Becoming the Billionaire's Wife

Elizabeth's Pov

Being the only daughter in a family of three brothers has never played in my favor. Of course, many times, it would seem that looking up to my brothers for protection and care was the most rational way possible. But not with my family. Not with my situation. Things were tight right now. Not that anything has been better for the past few years but at the moment, the financial problem at home has been getting out of hand.

I help out where I can. I pay the bills and do a little cleaning here and there when I don't have class. But based on the fact that I'm also the one paying for my Law School, working two jobs at the same time does not provide enough financial assistance for me.

There are a lot of things that I have given to my family. Things that have left me with scars. After finishing High School, I had already saved up enough for my University admission. And while I was preparing to leave home and go to the big city in hopes of starting Law School, Dad revealed that the large debt he owed needed to be paid quickly. He had taken a loan from the wrong people. In adherence to this, I found myself working as I maid for six months in an extremely dangerous household. I've always suspected that they were the mafia or something. And things were extremely difficult there. The man of the House, whom I assumed was the person my father had taken the loan from, ended up falling in love with me. Or at least trying to give me the deception of love. I was supposed to be a slave in that house for two years. I overheard the conversation he had with his brother over the phone. That he planned on taking me somewhere different. making me at a slave in a completely different country.

While the imagination of that scared me more than anything, that night that I decided to make a run for it also seemed to be the night that everything fell apart. When the authorities raided the place. when I came back home everything was perfectly normal. They didn't even seem like they worried about me. They were all ok I'm stuck with my absence. with the burden of working in that house, and the reality that I couldn't change my family even if I wanted to, I enrolled in law school and started working on my dreams and ambitions.

Even though I still live in my parents' house, it has enabled me to cater for the bills as much as I can.

'Bella!' I hear my mother calling out to me from the kitchen. Rolling my eyes, I fight the irritation that creeps up before I rise from my chair, setting down my laptop, and advance towards the kitchen. It's like I already knew what she wanted to tell me. I wouldn't be surprised if it was yet again another complaint from her.

'You need to take the cake out of the oven? It has been 3 seconds past..' She says with a frustrated tone, setting down the carrots she'd been peeling before turning to the side of the sink.

'Mum I'm busy with school right now and I have an exam coming up. Can't you just do the baking?' I ask, irritation flagging down my senses once again. I hated this. But for some reason, my mother acted as though today was going to be something special.

' We have guests today.' she finally spoke, avoiding my eyes as she opens the oven and pulled out the carrot cake she had backed just earlier this morning.

'What kind of guests? You did not tell me we had guests?' I speak, panic suddenly rising inside me. My interaction skills with other people have never been great. I'm always an introvert. I prefer being by myself than making conversations with other people. I have social anxiety most of the time and the idea of having people in the house doesn't sit right with me.

'We never have guests. And you're even cooking for them. What are you not telling me, mother?' I ask with sudden suspicion.

'Elizabeth, come on daughter... There is no need for you to worry yourself so much. You are going to love the visitors that we are having today. And besides, it's time for you to get out of that shell and meet new people.' Comes the booming voice of my father. When I turn around I notice yet the same excited expression on his face that is on my mother's.

'And by the way, I used the money for groceries that you gave me to have the house cleaned by a professional.'

Those words only cause my eyes to widen. And here I was thinking that I'm going to have a break this month. That I do not need to worry about anything. but it would seem that trouble always follows me.

"Elizabeth you don't need to worry about anything. it is all going to play out. you'll see. you're going to thank us later. and besides...' She doesn't finish her sentence before a fleet of flashy cars moves past our house. Advancing towards the open kitchen window, I stare with furrowed eyebrows; wondering who the hell had even arrived in the neighborhood.

Looking back at my parents, I realise that I was the only one in the kitchen and that they had already left.

Something was off about everything and I have a feeling I'm soon going to find out what.

It's moments like this when I hope my brothers will be here with me. Philip, The eldest of us all is always good at getting mum and dad to open up. Dad trusts him more than he trusts all of us. sometimes we even suspect that Philip sends Dad money but father chooses to use it for his gambling operatives and not to take care of things here at the house.

My other two brothers Lucas and Isaac I've also been away to the city and they hardly visit or communicate. sometimes I feel like I have been left behind to take care of the home while still chasing my dreams. I wanted to become a lawyer. in the objective of fighting against the unlawful termination of my father's employment contract 13 years ago that had gotten us in this financial mess in the first place.

Everyone always had an objective for what they truly wanted. this was mine.

"He is here!" my mother whispers to my father with a voice of nervousness and panic. They stand at the entrance of our house staring outside. When I move towards them and cast my eyes upon the beautiful tarmac roads of the street, I spot the fleet of cars that had been passing by, parked right outside our compound. confusion flares in me but for some reason, there is a pang of nervousness and fear inside me.

"Mum, who is here? What's going on?" I ask attracting both the attention of my mom and dad as they turn. The expressions on their faces have not yet eased up. My father is on edge. Acting differently. Even though he's always acting like this; being the strict father, something is completely different about him today. Something I can't quite wrap my head around.

"Mum, dad, what is going on?" I ask, my heart suddenly beating drastically as I stare outside.

My questions are only ignored as they step out of the house and towards the luxury Porsche cars parked outside. I felt like a stranger in this neighborhood. like this compound wasn't my home. because something sinister was going on and I had absolutely no idea about it. I didn't even know that this was going to happen or who these people were, to begin with. My parents were hiding something or at least they were not willing to give me all information.

This had something to do with my mother's nervous breakdown while preparing a meal in the kitchen this morning. She's been over the edge as well. and that is unlike her. mother hardly ever steps in the kitchen. She will always wait for me to get back from school and prepare a meal. if not she was always going to order pizza or Italian. But this right here might just as well be the answers to the questions I had the whole morning. what the hell was even going on? The posture with which my father stands as he stares at the cars is a look of nervousness. believe me when I tell you that my father is the scariest man I've ever met and I have never seen him nervous about anything.

When the door is opened, an immaculately dressed man steps out. He has a black suit, his hair combed backward and he looks like some dangerous mystery man. assuming he's the driver, I watch, as he steps around the Porsche car and opens the passenger seat.

With suspense, I step outside the house and towards the stairs that welcome the entrance. My mother beacons me, urging me to come to stand next to her but I can only stare perplexed at the shoes that step out of the car before the tall manly figure finally stands. I am dazzled. Breathing deeply, I stare with wide eyes at the godly gentleman who greets both my parents with a beautiful smile on his face.

When hands are pointed towards me, I freeze on the spot, watching as the greek-god-like man approaches me. He had a dark bristly mustache, an earthy scent swirled around him as he moved with leopard-like grace.

I only notice now that his lips were moving, he was saying something. To me...

My eyes spot every crevice on his face. Not a single flaw. He had defined cheekbones, Viking dark hair, and a concrete jaw that I ached to trace my fingers over.

His next words, however, took me out of my trance and caused me the shock of my life.

"I'm Nathan Anderson Tate, Your husband!"

Nathan Tate's POV

Sitting in front of my computer, I glance once again at the photo of Elizabeth MaryAnn Richards. A cosmic smile plays on my lips at the thought that she was going to be my wife. At least then, the media would stop running my name through the mud, jumping to conclusions.

Today was the day I would officially meet her, I have a lot of expectations. Any woman in the world would want to be my wife. To be in that position. I can only wonder how Elizabeth reacted when her parents gave her the news.

Picking up the tablet on my table, I begin to tap on it accessing the area where the debts are recorded.

Ever since I was a little boy, Dad had introduced the family company with a new branch. A lender.

flashback

"Sir, Fitz has collected Mr. Andrew Richards. He is in the conference room."

"Very well, I'll be right there."

Picking up the tablet, I rise from my chair and advance towards the conference room.

"Sir..do you need me to co.."

"I can handle this on my own. Revise the details for the project and order more security for the company anniversary celebrations. I'll be with you shortly." I interrupt my secretary, moving past her with dismissal as I push open the door to the conference room.

When I walk into the room, Fitz, my bodyguard, stands at the side of Mr. Richards.

"Sir! Sir, please. I will pay you back. As soon as I can..sir please." He starts to beg. Pulling up a chair at the edge of the glass table, I take a seat, smiling sarcastically at him. The begging will always be hilarious. And it never stopped.

"1.2 million dollars. With the promise of paying it back as 1.5 million dollars within nine months. It has been 13months Mr. Andrew, and my company was not built of forgiveness and innovation."

"Please Mr. Nathan...I will pay you back every dime..every.."

"Of course, you will, And you are going to do that now." The shock and confusion that rocks up his face are not hidden. They all look the same in these circumstances.

"What?" He asks, settling back into the chair as he looks at me with wide eyes.

"Your house. Did you forget that you signed a loan-against-property agreement document? Here, let me read it out for you.." My voice is hoarse and serious. I hate it when I have to keep following up on the people that were supposed to give back the money. it's a waste of time. time energy and Resources.

"In the instances that I, Mr. Andrew Richards failed to pay back the loan within the agreed period, I am entitled to an adjusted repayment time of an extra two months. After this, if the loan is still not repaid, Anderson Industries and Co-operation, under the LendMe institution, are entitled to my home, a property on the east side of Virginia.."

"No...Please! It is all my mother left for me. It's all I and my family have."

"Come down there Mr.Andrew..there are still several ways to remedy the situation.?" His face had lit up after hearing that statement. the way you looked at me with expectation and desperation told him that I had him exactly where I wanted him. That I could easily get what I wanted.

" What?" He asks, displaying confusion. I understood enough about this man. Sometimes it's usually about taking risks. when Mr. Andrew came to take the lawn one year ago he was in a much better position to pay it back. that lead us to believe that it was much easier. right now things seem to have been falling apart on his side. and his gambling addiction may or may not be the main reason why the money went down the drain.

"Your daughter., I say to him. I watch the expressions on his face. I wait for him to react with fear. with horror or with denial. But nothing like that happens. he only looks back at me and then stared ahead into nothingness.

" I want to marry your daughter and in exchange, I'm going to forgive that debt and give you an extra six million dollars," I speak with a much more effective tone. his eyes should have towards me with shock. but the surprise wasn't about his daughter but the money. I hide the disgust on my face for him. how the hell could a man be so ready and desperate to give out his daughter just like that? being the leader of this whole company meant that part of the Education I needed to go through was also psychology. my dad had told me that it will pay off. And right now I can see it. I can read the emotions that register in the space. I can tell what he's feeling and it isn't guilt, it is excitement. Greed.

"Six Million Dollars?" he asks in disbelief, staring between my bodyguard andI.

"Yes.. you heard me correctly. I'm pretty sure the money will play a great role in aiding you financially tribu.."

"When is the wedding." He suddenly asks, with a big excited smile.

End of flashback.

Telling a man that I was willing to marry his daughter in exchange for six million dollars and in the forgiveness of the loan that he owed should not have been enough. I had expected a little bit of resistance. I had expected that it would require more Persuasion to get Mr. Richards to accept my offer. But he had become acquainted with the idea in a heartbeat. Almost as if he was desperate to get rid of his daughter. Almost as if she didn't matter to him. the reality of that scared me. I had monitored Elizabeth for the past four months now. I knew every little thing about her. I understood that she was a sweet young woman and she never give her parents trouble.

She wasn't even a burden to her father. She paid for her education. working as a cleaner at the lousy hotel down the street and then as a waitress in the cafe.

I cannot wait to meet her. it would be much easier to get Elizabeth in agreement with my terms. She craves to be loved. She craves affection. The things that have parents have not been able to give her. if I post as a loving man willing to give her the world, then, she will jump at my suggestions in a heartbeat.

Stepping out of the shower, I drive myself and then send the coordinates of our destination to my driver. The security that I had designed for myself dictated that only one person would know about where we were going. and that was my driver. the rest of my bodyguards would only follow blindly. they had been a lot of instances in the past where both my life and my father's life had been threatened. and there were traitors among us. posing as servants. impersonating others in hopes of getting closer to me.

And I have worked too hard to be where I am right now. to appeal to my father. and make him believe that I am indeed the perfect person for this role. I can't lose it for anything. That is why I need to marry Elizabeth Mary Ann Richards. because if I don't marry this woman, then I'm going to lose the company.

Elizabeth's POV

"I'm Nathan Anderson Tate, I'm your husband."

His devil-may-care Outlook and his stellar smile did no Justice to the rubbish of words he had just spoken. I stared at him, eyes wide waiting for him to correct his statement.

At this moment, I only find myself working at him. a flicker of curiosity grows Inside Me. His only flemish was the bottled brow which furrowed with expectation and confusion. It only takes me a short while before I realize that his hand is stretched out towards me and he's waiting for me to shake it.

"Elizabeth, the young handsome man has said something, do you not have any response to that?" my mother asks suddenly. when I look at her and then back at the attractive man I can only nod my head trying to incorporate the level of information that I had just been given. it still settles in my mind that this might be a joke of some sort. A mistake or perhaps a misunderstanding.

"He just said he's my husband's mother," I said with a chuckle, ignoring the outstretched hand.

"Is something funny?" He asks, his voice silky and rich with so much masculinity and sexiness. The aura that he carried around him was out of this world. I could tell the fabric and outlook of his garments spelled luxury. Based on the number of cars he had come with, and the fact that he had a chauffeur at his beck and call, told me everything I needed to know.

I was fucking imagining things.

"I...im..Im sorry, I think im imagining things. What did you sa.."

"I'm Nathan Anderson Tate, and I'm your husband." He interrupts, taking my hand in his, shaking it casually as his almond-shaped eyes connect with mine.

My eyes widen with horror, a short questionnaire occurs in my brain where I wonder if I was on drugs.

"Mum...Who is this man and is he out of his mind?" I direct the question towards my parents pulling my hand away from his own immediately.

Taking a step backward, I gave myself from there several men inside our compound dressed in suits. Something was f****** happening and it was happening right now. And I needed answers before I went crazy.

" Elizabeth, why don't we sit down and have a conversation inside." my mother calls out to me, stepping forward as she places her hand on my shoulder. I look at her and then back at my dad then towards the hunky stranger that still stood in front of me.

"Is this some kind of joke?" I asked him, hoping that he could provide information that was not masked and hidden like what my parents were trying to do. There ought to be an explanation for this.

"You have not told her..." the man answers, his head falling, shoulders dropping as he exhales in somewhat frustration and annoyance. The way the muscles of his arms flex around his suit when he dives his hand into his pocket is sensational.

"We felt that it was best if the both of you first met before giving her the news. I mean is it not obvious Sir. Nathan? My daughter already likes you. she's in love with you. I mean look at her. She's going to make a wonderful wife for you. We have trained her to be a modest woman, one who..."

"WAIT! Wait! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" I yell, clenching my fingers as anxiety threatens to obliterate me.

The man stares at me with that odd expression and then back at my parents.

"Do you call that tantrum a well-trained woman?" he asks dismissing me as though I wasn't even in his presence. this ought to be a f****** dream. In no way in this world can this be happening. well-trained? like a puppy or something? As a joke? was this a prank?

"Look at my love..." he says turning to me once again. He enters the house, inviting himself in as his hand rests on my lower back, pushing me inside with him. Goosebumps stretch over my body as the beating of my heart fastens. If this Madness continued any longer I'm pretty sure I was going to have a heart attack.

"Have a sit right here," he says as if he had already made himself accustomed to the house.

"I suspect that your parents were afraid to tell you this or they were holding back for a valid reason, but we are going to be getting married within a period of 2 months." He drops the bombshell, a cosmic smile on his lips as he reads my face waiting for a reaction.

Rising up from the couch immediately, I take a step back and breath deeply.

"You're crazy. You are really crazy." I say to him. "Mom, come liste.."

"He's telling you the truth, daughter. This is why we have been preparing since morning. this is why we have been so nervous the past few days. We accepted the money that he offered and you're going to be his wife before or within two months. He's a billionaire. you don't need to worry about anything. He is a nice young man and he has promised to take care of you. think about it. He is going to pay for your education. Especially for Law School you no longer have to work two jobs and you need not worry about providing for us. Everything is the conqueror. We've already received the down payment..."

"What?" I repeat yet again, the words echoing in my head as my eyes widen. "Down Payment? His Wife? You...You sold me!"

I arrive at the conclusion in a much more horrifying way than I had expected. And I was prepared to argue that result with everything that I had. But the guilty look on my mother's face and the satisfying look on my father's tells me everything I needed to know.

They had sold me out.

"Listen," I say to him, watching as he stands up and looks at me. "You must be a really sick man to offer money to a bunch of people in exchange for their daughter. And you're even much sicker to think that a woman can be bought with money. It tells me how low your standards are. It tells me how pathetic you are and how it may be possible that you are so miserable in your love life you needed to go buy a woman against her will. but that person isn't going to be me. I don't care how much money you've given my parents but it's not enough. It will never be enough. My worth is not measured by materialistic things. I am a human being for crying out loud. I am not a commodity. I am not an item you can buy at the market or from those two people standing right there. In light of this... I would like you to understand that it is safe to collect the money you've already given to my parents. You do not have a wife in this home. I have an education ahead of me. And once I'm through with that, if I'm ever going to get married, it's going to be to a man that I'm in love with. At my own pace time and with a decision that I have made by myself."

Turning around hoping to make the dramatic exit, two gigantic men stand at the door.

"Tell your minions to let me out," I say to him. he remains silent, his hands in the pocket of that beautiful immaculate suit as he slowly approaches me first for some reason I was breathing different also but that did not excuse the fact that even though this man is incredibly handsome in attractive, he is a sick bastard. He liked the decency of being a normal human being. Chances are that if he had asked me out or showed interest in me then maybe we would have gone on a date like what other normal people will do. But marriage? Within the period of two months? Being sold by my parents? The betrayal of that tabs much more than anything I have ever felt. It slices my heart almost in half and it reminds me that in this world there are things I should remain afraid of. Like the betrayal of people, I trust the most. people that I have grown accustomed to. Had I not given enough for my parents? Was it not enough sacrifice to work two jobs in hopes of finding good deals and my own? Catering for my own education? Only to be sold out like an item in the market.

"Listen, love... I agree with half of the things that you've just said. and of course, you are a woman of value. but I'm not going to tell you that I respect that. because at the end of the day I've given your parents a shitton amount of money that I would have invested in a business or something. and we've already made the agreement and the documents are going to be signed. like it or not baby girl, I own you!"

The way he speaks those words with so much confidence irritates me the most. my lips pressed in a thin line as I take a step forward. standing on my tippy toes just to make sure that I am almost looking at him directly, I clench my fist with anger trying to figure out the perfect response.

"You are f****** delusional"