When Samantha Hall meets Lucas Storm at the Water Gardens on that fateful night, she realizes that she wants more than the contract marriage he has to offer her, but she knows that entering into the billionaire’s life would not be a very easy task. Lucas Storm has a lot on his mind - his younger brother is about to take over the company he has labored to build, and the only way he can save it is by showing his father he is responsible and settling down. That is when he meets the beautiful and easy going Samantha. But with deep feelings of love threatening to get in the way of their contract and an age old family feud for the billion dollar company, Lucas is thrown into a dilemma - he has to choose between Samantha and the company Would he lose it all and follow his heart or risk trying to get them both? Find out
Lihat lebih banyakThe sound of my phone beep jolted me out of my reverie and I stared at the screen. It was a text from Lucas. He was going to be at the restaurant in ten minutes. I readjusted my blouse quickly and removed the band from my hair, allowing it fall freely across my shoulders. I was not at all concerned about my looks. It was not like how I looked mattered to him anyways. All we needed to do was get to a mutual agreement.
I stared at the table across. Two men on leather jackets were having an intense conversation over a barely touched bottle of whiskey. I quickly averted my gaze before either of them could catch me staring and my mind drifted away to more important things – like why Lucas had chosen such an exquisite location for our meeting. I wondered how much he had paid for the reservation at the Water Gardens and I hoped that he came sooner because time was ticking away and money was counting. The Water Gardens was the most exquisite park in the whole of New Jersey and if the thirty minutes reservation he had paid for elapsed before he came, I would be walked out and he would be forced to pay another five hundred dollars for another thirty minutes. I stared at the silver plated watch on my hand. It was twenty minutes past eight already and we had barely ten minutes left.“Ten minutes would not be enough to finalize the deal,” I muttered to myself. I heaved a deep breath and decided to take the bold step. I walked up to the cashier’s counter at the far end of the garden and I gently tapped on the counter to alert her of my presence. The cashier took one quick disinterested look at me and continued what she was doing.“I would like to make a thirty minute reservation,” I grunted, producing a five hundred dollar bill from my purse and placing it on the counter.She stared up at me again and glanced across at where I had been sitting.“Where exactly would you like to have reserved?” she asked glaring hard at me.I could sense the sarcasm in her voice and I spun around quickly to find out that a couple were already sitting down there.“Shit!” I cursed. “Excuse me.”She flicked the five hundred dollar bill from the table with her index finger and I caught it before it could fly away. I walked up to the couple at the table and flashed them a smile. They didn’t seem to be excited about the fact that I had interrupted their conversation and they stared at me, probably wondering what I wanted.“If you don’t mind, I have this seat reserved already,” I said as politely as I could.“We met it empty,” the lady replied. “Reserved seats aren’t usually empty.”I sighed and produced the ticket from my purse and I held it up for the both of them to see.“Eight to eight thirty,” the man grunted and stared at the clock at the center of the garden. “You have barely three minutes left. Run along already. We’re busy here.”My face turned bright red with anger immediately and I barely resisted the urge to kick him in the groin. Even if I had a minute left, it was my time. I paid for it and I deserved to use it.“You met this table empty just because I had to make another reservation!” I said, my voice, a tad higher than normal. “My date was running late and I had to…”“You’re disturbing us young lady,” the man eyed me. “If you can’t find another table, then go somewhere else for your date!”I fumed and raged, and just as I was about to allow hell break lose, I felt a cold hand wrap around my wrist. I spun around in shock and our eyes met.His eyes were dark, cold and calculating and I felt like in the few seconds he stared me down, he had seen through my very being. I attempted to wriggle free from his grip but he held on to me firmly.“What is the problem here?” he asked. “Why do you harass the good lady?”I cringed at the sound of his voice. It was rich and exotic and it had a foreign accent to it. Spanish perhaps?“You shouldn’t go about poking your nose in other people’s businesses,” the man on the table said and stood up.They were face to face now and I could sense the tension in the air. I really hoped a fight didn’t ensue because I doubted that the stranger who was standing up for me could match with the burly brute that had taken my table.“What if I told you it was my business?” my guardian angel asked, staring the other man down.“Enough guys!” I cried. “I would just wait for my date. He would get me another table when he comes.”“He wouldn’t,” my guardian angel replied. “He paid for this table.”I stared at him for the better part of a minute before it hit me.“You…you’re Lucas Storm?”“Samantha Hail,” he smiled at me.“Fucking weirdo!” the burly man grunted and threw a punch at Lucas. “Who still goes on blind dates?”“I do,” Lucas replied, catching his hand midair. “And the next time you harass my woman..” He twisted the brute's hand in one quick movement and he cried, probably feeling his arm begin to pull out of the socket.“I promise I won’t trouble her again!” the man yelled. “Please.”Lucas released his grip on his hand and shoved the man away roughly. He staggered and fell on the floor of the garden and Lucas sat down on the chair.“You can excuse us now,” he smiled at the lady.She stood up immediately and doubled over to help her partner who was still groaning on the floor and Lucas ushered me to her seat. I sat down carefully. The events of the last few minutes were hazy in my memory and I wondered if he would do the same to me if I stepped out of line. As though he was reading my mind, he chuckled lightly.“Forgive my brutish and ungentlemanly behavior,” he started. “That was a very much avoidable scene. I would learn to control my anger for the time our contract would last.”His words jolted me, and I remembered the reason we were sitting there in the first place – our contract. I nodded in understanding.“I’ve not yet agreed to the contract,” I mouthed. “That was why I called for this meeting. I needed to be clear on certain terms.”“I’ve got everything here,” he announced, producing a carefully folded piece of paper from his breast pocket. “Listen attentively while I read my terms to you. I would hear yours as well before we can come to an agreement.”“Fine by me.” I looked up to see that the cashier was standing behind Lucas and when he noticed my eyes were no longer fixed on him, he turned around quickly.“Senorita!” he smiled and kissed her hand. “Didn’t know you’d started taking the night shift.”She pouted her lips at him and with the help of the bright chandelier light hanging above us, I could clearly make out her facial features. She was a blonde beauty.“Your father won’t be happy when he hears about this, Lucas,” she said. Her hands worked their way across his chest and down his lower abdomen and I frowned and looked away.“Wouldn’t be a first time,” he laughed. “He’s never happy with anything I do. That is why he wants to rob me of my right, my inheritance, what I’ve worked for all my life…”His hands balled into fists as he spoke and I could sense the anger and pain in his voice. I knew the story all too well. His father, Javier Hernandez was a multi billionaire and the owner of the biggest automobile company in the whole of Europe, Java Automobiles. Lucas was his first son and had worked hand in hand with him since he was eighteen. He was thirty now and he had slowly started to lose favour in the eyes of his father. Javier had hinted on handing the company over to his second son, Andres, citing his reason as the fact that Lucas had refused to get married and was going to squander his wealth. Lucas, not wanting to lose out on what he had worked for had presented his girlfriend, Audrey to his father as his fiancé and his father had bluntly rejected her. She was an ordinary cashier, and worse still worked in one of his establishments. There was no way he was going to bless such a union. As such, Lucas had switched quickly to his back up plan. He had found me on an online charity site and after finding out that I had a Masters degree in Sociology, he had sent me his proposal – a six month contract marriage, and after his father signed the documents to hand over the company to him, the contract would be off. Then he could continue whoring around with Audrey, whom he had no plans to marry yet, with the assurance that he was going to inherit the company. I would get fifteen million dollars for my role for the six months. It was a perfect plan for Lucas and when I agreed to meet him at the garden to finalize the deal, he had been overjoyed. He was finally going to get his life back.“So she is the one?” Audrey eyed me.“Yeah,” Lucas nodded. “She’s perfect for the role. Intelligent. You know how much my dad likes intelligent ladies…”“Yeah remind me that I dropped out of college,” Audrey rolled her eyes.“I don’t care, senorita,” Lucas said in a low whisper. “You’re perfect for me. We just need to deceive the old fool for six months. Everything would be back to normal after then.”Audrey seemed to be reassured by his words and she kissed him full on the lips before turning to face me. “He’s damn hot and it’s six months. Try not to get too attached.”I nodded and watched as she laughed and walked away and as soon as she was out of sight, Lucas turned back to face me.“Ready to hear my terms?” he asked.I nodded again and watched as he opened the paper with shaky hands and dropped it on the table before us.Days had passed and everything seemed to return back to normal except for a few times– when I saw Audrey, either at the house during breakfast or at the office. Asides that, my relationship with Lucas was moving just fine.I got out of the bed and made to walk into the bathroom to prepare for work when I lost balance and fell back on the bed. My head felt fuzzy and my legs were wobbly. I held the back of my neck to keep it steady, but it was like a log of wood was stuck in my head."My goodness…" I muttered under my breath as I managed to stand up and started making my way to the bathroom, when I felt bile rise to my throat. I quickened my steps, turned on the faucet when I stepped foot into the bathroom and threw up all the content in my stomach. I felt fuzzy the more I threw up, I slid onto the floor and leaned my back against the wall.There was a knock on the door. "Come in…" my voice was faint, even through the sound of the water gushing out I knew he must've heard.Lucas came in
I had mixed feelings about Lucas' actions. Yes, Audrey was a bit too much, but she was carrying his baby or at least that was what she made us think. Perhaps, he should have been a little lenient with her and let her be till she puts to bed."Are you cussing at me because of Samantha?" Audrey's tone was that of bewilderment.A vein in Lucas' neck pulsed hard, "My wife. That's who she is and I wouldn't have you displace her," he tightened his grip in my hands, "Now get out," his voice was calm but had the sharp edge of a sword.Audrey looked at me intently and I could clearly see through the hatred that brewed from her. She stared for a while and left.Lucas turned to face me. "I shouldn't have picked up a fight with her in the office," I regretted my actions, but it was much needed.He placed a finger over my lips, "It's okay pumpkin, you don't have to defend anything," his voice reached to my heart and patched the broken pieces like the holes weren't there to begin with."I love you
My schedule stared at me and I could barely make out the words. I had a meeting slated for four p.m and I was already bored. I was tired sick of everything happening, Samantha was doing a good job trying to keep it together but, for how long would she keep up with the act.A knock sounded on my door, the door creaked open and my secretary walked in. "Sir the meeting–"I rubbed my forehead in frustration, "I know what time the meeting is slated for,"She nodded and walked towards my desk to pick my laptop. "It's in five minutes right?" I questioned."Yes Sir, and some of the board members are already on their way," she said.I waved my hands in dismissal. I was suffocating and nobody was seeing it, or maybe they were and they can't do anything to salvage the situation. Audrey coming to the office was something I'd never have imagined to happen and it did.What was my father thinking, agreeing to it in the first place? He hated her the moment he set eyes on her, ''She's not good enough
Soon after Lucas left for his office, Laura walked in looking a bit disgruntled and without my regular morning coffee."Laura, I thought you left to get my coffee?" I questioned, when in fact she left to give Lucas and I privacy.She inched closer to my desk, "The new staff took the cup of coffee from me," her voice was low, I had to strain my ears to make out what she was saying.I clenched my fist into a ball, taking a deep seated breath to quench the anger that was threatening to erupt. "And who's the new lady?"You know who.Laura tugged at the edge of her shirt, "Audrey–"Take a deep breath Samantha. I took a deep breath, paused for a few seconds and forced a smile across my face. "Thank you Laura, you may leave now," I tried so hard to conceal the disdain in my voice."I'm sorry ma'am. I should have been more careful. But, she just snatched it from–"I raised a finger to stop her from saying more. I should have scolded her, but this had absolutely nothing to do with the young la
All through the drive, all I could think of was; What would the other staff say when they see Audrey and with a growing bump? Besides Lucas' secretary whom I was sure would keep the situation under lock, I wonder who else got wind of the news.I tried to focus on other things. Other things like exposing Audrey for whom she really was. I don't know if it was what comes with old age or his way of punishing Lucas for slipping up but Javier wasn't seeing Audrey for the sly she was and it bothered me."Samantha…"What does she want now?No response. I wasn't in the mood to talk to her and I was only doing what Javier asked, "I just want to get acquainted to the Java's working system," she rubbed her bulging stomach gently, "It would be nice if I get some experience to at least share with him when he comes of age and is ready to follow in the family's footsteps," she laughed.Lucas, where are you?I bit so hard at my lower lips until I felt the coppery taste of blood in my mouth. Don't cry.
After my visit to Valerie's place, I became more sensitive to Audrey's movements. Where she went to, what she did when we were out. So far, nothing out of the ordinary has happened."Lucas, wait up for me!" Valerie cried from the stairs. We were already running late and one of Audrey's dramas was something we didn't want so early in the morning.Lucas sighed sharply, "What the hell do you want this time?" He gritted.I hope it wasn't what I was thinking. She was dressed in a black velvet gown that stopped just on her ankles, court shoes and a blazer over the gown. It wasn't exactly my style but she looked good."I am coming to the office today," Audrey said.I was a bit taken aback, "Why?" We asked almost at the same time.She rolled her eyes in disgust, "Isn't it obvious?" She sighed, "I want to start working at the company," she looked at me with disdain, "Afterall she works there too,"There was no way in hell. The vein at the back of my neck pulsed hard, and I felt my heart bruise
Going to the office and coming back to the mansion to see Audrey with her fast growing bump wasn't something I looked forward to. I tried to square my shoulders and act like nothing's wrong when on the contrary, I was dying slowly.Audrey altered everything. The peace in the house, the scent and everything to suit her smell on the basis of being hyper sensitive to smell. Lucas ignored her and acted like she was some sorta ghost. But, I knew he looked forward to having his own child.It wasn't the birth of the child that irked me, it was the vessel bearing that child that made this unacceptable."Good morning Ma'am," Laura greeted when I got to work one morning.I nodded in response and made my way to the office. She followed in silence till we reached the door."Do I have any schedule that'll take me out of the office?" I asked when I slouched into the chair. She looked through her memo."Yes ma'am. A meeting with the investors slated to take place by three p.m and–"I waved my hands
I waited till the two lovebirds drove off to work before I started getting ready to go out. It was already past nine a.m exactly and I was a few minutes behind time. The prison visiting hours would be due in forty-five minutes.I'd been in touch with Andres since he was convicted of the crime. They'd all forgotten about him, I couldn't not after all we shared together. He wasn't the nicest person but he ignited the fire in me."Where are you off to?" Javier's voice sounded from the stairs when I opened the door. Lousy old man. I rolled my eyes and put on a calm expression before turning to face him.I flashed him a grin, "I'm going for antenatal," I lied. I could only hope he didn't request I go with the chauffeur because then I would be busted.He nodded, "Have a nice day," his voice was cold. I knew he didn't like me, he never did. Not when I was with Lucas, not when I was with Andres. I wondered why he didn't object to I and Andres' relationship when he got wind of it. Maybe he kne
She looked at the door, maybe hoping for a sign of Lucas then back at me. "Look I didn't ask your husband to get pregnant–"I sensed her anxiety from a mile away. Now was the time to act, "On the contrary, I don't care for you," My gaze lingered on her and fell on her growing stomach. "You would stay here till you give birth,"Audrey leaned into the bed, "I don't intend on moving out after childbirth if that's where you're driving at," her voice was a little shaky but she did a good job hiding it."We'll see about that. After childbirth, you'd go for a DNA test to ascertain who the father of the child is,"Now she got started, her face squeezed into a frown. "What the hell are you saying?"I rolled my eyes. Audrey. Audrey. Audrey. Still as vain as ever, "Exactly what you heard. If you claim Lucas is the father of your child," I paused when the housekeeper walked into the room from the closet and waited till she left, "Then we need to confirm, afterall…" my voice trailed off when she s
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