Chapter 4

Liam Kings

When I told mom that I was going to get married in three months, I had no idea what I was saying. Getting into my room, I lay flat on the bed. My mind is in a mess right now. I don’t even have a girlfriend, where was I going to get a wife from.

Minutes pass with me still deep in my thoughts. A knock on the door brings me out of my daze. It opens to reveal Dad. I know why he is here. He knows me so well and I’m a hundred percent sure he knows that there is no woman in my life at the moment.

“ Hey.” He says as he enters the room. He gives a chuckle seeing the state I’m in.

“ Yeah I know, I’m in deep shit. You don’t have to let me know Dad.” I say as I adjust my position on the bed.

“ I’m not here for that Liam, although it is true that you just got yourself a huge problem. I know that you did it for your mother and that alone makes me proud.” He says sitting beside me. He puts a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to cheer me up.

“ Yeah, she wants it Dad, my choice doesn’t matter right now. I’ll do it for her.” I say more to myself.

“ Of course, but you should know that marriage isn’t dating son. There’s a huge difference. Marriage is a life long commitment son. You should really take your time in making this decision.” He says and I can see the worry on his face.

I didn’t think about that. Am I ready for this? The only relationship I ever had was a really long one and it ended on a bad note. I made a promise to myself to never get into one again, but I have to break that promise for my mother. She has just a few months to live and I will make these months her happiest. If getting married is going to make her happy then that is what I’m going to do.

“ I know Dad, believe me. I don’t need more time to think about this. The only thing I need to be worried about now is how I’m supposed to get married in three months when I don’t even have a girlfriend.” I say with a low chuckle.

“ I think your mom has the exact same thought right now, but since you said you were going to do it, she believes you.” He says.

For a few minutes, the room is quiet as neither of us says a word, both lost in our thoughts. After a few minutes, I hear a sigh and I turn to Dad knowing he has something to say.

“ What is it, if you have a solution to this, then say it, whatever it may be.” I say. Right now, I was out of options, so it would be helpful if Dad had a solution for me.

“ I do son, But…, you might not like it. It is the only thing I can think of right now, plus it’s going to work.” Dad says

“ It doesn’t matter if I like it or not Dad, let me hear it.” I say

“ Julia Peyton.” He says and I instantly stand to my feet.

“ No way Dad, we’ll look for something else.” I say still standing.

Julia Peyton was the daughter to Aaron Peyton. The supposed owner of Peyton Inc. She was a spoilt child who only knew how to party and spend money. Not to mention her numerous scandals with different men, regardless of their marital status.

A week after I was selected as the most eligible bachelor of the year –six times in a row by the way, Julia made it her goal to get me in her bed. She even went as far as going to my father to ask for consent. Could a woman be more cheap.

Dad respectfully declined her offer knowing that I wanted nothing to do with her. She didn’t take it lightly because according to her no one ever rejected her. She started showing up at every event I went to and posed as my girlfriend, almost causing a stir in the internet, but of course, I handled it before it could cause any damage.

When she saw that she was out of options, she decided to use her father. But this time around, she didn’t want a meaningless fling, she wanted marriage. Mr. Aaron Peyton paid me a visit at my office and asked for a business marriage. Offering a merger with Peyton Inc. as a gift for accepting his daughter. Marrying into our family would mean, having ownership over Kings Corp, something I knew they wanted. If we were to get married, both kings Corp and Peyton Inc would belong to the both of us, making us the strongest families in the continent. We would be indirectly merging the companies through marriage.

I have to admit, the offer was a tempting one. Peyton Inc. was number one in the real estate world. Kings Corp was into hotels and investment. We bought and sold companies, although most people still wonder how we were able to become the richest company in the whole of Canada. What they don’t know is that we are major shareholders in almost every company in Canada, a strategy that I used to become number one. The company wasn’t built by me no doubt, but it’s still sailing at the top because of me. Dad is a good business man, I just happen to be better.

If I had accepted Julia’s proposal, Peyton Inc would have been mine but I just couldn’t do it. Besides I could never grow to like Julia, she was a spoilt brat and I sometimes wonder if her cousin was like her. Well, they grew up together so I’m sure her cousin Emilia would be like her, but then again she was never on the news for causing trouble. Either she knows how to clean up well or she wasn’t like Julia. Not that it matters to me.

Dad had left Mr Aaron unanswered, and I think it was because he knew that he was going to need their help later, they were a powerful family after all.

But Julia, no, I just can’t.

“ We don’t have much of an option son, if you agree to this, it will be taken care of in a few weeks and your wedding will be fixed." Dad says still trying to convince me.

“ Her father already has the documents ready and signed, all we just have to do is sign them Liam then you could fulfill Lucia’s wish.” He says.

He's right, I don’t have other options. It’s not like I have a girlfriend I could propose to. Even if I did, I’m sure she wouldn’t want it to be this fast. But on the other hand, I just can’t imagine a life with Julia. Was this going to be a contract marriage? If Yes, then there was no problem, I could tolerate her for a few months.

“ A contract marriage?” I ask

“ Of course Liam, I could never ask you to spend your life with a woman like Julia son. It’s in the document that was sent by Aaron. The marriage was going to be for a period of 2 years.” Dad says.

Two whole years? There was no way I was going to spend two years of my life with someone like Julia Peyton.

Wait a minute? There isn’t just one Peyton woman in that family. I turn to Dad with a smirk on my face and his expression changes to a confused one .

“ The document Dad, can I see it?” I say with the same look

“ Yeah, sure.” Dad says as he gets up to leave, confusion written all over him.

Few minutes later, Dad walks in with a brown envelope in his hand.

“ Here.” He says handing it over to me.

I quickly open the envelope and a white paper comes into view. The words ‘Marriage Contract' are written in bold letters at the top. I quickly look at the names and a smile appears on my face when I see that Mr Aaron Peyton isn’t as smart as the media portrays him to be.

He left out the most important part of this contract. The first name of the parties involved. Only surnames were used for identification. If God wasn’t on my side then I don’t know what this is.

I smile and clutch the paper tightly.

Thank goodness.

“ What is it Liam?” Dad says and I turn towards him still smiling.

“ I guess we can Aaron Peyton is really foolish. I wonder if he really runs Peyton Inc.” I say

“ O-kay. We’ve known that for sometime now, but why are you suddenly saying this.” He asks

“ There’s no clause in the agreement that states that I have to get married to Julia Peyton.” I say. Dad looks more confused.

“ What are you talking about? Why would Aaron draft out an agreement and not state that you’re to marry his daughter.” He says as he moves to take a look at the contract. He flips through the pages and looks back up at me.

“ Here, it says ‘ Miss Peyton’ Liam.” He says pointing at a clause.

“ Exactly Dad, it says Miss Peyton, not Miss Julia Peyton.” I say trying to explain the situation to him.

“ Wait so, it doesn’t state the first name of the second party.” He says

“ So what if it doesn’t, what are you going to do? “ He says as he takes a sit in the sofa just across the bed.

“ I am going to get married Dad. To a Peyton.” I say with a grin

“ What do you mean by a Peyton. Don’t tell me you’re planning on getting married to Julia’s mother.” He says with a worried.

Jesus, No. Why would I do that. She is a married woman, plus she’s like a worse version of her daughter, Julia.

“ No.” I say in-between laughs.

“ I’m going to get married to Emilia Peyton.” I say to him

Emilia was a better option than Julia and from what I had seen on the media, she was even more beautiful. Scratch that, she was a goddess. She barely said anything on the social media but her beauty was enough to make people worship her. She wasn’t just beautiful, her body was to die for and even a workaholic like me, could never deny that fact.

I wasn’t sure of her character but one the thing was sure, she was better than Julia. Her reputation with the media was perfect for my company. I am sure that getting married to her alone would cause a rise in the company’s stocks. I had just hit a big one.

Dad had left to make a call to Mr Aaron, informing him of my decision to marry into the Peyton Family but of course, he had left out the part where I was going to marrying Emilia and not his daughter.

I was leaving for Switzerland in a few days to inspect our hotel branch in Geneva. Since I was going to be going to be out of the country, I tell dad to fix a meeting with the Peytons when I get back but he said that they were currently on a family vacation at the same location. Well everyone apart from Emilia, turns out she had to stay behind to take care of the office.

I scoff as Dad explains to me why she couldn’t go with them. Take care of the office? She knew how to handle a company? This was getting even better for me.

We set a meeting with the Peytons and phone Aaron to call Emilia over as she would be needed. He wanted to know why Emilia was needed but he didn’t press it. The meeting was successfully set for Wednesday and I couldn’t wait

We both say our goodbyes to mom as we depart for Switzerland to meet our soon to be in-laws, and of course, soon to be wife.

A grin makes it way to my face as I arrive at the hanger and make our way to our private jet, ready to take us to Switzerland.

I can’t wait to finally meet you, Emilia Peyton.