Irresistible Marriage: The Billionaire's Rented Bride

DEVON'S POV . "Let's all try to work on the project. I need feedback by this time next week and I won't toletate excuses, understood?" Devon asks his staffs and they all nod in unison. They were all seated at a round table trying to pitch in ideas for a new app that they will be launching soon and so far, it seems as if their boss isn't impressed. They could all tell by the glum look on his face and if they manage to slip one last time, they're almost certain that it'll cost them their jobs. "Dismissed" he raised his hands and signalled them out of his office. He touches his head with his free hand, already feeling the migraine coming as he lets out a deep exasperated breath before taking a seat on his huge swivel chair. Owning a company is one thing and running it to achieve greater heights and success is another problem all together. He falls back on his chair and slowly taps his hands on his table, lost in thought. The door opens and his secretary, Kyra enters, shutting the door slowly but Devon has already been alerted by her presence into the room. He somehow manages to detect sounds and movements quickly, a trait that he got from his mother, although he's not very proud of it cause it always keeps him extra alerted and always aware of the happenings in his surroundings. "Mr McGuire. There's a phone call for you" his secretary informs him, passing the phone over to her boss who takes it reluctantly. Who could this be and what could they possibly want? already feeling flustered and frustrated, he places the phone to his ears and his mother's voice booms through. The minute he heard her voice, he countenance dropped from zero to minus zero. Sadly, he already knows the reason for this call and he has been expecting it as well. It took them a while cause they never fail to remind him everytime how much of a failure he was to them and how much better his younger brother was, compared to him. He waves his hands, signalling Kyra to give him some privacy. Kyra leaves the office and Devon holds the phone to his ears waiting for his mother to say something. There's no way In hell, he's starting the conversation to a topic he already knows too much about. "Devon" his mother's voice sprang through. "Hello mother" Devon feigns a squeak, knowing that this conversation isn't going to end well as always. He doesn't understand why he has to go through this torture every single time but what can he do about it? It's his mother after all. "I can't believe that you just simply chose to ignore us all these while. What are you even up to? No calls to ask about our well being or even to check up on your father to see how he's doing." "Mother I'm busy and you know that I am" he said as a matter of factly. "I would've called but my job and my company needs me. Besides it's not like you care if I do" He muttered the last part under his breath. "You're busy? Even for your parents? I mean it's not like you even work a real job or something." And there it was, the complete sarcasm. He should be mad but funny enough he has found a way of ignoring them, or should he say coping with the indirect insults. you can almost say that he is immune to them. He doesn't respond to his mother's previous remark because it never ends well. Answering back, only meant asking for more and for the life in him, he wasn't prepared to do so. He has come to terms with the fact that he can never be good enough for his parents unlike his younger brother who is their pride and joy. "Anyways, why'd you call?" He changes the subject, waiting for his mother's response. "Well..." His mother begins after a quick pause "We'll be visiting Florida in a week or two and might stay up to three months time" she announced leaving him speechless. No, this can't be happening. He sits up Instantly. "Why?" The question rushes out of his mouth before he could even stop them. "Jake is getting married soon and his fiance lives in Florida, so we'll be visiting the country and probably stay for about a month or three, you know, to sort things out before the big wedding" she intentionally stresses on the 'wedding' to get to Devon but that's the least of Devon's problem. His parents coming home could only do more worse to his situation than good. This could ruin everything he has worked so hard to build. "Is it really necessary that you come here? I mean, she could always visit you guys over there in Canada right?" He tried his utmost best to persuade his mother and make her see reason. There's no way on earth would he allow them come over here with the intent of seeing him. "Nonsense. I wouldn't want her to think that we're just a mediocre family. And plus, your brother is really taken in with this girl so he literally begged us to come." He heard her sigh at the other end as she beckoned his father to get ready to take his meds. Devon could've swore to kill Jake if he ever laid eyes on him. s**t! Why would they take such a decision and only let him know about it now. He had only zero time to prepare. He was beginning to sweat in and out and his mind was scattered all over the place. "And plus, I think it'd be great to also finally meet your fiancee" his mother adds. "My what now?" He asked, wide-eyed. "Your fiancee. The one you told us about. The one you kept on singing praises about and telling us about how much you love and adore her. Don't tell me that you broke up with her already." "Ah, yes. My fiancee. Um she's fine and around and I'm pretty sure that she'll be delighted to meet you all as well" he replies thanking his stars for managing to salvage the situation. Goodness! he didn't plan for this at all. "I'm pretty certain that she's been dying to meet us. We'll have a big dinner to officially welcome her to the family and also celebrate your brother's engagement So please let her know so that she can prepare, alright? I wouldn't want to take her unawares." She primped. He would if she existed. He thought to himself but he wouldn't dare say it out loud or risk getting into another argument with his mother. The latter was very much preferable considering the situation that he was in now. "Alright hunny, it's time for your father to take his medication. Take care, love you, bye" she disconnects the call before Devon could even get the chance to say goodbye. Devon lets out a groan in frustration. Why would his family plan a visit now of all days. This is more than he bargained for. All his life it felt like he doesn't belong or fit in with his family and it somehow got worse when he chose to pursue a career in computer science so that he could become a programmer. His parents never approved, they wanted him to do something more masculine, basic and realistic but he was adamant and put his foot down so eventually they agreed to his choices even though they still didn't like it. Devon on the other hand still didn't care as long as he loved his job and was making a living out of it but when his younger brother announced a year ago that his long time girlfriend had said yes to his proposal, all eyes fell back on Devon. "You're older, you should be getting married first, you're supposed to set the pace for your younger brother to follow....blah blah blah". The queries are endless. It went on and on and when he couldn't handle it anymore, he told them that he was officially in a relationship. His little lie seemed to work out perfectly for him because everyone was happy, including his mom and somehow it managed to keep them off his back until now. What is he going to do when his mom finds out that he's not in any relationship and that he hasn't been with the opposite s*x for more than three years now. How will his father react to the news. The poor man is going to get another heart attack for sure. He has to look for a solution and fast because he has less than one month which is not enough time. "Curse you Jake" he breathed hard and tried to get his focus back on work even though he knew that it almost impossible and pointless because his entire day has already been ruined, thanks to a certain i***t who decided to fall in love and get married at the expense of his own happiness.