Chapter 7
BLAKE
This fucking contract is a joke.
Married?
I have to get fucking married?
I exhale, dragging both hands through my hair with a groan.
Blake James must be married for a minimum of five years in order to maintain his role as the CEO of James Luxury Travel.
But that wasn’t all.
The wife must have input in the major decisions in the business as a true partnership would.
Which means I need to marry some dumb broad just so she does as I say.
“Fuck!” I yell, kicking my car tire hard.
My old man knew what he was doing when he wrote this into the will because anyone I married would be able to walk away with half of the family fortune after five fucking years.
“Blake!” Issac jogs over to me, his green eyes searching mine. “Fucking hell, are you alright?”
I stare past him at the office, wondering what the fuck I’m going to do now. “I’ve got to marry someone in order to do what my father’s always wanted me to do. Something I was born to do.”
Issac sighs, shoving his hands into his pockets. He doesn’t say anything, so I take my cue to keep going.
“My mom clearly knew about it. Did you?”
Issac shakes his head, looking at me through honest eyes. “No.”
“For fuck’s sake. What the fuck was my dad thinking?”
Issac makes a face, glancing back at me.
“I don’t know anyone I trust enough to run the business with me, or anyone I want to hand half of my dad’s fucking estate to!” Clenching my fists, I bang them on the roof of my car, ignoring the pain that shoots through my knuckles. “I’m fucked, Issac. There’s nothing I can do.”
“Just think on it.”
I turn and glare at him, and he holds his hands up defensively.
“I’m just saying, see it as a business arrangement.”
A business arrangement?
“I’m hardly a romantic, Issac, but marrying some woman I don’t love is shitty. Even by my standards.”
“I feel you, bro. But you said it yourself, you were born to do this. This is your company now.”
“And if I don’t? I lose it. I lose everything.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“No fucking shit,” I snap bitterly.
“Well, why don’t you sleep on it and see how you feel tomorrow?”
I shoot him a look, remembering the way he’d been staring at Danielle earlier.
It pissed me off then, and it’s pissing me off now.
“What’s going on with you and Danielle?”
Issac looks confused for a second, frowning at me as he drops his gaze. “Nothing. I just asked her out.”
I shouldn’t care, but I do. “She’s my ex. Been there, done that. Be careful.”
I ignore the surprise in his eyes, dropping into the driver's seat of my car. Slamming the door behind me, I gun the engine, peeling off past him.
It takes me forty minutes to reach my mother’s house, and the ache in my chest is a strong contender for the fury in my belly.
Passing security at the gates, I drive up to the door, which is surprisingly open.
Mom is on the chaise lounge when I walk in, as people carry bouquet after bouquet into her home.
“Blake,” Mom croaks out, her eyes puffy and bloodshot.
Her hair hangs limply by her face, which is devoid of any color.
She looks ill, like a withered tree.
“Mom. You okay?” I force myself to hold back, taking her frail body into my arms.
“No. You?” Mom asks, stroking my jaw tearfully. “How did the meeting go?” Mom clings to me, burying her face in my chest.
I’m battling with the icy anger that’s ruling my entire being, but my mother’s agony is too much for me to bear. “Marriage, Mom?”
Mom pulls back, a sad smile on her face. “That old fool. He was lovesick till the end.”
“Mom, I’m serious, you need to do something. Otherwise, some girl is gonna take half the fortune.”
Mom doesn’t seem to be listening to me though, her eyes glazing over. “He thought that if you didn’t find love, he’d help you.”
“Help me? You mean force me,” I mutter.
“Is there anyone?” Mom questions, her eyes glittering with excitement.
Barbara strolls in from the kitchen, pink rubber gloves up to her elbows and a feather duster in her hand. I’m sure she’s beyond being our cleaner now, but she still insists on doing it for Mom.
Her eyes light up upon seeing me.
“Blake, lovely. How are you doing today? Are you hungry? Can I fix you something?”
I shake my head, turning back to Mom.
She’s stroking her wedding photo, her eyes misting over.
“I didn’t think happiness like that existed. On that day, your dad proved it did.”
Barbara clutches her heart, and I remain silent.
I’m seething, but watching my mother’s heart break makes me bite my tongue.
“He wanted you to have that, Blake.”
“By forcing me to get married?”
“Well, if that's what it takes! You’re twenty-five, Blake,” Mom shoots back, fire in her eyes. “Is it so difficult for you to do this last thing for your father?”
Silence falls, and I nod, dragging my hands over my jaw. “It’s not that simple, Mom. I don’t know a single girl who is worthy of being my wife.”
Barbara snorts, horror on her face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.”
Mom stares at Barbara curiously. “No, elaborate, Barb.”
I raise my eyes to glare at my mother, but she is still watching Barbara, who looks rather flustered.
“Yeah, why did you snort at me?” I lift an eyebrow in her direction.
Barbara sighs, tugging off her gloves with a snapping sound. “You said there’s no one worthy of being your wife…it’s a tad pretentious and dare I say, egotistical.”
Mom smiles, folding her arms across her chest. “I agree with Barb.”
I roll my eyes, wondering if I should just walk out.
This day is getting worse by the minute.
“It’s not,” I argue. “It’s about the fact that this woman needs to be intelligent, business savvy, and tolerable. That doesn’t sound like any of the women I know.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Mom states coolly. “I’m sure there’s someone with an iota of class that you could make an agreement with, Blake.”
“Right. Just like that.”
“Blake, grow up. You’re behaving like a petulant child! In order to get an empire, you need to either fall in love—” Mom huffs.
This time it’s my turn to snort with laughter.
“Or—” Mom continues, “—you make an arrangement.”
“For five years, Mom,” I growl out, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Five fucking years.”
“Marriage is for life. I’m sure you can manage a business arrangement for five years, if you can’t fall in love.”
I’m so fucking tired of fighting for what I want.
I need to get on with this so it’s over as soon as possible.
But who to marry?
Someone who won’t screw me the fuck over.
I can only think of one person, one person I can trust, but she won’t even look in my direction.
Danielle.