Chapter 1 Already married

"You are already married Mr. Stevens." The man sitting on the other end of the desk told the unsuspecting Clive. Earlier in the morning his private investigator had asked him to meet him at the marriage registration office. The investigator had informed Clive about some important information that he wanted him to hear for himself.

Clive had thought that the investigator was playing the usual tricks of trying to get more money from him. He had asked him to investigate the woman whom his parents were so eager for him to marry. He was hoping to find the woman's dirt not the other way around.

"Whom am I supposed to be married to and when?" The shocked Clive asked grabbing the documents from the man's hand. He read through the documents carefully and his calmness surprised his private investigator.

"Are you ok Clive?" Gordon the investigator asked. He was used to Clive shouting and throwing things everywhere if things did not go his way. He was now wondering what was on his friend's mind. The two had become good friends after Gordon exposed a rival hotel chain that was spreading false rumors about one of Clive's hotels.

'Could it be that he knows this woman?' Gordon was now thinking to himself. This calmness was now making him uncomfortable.

"Gordon, investigate this woman now. I'm only giving you three days otherwise I will not pay you." Clive demanded as he stood up and placed the documents on Gordon's lap. He left without saying anything more. Gordon was stunned but knew that he had to do it.

At twenty-nine Clive had inherited his father's company and also owned his own chain of hotels. He was regarded as one of the top ten young rich and handsome men. A few people knew about Clive's personal life as he tried so hard to keep it private.

Clive was the only son of Mathew and Jane Stevens. His siblings were twenty-one-year-old twin sisters Thea and Tia who were attending university in London. Clive was very protective of his sisters and was in contact with them nearly every day.

His father started his business thirty years ago with his best friend Paul Marson. After ten years in partnership the two men decided to go separate ways but remained best friends. It was during this friendship that the two men agreed that their two children Clive and Julie should get married.

Julie was an only child and had her own fashion house. She was well known in the fashion industry. Unlike Clive she always wanted the media to know what was happening in her life. She knew very well that Clive didn't like her but was willing to get him at any cost.

Clive and Julie were childhood friends, but their friendship started fading away in their early twenties. It was because Clive had noticed that Julie was really into this arrangement between the two fathers.

After meeting with Gordon, Clive went back to his office. He could not take the name Candice Walters out of his mind. His marriage to this twenty-four-year-old Candice had been registered eight months ago. All details on the marriage certificate including his address were correct so it was definitely him. His deep thoughts were disturbed by the knock on his door.

"Mr. Stevens you have a visitor." Cindy Clive's secretary announced. It's Miss Marson should I let her in." Cindy knew that her boss was not interested in Julie, but she was just doing her job.

Before he could give a response Julie pushed her way into Clive's office. Clive was now typing on his laptop not even looking at her.

"Hello Clive." She greeted him before taking a seat opposite to him.

"What brings you here Julie?" He asked without looking up. He could not hide his annoyance with this woman's presence.

"Just wanted to check how my fiancée is doing. You have not been answering my calls or replying to my messages." Julie said in a polite voice and had a smile on her face.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I am not your fiancée?" Clive asked with a stern voice.

Clive had stopped answering Julie's calls and did not bother to read her messages. He had been polite to Julie but decided to be firm with her when he realised how clingy she was becoming. He was suspecting that she was up to something that is why he had asked his friend to investigate her.

"Clive, everything was decided a long time ago so whether you like it or not I will be your wife." She said confidently.

Clive sighed and then spoke. "Julie I am very busy, and I am sure you have other things to do." He stood up and opened the door for her to leave.

"I am having dinner with your parents to finilise the wedding. You can join us if you want." Julie said and walked out.

Clive was dumbfounded. He could not understand why Julie was so eager to marry someone who clearly was not attracted to her. He was angry with his father for trying to honor such a stupid promise. His mother had tried and failed to reason with his father after Clive had told them that he was not interested in Julie.

Clive decided to go home early. His day had been shuttered by the emergence of Julie in his office. After she had left, he could not concentrate on his work. He kept on replaying the conversation he had with Julie. He knew she was very manipulative, and he was not sure what her next move was. She was no longer the Julie he had been friends with in his teens.

He was about to take a shower when he got a call. Checking the caller, he noticed it was his father. He knew want he wanted so he let the phone ring. Within a few seconds another call came through and this time it was his mother.

He hesitantly took the call. "Mum if it is about your dinner with Julie I'm not interested. You planned without consulting me so the three of you should enjoy."

Although he was aware that his mother supported him, Clive was not in the mood to entertain any discussion that involved Julie.

"Son, at least you should come and then we can talk about it in a civil way." Jane tried to reason with her son.

"There is nothing to talk about mum, dad has made up his mind and all I can say is that I am not part of that." He was firm with his response. He felt sorry for his mother who was also an unwilling participant. The mother and son briefly talked, and they concluded their conversation. He took a shower and ordered takeaway ate and retired to bed early.