Arranged Marriage to the Playboy Heir

VERONICA

I drove speedily in my newly acquired McLaren Artura. My father's twenty-second birthday gift to me.

The road was free as if it knew of my desire to roar through it without restrictions and with open arms it welcomed me.

The wind rushed through the open window and swept across my face soothingly. I felt like I could fly. In my own little world of adventure, I was beyond thrilled. But more than anything, the thought of where I was headed had the adrenaline inside of me pumping harder.

Being a daughter to the owner of one of the biggest companies in the town came with the advantage. I got all I wanted materially, a doting father and a loving mother. An extra of it was my super annoying sister, Matilda. Although she could be sweet when she wanted to be. And there was Vincent, my boyfriend. My Vin. What else could I have possibly ever wanted again?

Anyone could say I had an almost perfect life. So I thought too.

"Vin? Vin?" I called on getting to Vincent's house. I always preferred him getting the door so I could jump on him so I always ended up ringing the bell first even when I knew the passcode.

But there was no response after I called several times. I was forced to punch in the passcode and got into the house.

I called as I searched the house but there really was no sight of him. I made myself comfortable in one of the cushions. Retracted my phone from my purse to give him a call but got a text from him at the same time.

"I'm sorry Vero but I won't be home because of work. I promise to make it all up to you. Okay? I love you!"

I tried not to be sad after reading Vincent's text but I couldn't help it. Perhaps it was because I had imagined the many things we would do together. But it was my Vin, I knew he would make it up to me like he promised. And it wasn't unusual that he could get busy at the last minute and have his plans cancelled. Being a doctor was demanding and I hated to be a clingy girlfriend that even though I crazily wished to drive to his hospital where he works to get a peak of his pretty face, I had to stop myself.

Back in my car, I started back home. I was tempted to call the girls so we could have some girls time but waved it off.

I had suddenly lost the vibe and wanted to enjoy some alone time at home.

Only that I was met with a cold energy on getting home.

Home was unusually quiet. The atmosphere felt chilly and unsettling.

Mom sat on one of the couches in the living room sad and quiet. Dad was making several calls on the phone. His personal assistant stood beside him equally quiet.

It wasn't the first time I was seeing my parents that way. It only meant one thing. Crisis in the company. But whatever it was, I knew my parents could handle it. Like they had always done.

I headed for my room hoping to get down later and know what was wrong.

Minutes later I got out of my room. Another minute inside of my room would have left me crazy with boredom. I had to go see the girls. They were the only ones that could snap me out of the boredom. If only Vincent wasn't busy with work...

"Hey sis!" I waved to my sister Matilda as I climbed down the stairs while she was heading up.

"Hey kiddo." She waved back at me but with a smirk

I frowned, "What's funny?"

"Don't worry, you will find out soon!" She squeaked as she disappeared into her room.

I shrugged and went on. Even though I smelt something off, I felt too carefree to bother about it. Whatever her smirk meant, I was definitely sure it wouldn't hurt a fly.

We respected each other in my family. Yes, my sister could be annoying but we were different from siblings of other wealthy families. Unlike them, my sister and I had no intention of fighting over our parents' wealth.

Mom and dad had left the living room by the time I got down again but the television was still turned on loud in the living room. I glanced at it and saw the news headline.

"This spoiled Playboy again... does he ever get tired?"

I shook my head. It couldn't have been another person but the infamous Playboy. Always making the news headlines with his silly scandals. No thanks to his conglomerate family that always found a way to clean up his mess. His family's public relations sure worked hard enough. It was shameful being an acquaintance to someone like him. I wondered how his friends coped. If he had any at all.

I called my friends and they agreed to meet up. They must have been bored to hell as I was.

I had three close friends; Gail, Elsie and Tracey.

Gail was pretty, slim and had long tender legs that I sometimes felt a twinge of envy for. A harmless one. Elsie had the prettiest smile and out of the rest of us, she was the most jovial. And then Tracey was the combination of the three. Pretty, Jovial, slim, tall and moderately curvy. When we partied, Tracey was sure to have the guys drooling at the sight of her. Reasonable to say, she was the prettiest of us and the most attractive one.

Like me, my friends all came from wealthy families aside Tracey that came from a relatively average family but she never lacked anything though.

But Tracey was unlucky when it came to her love life. She couldn't get to be with the one man she had crushed on. She had always wanted one guy all her life, did all she could to get him but couldn't. Lawrence Williams was his name, the infamous Playboy.

Me, Elsie and Gail always wondered what she saw in him because to me there really was nothing cool about him. If anything, I wished he never got close to my friend as he would only end up hurting her.

My friends had already gotten to our usual reservation spot by the time I arrived.

"Hey girls!"

"You are late. What held you on the way?" Elsie asked as she sipped from her lemonade.

I collapsed into my usual seat.

"You guys ordered anything yet? Eww! Elsie, why are you drinking that? It's so eww."

I disliked lemonade so much. It never was going to taste anything better than shit to me. I would rather have whiskey than that.

She chuckled, "This is the best there is... taste it, I'm sure you would love it too..."

She offered me the glass of lemonade which I shoved away. The aroma alone made me want to puke.

"This jerk again..." Gail gritted while looking into her phone.

"Jerk? What are you talking about? Who is it?" Tracey inquired curiously.

Knowing exactly what Gail had seen, I sent her an eye signal to not let Tracey see it.

"Urh, I'm sorry Tracey but I don't think you wanna see this."

"Why can't I? Are you gossiping about me with someone? Or did my nudes leak? I mean I wouldn't mind if it would leak only to my crush's phone... Gail, let me see."

"Nope."

"Now I'm really curious..."

Before we could say Jack, Tracey snatched Gail's phone from her and peered into it.

Her face tightened the next moment.

"These bitches always make him look bad. I know he is not what the media paints him to be. It's all these cheap bitches fault!" She slammed angrily.

"Tracey, what makes you think he is as clean as you imagine him to be... he may be your crush but he..."

"But what? You seem to be on their side more than mine." Tracey snapped at me. I really wondered what exactly she saw in the playboy to trust him that much.

"Relax Tracey, Veronica is making sense here," Gail started, "I mean, think about it, he is always on the news for scandals all the time. You don't think he is always innocent and the ladies are all crazy?"

But that only fueled Tracey's anger.

"You all seem to want the media to be right so badly. Just watch me. I will make him mine soon and I will prove to you all that he is not as bad as they paint him and those lying bitches will be exposed. I will send my bill," she said and walked out.

"Oh poor Tracey... she is completely smitten..." Elsie shook her head pitifully.

"You mean she looks like she is out of her right mind. Gosh! What good does she see in the jerk?"

I felt bad seeing Tracey that way. Was she seeing something about him that we weren't seeing?

For her sake, I hoped the media really was wrong about him.

LAWRENCE

"Dude! That shawty got a nice arse huh..." Charley, my friend commented excitedly as we watched the ladies dance in the club.

"Mmhh, nice arse, really..." Carl added and had another sip of his whiskey.

I just watched in silence occasionally taking sips from my glass of wine.

'Hey, Lawrence, you are oddly quiet today...what is going on your head?" Carl asked, his voice pitched high as he tried to match the loud the music in the club.

"Yes, and why did he wanted us to not stay in the VIP section today, very unlike our Lawrence..." Carlos added smugly.

"When have I ever been a noisemaker like you guys?" I said, keeping my gaze at the pretty ladies on the dance floor.

They all laughed.

My friends were right. Being the heir of a conglomerate family gave me the audacity to live the kind of life a lot of people was only able to dream about. I never gave two fuvk about anything or anyone in the world and only lived to enjoy my life. Father and mother had always wanted me to join in the family business but then I thought, why join in the family business and work my butts off when I could just have fun instead. And so, I lived my life each day doing nothing else but having the fun of my life with my friends. I clubbed, partied, and spent. Well, you could say a bit recklessly.

But that night, I felt totally off from the club. After bumping into my first love on my way to the club, nothing seemed to be fun anymore.

Bianca was my first love, the only woman I had ever wanted to be with but in all of my glory, handsomeness, wealth and all, she had rejected my love. I remained heartbroken since then and resorted to clubbing and partying.

While all of my friends thought I was over her, I knew I was not and might never get over her.

"I should go get off some steam," Charley said and proceeded to the dance floor.

"Me too... Have fun drinking alone! I need me some titties and bootties on me!" Carl joined him.

They looked excited. I just shrugged. Dancing with some chick that is not Bianca at the moment was the least in my mind.

"Hey handsome, care for a dance?" A lady approached me and Carlos.

"Me?" Carlos asked grinning shyly.

"No, him." the lady pointed at me.

I sized her up briefly. She was nothing close to my type. Droopy eyes masked with heavy layers of makeup and most importantly she gave my friend a condescending look.

I waved her to lean forward and when she did, I whispered into her ears, "Sorry Miss but you are not my type."

She straightened up, her face ashen and then stomped off.

"What have you done, Lawrence?" Carlos grimaced.

I chuckled, "Well, just gave her a bit of her medicine."

Moments later my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. I excused myself and stepped out of the drowning noise to get the call.

"Hello?" I spoke into the phone.

"Lawrence..." I heard a sobbing voice.

My heart hitched. There was no way I could have missed that voice.

"Bianca?" I called to be certain.

"Yes Lawrence, it's me Bianca...Please can you come get me..."

"Where exactly are you right now and I will come get you."

I was already heading out of the club with my phone still in my ears as she told me her location.

I sent a text to Carlos as I drove out of the club. "I left. You guys have fun without me."

I had no time to begin to explain to them that I had to dash off to pick Bianca. They surely would have talked me out of it if I had told them first. Who knew if this was a trap or something dangerous but I didn't care because it was Bianca.

I saw her standing by the road all alone and quickly brought the car to a halt. Then I rushed towards her.

"Bianca...are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Her eyes were red and puffy like one that had been crying for hours.

My heart broke.

"Tell me Bianca, who hurt you? tell me...please..."

"No, Lawrence, I... It's no one and I'm sorry I called you out here..." she sobbed.

I held her hand in mine and squeezed it gently. They felt cold. How long she must have been out here. My jaw tightened.

"No, please don't say that...I want to be here for you...come let me get you home. You are cold." Thankfully, I wore a denim jacket. I took it off and wrapped it around her. Started to lead her into the car but she pulled me back.

I stopped and turned to face her.

"Lawrence...let's date..."

"Huh..." My lips parted and for a moment, there was a brief pause in my thoughts.

"All of a sudden...why?" I muttered starring at her. Last I recalled she had a boyfriend. I was supposed to be overly excited. My first love finally wanted us to date but still it was sudden and had me excited and shocked all at once.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess you don't like me anymore..." she stated sadly and made to walk away.

I pulled her into my arms immediately. I had waited too long for this moment all my life to foolishly let it get past me.

"Yes, let's date..." I said as I held her.

When I finally pulled away, she flashed me smile. A smile that had every blood inside of me flowing. Knitting our hands together, we made for the car.

"Where would you like to go? Do you have anywhere in mind you would like to go or anything you would want?" I asked her when we settled in the car. I made sure to hold the car for her to get in first. Don't blame me. I was too excited.

"Erm, well, I have you so what else could I possibly want?"

My body melted at her words. My love for her increased at that moment. It made me glad to think she wanted me and not my family's money as against what my friends had thought about her. I was afraid she was never going to love me. But I was all wrong and my fears were all for nothing.

"Then, would you like to go somewhere with me?"

"Urh, sure."

All the while my phone had been beeping nonstop in its vibration mode. I had turned off the sound knowing my friends will call nonstop after I left. My phone started to vibrate again as I made to start the car. I was going to take a glance and drop the phone back but the sight of the caller had me halting in my movement.

"Father? Why will father be calling me now?" I wondered, hesitant to pick it. Father rarely called me with his personal line but instead have his personal secretary do it. What news about me was in the news this time around?

"Who is calling?" Bianca asked.

"Erm, it's nothing important...I'm afraid one of these reporters want to trend badly." I lied and made a mental note to call father later as it has stopped ringing. But the phone started to ring again almost immediately.

"Excuse me for a moment..." I told Bianca and stepped out to take the call.

"Come home now." That was all father said and hung up immediately.

I looked at the car, how was I possibly going to let her go when we just were about to begin something special.

Knowing how serious father's words could be, I knew I had to find a way to have Bianca leave without her feeling bad.

"Uhm...I'm sorry...why don't I drop you off or call my driver to take you home. I must get home now. I promise to make it up to you..."

"Ah, fine." She forced a smile but I sensed the hint of disappointment as she dropped off. Father had better be making me leave her this way for something important.

"My driver will come pick you up, okay?"

She nodded and I drove off.

"Where is my father?" I asked the servants as I stomped into the house.

"In his study...this way please, sir. Chairman is waiting for you." Director Mason, father's personal secretary popped out from the hallway. I climbed the stairs and followed him to father's study room.

"My son!" Mom cried with excitement the moment she saw me.

"Mother..." I hugged her and let her pull me into her signature warm and long-lasting embrace.

"Oh, my son...have you been feeding well? You look so thin..."

"I am totally fine, mother..."

No one else worried about me like mother did. A care father saw differently.

"You are the one spoiling him! That is why he refuses to take responsibility for anything and would rather go to the club and spend my money recklessly! Have him enter your stomach and born him all over again!" father barked.

He always complained that mother pampered me too much but none of that fazed mother as she loved me regardless.

"Yes, if all he wants to do is bum around, spend our money, let him spend. It's better than doing nothing...come and sit my son, let's hear what your father has to say..."

"Yes, mother."

"This was sent to me by the chairman of Las company. Lawrence, have a look." Father threw a bunch of documents to the table.

I picked it up reluctantly wondering when father suddenly started to involve me in business matters knowing I had no interest. Whatever happened, I knew everything he and mother owned would eventually belong to me someday.

"Father, you of all people know I don't have interest in business..." I said as I picked up the documents with a frown and had a look. Lots of business and law related jargons I had absolutely no interest in.

"Ah, right, how could I forget that my son has no interest in business..." Father gritted sarcastically. "Director Mason! Enter!"

Director Mason who had been standing outside poked his head in and entered.

He walked straight to me and handed me the file he had entered with.

"Go on, have a look and make your choice of the two documents." Father added.

I looked at Mother hoping she had an idea what was going on but she looked as confused as I was.

"If he is having any confusion, director Mason, why don't you help him out?"

"This is the document of business proposal from Las company, they are willing to make us the highest shareholder in their company which will make the Williams group the number one group in the country and second in the world..."

"Wow! That's great, father, mother!" I said happily. A new feat for my family is one for me too. It meant I get to keep living as I wanted with wealth in my name. "But...why is father showing me first...don't tell me he wants me make a choice for him...director Mason..." I chuckled at the mere thought of it.

"Well, indirectly yes..."

"What?"

"You fool...You don't think he would offer me this easily...Lawrence, there is no proposals without clauses..." father snapped quietly.

"What does he want and what does it have to do with me?"

"Director Mason, go on..."

"Las company is on the verge of collapse at the moment. We loan him a huge amount... become the highest shareholder in his company and you marry his daughter."

"Well fair enough, father you could loan him some money and..." I was still saying when the latter statement registered in my head. I jumped to my feet.

"What??? Marry his daughter?? Does that make sense? what does he really want, to keep his business or to marry off his daughter!!" I flared up.

"I made the second clause...yes, I brought up your marriage with his daughter. I can't work years building this company and have it destroyed when I'm gone. You must start now to take responsibility. Enough of your jokes now. Your marriage with his daughter will be fixed soon and a post will be given to you in the company where you will start working to get to the top. I have had enough of your irresponsibility. I didn't tell your mother first because it's time she stopped hiding you. And... the document Director Mason gave to you is the removal of your name from whatever inheritance of the Williams group if you let this deal fell through." Father said and walked out of the study.

My inheritance? No way. "Father!"

I turned to mother, helpless.

Mother sighed and nodded calmly towards me after which she went after dad. To speak on my behalf.

The image of Bianca's face flashed in my head. I felt like my heart was being squeezed in a tight grip.

"No, I am never letting go of Bianca...no matter what."

VERONICA

"What?! Marry Lawrence Williams? That infamous playboy? Mom! Dad! You can't be serious right now!" I l flipped out when my parents told me I had to marry the infamous playboy son of a conglomerate family.

"Veronica, this is the only way...we must save our company. The company is going under, the company is in debts, we can't afford to pay the workers anymore and lots of accumulated loan to be paid..."

"Dad, is there no other way?"

It wasn't only that I was being arranged to some playboy in a marriage but heavens! I had a boyfriend I cherished a lot. How could mother and father do this to me.

"You think I didn't look all nook and cranny before coming to this decision?"

Dad's voice was strained and his eyes weary from lack of sleep. Mom was quiet just like that day. I knew they wouldn't have easily made the decision... I knew it was only fair I helped my parents to stop our company from going under...I knew all that but why did it have to be me...why...

"No, I can't marry him dad, I can't. I have a boyfriend and you know. I can't possibly leave him for that playboy."

"Then you would rather let the company go down, all your father and I worked for, and our whole lives messed up? All for a man?" Mother snapped.

"Mother, you don't understand! I love Vincent!"

"Love? What do you know about love?" Mother frowned in disgust. "Look darling, my parents arranged a marriage with me and your dad, and today we are among the best couple. Come on, Vero, this is for the best and he might not be as bad as the media paints him."

"Mother, why can't my sister do it? she is the elder here and if anything she is to be the one saving the company with some arranged marriage and not me."

"Your sister has to work in the company. Break up with that boyfriend of yours today. Your marriage will be fixed and that's final." Dad said and walked out.

"Dad!" I yelled as he left. Then I turned towards mother. "Mother, You and Dad can't do this to me! I have always done what you asked me to do. I studied business management for you and have done all you asked of me and now this? I can't...I can't..."

"I'm sorry my daughter but this is the best we could do to save the family's company."

Mom left me too, leaving me feeling like my whole life had crashed.

I had heard of his tales and there wasn't a month or two that passed without his name appearing in the news headlines for one scandal or another.

I shook my head. A rollercoaster of emotions held me; anger, frustration and confusion all mixed together.

I quickly took out my phone and keyed his name in the search engine.

His pictures and full biography appeared at once.

"Lawrence Williams, the heir and only son of his wealthy family...Williams group..." I read out loud as I skimmed through his info. His facial features caught my eyes. For a moment I stared. But a second later I jolted myself back and let out a loud hiss. He could have been handsome for all I cared but heck he was a playboy and a known troublemaker. And too, I had my boyfriend, Vincent.

I had to do something. I couldn't let myself be thrown off to a stranger in that way.

I paced in the room as I racked my head on how best to save my family's business without having to marry some stranger.

A knock sounded after some minutes.

"Enter."

"Ma'am you have a call..." the lady house keeper announced as she held out the telephone towards me.

I frowned a bit as I wasn't expecting any call.

"Hello?" I spoke into the phone.

"Hello, am I onto Miss Veronica Nicholas?" An unfamiliar voice came on.

"Yes, and who are you?"

"This is Lawyer Steve and I am representing Mr Lawrence Williams. If you don't mind, Mr Lawrence Williams would love to have a brief meeting with you."

I scoffed, curious as to what the playboy possibly had to say to me. He must be reeling with happiness for ruining my life. I wondered if he suddenly got tired of whoring around with different ladies.

I agreed to the meeting. This could be the moment I was seeking for. A moment to end this arranged marriage from happening.

I quickly slipped into one of my fancy dresses, grabbed my handbag and drove out of the house.

I got to the location I was given; like I expected, it was one of the fancy hotels. Thankfully, I was used to this kind of life as I elegantly made my way to the receptionist.

"I'm here to see..." I was still speaking when a man suddenly appeared behind me.

"This way ma'am, please." I gave him the who-are-you look. He took out a card from his pocket and showed me.

"Please follow him. I am Lawyer Steve and we spoke. I believe you are here to see my client."

I followed the man and was led into one of the VIP's rooms.

"Please have a seat, Miss Veronica Nicholas."

"Veronica is fine."

He nodded and pointed me to a seat which I took gracefully.

All the while, a man I was only able to catch glimpses of his back just stood behind the opened blinds of the window.

After I seated, I faced Mr Steve.

"Why did you call me here?"

"I called you here..." the figure behind the window finally spoke. And then he turned to face us.

It was no one else but Lawrence Williams. He started towards me, the ray of the sunlight escaping the spot he had left struck my eyes preventing me from getting a better look at him. He lowered himself into the seat across me.

"Well, I know I excite a lot of women and I know a lot of women wish is to have me in their bed? What do you say? I let you have me for a night and you find a way to have your parents dissolve this...marriage or whatever..."

My fist tightened so hard. I had never been insulted in that manner all my life. What? A night with him? Who did he think he was? I stood to my feet and landed a staggering slap across his face.

"A night with you? I would rather wish to remain single all my life than be married to a playboy like you!" I gritted at him.

"Miss Veronica, you can't be violent towards my client, you can be sued for it," his puppet lawyer said.

"Ah, I see...he must be paying you a lot of money for you to be his puppet...then why don't you tell your client to watch his words or he will be getting more than just a slap."

The obnoxious jerk let out a chuckle as he held his cheek. "Mr Steve, it's fine. I can handle this much...I felt like I was being massaged on the cheek. Soft hands you got. She is a daughter from a wealthy family after all, but, make sure not to try this again, Miss Veronica," he said, the annoying smile in his crooked lips infuriating me the more.

"For the last time, why did you make me come here? To me, this marriage is nothing but a paper marriage. And for your information, Mr playboy, I have a boyfriend I cherish so much." I turned to stomp out of the place when he started to clap maniacally, his face gleaming with smiles.

"Mr Steve! Isn't this wonderful to hear?"

I frowned, what wonderful thing was making him act like a crazy person.

"Well, Miss Veronica, if you don't mind, please have a seat as it seems we are on the same path." The lawyer said.

I reluctantly sat down.

He took out a document from his bag and placed it before me on the table.

"My client here also has a woman he cherishes and would love to continue his relationship with her while he is in this arranged marriage with you, and of course he won't be stopping you from continuing your relationship with your boyfriend."

"What my lawyer here is trying to say simply is...I live my life as I always do and you can do same...this marriage is for our parents and the media of course." Lawrence added.

Even though the offer sounded like what I really prefer, but I imagined mother and father growling with shock if they heard of it.

"And if the media catches you?"

"I will make sure they don't and same with you...and we won't have to hide for long because in this document is also an agreement that says we divorce this marriage after five years. I'm sure your family business would have gone back to track... we divorce and go our separate ways. Isn't it wonderful?"

I picked up the document. A five years marriage contract. Why hadn't I thought of it.

"Considering our situation, I believe we both wanted this." Lawrence added as he causally poured himself a drink.

"I will have my lawyer look through it." I said and stood up.

"Fine, just have in mind that we don't have all the time in the world."

I shot him one last look before I started to walk out.

"But something baffles me," I stopped after walking a step. "When did the infamous playboy decide to stick to a woman? Or is it one of the ladies after your money? I mean, I doubt any lady out there would like anything about you. I wonder who she is this time around." I smirked.

I didn't wait to hear him speak as I walked out wondering which unlucky woman had fallen in love with someone like him.