3. They Only See My Net Worth

-Christian-

Ten million to sort me out as if I’m the goddamn problem; what the hell is wrong with my father? Why does he think marrying me off would change me? That’s the last damn thing I want and to THAT woman?!

Leia Prescott has always hated me, I know this. She thinks she’s better than everyone else, with her multiple college degrees, smug smile, and clipped tones when she speaks to me. Her minor accident of scalding my dick clean off with coffee wasn’t an accident, not with the slight smirk she tried to hide after I screamed. I tolerated her before that, but now I can’t stand the woman.

Her attitude reminds me of someone else, and even if I might have had respect for her before, now I see her as nothing but a woman whoring herself out for money. How do I manage to end up with the gold diggers?

Out of everyone he could have chosen, it had to be his PA. His fucking PA.

I growl under my breath and walk out to my Rolls-Royce Phantom, where my driver is waiting. This evening was a fuck up. I never should have agreed to this; especially not after seeing her smug face.

“Christian, wait!” 

I hear her call behind me and let out an exasperated groan. The last thing I want to do is talk to this red-haired witch, but now she’s forcing my hand.

“What do you want, Red?” I call her the name I know she loathes and I turn around to face her. 

If I didn’t despise this woman, I might have thought she was beautiful with her sinfully curvaceous body, modest cleavage, smokey green eyes, and that red hair. But even her beauty doesn’t take away the fact that she’s a horrid woman who’s only after money.

Just like HER.

Her lips are a thin line when she approaches me, and she lets out a sigh. “Listen, I know this won’t be easy on either of us, so let's just try to make the best of it, okay? Two years and you can pretend I never existed.”

I can’t help but laugh at this because I don’t even need to pretend.

“I already said yes, didn’t I?”

“So did I and although we don’t like each other, let's just tolerate this for your father’s sake,” she says, trying to sound like she’s doing my father a favor. “He seems to think I can help you.”

This time, I laugh out loud. “That’s so nice of you, acting as if you’re doing this for him when you’re doing this for your own selfish reasons and taking money in exchange makes you nothing but a gold digger,” I say, watching as her face screws up in disgust.

“Excuse me?!” she shrieks, sounding like a strangled cat. 

I smirk. “You heard me. Whoring yourself out for a few dollars, then acting as if you’re doing my father a favor. Cut the crap, Red, you’re doing this for yourself and no one else. That makes you a gold digger, in case you didn’t know.” I spit out, then slam the car door and ask the driver to take me to my usual club.

Leia’s shocked expression when I insulted her is the only good thing about this evening, and her slack-jawed look was the cherry on top. Good, now she knows how I feel about her and won’t try to get into my good graces. 

If being married to a wretched woman for two years will get me my inheritance and father’s help, then I’ll do it. I need his help for my company to succeed, then I’ll pay him back and finally be on my own two feet.

I won’t simply be Alexander Moore’s son anymore. I’ll make my own way after I pay him back… no more living in his shadow after this. It’s all I have to think about while I’m married to the red witch.

On the way to my usual club, I called up my best friend Jasper to find out he’ll be available for a few drinks. Luckily enough, he’s there already - at least this will be some free therapy. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a little willing toy to play with and take my mind off things too.

As soon as I arrive, I’m granted VIP access and I make my way to where I know Jasper would be. He’s already surrounded by a couple of beautiful women, two I’m already eyeing for treats later.

He sees me and grins, then pours me a glass of his half-full bottle of bourbon. “Sounded like you need this, mate,” he says. 

Jasper Whittington is from the UK. His father owns multiple hotel chains and they have tasked him to handle them here in the States. He’s a veritable playboy like me and isn’t looking to settle down, like me. 

Well, until my father mentioned this fucking contract. 

“I said yes to his demands and will marry the redhead in a month’s time,” I grumble, shaking my head. “Had no choice because he dangled my fucking inheritance in front of my face again.”

He lets out a low whistle. “That’s rough. Well, it’s only for two years, yeah? After that, you can forget about the wench and go on with your life. Here’s to that,” he says, toasting, and we both down the drink.

Just two years and then I’ll be free. Just two years with her to make my father happy and I’ll pretend to have changed thanks to her. Easy, right?

For now, I’m getting shitfaced drunk and taking two women to the VIP rooms with me. I came here to forget, anyway.