Contract Marriage With A Baggage

KIANA'S POV

The last six months has been nothing but hell and if I am being honest to myself, I am exhausted and frustrated to the core... It is already bad enough that I lost my dad about six months ago but somehow, he made my life worse even in death, I have always considered myself as daddy's girl which is why I'm beyond mad and hurt to realize that my dad doesn't love me, at least not in the way I thought.

My dad's death and the reading of his Will, changed my life in many ways than I can even count. I never really had interest in having a boyfriend or even getting married anytime soon but my dad somehow found a way to impose his wish on me by including a marriage clause on his Will.

"You have to get up Kiana, you can't stay in bed all day. I know that you are tired and frustrated but unless you have made up your mind to forfeit the estate, company and fifty million dollars, you have to get your ass up at some point and let's keep searching for a life partner for you, else you won't be able to meet up to the deadline." Lucy said immediately she stepped into the room and saw me laying in bed... I know she's trying to be helpful and supportive but I am tired and I am ready to give up at this point.

"Yes Lucy, I am ready to give up because this is messing with my mental health and I can't keep putting myself through these because I am trying to make my dad happy or get my inheritance. I am knackered, for months now we have been going from one restaurant to another, we have even gone to churches, clubs, bars, parks and gardens... I am seriously tired, I can't keep doing that. Let's accept that we have tried and just give up and call it a day, maybe this is just a sign that we shouldn't depend on my dad's money." I said exasperatedly but I kind of felt bad for saying the last part because I know Lucy has been nothing short of a good friend and yes the money will change our lives but I am stressed out mentally and emotionally.

"I know that it's not fair on you that your dad put the marriage clause on your inheritance but I am only pushing you to get the inheritance because I don't want you to regret not not doing your best to fulfill the marriage clause but I am your friend and I will support your decision and if you want to give up, that's exactly what we will do." Lucy said while staring at me with a sad smile and I didn't even realize when tears rolled down my eyes.

"Thanks Lucy for your understanding and support, I am sorry my dad did me dirty. We had so much plans for the money, I mean our spa business just went down the drain and I really wanted to get the inheritance but I can't anymore, the stress is driving me crazy and I can't get over the fact that my dad did me dirty, I am his only child for God's sake... I can't believe he did this to me." I cried out as the weight of his betrayal hit me again like it just happened even though his will was read six months ago.

"It's okay Kiana, please don't cry." Lucy consoled just as there was a knock on the door and I couldn't help but wonder who's at the door because we hardly receive visitors, especially because we don't exactly have other friends that can visit.

"Are you expecting someone?" I asked curiously while cleaning my face from all the tears.

"No but let me check." Lucy offered and she immediately got up to see who is at the door.

I stayed back in the room while thinking about our the course of my life has changed just because of an inheritance, I am sad and heartbroken but I will definitely get over it.

"This is for you, a delivery guy dropped it off." Lucy said immediately she returned to the room and handed me a brown envelope.

I'm not expecting any package from anyone, so I have no idea what this is but I am very curious and so is Lucy because she sat beside me immediately and watched me open the envelope. It contains a letter and I started crying as soon as I noticed that it was hand written by my dad.

"Hey Pumpkin,

You must be very infuriated at me for what I am putting you through but you should know I have my reasons and honestly I am doing this for your own good. You know how much I love you and I will come up with anything just to keep you safe if I have to.

I am sorry to tell you this through this medium but I have to, Bridget is not your biological mother, your mum Monica Reeds died after giving birth to you and I couldn't take care of you myself so I employed a nanny to help... Bridget was your nanny but one thing led to another and I eventually married her, I am so sorry pumpkin.

Not too long ago, I came back from a business trip unannounced with the intention of surprising Bridget but I was the one that was surprised. I over heard her in our bedroom with another man discussing how she doesn't love me or you and that she is only interested in my money, the both of them were planning on how they will take all my assets at any cost and elope together.

This and more is why I don't want you to have my properties and assets without fulfilling the marriage clause, I want you to have a man that will protect and defend you from her or any plans she comes up with, you are going to be alone when you read this and I don't want that for you, please My Pumpkin, fulfil the marriage clause... I am buying time for you by having her be in charge so she can feel relaxed and think I am on her side but the truth is, I don't want her near you or any of my assets.

I know this won't be easy for you Pumpkin but I want you to do it for your old man, it's going to be for your benefit eventually, I need someone to love, care and protect you for me while I am gone.

I love you so so much and your Mum loves you too... We will always love you pumpkin.

Love,

Gary "Dad" Reeds.

KIANA'S POV

I am momentarily having a mixed feeling, I am ecstatic to read from my Dad once again even though he is not here but I am also blue to know that the woman I have always recognized as my mum is not my mum after all... It's even more sad for me to know that Bridget is not a good person, I always felt like something was weird with her but I thought it was just sily jealousy and irresponsibilities because she had a rich husband.

But what saddens me the most is not knowing my real mum and my dad who can tell me more about her is not here anymore either which means I have lost the chance completely.

"Oh Kiana, I am so sorry about this." Lucy consoled after reading the letter i dropped while I continue crying.

"Thanks Lucy." I said in a teary voice but then I stopped crying when Lucy spoke again.

"There is something else in the envelope." Lucy said while handing me the brown envelope she picked from the floor.

"Oh my god, I am so happy to see this." I said excitedly after seeing the content of the envelope, it contains different pictures of Monica, my mum when she was pregnant with me. She looked so beautiful and happy in all the pictures, some of the pictures were just of my mum and dad before she got pregnant and others with pregnancy.

I will love to know more about my mum but right at this moment, I am contented with just knowing what she looks like and I am feeling even motivated to keep searching for a life partner, because I can't let Bridget keep my dad's properties.

"You look just like your mum Kiana, so beautiful." Lucy said which made me really happy.

"Thanks Lucy, is it too late to take back what I said later because I am no longer ready to give up, I want to try and fulfill the marriage clause, dad doesn't want Bridget to have his property and I will do everything in my power to prevent it." I said confidently and Lucy smiled at me and I know for a fact that she will support me to achieve everything that I want.

"It's not too late girl and I think I know exactly what we have to do." She said confidently and even though I have no idea of what she has in mind, I am confident that it will work out.

"Really, what's the plan?" I asked anxiously.

"Before this whole inheritance and marriage clause, you really didn't have plans of getting married especially because you had no boyfriend. So instead of stressing to find a boyfriend that you can date long enough till the relationship develop into marriage, why don't we just skip all that process and jump into marriage, I am talking about a contract marriage." She pointed out when she noticed that I was looking at her like she grew an extra head.

That's actually a very good plan because the clause said I should get married but it doesn't necessarily need to be real right?

"I am actually liking the plan but how do I find someone willing to go into a contract marriage with me and for how long will it be for?" I asked curiously because I think this will actually work and save me the stress I have been going through for the last six months because I am looking for love.

"I am glad you like the plan, we can just call in a favour from a female acquaintance or we can go to the bar or even club, I am sure we will find someone that is willing to do the job for the right price and it can be for a period of one year... It's just for you guys to get married and then you can divorce right after you get the inheritance." Lucy explained and it's full plan like something she has been planning for a while now but I don't care how long she has been nursing the plan, all I know is that I love it.

"That's very good, I love the plan. You are a genius and I think we should start looking for the right man right away." I said as I got up from the couch and I picked up my mum's pictures and even the letter from my dad and mad my way to the bedroom to get ready.

"Oh wow, I didn't think you will like the plan this much. I thought I was going to have to give you a good speech to convince you or something." Lucy said as she joined me in the room while I was stripping out of my clothes after putting my mum's pictures in a safe place.

"My dad's letter and the pictures are all the convincing I need, I will get ready and start looking immediately. I don't want to waste more time, I have already wasted six months searching for love that I am not even sure exist." I said as I entered the bathroom.

I showered quickly and within a few minutes, I stepped out and Lucy entered as well, I did my hair and makeup because I can't afford to look helpless and desperate because I am looking for someone to get into a contract marriage with me. When I was satisfied with my hair and makeup, I started looking for something beautiful to wear and I finally decided to wear a white color ruffle trim ruched sleeveless A-line bandeau bodycon mini dress.

"Wow, you look so beautiful." Lucy complimented immediately she stepped out of the bathroom.

"Thank boo." I said as I spun around and we both started laughing.

"You are really very hyped and optimistic but you have to have it in mind that we might not find someone suitable today, so you don't get disappointed." She informed and I know she's right.

"Yes I know and that's why I want to start now, if I don't find someone today, I will try again tomorrow and the day after till I eventually find someone and I won't give up till I do." I said confidently.

"That's very good." She said as she finished dressing in a beautiful black kneel length dress and we left the house right after.

PIERCE'S POV

I can't believe that even as a fucking billionaire, I will get fucked over and over again by ladies just because of love and when you ask ladies what they want in a man, they go ahead to say they want a loving, caring, god-fearing man that will spoil them and a that crap.

Here I am being faithful, supportive, caring, loving, capable and willing to spoil my woman but no matter what I do, they are never satisfied and it sucks... It's crazy how insatiable ladies are but I can't keep up and I am honestly tired, I am done trying to find some lame ass love.

"Call me Mr solution." Stan said immediately he entered my office and I am just wondering what he is fucking up to this time.

"Why would I want to do that or have you suddenly changed your name?" I asked curiously with a smirk on my face.

"Well I earned the name because standing in front of you is a man with the solutions to all your current problems." He said cockily and it almost made me laugh although I am in no mood to laugh.

"I highly doubt that but go ahead." I said as he sat down, it's highly impossible for him to have solutions to problems I am not even sure he is aware of. I know he is my best friend but that doesn't mean that he knows all my fucking problems.

Although I am fucking curious to know what he has in mind because he seems very confident and I am beginning to think that he might have something up his damn sleeves.

"Well my private investigator just gave me interesting news regarding Gary holdings." He said with a smirk

"Well that's actually a good news if it will lead to me getting my money back, Gary Reed can not just swindle me of thirty million dollars and get away with it. I won't allow that, I want my money back and even more for trying to out smart me." I stated.

"Well it's almost like he got away because he is dead, infact he does like six months ago but my private investigator just informed me a while ago that Gary Will everything to his only child. Kiana Reed, although she doesn't have access to his properties yet because the bastard did her dirty by including a marriage clause to the inheritance and right now, the PI found out that she's looking to hire someone for a marriage contract so that she can get her inheritance." He said proudly and he should be proud because that information will help but I still don't understand how this information is a solution to all my problems.

"Okay I wasn't expecting to hear that Gary is dead and I am glad that all hope is not lost and I can still get my money back probably from Kiana but how is this a solution to all my problems?" I asked curiously because I am lost.

"Look at the bigger picture pierce, I remember vividly that you swore off ladies after you caught Fiona in your bed with another man a few days ago. So Kiana needs a man to do a contract marriage with so that she can get her inheritance, why don't you be that man so that you can have access to her inheritance and get everything her father stole from you back and at the same time, you won't need to experience heartbreak anymore because she will be your wife and she will show up at all your events and she will be available for everything you need and the interesting part is that she can't even cheat because she's going to be bounded by contract that I will personally draft out myself." Stan explained with a mischievous smile and I see the point and advantage of his proposal but I am not exactly sure I want that.

"It's already bad enough that I can't find a fucking loyal and faithful woman but do I really need to result to buying affection or loyalty with a fucking contract marriage, is it really that bad because I am lost." I said pointedly while staring at him with a frown.

"Don't look at it like that man, just look at him like a mutually beneficial business proposal, you guys are both using each other, only that you have more to gain and in this deal, you won't be worried about her being unfaithful and anything like that because during the cause of the contract, she's compelled to be absolutely loyal and faithful to you." He assured and it's sounds cool but I don't really know.

"Well it makes sense but I still need to think about it, I am a billionaire for God's sake and I can't afford to do anything that will bring shame and insult to my damn name." I said pointedly.

"And that's exactly why you need this because the contract will keep her mouth shut and I am drafting the contract myself, so you should know I will make it very rigid for her. You can think about it but if you ask me, there is really no need for that because I already looked into everything and it will really benefit you, besides she's actively looking for someone and if you are down, we need to approach her before she makes a pick because she's really desperate." Stan explained and I think he is right, he is my best friend and barrister, so I know the marriage contract will definitely benefit me.

"Alright fine, I am down but I hope she's beautiful because I need a beautiful woman but my side at all times even if it's not fucking real." I said with a wink which made him laugh and I couldn't help but join in on the laugh.

"She's not just beautiful man, she's hot and sexy, infact she's an eye candy. The PI sent me this picture yesterday, what do you think?" Stan asked with a teasing smile as he brought out his phone and showed me her picture on his phone.

Oh wow, she's not bad at all. Kiana is one smoky hot lady, I never imagined that Gary Reed can have a daughter this beautiful and hot, of course I am fucking down for the marriage contract if it means I will wake up to this every damn morning.

"Oh yes, let's do this." I said just before I returned his phone.

"Good but for now, I am famished. Let's go out and grab lunch then we will decide on how to go about it later." He said as he got up and I actually don't mind eating too, so I followed him out of my office.