her office window

"Why will anyone be willing to spend that much just to have a wife"

as bitter and demeaning as it sounded, her aunty was right, where's she ever going to get such an amount in a short while

"Beats me…" aunt Marie said with feigned disbelief when she could really care less "...and a fake wife at that…all you have to do is play wife for at least a whole year plus, and get a divorce after. You could even get the divorce within a year and six months. Isn't that lovely" the joy in her aunt's expression made Marie cringe.

Few days ago…

Earlier that week, Lizzy's aunt had walked in on Reidon Grendor at a famous eatery. She came to meet with a client when she heard Grendor jnr talking over the phone to God knows who, on how much his family was beginning to stress over his not being married and with kids. The person over the phone, probably waves it off to be a mere treat cause with the look on James' face, Ms. Marie could see the uncertainty all over him as he explained to his caller that his grandfather was going extreme with his treat this time around. 'thats probably his sister's Ms.Marie noted to herself.

"His really serious this time and I fear he's willing to go all out just to keep to his words, even if it meant giving away my sweat to someone else. I've given my all to that company, learning it's strides since I was a young boy"… "I can't just watch him give it out to anyone, it just doesn't make sense why he'll do that"

Ms.Marie found herself rather drawn to Reid's conversation.

After while, Reidon finally yelled 'THATS IT' in excitement. Ms. Marie guessed the person over the phone had same question as her when he began to explain.

"He wants a bride right, I'll give him a bride, that way I get to keep the company and he's happy also, plus I can also get my mom off my neck for a while"

'a while?' Ms.Marie asked herself a little lost

And as if Reid could hear her question, he responded. "Yes, a while"

"All I have to do is find a lady who's willing to play the part of my wife for a while and when they are over my matter and I have what I want, we'll get a divorce and everyone can go their own way"

"...let me worry about all of that" he said with a smirk on his face to the person on the other line

When Ms.Marie heard Reidon, her eyes and ears rose in excitement as she immediately began to think of how much she can make from this deal with Lizzy who obviously needs this more than she does.

She could barely focus in her meeting as her palms were itching to count the money she'll definitely be making from merging her neice with the 'billionaire heir'

Reidon Grendor was stunned looking at the woman in front of him whom to him, appeared from no where first asking if she could sit and now telling him that she had a solution to his problem….

"...I don't remember having such conversation with you" if looks could kill, this woman in front of Reid will definitely be getting strangled.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't help but over hear your conversation with your friend over the phone" Reid stared at her with a duhh expression

"A conversation that obviously doesn't concern you"

"You looked somewhat desperate, so I felt you could use my help, I know someone who can play the part just as you want"

Reid give her a hard stare and then went back to scrolling through his phone.

"Just consider what I've said, she's young, heeds to instructions and can play the role perfectly. I promise you won't regret this decision. Here's my card if you want to reach me" and with that she was off

Reid stared at her card for a while and then tossed it to his side while he waited patiently for his bill to be brought.

'Reidon Grendor, your really not considering getting entwined with a total stranger, introduced by another stranger'

After giving it some thoughts, he shrugged and picked-up the card the woman from the Chinese restaurant have to him to make the call.

Reid has spent a few weeks looking for the perfect candidate to play the role, apparently girls he knew we're either wild and indecent as they only liked to party, or they we're looking to tie him down with a child in the fake marriage and he wasn't cut out for that.

Reid needed someone whom his grandfather would adore, a descent girl who had zero interest in him what so ever to even think of locking him down even with a child.

And so the day before, he had stumbled on the card from the restaurant, where he had carelessly placed it. The name on it said Ms.Marie. This was his best options or he'll resort to involving his friends and girls from outside the state and that will be such a hassle.

After the second dial, she finally picked

"Guessing I'm on to Ms. Marie"

"Yes please, and you are"

"Reid Grendor" called out with much authority and vigor

"Oh my goodness, Mr Grendor, I'm pleased to finally hear from you…thought I never would" …. 'me too ' Reidon noted to himself

"So when can I see this 'girl' you spoke of"

"When would you like to Mr. Grendor"

"Whenever your ready"

"I'll talk to her and get back to you"

"Don't keep me waiting. As you already know, I'm a busy man"

"Oh of course Mr. Grendor"... "But first, we'll need to discuss the price. How much are you willing to pay for this service"

With disgust at her quest to know the price so soon, he couldn't help but wonder at her desperation.

"Well…she won't be doing much, just act in front of family but you name your price"

"1million dollar"

"Make sure she meets the perfection. I'll text you the location and time, be sure she meets me there" and with that he hung up.

…Now…

"You taking the offer or what.."

"How do you know this person your about to sell your niece to without a care of what he could do to her" at this point Lizzy didn't know if what she felt was pure hate or just anger

"Oh..I'm sure you'll be fine darling" aunt Marie said with a wave of her hand.

"I'll text you the location so you can both meet up" Lizzy could not believe that an aunty who could easily help her and her brother out, resulted to selling her out instead..