All Chapters of The Nouveau-riche Romance: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Joan Hargreaves was going back home, she had left home to study industrial design at the University of Washington, out of spite for her father who wanted her to inherit the family business.When she left home she promised never to come back, she hated her father that much. That was six years ago, she's grown since then, she'd finished college, got a good job as an industrial designer, and paid off her debts. She learned to forgive her father and was even planning on a visit, so it came as a shock to her when she received an anonymous letter two days ago with news of her father's death. She hoped it was all a lie, a ruse to make her come home, or a sick prank, and when she gets to Hargreaves hall, her father would still be alive and they would both have a laugh about it, it was so long ago she and her father laughed together. Joan groaned as she exited the New York Penn Station, it took the Amtrak train she boarded from Washington DC a little over three hours to get to New York, her

The Nouveau-riche RomanceChapter three"So he is the CEO of his own private company, at just twenty-eight?" Joan held up a pink puff sleeves dress up for Francesca's appraising eyes. "What about this?""He is not the sole owner of Maven enterprise, but yeah he runs the place," Francesca fixed the dress Joan held up for her with a look of distaste. "Isn't that old, don't you have any new ones?" Francesca rummages through the bundle of clothes on Joan's bed, "what did you do with all your time in Washington?""I was in college remember?" Joan seething pulls out a red sleeveless gown, "I had to support myself working part-time jobs, didn't have the luxury nor time for dresses.""If I remembered correctly, I offered help back then, but you rejected it, now let me take a look at that dress," Francesca said pointing to the dress in Joan's hand."This is a fairly new one, I bought it just before I graduated college," Joan said holding the red dress up to her body for Francesca to see. "Besi

"Joan is the Hargreaves heir?" Jackson asked absentmindedly, it was quite a shock for him, he wondered why Francesca never told him about that."You know Joan?" Asher asked Jackson, the revelation had made both men forget about the other."I only met her for a brief moment, but yes I do," "when, where, and how did you meet her?" Asher asked Jackson in a frenzy. Jackson eyed Asher, it was just a few moments ago, but Asher seem different from the man he was talking with before his phone buzzed.It was a long time ago he's seen the fire Asher had in his eyes right now, not since Emily."I met her at Francesca's apartment, on Friday night, it seems you know her too, how do you know her?" Jackson was curious why Asher got fired up at his mention of Joan.Asher had to take a long breath to calm himself before he said anything, he didn't know why he got so worked up.Jackson's answer interested him, Joan Hargreaves heir to the Hargreaves family wealth, in Francesca's home at night. He pon

"I wonder what your choice would be if there was a way to save Hargreaves Corporation and all you had to do to ensure it was to marry me. What if all you had to do to save your father's legacy was a contract marriage with me." Asher dangles the bait in front of Joan, all that's left is for her to bite.Joan was disgusted, she'd played right into his hands, and here she was babbling about her life, and all the while he had an ulterior motive. How messed up does Asher have to be to throw the word marriage around, Francesca wasn't wrong about him after all. "This is not a joke or a game to me, I'm serious," Asher said remembering her words at the cafe, "I believe if you agree to my terms, we both stand a lot to gain." "The marriage offer at the cafe was not a joke?" Joan wondered how brazen Asher could be. "It wasn't, I was serious then, and I am now." Joan was skeptical, however, she couldn't deny her need for help, "tell me, how does getting married to you save Hargreaves? I've h

"Where are we going?" Joan asked Asher, they were on one of his important dates. They had just finished lunch at a seafood restaurant. The occasional dates were a bother to Joan. Their engagement is one based entirely on self-interest, but she found it an inconvenience spending her time with Asher. All she feels when she's with him is a grating feeling, an irritation she couldn't explain."We are almost there you'll see," Asher said as he eased them into the heavy traffic of the fifth avenue. The fifth avenue for all its luxury was a part of New York he avoids, its traffic alone tends to be dispiriting. When he comes to this part of the city, he ensures it is worth his time, his visit this time surely will be."What are we doing here?" Joan asked Asher, they were in front of Sherberg's, a department store, close to central park."For all intents and purpose you are my fiancee, my future wife, you have to look like it. We're getting you new dresses, come on," Asher noticed that Joan'