Chapter 3 CONSIDERING MARRIAGE

Sean's POV

"You're not serious, are you?" Jason questioned incredulously when I shared my seemingly agreeable idea with him the next day in my suite. "Marriage, sir? You?" He wore a dubious expression, as if he couldn't believe I would come up with such a plan to escape the scandal. The truth was, I might not be able to avoid the scandal or evade the Senator's threats by getting married, but a partnership seemed like a viable solution. Perhaps a marriage, even if only for a limited time, could divert attention from the scandal and keep Lisa at a distance. However, I had no intention of getting married for real.

"Yeah," I nodded. "A marriage, preferably with a wealthy lady."

"But it's not going to solve your problem," he emphasized, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"It's not supposed to," I clarified. "But it will help keep Lisa at a distance with a testimony or two from the chosen partner and create a smokescreen around the scandal. Plus, I might be able to leverage a partnership from it."

Jason's confusion and hesitation remained evident, as if he still couldn't fully grasp my idea.

"Do you think it's a bad idea, Jason?" I inquired, noticing his reluctance to meet my gaze, though I understood his unspoken opinion.

"It is, isn't it?" I prodded.

"I didn't say that," he finally spoke. "We could explore legal options. You don't have to get married if you don't want to."

I sensed his concern and let out a sigh.

"It would only be a temporary arrangement. I have no intention of settling down for real. It's just a means to address my issues discreetly. Once it's done, my chosen partner and I would go our separate ways, like a contract marriage, and they would benefit from it," I explained.

"But finding someone genuinely interested in a contract marriage these days is a challenge, Sean. How do you plan to find the right partner for this?" he questioned. I took a moment to consider his question. While I hadn't figured out who my contract partner would be, I thought about my connections, and there was a slim chance I could find someone willing to participate.

"Do you think I can make it work? A contract marriage?" I asked.

His answer hung in the air for a moment.

"I believe if you think it would pull through, it would," he replied with a tight lipped smile. I couldn't help feeling relieved by his answer. "We just need to ensure it's executed discreetly to avoid drawing too much attention as you carry out your plan."

"And we will," I assured him. "There might be disbeliefs at first with regards to it, but it will work out."

"But we don't have a candidate in mind for your bride if we want to move quickly," he pointed out. "If you'd like, I could consider hiring an actress-"

"We don't need an actress," I rejected the idea. "It has to appear authentic, which is why I mentioned a wealthy woman. Someone from a prominent family who stands to gain as much from this arrangement as I do, someone with genuine intentions who understands my situation."

A small, thoughtful smile appeared on Jason's lips.

"That sounds like a lady who would be hard to find. Considerate and all," he asserted. I agreed to that with an equal smile.

"If you could explore my connections or search for such a woman before the week is over, Jason, I would greatly appreciate it. No need to rush, though. We can continue addressing my issues until you find the right candidate."

Jason fell into silence for a moment, his smile fading as a thoughtful expression crossed his face, hinting at a hidden concern.

"Why the sudden change in your expression?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued. If something had affected Jason, it must definitely be significant. However, as his gaze met mine, the expression vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Nothing, Sean," he waved it off. "It's not something you should concern yourself with."

I could have pressed him further, get it out of him, but I chose to let it go. If it was a matter he wished to keep to himself, it wasn't worth prying out of him.

"I'll do as you asked, and I'll find you a suitable woman before the end of the week."

I took his word for it and allowed him to do his job, while I intently tried to keep my company afloat. A legal approach proved counterproductive, and as the week ran through, I hoped Jason was making a good search.

By the weekend, he reported to me in my office about his progress, and he was ecstatic about it.

"I've found the perfect woman for the agreement." he exclaimed, his smile radiating pride. It was clear he was pleased with the outcome.

"Go on and tell me more," I encouraged, temporarily diverting my attention from the tabletop system I had been reviewing some items in before his arrival. He settled into the swivel chair across from me, clutching a file of documents.

"She's the daughter of the affluent fashion designer, Duke Grey – someone in your network," he revealed, placing the file on the table. I was intrigued by this unexpected connection and, even though it wasn't what I had anticipated, I was eager to learn more. The prospect of collaborating with a fashion designer held a unique allure, and I could envision exciting creative opportunities in the partnership.

"Amazingly," Jason continued. "He agreed for a short term marriage with his daughter only on the terms of a partnership and that you care for her. And he promised there would be no compromise on his part if the two of you were to partner together on this agenda,"

I pondered on the information for a moment. Though it was slightly odd for a parent to want to set his daughter up for a contract marriage, whether or not she conceded to it, and there was room to consider that things could fall short because of that. But with his promise, I decided to not make it my bother and focused on my agenda.

"Since there's a willing party, it's the right time to draft separate contract agreements," I stated firmly.

He nodded in agreement, and I encouraged him to proceed with his report. As I attentively absorbed the information he provided regarding Duke Grey's agreement, a sense of trepidation crept over me, particularly when contemplating the matter of marriage. The idea of entering into this arrangement triggered more tension than when I initially proposed it.

I had never been entangled in a relationship beyond friendship, so this was an entirely new experience for me. Although it was all going to be a facade, it represented a new phase that made me anxious, a resort I was willing to undertake to preserve my image and that of my company.

After all, the company had always been my concern.