CEO's Sweet Love: Arranged Marriage

Jefferson's POV

"Marry her and you will have all my shares in the company," Dad told me. I was furious. He knew I had a girlfriend and yet he wanted me to marry someone else. Ever since, he has never bothered himself with me. He always said he trusted my decisions and would never meddle in my personal affairs. Now, here he is, singing different tunes.

"If I did not agree?" I asked. I knew that he had no choice but to hand me the company. It's not because I'm his only son, but because I know that he knew that I was capable.

"Then I am going to offer it to Noris." Shock was an understatement. How could he? Is he willing to give his shares to that bastard just to marry that woman, whoever she is?

"You've got to be kidding me. You knew he'd grabbed the opportunity at once. " I told him.

"Yes, that's why I am offering it to you first, because I already knew the answer I would be getting from him." He answered. I didn't want you to tell me that, I didn't let you know about it or blame me for not telling you, so here I am, informing you before him. " He added. So he was just informing me and not asking me? Do I have to thank him for that? I sighed in exasperation and looked at him. He was sitting comfortably on his couch. If I had known that he would tell me this now, I would not have come here.

"Dad, you know that I worked hard for the company. I gave everything and devoted myself to it, " I told him.

"I know, that's why I am offering you this first. But you don't have to worry. If Noris agrees to marry Celina, I will tell him to let you stay at the company as the vice president," he said.

Did I hear him correctly? Vice President? Noris was going to be the Chairman, and I would be a fu****g Vice President! "Not even a president, dad? A vice president? Is that how little you think of me? " I asked, controlling my anger. He is my father and I didn't want us to have a dispute regarding money or the company.

"Of course, I think highly of you! Don't think otherwise. Vice President is the only position I can give you because Celina will be the president. I know how much Noris could handle, so I will put Celina in charge of the operation. " he replied, and I started having the thought that Noris was his legitimate son and not me. I mean, how could he do this to me? He is his son too, but the company was built by my mother for him and she was there when dad was struggling.

"You can leave." He said.

"What?" I asked him. Is that how he is going to dismiss me?

"Your brother is coming. I am going to talk to him. " He said as he closed his eyes and massaged his temples. I was losing it. The thought of having to follow that bastard infuriates me. I would never follow him in this lifetime.

"Fine. I agree with you. " I told him, and he looked shocked. "What? You never expected me to agree? After you told me that you'd handed the company to your bastard, you expect me to let it happen? " I asked him continuously and angrily. I never thought that he was capable of doing this to me. Mom will come out of her grave if I let that son of his manage the company they both work hard for, and then me.

"Think before you agree. It is a marriage that we are talking about," he said.

"You're telling me that now? Isn't this what you wanted? What, are you worried about me now? " I asked him angrily.

"Don't call him my bastard, he has a name and he is your older brother. He does nothing to hurt you, so be respectful to him. You don't need to be smart to learn this thing." He said, "And no, I am not worried about you or Noris in this marriage. I was worried about Celina. I'm afraid that she'd get hurt no matter who between you and Noris accepted this offer. If only I could just give her everything, but I knew that both you and your brother wouldn't let her slide and would accuse her of everything," he said. "Just go home first and think about it. If you promised me that you'd never hurt her in any way, I mean anyway, and to protect her at all cost, then we have a deal. " He added, "You know where to find me if you make up your mind." He ended and got up from the couch.

I was left behind and thought about what Dad said. He was worried about the woman more than me or Noris. Who is that woman? It was a little after lunch, and I decided to go back to the office. When my dad called me earlier, I was in a meeting, and I decided to end it, thinking he had important things to say. My assistant Daria welcomed me with documents that required my attention. I'm glad she gave me something I could work on, so I will have my mind occupied. I had been spending my entire time with the files that Daria had handed me when my girlfriend Wendy called me. I thought for a moment whether I would talk to her or not, and decided that I had to.

"Hi, babe..." she said as soon as I answered her call. I wanted to go to the mall to buy a gown for the charity event I was going to attend. Can you come with me?" She asked in a sweet voice.

"I'm sorry, but I have important things to do right now and I need to finish this," I told her. She always takes me with her, and I like that about her.

"Ok, babe. I will just cancel it. " She said I felt guilty, so I told her.

"You don't have to cancel it; you can go without me."

"But, I don't have money to buy the gown," she said. I was stunned for a moment and realized that whenever we went out, I was the one who paid for everything she'd bought. When there's something she wanted, she would call me out and have me pay for everything. I am not a stingy person and she's my girlfriend, so spending money on her was not an issue with me.

"OK, I will have Daria attend to your needs. Just tell me how much and Daria will settle it. " I told her.

"OK babe, tell her to be at Allaine's at 5 instead. Goodbye." She said and ended the call. My eyes stayed on the phone that I was holding and realized that I had never been to any of the occasions that Wendy had attended, but I was always with her whenever she bought something she needed for those events. I tried to think about if I was ever available on those occasions, but I knew there were times that I was free. No matter what, I can't do anything about it since I am going to break up with her. Then I told Daria to go to Allaine's to assist Wendy and saw her sad face. I understand that it wasn't her job, but did she have to do that?

"Don't you want to do it?" I asked. I was facing a dilemma and I didn't want her complaint to add to that.

"It's nothing like that, Sir. I just... I just don't like her. " She said.

"Just do as I say," I told her and she nodded before leaving my office and I looked at her retreating figure. I never once heard her complain about her work or anything. She was good at her job. As for Wendy, I decided to break up with her and marry the woman my dad wanted. Office hours were almost over, and I decided to go and see Wendy as well. I have to break up with her soon, so I won't be able to have problems with her in the future.

I drove to Allaine's and found Daria's car parked not too far away. I parked beside hers and went inside and saw how Wendy treated my secretary, threatening to fire her after we got married. Now I know why she didn't like her. I stayed where I was and listened to her bragging. I didn't know that she had been that kind of woman all these years. Daria acted as if nothing happened and did not bother or even mind Wendy. I admire her for that. I went back to my car and waited until I saw Daria walk back to her car. I think she was shocked to find me there.

She greeted me, and I told her she could go home, and she left. I took my phone and called Wendy. "Hi, babe." She said sweetly. It was as though she was a different person from the one I saw earlier.

"I'm in the parking lot. Can you come here? "

"OK, babe, I'm done here as well. " She said, and I ended the call. I saw her car beside the store and thought about who she was with. As far as I know, she didn't drive by herself. After a few minutes, I saw her approaching my car, smiling. I unlocked the car door and let her in.

"Let's break up," I said, as soon as she got in my the car.

Celina's POV

"You have no say in this. You have to marry Jefferson Scotts, " Daniel said.

"Give me one big reason to agree with this," I told him. I was keeping my cool and tried not to lash out at him. He is my adoptive father. When I was in the orphanage, I longed to have someone who'd take me away from there. When he and his wife Lalaine took me, I thought I was the happiest person in the world. As it turned out, there's nothing to be happy about. They are the worst. At a very young age, they exploited me. They made me their maid without a salary. I had to force them to allow me to study on the condition that I'd do them a favor in return. I guess they are using it now against me.

"You owe us your diploma. We agreed that when the time comes, you would do us a favor," Daniel said. I looked at him and chuckled.

"You're doing this to me? It's the marriage we were talking about. The rest of my life. It was already hell living with you and yet you wanted the rest of my life in a marriage that might ruin me completely." I said angrily.

Lalaine slapped me and said, "How dare you." I balled my fist as I wanted to get even, but I managed to calm myself.

After some thought, I decided, "Fine, we'd do it in writing. You might sell me out again for the same reason in the future, you know. " I told them and smirked. "You have to include that I have already paid off all my debts with you and that I had no more unfinished obligations towards this family. You have to include that I am now a free soul. " I said and walked to the stairs, "You have to put it in writing as well that you are not going to approach me or ask anything from me in the future. When the contract is ready, you can give it to me after you've signed it. " I added and went up the stairs to go to my room. I lock my bedroom door after I get in. I was so furious at them and I wanted to yell. I never thought I would have to deal with them in this way. So, I calm myself and think. This may be even better than continuing to live with them. I just hope my husband was less evil. Of course, I am not expecting heaven with whoever he is, but I just hope he is a bit human.

I am Celina Nicholson. I was an orphan until Daniel and Lalaine Nicholson adopted me from the orphanage. I thought it was the start of my good fortune, but I was wrong. They were a bad couple. No wonder they were not gifted a child of their own.

I don't remember much about my biological parents. I was too young to remember them. But I know one thing; I have a phobia of huge bodies of water. Even a pool size scares me because my parents died in the sea, drowning.

As for a sibling, I don't know either. As I've said, I was too young to remember. The rest of my childhood was in the orphanage and then in this house. I was bullied by girls in the orphanage along with my friend, Xia, but I never let them feel happy about it. I always retaliate and that ends up in my detention. That's why I wanted to leave there. They were not fair. Even if we were all orphans there, they still had their favorites.

I guess life was like that. It was unfair. No matter how hard you try, the more you dig your own grave deeper. The more you behave and try to be a good person, the more they step on you. I am not going to allow that to happen anymore and I will fight for my happiness. I promised to never get affected by those kinds of people and only love myself. So, I made sure to agree to this marriage if it was going to be my escape route from those two monsters.

A week later, I received the agreement from my adoptive parents. I checked if it was from a true attorney and made a copy of it. A lot of copies of it after I signed it. I had every detail checked and consulted by an attorney referred to me by a friend. I am not an idiot. I understand things. But there were experts on this that could explain it to me more complexly.

Now, I feel free from them. I don't know how much they got from selling me off, and I don't want to know. I don't care about them at all anymore.

Later, I am going to meet Mr. John Scott. My father-in-law-to-be. I don't know what got him to choose me for his son. I don't know how he knows me either, as I have never met him before.

I was informed to meet him at 4. I was a freelance designer and none of those two monsters knew about it. They thought I was working part-time as a crew member. I was earning for myself, and I have already saved a lot. I was just actually saving and taking my time so I could escape from those two. Now that I am going to be free without getting worried, I will take this marriage thing instead.

I arrived at the café where I was supposed to meet John. I didn't expect much from him as he was a stranger. I sat at one of the available tables and waited. I didn't bother looking around because I knew John would know who I was.

And just as I thought, a minute had not passed and yet he approached me already. "Hello, Celina." I looked at the smiling man, probably in his 50's, looking at me. He didn't wait for me to acknowledge him and just sat on the chair in front of me.

It didn't bother me; I was just confused that he looked so nice to me and I'm not used to that. He may have been waiting for my response, as he just stared back at me and didn't say anything.

"You must be Mr. John Scott," I said, and he smiled once again.

"I'm happy that you know my name," he replied.

"Daniel and Lalaine told me," I said as I looked at him. "Why?" I asked afterward.

"What do you mean?" He asked, confused.

"Why do you want me to marry your son? Is he disabled? Impotent? ugly? Worthless? " I asked him. He laughed at me as he shook his head.

"None of that matches my son. He was the complete opposite of everything that you said." He replied.

"Then why? I don't have any special talent, skills, or whatever to be worthy of marrying your godly son. " I told him.

"I am not looking for a goddess for a daughter-in-law. I was just curious about you. That's it." He answered, which made me raise my brows.

"You know that I don't believe you, right?" I asked him. His smile turned into laughter. I didn't feel scared of him at all. He looks funny to me, and I'm pretty sure he finds me amusing.

"I guess I don't have to worry about you after all. You are feisty and perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. " He said, relieved.

"I had been doing that for the last, what, ahm... 14 years of my life. Considering I had been living with two monsters, over the years, I learned to love no one else but myself. " I told him

"Then you can perfectly handle my son. Despite your description of him being godly, he was a total jerk, not to me but I'm sure to you. He doesn't like to get married to you, so I will have to tell you in advance that your marriage won't be heaven. But it won't be a total hell either. He never hurt women, that's what I can assure you. Physically, I mean, because emotionally I'm sure a lot of women have cried over him." He informed me.

"Then what will happen if I marry your womanizer son?" I asked.

"You will have to live with him. You know, we own a big company, so you will be wealthy as well. You will be assigned as the President of the company while he is the CEO. I hope you two will work well together for the betterment of the company and the people who work behind it," he said "I cannot promise you, but I will try my very best to stop him if he ever cheats on you. Though he never cheated on any of his girlfriends, he was generous to them. But, I cannot say the same to you for being his wife through an arranged marriage," he added.

"I understand."

" If there's anything that you two want to discuss, make sure you do. Although I wanted you to fulfill your duties as his wife, I know that still depends on my son."

I nodded at him and smiled. Let's just say, I think I know now what I am into. John stood up after a while, indicating he was leaving.

"I have arranged a date for you two later at 7 in the Clandestine Hotel and Restaurant. Please be on time; he hates lazy people. " John said.

"Oh, what to do? I am very lazy. " I told him, and he laughed as he left.

I watched his retreating figure and I realized that he would make a model even at his age. I remember that he didn't have any snacks yet. How lousy is your daughter-in-law that she forgot to offer you something to eat? I thought.

I stayed at the café for a while as I did some sketching for my next project. All of my customers were from abroad. There were wealthy students also who were too lazy to do their projects and were willing to pay my fee.

I decided to stay there until 7, so I didn't need to spend money on taxi fares and I managed to make a draft for my 5 projects. How convenient.

Now, it's time to face the godly womanizer.

Third Person's POV

Celina went to Clandestine. As she entered the restaurant, a waitress stopped her. "Excuse me, but this part of the restaurant is off-limits," the waitress told her. Celina nodded and told the waitress that she had a reservation.

"Reservation under Mr. John Scott," Celina said, and the waitress glared at her. She rolled her eyes at the waitress when she realized that she was being criticized, and she didn't like it a bit. "If you are going to look down on me, you better look at yourself first. Remember what you are here for," she said, and the waitress ushered her to a private room after feeling embarrassed by what Celina had said.

As she entered the room, she found Jefferson in a suit. His face hardened and darkened while waiting, and Celina smiled internally as she thought that she had made him wait. Jefferson looked at her and didn't say a word, so she just sat opposite him. "You're late," he said.

"I am not applying for the job, so I don't need to be punctual," Celina answered.

Jefferson creased his forehead after hearing what she just said. "Do you need to apply for a job so you can be punctual? Isn't that necessary for everyday living? " He wasn't sure if she was meeting the same woman his dad had asked him to meet. But his expectation of her had drastically washed away.

"Not everyone lives the way you do," Celina replied.

"Do you usually talk that way to other people?" Jefferson asked her.

"I thought I was meeting my future husband and not my future employer," Celina rebutted.

Jefferson started to lose his patience as Celina talked back and always had a say in anything. "I am indeed your employer. You will be working for me as my wife," Jefferson said.

"Are we going to eat or will we just continue talking like this?" Celina said and took the dish in front of Jefferson, saying, "I want to try this. I'm sure you have tasted every food offered in this restaurant, so you won't mind me tasting this, right? " She asked and took a bite of the steak after she cut a small piece. "Hmm, it's good," she said as she savored the flavor of the steak. Jefferson couldn't do anything but let her. He wondered why his dad wanted to marry him off to this woman.

"Can't you eat properly? Aren't you feeling shy when a man is watching you and you eat that way? " Jefferson asked, trying to humiliate her for being unladylike when eating.

Celina looked around as if she was looking for something. "It's just the two of us here, right?" She asked.

Jefferson wondered why she had to ask, "Don't you have eyes? Can't you see that it's just us?" He asked sarcastically.

"Just as I thought, so where is the man you are talking about that I had to be shy of?" Celina asked, confused.

He could not utter a word and couldn't believe that someone like her would act that way. 'Doesn't he see me as a man? Am I not worthy enough for her? Just how high does she set her standards for men?' He thought about asking but did not say anything anymore and waited for Celina to finish her food.

After she was done, Celina looked at Jefferson and said, "Go on, talk."

Jefferson just looked at her. He thought that she was a very straightforward person. She didn't look stupid either, so he thought Celina would agree with what he was about to say.

Thinking Jefferson was having a hard time talking, Celina decided to start the conversation. "If it's legal, I might agree. If it's not, forget about it. "

"What made you think that I would be asking you to do illegal things?" Jefferson asked, annoyed.

"Comprehension, Mr. Jefferson. You should work on that. " Celina replied.

Jefferson started to get irritated with the way Celina talked to him. "I had a woman I loved," he said.

"Shall I love her too?" Celina asked sarcastically.

"Can't you listen first?"

"Can you talk straight to the point? I don't need to hear about your love life. I don't care about that. You just have to choose whether you will marry me or not. " Celina yelled.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me, you gold digger?" Jefferson told her angrily.

Celina laughed after she heard him. If there was anything in this world that she hated, it was money. If she doesn't need it to eat or to do anything, she wouldn't even try touching it.

"Gold digger? Did you just call me a gold digger? Then what should I call you then? The man who was willing to let go of the woman he said he loved for the company? You had better watch your mouth. I am not someone you can step on just because you have money. I had been through a lot and living in the street was nothing. Just because you have everything doesn't mean that I won't fight you back. You cannot always fight money with money, you know. " Celina told him, angrily.

Jefferson was speechless. He never thought that she could talk back to him like that. John told him that Celina was a poor child. She was an orphan that had been adopted by Nicholson. Thinking that was true, Jefferson thought that she should be easy to deal with, but he thought wrong because Celina was smart.

She glared at Jefferson, and she wanted to say more but decided to hold herself back. She needed to get married to him so she could leave Nicholson. She didn't want to stay with them anymore as she was worried that they would do anything to her and she wouldn't be able to help herself.

"If you want to get married, say your terms and I will listen. Don't try to blame me concerning your separation from your woman, because you have a choice. You're not the only son of God, so don't expect to have the best of both worlds," Celina told him calmly. She was trying hard not to raise her voice. She thought he was hypocritical to point fingers at her solely. "I can do my duties responsibly and at the same time I won't be a burden to you," she added. Jefferson looked at her and thought for a while.

"You wanted to work this out?" He said.

"No, I wanted us to be civil and respectful to each other," Celina told him.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"Why do you agree to this marriage?"

"I have my reasons, too. You are willing to marry me now because of your company, right? Then I was willing to get married to you so I could leave the family I have without worry."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what my words mean. I'd rather deal with a godly womanizer like you than with them, " Celina said.

"Wait. What? A godly womanizer? Where did that come from? " Jefferson asked.

"Ask your father about it. I am not good at explaining trivial things. Now, do you agree or not? " Celina asked.

Jefferson was confused. He thought he had the upper hand, and it turned out it was the other way around. He thought Celina was easy to deal with and let his guard down, so he couldn't say a word.

"What? Has the cat got your tongue?" Celina pressured him to answer.

"You had the deal. I expect you to be a dutiful wife to me, " Jefferson told her.

"Fine by me," Celina answered until she remembered something.

"Oh, when it comes to women, you can have it as long as you don't flaunt it or never let me find out about it. Even if we jump from an arranged marriage to a contract marriage, I don't want a husband who cheats."

Jefferson stopped for a moment. He never cheated on any of his previous girlfriends, and he values marriage the most. "I don't cheat and make sure that you're not too. Whether I knew it or not, you are not allowed to even look at any man. "

"Deal. I don't like men, " Celina said with a smile. Jefferson stared at her, confused about what she meant, but decided not to ask anymore.