CHAPTER FIVE

Alex woke up to the sound of soft knocking on his door. Ariana, his personal maid entered when he replied, his eyes still stuck on the newspaper in his hand.

She helped him shower and dress, careful not to step on him throughout the activity. It was the same every day, yet something felt unusual. 

He had only three days to bring up a wife to the investors.

By the time he arrived in the dinning room, a delicious feast of breakfast had been set, but he didn't have the appetite for one. So he asked for a cup of black coffee instead.

The name Melissa McCarthy kept ringing in his head like some sort of mantra.

“There's still nothing on her, boss.” Alex looked up to see Dan, his right-hand man, standing over him.

He remained quiet for some time, just sipping on his drink. But Dan could notice how his hand tightened on the mug.

“What is taking them so long? Even a rejection should have gotten here by now. What games are they playing?” Alex muttered.

Dan stood stiff, not responding. He didn't know how to tell the man to give up. It was obvious that Melissa didn't want a marriage with him. But Alex was too stubborn, he wouldn't listen to anyone.

By the time Alex reached his company later that day, the thought of the marriage contract had taken over 99% of his thoughts. He hadn't even been paying attention to what Dan was saying.

“I reviewed the files. The investors are reliable and solid, but they would want to build a full-proof trust in you,” he whispered into Alex ear as they walked towards the meeting room. “You will need to impress them.”

Alex nodded.

He entered the board meeting room.

Alex finally looked up to see Jake, his cousin, talking and laughing with a group of his investors that he had called for a meeting. He stood there like he owned the place.

What audacity!

Jake turned to him immediately, a sly smirk growing on his face. “Cousin! You're finally here,” he greeted, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“You should thank me. If not for me, your investors will be sitting here getting bored out of their mind,” he laughed.

“What the hell are you doing here? I don't remember calling for you,” Alex growled at him.

“You're my cousin, of course you don't need to call me before I come to you.” Jake grinned.

Alex turned away from him to face his investors.

“I hope I didn't keep you all waiting for too long?” He inquired.

“No, you didn't,” they said, shaking their head, a hint of a smile on their faces.

The meeting began, immediately, Alex taking full control of the activities. He explained how the project would go and how it would benefit everyone who made contributions to it. His tone was professional, and the investors couldn't help but nod their heads in affirmation.

Alex was convinced he had won the heart of the investors until one finally spoke up.

“I notice how you've done well by emphasizing how this deal is beneficial to couples,” he started. “But I can't help but ask how this would go when you're not even in any relationship. You're not married, Alex.”

Alex stilled. He hadn't expected this reply from them. No one had questioned his relationship status, ever. It never mattered to any of his business partner.

He looked up at Jake to find him already staring at him, a smirk plastered on his face.

Of course.

“The business is built around partnership, trust, and love…that I could tell from what you've been telling us. But how can we trust you when we don't even see the quality of that in you.” The investor said calmly.

He had a point. He would be skeptical about a single man leading a project like this too.

He clenched his fist and then tried to control the anger that bubbled inside him.

Furthermore, he was trapped.

“I'm getting married,” he finally said, his teeth clenched.

The investors stared at him wide eyed, surprised at the sudden announcements. 

Alex was a famous man, popular among the ladies for his good looks, but not once had he been heard or seen intimate with a woman. So this took them by surprise.

“In three days, you'll meet my wife,” he said, his voice controlled. “This meeting is over.”

After the investors had left, Jake barked out a loud laugh, his head thrown back.

“What do you mean you're getting married? Did you finally find a prostitute to take as your wife?” Jake laughed as he said.

“Watch your mouth,” Dan stepped forward, glaring at Jake.

He ignored, looking past him to meet the eyes of his cousin. “I hope you're really not placing a bet on getting Melissa. She doesn't want you. You should get this into your thin skull,” he said, glaring at him. “You're a cripple, no woman will fancy you, especially not a gorgeous and wealthy woman like Melissa.”

Alex's fist tightened on the arm rest of the chair, but his face remained impassive.

“Get out,” Was all he said.

“Are you __”

“I said get out,” he repeated. 

“I'll leave, but don't say I didn't come here to warn you. You should look for a woman who has your kind of disadvantage, that's the kind of person who would throw a look at you.” He grinned and then turned to leave.

“Boss, I think you should give up on melis__” Dan started but was interrupted.

“Prepare the car now, we're heading to the courthouse.”

MEANWHILE…

Lauren sat in the corner of the abandoned storage room, sitting on the dirty bed, her eyes roaming over the wedding contract.

Melissa's word from earlier seeped into her mind when she had attempted to convince her to take the marriage proposal from the rich CEO.

“If you're so interested in this marriage, you should take it. Alex is just the right man for you. With his… terrible condition, I bet he wouldn't bat an eye before taking you to be his wife,” Melissa had said, laughing at her suggestion.

She crushed the paper in her hands, a scowl resting on her face.

This family had treated her like trash, she had to make them pay for what they had done to her and her mother.

But she was weak.

They were too powerful. She was just a rat trying to find her way around among lions. They would eat her up even before she made clear of her intention.

So there was only one way. She had to look for a high class animal in the midst of predators, that she could befriend.

And there was only one way she could do that.

Back at the courthouse…

Alex sat stiffly on his wheelchair, staring at the empty and cold courtroom.

It was now past three hours since he had been here, waiting for Melissa to honor his marriage proposal, but the only person who had entered the courtroom was the slightly older woman who was responsible for legalizing the marriages.

His hand squeezed around itself, a slight panic going through him.

This was embarrassing to him. Maybe, he should have listened to his cousin.

Who would want to marry a man who had no control of his feet? No woman would trust him enough to lead a home. 

He was pathetic, and he could smell it on himself too.

But what about the investors? What would he tell them? He had promised to introduce them to his wife.

He closed his eyes, swearing under his breath.

“Boss, how long will you seat here?” Dan's voice broke him out from his thought. He could tell how concerned the young man was.

Alex kept quiet for some seconds.

“Prepare the car. We should leave.” He finally announced.

“You'll have to get a woman from the club who can agree to a marriage with me. I don't care if she's a wh*re,” he said, his voice was cold.

Dan was taken aback, but he nodded his head. He couldn't judge the man. Dan quickly walked towards the exit, but as he opened the door, a woman stepped inside. 

Her eyes were wide, her lips slightly parted like she had been running.

“You don't need to find a wh*re. I'll marry you,” the woman said, stepping towards a shocked Alex.