Billionaire Hired Bride

Time & Place: 5:45pm at ivory classic shoes

Elizabeth, the CEO personal assistant, knocked softly on the CEO's office door but did not enter until he asked her to. Elizabeth was surprised to see him working and not showing signs of stopping anytime soon. She glanced at her wrist watch, it was 5:45pm. He was supposed to be home by 4:00 pm which was their closing hour but he was still here working. Elizabeth dropped the file on the table gently and spoke in a polite tone.

"Sir Mike, are you working late today too ?"

He raised his head up to look at her and laughed, her smile brightened.

"Yes Elizabeth I am, I need to complete this design, our exhibition is around the corner"

He replied but she sighed triedly. The exhibition was the most important event celebrated every year, it is an event when the ivory classic shoes bring new designs of shoes for the world to see, both female designs, male designs and even children designs were exhibited for sales. People from different parts of the world attend this event to see what ivory classic shoes have in stock for them. Last year's exhibition sold out about 400,000 000 dollars on that day and more orders were still placed. Last year's designs were top notch so this year's designs must be better than last year. This is why Mike is working hard to make sure this year turns out better than last year.

"But sir, the team is also working on the designs for the exhibition. You don't need to stress yourself this much"

She said worried. Mike was always hardworking and most of the time neglect his health and rarely have time for himself and this was what exactly worried Elizabeth, she had been working for him for eight years now and have never seen him missed work for a day, he was never late for work and would never cancel any meeting no matter how urgent the situation was.

"Don't worry I will get off work early today, you can go home now no need to wait till I finish"

He responded and went back to designing new shoes, Elizabeth frowned at his character and attitude towards her. She didn't want to leave him but he had literally sent her away like he always does. She won't lie for the past years that she had been working with him. She had fallen in love with him, you won't blame her. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Why do you think he has a strong female fan base group which she was proudly a member of. But she has been trying her best to show her signs but he never sees it. He is always blinded with work and most of the time he doesn't see her as a woman but a friend and that hurts her badly.

"Okay sir, just make sure you don't stay too long"

She said and he nodded still focused on what he was doing.

"I will take my leave now, see you tomorrow sir"

She replied disappointed and left him closing the door behind her. She leaned against the door and let out a breath of relief.

"He never looks at me no matter how hard I try, why is he so distant ?"

She asked herself and left angrily.

************************************************

Mike glanced at the wall clock, it was 9:00pm on the dot, he was surprised to see how the time flew so fast. He stretched his body and yawned triedly.

"Woah, how come it this late ?"

He asked himself as he arranged his table and shut down the system. He picked up his phone, car keys and his leather bag and left his office headed straight to the garage. He walked through the hallway humming the sounds of his favorite song. Getting to where his car was parked he saw a lady angrily hitting his car with her bag and cursing loudly, he was shocked to see her there and wondered who she was and why she was doing such damage to his "beautiful baby" as he refers to his car.

"She is my most precious one !'

He said sadly as he ran towards her and pulled her away from his car, when he did so he could notice that she reeked of alcohol. He shaked his head frustrated, he was very tired and now he has to deal with a drunk lady.The lady gazed at him angrily as she landed thousands of blows on his chest.

"You're the worst thing that ever happened to me!"

She yelled at him and a teardrop rolled down her cheeks. Mike was confused and didn't know what to do with a crying lady.

"Who are you looking for ?"

He asked politely. He needed to know so he could lead her to the person's car or do something to make her leave his sight.

"So you pretend not to know me now ? Oh my ! Timothy, are you this bad ? After all I did for you. You still cheated on me with my best friend, you such a jerk !"

She wept and he felt pity for her. Timothy must be a real dickhead and jerk to hurt a beautiful damsel like her, leaving her frustrated and in a dangerous state. What if something bad happens to her since she doesn't know what she was doing or where she was.

"You see, I am so sorry for whatever had happened to you but you are mistaken I am Mike Lawson not Timothy okay ? But where do you live? I would call a cab to take you home."

He asked and she laughed loudly at the same time tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Home ? Did you forget Linda was my roommate when you cheated with her. Did you?"

She asked, hitting him hard on his chest, he took in all the pain until she was tired and fell on the floor weeping. He bent down to pat her back.

"Am sorry for cheating on you"

He said playing along, at least if he did so she would leave him alone. and she looked into his eyes, wiping her tears immediately.

"Why do I keep falling in love with you ?"

She slowly responded, her words almost like a whisper which sent sparks to his heart. She is still in love with someone who keeps cheating on her ? That is totally wrong ! Why would she do something like that? Mike had asked himself but still kept calm ignoring the questions screaming in his head.

"I know I hurt your emotions and I sincerely apologize for that. Please forgive me, I will call a cab for you and we will talk about this tomorrow huh ?'

He said trying to find a way out of the mess he has put himself in, she was silent for a while and just stared at him, her blue eye shining brightly but flooded with tears she shut them slowly and placed a short and simple kiss on his lips. He was crowned with confusion and immediately looked around to see if there was anyone watching them. He carried her up and immediately took her straight into his car, he looked at her sleeping peacefully as she had already drafted to sleep, he shut the door and moved to the driver's seat and drove out of the garage.

Immediately Mike Lawson and the strange lady drove out of the garage, his car was followed by a black sports car. Mike, unaware he had begun to follow, drove the lady into his house.

Time & Place : 7:00 am at Mike mansion

She slept soundly on his bed, while he dressed up for work. He had a soft knock on his bedroom door and opened it only to see his annoying junior brother with a tablet in his hand. Mike groans frustrated at the sight of his brother and wonders why he was at his place this morning.

"What are you doing here this early?"

He asked standing at the door, so he won't come into the room. His brother had a wide mouth and if he saw the lady in his room he would freak out and make a scene which was the last thing mike wanted this morning.

"Won't you let me in ? Or are you hiding something?"

He asked with a silky smile hanging on his handsome face, Mike laughed and rolled his eyes nervously. Jonathan was sure that there was something definitely wrong for him to stand on the way denying him entry into his room, mike wasn't someone that doesn't even lock his bedroom door. This is made Jonathan more eager to know what he was hiding

"Then let me in !"

He said pushing his brother aside and forcefully entering the room, his eyes roamed all over the room until he met a beautiful lady sitting on the bed. She looked confused and didn't know why or how she got to where she was.

"Jonathan, let talk outside"

He said as he followed him and stood behind him.

"So it's true ? Why would you do this when your exhibition is around the corner?"

He asked and Mike stared at him confused

"What are you talking about"

Mike asked out of curiosity and Jonathan handed over the tablet to him. He turned it on and was shocked to see the video of him and the lady on his bed kissing all over the internet.

"How did this get into the internet ?"

He asked shocked

"You must have forgotten how influential you're ? Every single thing you do, every step you take is constantly monitored not just one person but everyone, all eyes are on you. Why would you kiss your girlfriend in public? You could have waited till you got home then you made out how you wanted to. Now the internet is going crazy asking who the mysterious lady is and some saying that you took advantage of a drunk lady"

His brother was angry about his mistake which was now affecting the stock market. He knows Mike very well and wasn't expecting him to make this type of mistake, he was always cautious of everything he did so this made him wonder who this lady was. She gazed at him confused, she wasn't the only one confused here even mike was surprised.

"But that isn't what really happened, it is complicated but how do we bring things down on the internet ? Nothing must go wrong in this coming exhibition I put a lot of effort to make sure it going to be a success just this video can't make all my efforts go down the drain just like that"

He replied and Jonathan sighted triedly. He could see the concern in his brother's eyes and he didn't even know what to do.

"I already called some people to make sure that video stop circulating in the internet and Elizabeth in working on the stock market, I am also trying to track down who posted the video and pictures"

He responded his reply was reassuring and this calmed Mike down for the time being.

"Can I know why I'm here ?"

The young lady who has been silent the whole time finally spoke, she didn't understand what was going on and needed explanation. Mike moved towards her and sat at the edge of the bed.

"What is your name?"

He asked in a low and calm voice. And this made Jonathan surprised, why would he ask for her name ? Did he really take advantage of her yesterday like it is spreading on the internet?

"I don't understand what is going on here ? I thought she was your new lover ? Isn't she the one in the video and pictures?"

Jonathan bluntly spoke without thinking.

"What video?"

She was also surprised. Does this mean she was the lady they were talking about all this while ?

"This video"

Jonathan said and gave her the tablet to watch the videos. Mike just sat there looking, not knowing what to do. While she watched the videos then everything that had happened yesterday came rushing back to her memory, a tear escaped from her eye and immediately she wiped them.

*********************************************

Time & Place: 20 hours earlier at Samantha house.

Samantha stepped into the house and was surprised to see the room untidy and clothes scattered around the room. Linda wasn't the type of person who would leave the house in this untidy manner so she feared that something bad might have happened. She left her roommate and best friend for a three day work trip but since she left she had been calling her phone and it wasn't going through. She also tried calling her boyfriend Matthew to tell him to help check if everything was fine with Linda but he was not picking up her calls either. Linda was her friend since childhood and their friendship was like that of two sisters of the same mother so this attitude made her very worried, rushing back home immediately she was done with work only to get back to meet the home in this state, she made up her mind that something was definitely wrong somewhere. She called her number again and this time Linda picked up.

"Linda ! Oh my gosh you finally picked up. Where the hell have you been ? I couldn't reach you on the phone, I am home now and God damnit the house is so messed up. Where are you?"

She threw many questions at her and immediately she answered the phone.

"I figured out you will be home now that why I picked up your call everything you need to know is written in a letter on your dressing table"

Linda spoke gently and Samantha laughed. She was confused and not sure what type of trick Linda was trying to play on her. Linda was very funny and loved to joke all the time and she was sure this was one of her jokes.

"Is this one of the tricks you pulled from your old bag of tricks ? What the fuck are you saying? Where are you ?"

Sam asks, still smiling.

"It might be hard for you to digest but I know you are strong and would get over it. If you must know am in Mexico with Matthew we are starting up a family because am pregnant for him"

She broke the news and Sam couldn't help but laugh harder.

"You must be joking"

She said and she could feel Linda smirk

"You won't believe it, right ? And sorry I didn't mention earlier there might be a lot of things missing from the house, trust me I just borrowed them. Have a good life Sam"

She said and ended the call.

"This must be a joke"

Sam thought and dialed the number again but she wasn't picking up. With fear, confusion and anger she slowly walked to her room, opening the door slowly like she was afraid to do so. Her room looked like a place that had been robbed by robbers and like Linda had said there was a letter on her dressing mirror.

Her room looked like a place that had been robbed by robbers and like Linda had said there was a letter on her dressing mirror. With shaking hands she reached for the letter and picked it up, slowly opening the letter to read.

Sam,

This letter might get to you a bit late and a lot of things might have gone wrong. I would advise you to sit down and read this because it is going to be a long story, let me start by saying you are a good friend indeed and I am always and will always be grateful for having you. Yes I am the worst, but you can't blame me. It isn't easy to see you always happy, and begin to be loved by your boyfriend or should I say your ex ? While I was always being dumped by guys almost every week. It isn't your fault tho, but I fell in love with the guy that makes you happy because I want to be happy too. Turns out Matthew was also interested in me, you're surprised right? I was too. We had a one night stand and two weeks later I was confirmed pregnant, we needed money to start our own family so Matthew had to lie about his problem at work and you fell for it and loaned him a million dollars, it wasn't enough for us to relocate and settle down so I had to sell some of your stuff at home, your jewelries but trust me I didn't touch the one your dead mother left for you because I know how precious it is to you but I sold one of your precious items. Remember the dress Matthew bought for you on your first date ? I sold it. That dress is worth a lot of money Sam ! Come on don't be sad you don't need that dress it will only remind you of Matthew who broke your heart, and I don't think you don't need things that will remind you of him. That enough chit chat Sam, goodbye you will always remain my friend.

Your friend

Linda.

Samantha fell on the ground in shock and heartbreak, she couldn't believe what she had just read. She looked at the letter again and burst into unbearable tears. She was in disbelief and tried hard to convince herself that all this was a nightmare. A nightmare she couldn't wake up from, Linda couldn't do this to her, Linda was the only person she trusted in this life, the only person who was close to her. How would she live without her company, without someone to gist with, laugh with and of course fight with. Samantha was depressed and confused as she thought deep and reflected on the past trying to figure out if there was any way she had offended her but there was none she could think of, not even once had she wrong her. She had been the most supportive friend helping her financially and emotionally, she had been the most caring friend to Linda, giving her anything she needed but what does she pay her with ? Nothing ! Nothing but regret, heartbreak and betrayal. She had the guts to date her boyfriend and even get pregnant for him and to top it all she robbed her of everything in the house.

"Linda, this isn't right ! I don't deserve this type of treatment form you, you know I love him so much how could you do something like this to me"

She yelled at the top of her voice as she continued to wail and weep bitterly.

Hours after drinking to the point of getting drunk she picked up her phone and dialed Linda's number again, until she picked up.

"What ? Samantha the only reason you can still reach me is because I haven't blocked you yet and I haven't done that because of how close we were"

Linda said frustrated

"All this isn't true right ? We were robbed and you are coming home right? You can't betray me huh ?"

She answered weeping uncontrollable

"I see you are drunk, you see life isn't fair and you need to accept that fact and stop behaving like a child who lost a candy"

Linda spoke nonchalant and Samantha scoffed

"You will regret this Linda"

She threatened and linda laughed

"You are really drunk. You mood switch whenever you're drunk, well I don't have time for you now my flight is in the next three minutes you won't be able to reach me or Matthew through call. Goodbye forever"

She said a hang up immediately

***********************************************

Time & Place : Back at Mike's mansion

"Don't give her that !" Mike said, dragging the tablet away from her hands. He noticed that she was trying her best to hide the tears threatening to fall for her eye. Yesterday he could tell that something was definitely wrong with her, that she got so drunk and couldn't even tell the difference between him and her ex.

"It's okay , we will find a way to get over the media. You don't need to worry, the only thing you need to worry about is telling me your name"

He said he wanted to put her mind at rest. She must've been through a lot. Her best friend and boyfriend betrayed her, it won't be easy to come out of that heart break for sure.

"Her name is Samantha Logan, Works in Bibi's jewelry as the managing director, age 23, from North Carolina"

Jonathan responded even before she could say anything, Mike wasn't surprised at all; he knew Jonathan must have done a background check on her immediately when he saw her pictures. Jonathan is his junior brother and also his manager and he was very good at his job.

"How do you know all this ?"

The lady asked, surprised.

"If it's true, that means you can't leave this house because you might be in danger"

Jonathan said and Mike wondered if he thinks before he talks or just says whatever rubbish comes to his mind.

"Jonathan, are you alright ? Stop scaring her"

Mike warned and he smiled.

"Am not trying to scare her and I didn't do a background check or something. Her information is spreading fast on the internet, come on you are a star now everyone wants to know who the mysterious lady kissing the number one handsome CEO is. And why you're not safe because he has a lot of crazy fans that might try to harm you"

He explained

"Am so sorry for this mischief happening around you because of me"

Samantha spoke calmly

"No never mind things will be sorted out soon, but for now you can stay here because of the crazy fans he is talking about"

Mike replied smiling

"You need to hold a press conference today and explain everything to them so as to stop the rumors from spreading"

Jonathan told Mike

"Yeah let's head to the office, Samantha please feel at home Miss Talyor will give you anything you need. Am off to work now"

He said and was about to leave with Jonathan when Sam spoke.

"How about you tell them you are your bride ?"

She said, making them halt in their tracks.