006

It was never in Derek’s plan to grace the wedding invitation today, as a matter of fact, the invite came to him weeks ago but he never bothered to give it a second look. Instead he requested for it to be disposed of just like every other wedding invitation he had gotten in the past.

Being Atlanta’s most eligible bachelor and number one billionaire, invitations are sent to him on a regular basis and never had he graced any one of them that didn't bring a growth in his business, just like the marriage invitation.

“The wedding invitation you got from the Brauns is today,” his assistant walked in with a wedding invitation in his hand.

“I thought I asked you to dispose that…”

“You did, but I feel you might be interested in the eldest Miss Braun, she can be a wonderful addition to the company’s staff,” Logan proposed.

“Why do you think she’ll agree to leave her family company for ours?” Derek asked, interested.

“I don't think she is happy with the family. I've been watching her for a while. She is the brain behind the company’s growth but has never received accolades for it. Maybe we can make her become vengeful, that way she will willingly join us here.”

Derek could only smile at his words, happy about how good his assistant was, at recruiting talented individuals. 

The truth was that he noticed the eldest daughter of the Brauns a few weeks ago when he went to the company for a business meeting, he never reached an agreement with the company, since Max was insistently greedy. While leaving that day, he saw Gemma giving out suggestions to the chairwoman and couldn't help but wonder who she was, as she sounded very knowledgeable. Derek made his findings and decided to poach her.

“I'll go to the wedding,” he told Logan.

Getting to the wedding venue, he took a seat at a secluded corner, silently watching every single activity in the room. When the groom arrived, he was very much surprised to see it was that corrupt prick, Daniel. Daniel and Derek have been business rivals for as long as he could remember. Never did he imagine himself attending Daniel’s wedding, but here he was. Derek shook his head and looked away from the unpleasant being.

When the bride approached him, he was very much surprised, but then he played along after seeing the look on Daniel’s face. Nothing beats seeing arrogant bastards like Daniel so worked up. 

His flash marriage to the first daughter of the Brauns was by no means his plans for today. But it was all for the best. At least he could use her to take over the Brauns Jewelry company, the family has been terrorizing people for far too long. Most of his employees were young and capable people who were fired from the Company just because they couldn't comply with either James or Elena’s stupid requests like being James’ plaything in return for a promotion or bowing at Elena’s feet. Nothing was fair at the Brauns and workers were being paid below minimum wage. Derek was sure that once he pulls Gemma away from the Company, they'll be in for a lot of trouble. 

********

Leaving the church, the couple headed for Derek’s car.

“So, I'm following you home now, right?” Gemma asked

Derek nodded like it was an obvious fact 

“How about the contract?” 

“My assistant will bring it to my house later today,” he muttered, pulling the car door open for her to get in.

Once they both settled in the car, Derek pulled out his phone. 

“Here, I made a list of everyone you'll meet at my house. Go through the list before we get home.”

Gemma could only nod, but deep down, she couldn't help but wonder why Derek showed up here today. Every single thing has been happening the same way they happened in the past, all except for Derek showing up at her wedding. 

She looked down at the phone in her hand. A photo of a stern looking middle aged woman stared right at her.

“That's my mum,” Derek introduced.

Throughout the entire ride, Gemma took her time going through each person’s profile. 

If she was going to use Derek for her revenge, she might as well do everything he wants with perfection.

Getting down from the car, she was greeted by a magnificent sight. The mansion she had always seen on the news was right in front of her. Now she understood the reason why this place was tagged heaven on earth. It was a sight to behold. 

“Let's go in,” Derek put his arms out for her to hold onto.

“Is this necessary?” She asked. The marriage wasn't even that real.

“If you want my family to believe we're really married, then you have to cling to me. I'm a feely touchy person you know,” he winked at her.

Gemma could feel her heart skip several beats.

“Are you flirting with me?” She rolled her eyes.

“What? Aren't you married to me? Can't I flirt with my wife?” Derek asked, smiling down at a stunned Gemma.

Seeing how flushed she was, he laughed and took her hands.

“I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay here.”

Gemma could only sigh, but deep down, she wished that whatever life that awaits her here would be far better than the life she lived back home.

She watched Derek hand over his car keys to an older man dressed like a chauffeur and with that, they headed for the entrance door.

Just before they got to the door, Derek threw a bombshell.

“I have a fiance….”

“What? Are you out of your mind?” Gemma tried to snatch her arm from his hold, but he didn't let go.

“I called off my wedding because my groom was having an affair with my sister, and now here I am about to become the cause of a broken relationship!” To say she was hurt would be an understatement.

“I'm out of here. We just got married. We should as well divorce today. I'll find a way to deal with my family myself,” Gemma tried yet again to pull her arms off his grip.

“What if I left my fiance for the same reason you left your groom?” Derek asked, his dark orbs stared at the annoyed beauty before him.

Just before he left his office today, his assistant had tipped him off on the fact that his girlfriend, Rachel was cheating on him with not just one but two of his business rivals, Daniel being one of them.

He had suspected it all these while, but has always been in denial. But hearing it from someone else made him realize he was letting himself get played.  

“What?” His words made her pause on her tracks.

“That community gigolo has not only been sleeping with your sister but my girlfriend as well,” he revealed.

If someone had said this to her in the past, she wouldn't have believed them but after seeing Daniel’s true colours, she realized she had closed her eyes to a lot of truths.

“Let's go in, I don't know her, but from this moment on, she is an enemy,” she declared.

Derek smiled, then the door was pushed open.