CHAPTER 2

CHRIS

I’ve had this argument with Antonio a dozen times but this old man just won’t budge, I don’t know how someone can be so loyal to the dead

“Look I’ve told you Chris, but you’re too stubborn and always want your way, the will clearly says that when you turn 30, you must be married for a minimum of two years before you can get the money” Antonio says looking at me smugly

“So I should just go out there, pick a random chick and marry her?” I retorted standing up irritated

“How you handle your business is not my concern, I’m a lawyer Chris, not a match maker” Antonio says and shrugs

“Cmon Barrister Antonio, take the one percent I’m offering and let’s call this a deal” I say in a more serious tone

“Young man, even if you give me fifty percent of your money, I’m doing what your father instructed” he replies

“But I haven’t found any one worthy of my love, these ladies all want me for my money”

“Then let them have it, this isn’t really a big deal, get someone you think fits the profile of being your wife and offer her a contract, the clause didn’t say it has to be a love marriage”

He walks over to his cabinet and starts putting some files in his bag, a subtle way of telling me that he’s heading out and I need to leave

I pick up my phone and call my assistant Ben to bring the car around, I have an important eight hundred million pound deal to close with Rico foods

I’ll deal with this contract bride stuff later, if that will get me the money

************************************************

“Hold” I half scream as I see two ladies enter the elevator, Ben half running and half walking to keep up with my pace

As I get close to the elevator, I wish I didn’t ask for them to hold it, it’s none other than my arch business rival Nicole Reyes and her personal assistant Claire Thompson

“Hello Nicole, I see you’re here to get your ass kicked again” I taunt her as Ben and I enter the elevator

Last time I beat them to a five hundred million pound hand sanitizer distribution deal during the global pandemic, this time won’t be any different

Nicole is a beautiful woman, she’s smart and very hard working, I secretly admire her as far as business rivals go, heck, if she wasn’t married already, we’d be the perfect example of a power couple

Everytime our paths cross, we’re always battling to topple each other over in business deals, that’s what I admire the most about her, despite being a woman in a man’s world, she doesn’t back down, her husband is one lucky chap to have her as his wife

“I hope your PA brought enough wipes for your tears when I hand your ass to you Chris” Nicole replies

“Sexy” I say as I deliberately scan her outfit, the black thigh slit gown she’s wearing hugs her body perfectly revealing her curves and her red shoes just complement the hot red lipstick she’s wearing.

I was throwing her off her game, the last thing she’d expect was me checking her out and complementing her, I’m not about to argue with her all the way up inside this elevator

“I’m married you pervert” She replies me staring daggers into my soul

“Ben, what rule says a married woman cannot be sexy?” I ask Ben still looking at Nicole in a coy manner

“None sir” Ben replies laughing at our interaction

“It’s inappropriate to talk to her in that manner Mr Bale” Claire chimes in

“I’m in the market for a wife myself, are you married?” I ask her in a mocking tone

She and Nicole exchange quick glances and they both burst out laughing

“In your dreams Chris” Nicole answers

“I’m not married Mr Bale but trust me, if it were up to me, men wouldn’t exist”

“I’m guessing you’re a feminist, I’m a feminist too, I believe in women equality” Ben says

I shoot him daggers with my eyes and he looks away

“Don’t go assuming like that Ben, she may be into women, maybe even into her boss” I say with a smirk on my face

Claire frowns and looks straight at the door, counting the seconds till it opens and Nicole defends her

“I know what you’re doing asshole, trying to get us riled up before the presentation so we’re off our game right? Well let me tell you the news, It’s not working”

“Whatever, I’ll be rubbing you on the floor in this presentation as usual women” I say laying strong emphasis on the word women

The elevator opens and as I step out, Nicole sticks out a foot for me and I stumble to the floor

Ben holds his laughter but Nicole and Claire burst out laughing as they walk past me

“He wants to rub us on the floor and he’s already kissing it even before we start” Nicole says laughing hysterically

As soon as the presentation starts, I see the old CEO of Rico foods smiling at everything Nicole says even when she was making little sense

His eyes darting between her exposed cleavage and her revealed laps through the slit in her gown

I realize the reason she was wearing a thigh high slit gown now, her charms are obviously working on this old man

I get up to do my presentation and I do a very good job, I see Nicole in my peripheral vision giving me the middle finger as I go back to take my seat

“Mr Chris, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but we’ve decided to go with Nicole Reyes of Emirates Royal, we hope to work with you in future” the CEO finally says after a short rendezvous with his team

“Of course you went with them, you couldn’t stop staring at her thighs all day” I blurt out in anger and storm out

I wasn’t one to lose my cool on a normal day but I guess being tripped by her put me off in a way I didn’t expect, the CEO may have given Nicole the contract but I have another ace up my sleeve.