A Blind Marriage On Paper

Chapter 2

Six years ago, Ingo Vaughan became the CEO of Vaughan’s Advertising. The company belongs to Raziel, his father. Raziel might have appointed his son the CEO, but he keeps a close eye on the company that was handed down to him by his late father.

Ingo is known to be a playboy and believes in dating several women at a time. He is also considered among the top three most eligible bachelors in New York City. Many women want to be known as the one that captives that rich, handsome man and has the title of Mrs. Ingo Vaughan.

Especially Brynn Ackles, who is an account executive at Ingo's company. She is thirty-three years old with dark brown eyes and is 5’7 with dyed blonde hair in a pixie cut with a deep part on the right side. Brynn has been working there for four years. During that time, she managed to catch the eye of Ingo. But can’t seem to be able to keep his attention or make him commit to her.

Griffin is standing against the wall in Ingo’s office. He smirked and shook his head, looking at Brynn, trying her best to talk his best friend into changing his plans and taking her out to dinner. So far, Ingo has turned her down five times, Griffin has heard. He has warned Ingo about that woman. Brynn is conniving and doesn’t care who she hurts to get what she wants; she wants his friend. Ingo finally gets tired of her begging and rubbing on his thigh. He can’t believe what was making him uncomfortable. So, he reluctantly agrees to come by her apartment later that night. Neither one knew that Griffin was there until he cleared his throat when he figured his friend had been tortured enough. "The meeting starts in ten minutes." He looks at his watch and taps it.

Ingo pushes Brynn off his lap and rushes out of the room. Then he stops and looks at Griffin. "What meeting?"

"The one at the pub around the corner that has our names on it. It looked as if you needed to be rescued. If not, you can always go back to the octopus." Griffin looks back at Ingo's door.

"Oh, hell no." Ingo pushes the elevator button. "She can't seem to understand that we aren't in a relationship. Hell, I have no plans of marrying her or anyone right now. Maybe in about seven years when I'm forty, and that is a big ass if."

“Not if that woman has any say in it. “Griffin is looking at Brynn.

She is standing in the hall, giving Ingo an alluring look and repeating to herself. “Mrs. Brynn Vaughan”

****

Ingo and Griffin walk into the pub, and women stare at the two handsome men. Ingo is thirty-three years old and 6'3' with brown hair worn in a sleek comb-over, brown eyes, a short beard, a slightly longer mustache, and long sideburns. Griffin is 6'1' and has low-cut black hair and black eyes.

As soon as the two men sit at the bar, the bartender sets two martinis in front of them. He points at two redheads who had bought the drinks. “As always, you lucky sons of bitches, night has begun.”

“Now that’s another damn good reason why I’m not getting married or having a girlfriend.” Ingo chuckles.

Griffin holds his glass up toward the two women and takes a sip of the martini. "Man, we cannot keep this single's life s**t up forever."

"As I said, forty or older. Until that time comes, I will enjoy the hell out of it. Ingo winks at the ladies. His phone beeps, and it's a text from Brynn. She’s sending him a naked picture of herself. Ingo takes a quick look at the photo and deletes it.

Griffin knew what it was and from whom. Brynn has a habit of sending Ingo nude photos of herself in different positions, and sometimes she dresses in lingerie, but rarely. At first, Ingo enjoyed it, but after about two months, he grew tired.

Ingo drinks the martini and tells the bartender to bring him and Griffin another round. Also, return the favor and send the two women what they have. He waits until the bartender walks away. “Brynn is a fun woman. But not marriage material. She isn’t a challenge.

The woman who wins my love has to be adventurous, a challenge, and know her worth. Hell, Brynn has gotten to the point that she’s throwing herself at me. I do mean that, literally. Regardless of how often I remind her that she and I are in a casual relationship only, she seems to forget it.”

“There is talk going around town and the office about you two. Let's hope your father doesn't get wind of it. Maybe you should back away from her or cut back on those late-night visits to her place.” Griffin picked up his glass to walk over to the table to join the two ladies. “You coming or going to the octopus’s apartment?”

"What do you think? Lead the way." Ingo stood up and ignored his ringing phone” Not tonight, octopus. Not tonight.”

****

Brynn hangs the phone up and mentally screams until she looks into the mirror, admiring herself in a red lace strap with teasing cutouts on the front and back. "Oh girl, your ass is hot. I mean, hot as hell," She picks up a bowl with red rose petals and starts dropping them on the floor around the bed. " Tonight, I'm going to do things to Mr. Ingo Vaughan that will blow his damn head off. He'll never let me go."

Two hours have passed, and Brynn keeps looking at the clock on the wall. She has been calling Ingo every ten to fifteen minutes. At first, his phone was ringing before going to voicemail. After a while, her calls were sent straight to voicemail. Now she is furious that he has turned his phone off, and she screams as she blows all the candles out. "Damn it, think, Brynn, think." She walks around the room for a few minutes before she throws on a tan trench coat. "Since he won't come to me, I'll go to him."

*****

Imelda and Maci are walking through the front door of Ingo's penthouse. The two women had gone out to see a movie. Their boss had surprised them by giving them the night off. Imelda looks at Maci, sliding her finger across her phone for the umpteenth time.

Maci has been doing that for the last fifty minutes or so. Whoever the caller is, he or she is determined to talk with her. Imelda is curious about who the young woman doesn't want to talk to and why. Maybe she doesn't want her to hear the conversation. Imelda decided not to ask since it was not any of her business.

Maci frowns, throws her phone inside her purse, and walks down the hall. The doorbell rings, and both women walk into the hall and slowly walk to the door. Then looks at one another. Alan, the doorman, hasn't announced any visitors, and Mr. Vaughan has a strict rule about anyone showing up without his knowledge, especially his female friends. Maci opens the door and is almost knocked over when Brynn storms past her. “Where is your boss?” She starts walking toward the hall that leads to Ingo’s bedroom.

Imelda runs to get in front of her. “No, no, no, where do you think you're going?’ She is trying to catch her breath while blocking Brynn.

“Move,e old woman.” Brynn’s eyelids are twitching while she’s staring at the woman.

Imelda points to the front door. “Mr. Vaughn isn’t expecting you. Besides, he’s not home. I’ll make sure to tell him that you came by.”

Brynn looks down the hall and yells, “What do you mean he’s not here?”

“Just what I said. Mr. Vaughan isn’t home. Next time, call before you come.” Imelda walks her to the door. But sees Maci biting her nails and avoiding looking at her and Brynn.

“I’ll wait for him. He isn’t going to be happy with how you’re treating me. Get your hands off of me,” Brynn yells as she’s being pushed out of the door.

Imelda slams the door and looks at Maci. She’s about to say something when Maci’s phone beeps, and Maci runs down the hall to get her phone.

“I’m sure I know who those damn calls were from now. When will that young lady learn? First thing in the morning, Alan and I are having a serious conversation about him letting that scheming woman in here.” Imelda is mumbling and looks at the door. She hears Brynn cussing in the hallway.

*****

The next morning, Ingo had taken a shower at Beverly’s apartment and changed clothes when he arrived at the office. He hung up the phone with Imelda when Brynn barged into his office with her hands on her hips. Ingo looked at the door and pointed to it. “I don’t remember hearing you knock or my assistant announcing you. You seem to have a nasty habit of showing up at places you’re not invited to. Do not come to my home again unless I invite you. I’m sure that this visit has something to do with work. It sure as hell better not be personal.” He gives her a stern look.

Brynn hears and understands Ingo’s words but is not fazed by her as she sashays behind his desk. “I waited for hours for you. I went to your place because I thought something was wrong. Is that a crime?” She tries to run her fingers through his hair. But he moves his head back.

Ingo points to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down. It seems that you have forgotten what the nature of our relationship is. So let me remind you again for the hundredth or two hundredth time. Brynn, you're not my girlfriend, and you sure as hell aren’t my wife. I’m not committed to you in any way. I heard the rumors that you have spread regarding us. I’m not going to detail it, but it stops today. I do mean today. Now, if we continue seeing each other, it will contain an occasional date and s*x. Don’t think or make it more than what it is. Now I have a lot of work today. Leave my office if you don’t have any business to discuss.”

She is breathing hard but knows that if she says one wrong word, Ingo will stop seeing her. Brynn can’t take that chance. She nods her head and swiftly leaves his office, mentally screaming and cussing in her head. She has been doing that a lot over the last couple of months.

Ingo is tapping this desk, wondering, “How in the hell did I get involved with that damn woman?” His ringing phone brings him out of his thoughts. It’s his father, and he's demanding that he meet with him on Wednesday for breakfast. He's not happy with the quarterly report. Raziel hangs up without giving his son a chance to turn him down.

“Damn it, father, I knew I would hear from you. s**t, I didn’t expect it this morning. As much as I hate to admit it, we have lost several of our biggest clients and a few small ones. Neither client would give a specific reason for their departure. Maybe I should clean house and hire new copywriters. “He’s reading the report. If things keep going this way, the company will go bankrupt.”

****

Last night, Raziel didn’t sleep much after reading the company’s report. His wife ran him out of bed because his tossing and turning disturbed her sleep. He was in his office, pacing and breaking things. He tried to call his son, but his calls only went to voicemail. That irritated him more. Raziel is a man who doesn’t like to be ignored. He took it that his calls going to voicemail were his son’s way of avoiding him.

Raziel slams the report down on his desk. "How in the hell could my son let the company get so damn bad? I have never seen such bullshit in my life. We'll be living on the damn street. He rubs his forehead and picks the report up again. "It looks like I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

Coleen comes into the office with a cup of coffee. “I know that look, Raziel Vaughan. What are you planning on doing?”

“It’s time for our son to stop his foolishness and get his damn mind on the company.” He chuckles and rubs his chin. “Yes, that might just work.” Raziel doesn’t waste any time making a call.