prologue (2)

“It shouldn't come as a shock, Bennett. You can thank your brother for that.”

A surge of heat shot through my body. I bit my lip, clenching my hand so tight my fingernails bit into the skin of my palm. 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑡, I warned myself. She just wanted me to back down.

And she knew where it hurt the most.

“Your brother wouldn't give me this much of a hassle.”

“How can you use Lee against me?” I said tightly.

“It's your choice, Bennett.”

“I'll... I'll find someone” It wasn't like i had a choice. I just had to think of a way out of it. Quickly.

“Will you?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“However, I want you to give me a year.” Her eyes narrowed. “A year? For what, exactly?”

“I would like to find someone on my own. Then when the year is up, i'll bring her to you, and we will talk about marriage. You can't really expect me to just suddenly meet someone and marry her, can you? At least let me meet a few of the other candidates first.”

The room was deathly silent as my mother contemplated my offer. I could feel sweat forming on the back of my neck. If only she would agree to my proposal, then I could have more time to figure out what to do about the ultimatum she'd given me. If she said no... what could i say against her when she used Lee as leverage?

“Six months,” she finally said.

“Six?”

“You may have six months to court someone,” she permitted. “Not a day more. When the time is up you must bring the girl you choose to me and I will decide if she will be allowed to marry into our family. If she fails, you'll marry who I choose.”

Of course, there would be conditions. There were always conditions. “Fine, I agreed, knowing she would get her way no matter what. I had to take what i could get.

The wrinkles on her forehead relaxed and she smiled. “Good, you may keep your car. Make sure you come to work today. There's someone you need to fire.”

“I understand,” I responded, watching as she turned on her heel and click away from me.

As soon as she left, I collapsed back onto the sofa, feeling a headache coming on. Why was she so adamant about marriage? I was perfectly content with the way I was living my life — satisfactory and alone. I didn't feel the need for a girlfriend. And even if I did have any of those 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠, I could find a willing partner from the local bar.

For now, I had to find someone to least trick my mother into thinking was my girlfriend. It wouldn't be too hard. It wasn't like I didn't have the physical appearance to goad someone into doing it. I was on the cover of multiple business magazines. Paired with my conditions polite and charming personality, I knew I was good catch. And if that weren't enough, I'd just show them my bank account.

𝐼𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑢𝑦 𝑚𝑒 𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑, I thought wistfully.

Then it hit me.

The plan was simple. Find a woman, hire her to date me for six months, fake a break-up right before I brought her to meet my mother, and then claim I was too heartbroken to move on. That way I wouldn't be forced into a marriage with a stranger 𝑎𝑛𝑑 I would be allowed to stay single until I met the person I was meant to be with. Surely my mother would feel pity for her son going through his first heartbreak. It would be easy.

I grinned to myself, adjusting my tie.

𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***