Chapter 2 Resolving to Marry the Unknown Aged Billionaire.

Marina trudged home long past sundown, her body aching from the grind of two jobs. After clocking out at MetroPulse Group of Company, she would hustle over to her second job as a supermarket sales representative. The pay there was meager, but when combined with her main salary, it helped support her aged grandmother and two younger siblings.

Entering the dimly lit apartment, Marina's exhaustion weighed heavily on her. She was startled to find her grandmother, Tracy, still awake, perched on their small, worn couch. Tracy usually retired early. Marina, ready to collapse into bed, felt a jolt of concern at her grandmother's somber expression. She tossed her bag onto a chair and rushed to Tracy's side, her fatigue momentarily forgotten.

"Grandmother, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Marina's voice was laced with concern. Tracy's weary eyes, usually so full of warmth, now looked troubled. Marina couldn't bear seeing her like this. Tracy had sacrificed so much to give her a good life, and now it was Marina's turn to take care of her, ensuring her siblings' needs were also met by juggling two jobs.

Tracy reached out, her hand trembling slightly. "Marina, my dear, it breaks my heart to see you work so hard for me and your siblings. I want the best for you, and I think there's a solution." She paused, looking deeply into Marina's eyes. "You're getting married soon!"

Shock rippled across Marina's face, her mind racing to grasp the sudden revelation.

"Married? To whom?" Marina's eyes widened, her mouth agape.

Tracy sighed deeply. "While you were at work, my cousin came by, demanding the $500,000 we owe him. I borrowed it to cover your final year of college. He suggested the only way out of this poverty is for you to marry a billionaire."

Marina's heart sank. "Marry someone I don't even know? Do you know this billionaire?"

Tracy shook her head. "No, but your uncle does. He says the man is an elderly billionaire who lost his wife years ago. If you marry him, our lives will change. We'll become very wealthy."

Marina stared at her grandmother, feeling a mix of disbelief and anger, her appetite gone.

Marina's voice trembled with disbelief. "Grandmother, you want me to marry a stranger just because we're struggling? Don't worry, I'll work even harder. I'll pay off Uncle's debt in a few months. Just ask him to be patient."

With calm determination, Marina turned and left Tracy behind. Tracy's heart sank, feeling the weight of disappointment as she watched Marina walk away. She wished she hadn't agreed to the desperate suggestion in the first place.

********

As Alton stepped into the office the next day, his attire underwent a transformation. He appeared every inch the director, even though the position hadn't been officially bestowed upon him yet. He selected one of his finest new suits, dressing with meticulous attention to detail. Gone was the appearance of an ordinary employee; he exuded confidence and charm, looking strikingly handsome.

With a steely resolve, Alton vowed to refrain from engaging in any confrontations or arguments. Instead, he harbored plans for Marina once he ascended to the role of director. He eagerly anticipated the opportunity to have Marina fired from the company.

As Alton strolled into the office fashionably late, heads turned, and whispers rippled through the room. "Wow! Are you auditioning for Mr. World? You look stunning!" exclaimed one of the ladies, unable to contain her admiration. Alton, usually reserved, carried himself with newfound confidence, his smile lighting up the room.

"He's definitely going for it! Quite the transformation," another woman remarked, her tone laced with a hint of mockery.

Meanwhile, Marina, lost in her own thoughts since her grandmother's unexpected revelation, was jolted back to the present by Janet's voice. "Marina, your man is looking dashing today! Did he step out for a fashion show?" Janet's words stirred Marina from her reverie, and she glanced over at Alton. Despite herself, she couldn't deny that he looked strikingly different and attractive. Yet, she refused to let her emotions show, determined not to appear weak.

"What's so special about his outfit?" Marina's voice rang out, loud enough for Alton to hear. Though they sat across from each other, a distance separated them.

Alton met Marina's gaze with a smile, but her response was a sharp hiss. "Ugly Duckling," she muttered before returning her attention to her laptop, engrossed in her work.

Alton remained unfazed, refraining from any verbal retaliation. He harbored plans for Marina's future at the company, plans that didn't involve her continued employment. He vowed to ensure she never found work elsewhere either.

"Come on, Marina, not today. Looks like Alton's in a good mood," Janet interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension and redirect Marina's negative energy.

"I don't care. I have bigger things on my mind than your nonsense!" Marina snapped at Janet, who retreated to focus on her own tasks. Marina's mind was consumed with thoughts of her grandmother's revelation. She couldn't shake the image of herself as a laughingstock if she married the elderly billionaire. Yet, the prospect of a life free from menial employment at MetroPulse Group of Company, perhaps even a position of authority in the billionaire's empire, tantalized her.

With this optimism, Marina reached for her phone. She began searching online, curious to find if there were others her age who had taken the leap and married wealthy older men.

As Marina scrolled through the search results, she found numerous stories of women, some even younger than herself, who had taken the leap into marrying wealthy older men. With a determined nod, she resolved to pursue this path, a smile creeping across her face at the thought of her impending liberation from financial struggles.

Her newfound decision lifted her spirits, and she found herself smiling once more, casting aside her work to engage in lively conversation with Janet. Their laughter filled the air until the arrival of the head manager, who interrupted their lively chat.

"Attention, everyone," the manager's voice commanded the room's attention. "There is a new project which will be handled by everyone, with each team consisting of two individuals. Project details will be distributed via the workgroup. Put your best foot forward; the top-performing team takes the prize." With a collective "Yes, sir," the staff acknowledged the directive before the manager exited the office.

Minutes later, the manager's message popped up in the workgroup chat.

"Hey, Marina, looks like you're teamed up with Alton for the project!" Janet's exclamation rang out, drawing immediate attention.

"No way! This has to be some kind of joke!" Marina retorted, hastily checking the chat herself. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she read her name paired with Alton's.

"This is absurd!" she exclaimed aloud, frustration evident in her tone.

"I can't believe I have to deal with him," Marina fumed inwardly, her irritation mounting. "I'll have to marry that billionaire just to escape this nonsense!"

Alton's voice cut through the tension. "This is ridiculous. I refuse to work with her," he declared before swiftly shutting down his laptop and storming out of the office as closing time approached.