As soon as Georgia reach the age of 25, it was their family tradition to get married and find a partner to spend the life with. But unfortunately, Georgia has been single for almost five years now and not ready to fall in love again because of her past. So, instead of dating someone, she hired a man named Wilson to be his husband. Little did she know that it was a billionaire she asked for. Will their relationship turn out well? Or her family will find out about the contract?
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"Georgia, it's time for you to settle down with someone."I glanced up from where I was resting on my VIG Chesterfield sofa, mid-shift to keep from indenting the material, as I'd trained myself to do. At the foot of it stood my mother, who was giving me such a deep disapproving look that I almost, almost made a move to sit up properly. Her expression was the definition of disappointment. Slim nose upturned, devil red lips twitching. I already knew where this conversation was heading and I let my cheek fall onto the cool leather with a sigh."This again?" I said."You're almost thirty, Georgia," she said, folding her arms across her chest, the many bracelets lined with diamonds on her arms jingling as she moved.Her dark hair was tied in a tight bun on the top of her head, giving her an all-around stern aura.I raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm only twenty-five. I don't really think that's close to thirty.""Your father and I married when we were twenty-two," she said matter-of-factly. "It's time for you to stop fooling around and creating scandals and making our family lookbad.""I don't make our family look bad-""-And it's time for you to start your own family so we can give a head start to the next successor of our business," she pressed on.I pushed myself into a sitting position, making sure to smooth out myy waistcoat, lest I gave her something else to complain about. "So, you expect me to meet someone today and fall in love with them, get married, and have children? It doesn't work like that. Well, maybe it does nowadays with all the dating apps going around, but I'm not like that.""There are plenty of young man interested in you. Charity's son has been asking for your hand in marriage since you two were five. He's very handsome, too."I raised an eyebrow at her. "Legal arranged marriages aren't a thing in America anymore. It's 2023, not 1975. I don't want to marry someone just because it helps our business.""You want a marriage made out of love?" she asked, her voice taking on a hard edge. "Rich families marry into other rich families to keep their wealth. It's what all our ancestors have done before us and what we will continue to do. That's how we keep our business alive."Arguing with her was fruitless. "I'm not interested in marriage right now, that's all."She closed the little distance between us, hovering above me intimidatingly."I've given you twenty-five years of freedom. I've given you everything you've ever wanted. All I ask is for you to repay me with the promise of keeping our business alive.""And I will, just not right now," I responded firmly.The business wouldn't be going anywhere in a long time. We were basically the new Hiltons. What was eating at her? Why was she suddenly trying to force this on me?And besides, after what happened on my past relationships? I think I had enough."You have no more choice in this matter. If you don't settle down, I will take your car and your house.""What? But I own this house and my car. You can't threaten me with that."My mom smiled cruelly and I felt a chill run down my spine. "You think I can't find a way around that?"As much as I wished she was joking, I knew she wasn't. I scrambled off of the sofa, placing my hand over my pocket where the keys were. "Wait a second.""Wait for what?""Isn't this a little abrupt? I need time to think about it first. You can't just barge in here and expect me to go along with this.""It shouldn't come as a shock, Georgia. You can thank your brother for that." A surge of heat shot through my body.I bit my lip, clenching my hands 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, Georgia.""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 him to you, and we will talk about marriage. You can't really expect me to just suddenly meet someone and marry him, 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. lf only she would agree to my proposal, then I could have more time to figure out what to do about the utimatum she'd given me. If she said no... what could I say against her when she used Lee as leverage?"Six months," she finaly said."Six?""You may have six months to date someone," she permitted. "Not a day more. When the time is up you must bring the guy you choose to me and I will decide if he will be allowed to marry into our family. If he fails, you'll marry the one 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 clicked 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 mylife-satisfactory and alone. I didn't feel the need for a boyfriend. 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 at least trick my mother into thinking was my boyfriend. It wouldn't be too hard.It wasn't like I didn't have the physical appearance to goal someone into doing it. I was on the cover of multiple business magazines. Paired with my conditioned polite and charming personality, I knew I was a good catch. And if that weren't enough, I'd just show them my bank account, only money could buy me a boyfriend, I thought wistfully. Then it hit me.The plan was simple. Find a man, hire him to date me for six months, fake a break-up right before I brought him 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 daughter going through his first heartbreak like before. It would be easy.I grinned to myself, adjusting my blouse.Let the fun begin.Georgia's Pov"Be there at six o' clock sharp, no later. I've already ordered the flowers, as you apparently couldn't handle that task last time, so you simply have to pick them up. Be polite and courteous. Next week I want to set up dinner with Cecil and his wife, so you better leave a good impression. Carlo picked the restaurant so let him suggest what the best meal is and take his advice."It was hard to focus on my mother's words as I stood in front of my bathroom sink, trying to keep my stomach from twisting and crling and its contents from coming out. My mouth was dry and tasted like old leather, no matter how much water I sucked down. And then there was the headache. I didn't know how I was handling her shrill voice when it felt like Muhammad Ali was having a boxing match with my brain. I couldn't remember the last time I had a hangover this bad.I never wanted to drink again."Are you listening?""Yes.""Why do you sound like that? Did you go drinking?"How did she know these
No, not something. Their mother. She Uses one to control the other. I guess I found my first question. "Why do you let your mother control your life so much?"Lee's response was simple. "She's my mother.""But you're a grown adult.""You've met my mother. There's not much you can say against her. She's cruel, but she is caring. Even if she doesn't show it.""Is she the one who sent you away?"He nodded."Where did you go?" I asked slowly, unsure if my question crossed the line or not."An inpatient rehabilitation center in California. I've been there ever since the accident."I tried my best to swallow inaudibly."Your accident?"He tilted his head to the side and grimaced. "Well, I'm sure you know. An intended accident. I barely remember it, to be honest. I know I purposely wrecked the car, but after that, I don't know. I had a pretty bad concussion so they said there would be some memory loss. I was in the hospital and then shipped across the country to recuperate. And I haven't bee
Wilson's POVWhat. The. Hell.I stared out the window of the car, my heart racing. Georgia's words rang in my ears-I love you, I love you, I love you. Why did she say that? How could she say she loved me when she was the one who broke up with me?Why ask me to stay when a few hours earlier she'd told me to leave? Was I just supposed to go along with her mood swings? Whether it was her mother's doing or not, why did I have to be dragged along?My hands balled into fists. It wasn't fair to me. Bennett had said he made his choice. He made it pretty dang clear. I was confused enough as it was. I kept telling myself to pin it off as drunken babbling, but there was that part of me that wanted it to be true. A very stupid, pitiable part of me."Are you okay, Henley?" Henry asked quietly."I don't know," I said honestly. "I'm not sure if you've noticed but I'm not good at, you know, emotions.""Do you want to talk about it?"My lip twitched, breaking my temper. Henry was too good of a person.
Before I knew it I was gasping on the ground, the phone falling out of my hand. I couldn't find the strength to get up. The world was spinning and suddenly I felt nauseous. Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the foot of the stools. "I'm sorry, Wilson. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."Walter forced me off the ground, leading me over to one of the booths."Wait here. I called someone to pick you up.""Not my mother," I said, my blood going cold with dread."No, Georgia. I didn't call your mother."My muscles relaxed slightly. I was afraid if I tried to relax completely my body would slide back onto the floor. It vaguely registered that I was being embarrassing, but I didn't know how to stop. Like everything else in my life. How to stop my mom from controlling me. How to stop Lee from throwing his life away. How to stop Henley from leaving me.I wasn't aware I'd fallen asleep, but I jolted awake when I felt a small pair of hands shaking my shoulder. "Bennett? Wake up. I'm going to take you
Georgia's POVEmpty.That's how the house felt. Maybe it was how I felt too. Rain beat against the windowpanes, blurring my view of the outside world from where I stood in my living room. Droplets of rain fell from my hair and dropped onto the tiled floor, already muddy and marked from my shoes. I realized belatedly I'd forgotten to take them off.The windows reflected my white washed image but I could barely process it. All I could see was the image my mind kept replaying- of Wilson, tears in his eyes, walking away from me. Straight into Lee.I gasped, grabbing my chest as it clenched agonizingly. My body tensed, trying to fight the pain and waiting for it to pass. Spots blurred my vision and I staggered to the stairs, using the railing as support to pull myself up them and into my bathroom. Locating my strongest bottle of pain relievers, I dumped a couple into my hand, swallowing them down dry.What was Lee doing here? How was he here? Why didn't anyone tell me he was coming? Had I
The sound of a ringtone filled the car and Lee picked up an iPhone from the center console. "Hi, Henry. Yes, she's with me now. No, you don't have to come out to meet us- it's raining, stay inside. We'll be there soon.""Uh, where exactly are we going?" I asked when he hung up, feeling it was a question I should of asked before we started driving."To your place. Henry sent me the address."Again, I thought I should be a little dubious about Henry giving out my address to Lee, but Lee seemed like a safe enough person. And I trusted Henry. Lee couldn't be worse than the hobos, anyway. When we pulled up to my house, Henry was waiting outside on the porch, despite Lee saying not to."Are you that excited to see me?" Lee teased as we climbed up the steps together.Henry cleared his throat, turning his chin up. "It's been awhile.""It has," Lee agreed, shaking off his umbrella. "Still alive, I see."The joke fell short as the happy expression on Henry's face slid off, replaced by a serious
Wilson's POVLee Calloway.His form towered above me, a puzzled expression on his well-featured face. Maybe it wasn't right to think this now, but I couldn't believe how handsome he was. He was like some kind of model or Disney prince or something. He shared Bennett's dark hair and green eyes, but Lee's were contrasted by his pale skin. The word angel flitted to mind.This wasn't how I pictured him to look like, mainly because I pictured him in a coffin, but somehow it made sense that he looked like this. It just fit. Lee Calloway, the angel.Who wasn't dead."Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze lingering on my face.His question starled me and I quickly brushed some stray tears away, feeling embarrassed. Crying in front of strangers wasn't my thing. Especially not my whatever's older brother.Well, ex-whatever."Lee," Bennett said again, his voice sounding more frantic. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay? Does Mom know you're here? Are you okay?""One question at a time, Ben,
"How could she do this?" I whispered, staring at it, my heart beating like crazy in my chest. When had she bought this clothes? When had zhe planned on giving it to me?"What's wrong?" Brandon asked.Zipping the dress back up into the garment bag, I tossed off my apron. "I need to see her. I have to go. Arian, can you close up? Please?"She nodded, seeming bewildered. "Of course. Where are you going? To his house?""Yes." My whole body was trembling.This didn't make any sense. If he was going to end things with me, he wouldn't have bought this dress."Are you going to be okay alone?""I'll bring her."My eyes snapped to the door, where Henry stood, hair matted dovwn from the rain that had just started falling. He pushed his glasses up and gave me a nervous smile. "Hey, Henley.""Henry? What are you doing here?""I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to come see you," he apologized. "Mrs. Calloway made Bennett and I go to Hawaii last week. We just got back today.""Wait, what? You guys hav
Wilson's POVTurns out fighting for our relationship was easier said than done. No matter how hard I tried, I could not contact Georgia. She blocked my number. She blocked my work number. She refused to answer any calls from Solene's phone. When I stopped by her house, her car was never there. It was like he hadn't been home once since zhe'd decided to cut me out of her life, She was doing everything she could to avoid me. I had no doubt in my mind his mother was behind this- especially considering the fact Curtis had coincidentally decided to drop his lawsuit the same day Bennett disappeared. But that didn't mean I was only pissed at her. How could Bennett have given up on me so easily? Why didn't he even try to fight?Why couldn't he just tell me what happened? Why couldn't he have at least ended it face-to-face? There was so much I wanted to say to both of them. There was so much I wanted to say to him. but I just couldn't get to him. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. Thi
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