MARRIED TO A CRUEL BILLIONAIRE

~ANNA'S POV~

Madam Angelica was flabbergasted by the old man's revelation. "That can't be right," she exclaimed. "My husband never mentioned anything like that to me."

I suddenly heard the commotion and rushed into the room.

Saw the look of shock on my mother's face and noticed the paper on the table. I picked up the note on the table and read it over my mother's shoulder. "50 million what" The glass of water fell from my hands out of shock, spilling it all over the floor.

The lawyer replied "Yes 50 million pounds, and this beautiful mansion was used as collateral for the loan"

"It's so unfortunate," the old man replied, his voice strong and unwavering. "Your father was a good man, but he made some bad decisions. NoNw it's up to you to decide what to do next."

"You have just a month to come up with my money, or you leave this mansion" He said leave the room.

The room was silent for a moment as he left. the only sound was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. My mother and I exchanged glances, unsure of what to say or do next.

I stuttered, my voice shaking with emotion, "You're saying... there's no other option? This mansion is all that's left of my father's legacy. How can you take it away from us?" We were still reeling from the sudden loss of my father, and now the weight of our enormous debt threatened to crush us.

As I spoke, I felt a surge of desperation wash over me. The mansion had been my family's home for generations, filled with memories and mementos of my father's life. Losing it would be like losing a part of him all over again. I turned to the lawyer, pleading with him to find another solution, but his expression remained resolute.

"I'm afraid the situation is dire," the lawyer that came in with the man said, his voice firm but sympathetic. "Your father's debts were substantial. If you don't settle the debt, the mansion will be seized, and your family will be left with nothing."

I felt a cold sweat trickle down my spine as the lawyer's words hung in the air. The thought of losing our family home, the only connection we had left to my father, was unbearable.

"What...what can we do?" I stammered, desperation creeping into my voice.

The lawyer sighed, his expression softening slightly. "We can try to negotiate with the creditor, see if he will accept a payment plan or a reduced settlement. But I must warn you that Mr Reynolds is not known for his flexibility."

I nodded, determination rising within me. "We'll do it. We'll find a way to save the mansion."

The lawyer nodded, a small smile on his face. "I'll do my best to help you. But we need to act quickly. Mr Reynolds is growing impatient, and time is running out."

As the lawyer stood to leave, I felt a sense of resolve wash over me. I would do whatever it took to save our family home, to honor my father's memory and preserve the legacy he had built.

But as I turned to my mother, I saw the fear and uncertainty etched on her face. And I knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, and that saving the mansion would require more than just determination – it would require sacrifice, courage, and a willingness to fight for what was rightfully ours.

My mother slowly turned to me, her eyes vacant and her expression a mask of sadness. She nodded silently, and I guided her to the couch, where we sat down together. I held her hand tightly, trying to offer what little comfort I could.

"Mom, I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to talk about what's going to happen next," I said softly, trying to break the silence.

My mother took a deep breath, and her eyes began to focus. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I should have been more prepared for this. Your father...he always handled the finances."

I gave my mom's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't blame yourself, Mom. We'll get through this together."

But as I offered her comfort, anxiety began to gnaw at my heart.

I thought about my new job at the bar, which I had taken to maintain my independence. However, my leave was over, and the thought of returning to work under my irritating supervisor was exhausting.

To make matters worse, my salary was barely enough to make ends meet, and even my entire year's pay wouldn't cover half of the debt we owed.

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

It was a bright morning, and I quickly sprang out of bed. "Oh no, I'm already 30 minutes late for work!" I exclaimed.

I rushed through my morning routine and was ready to leave in no time. As I headed out the door, Madam Angelica called out, "I made breakfast, come have some!"

"I'm running late, I'll see you when I get back!" I replied, dashing out of the house.

As I stepped out of the cab, I saw my colleague already doing the tasks that were usually assigned to me. Mrs. Julian, our superior, stood at the front of the shop, her eyes fixed on me. This was her usual stance when dealing with latecomers. I knew I couldn't sneak in through the back door; she had already spotted me.

"Good morning, Madam Julian," I greeted her, lowering my head in respect.

"Follow me," she replied curtly, ignoring my greeting.

My heart skipped a beat. "Am I in trouble?" I wondered, whispering to myself.

As I trembled, I made eye contact with Rose, my friend, but she seemed unfazed.

Madam Julian sat down and handed me a note. "Here, take this."

I took the note, confusion etched on my face. "Sorry, ma'am, what's this for?" I asked.

Madam Julian's expression was unyielding. "I don't think your services are needed in this shop anymore. Your space has been given to someone else. So, don't cause any trouble, just leave quietly."

I stood up, my legs trembling beneath me, and turned to leave. I forced myself to hold back the hot tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I couldn't let Madam Julian see me cry. I took a deep breath and walked out of the shop, the sound of the door closing behind me echoing through my mind like a death knell.

~KEVIN'S POV~

"What a will! Am on my way there right now" I said with confusion in my voice as I hung up.

I was the only living child of my father. My mother and sister had died in a tragic car accident years ago, so it had been just the two of us for a long time. Now that my father is gone, I have to face the future without him. Aunty Jane, my father's sister was like a mother to me, and she still lived in our family home.

The last time I visited Beyer's Law Firm was when Mom and Amelia came to surprise my Dad on his birthday and it was all fun and celebration. Not knowing that was the last time, we would celebrate as a family. Now, approaching the Law firm, with all kinds of emotions rushing in my mind and my heart beating faster by the minute because I know that My old Man can be mischievous sometimes.

"Good day Mr. Thompson", I greeted our family lawyer. "Kev, how have you been ?" , "It's been a long time since I last saw you, " he said with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, that's true"; I replied.

Taking his seat and watching as he flipped through papers, I had this feeling that what he was about to spill was not good for me at all. " So yea, Kev, we are both aware of how your Dad wanted the best for you and how he also lived every day hoping you would one day come home with the woman you wished to spend the rest of your life with," He said to me with a smirk on his face.

"So, Late Mr. Beyer took it upon himself to get you married," He said, watching as my expression grew from the ' I don't care' look to ' what the hell are you talking about' look.

"What are you talking about Mr. Thompson", I replied with a commanding tone.

"Your late father stated that no property of his should be given to you, that is, both his company, his houses, and his money and you will no longer have the right to bear his name anymore," said Mr. Thompson.

A lot of things were going through my mind at this point because I did not understand why My Father would want to play this type of Game with me or was Mr. Thompson trying to play a dirty game.

Just as I was about to call his shots, He then said something rather more provoking; " Unless you get married"

"What!" I exclaimed in disbelief.

I'd avoided meaningful connections and instead focused on fleeting, casual encounters. I felt like I couldn't risk putting my heart on the line again. I still carried the weight of my actions from the past, and the thought of repeating them terrified me.

As Mr Thompson's words sank in, I began to reflect on my own life. I realized that, despite not having a girlfriend, I still wasn't ready for the commitment of marriage.

I had become jaded about romance and relationships, and the idea of caging myself in marriage seemed suffocating. While I might have been a playboy, I didn't want to ruin someone else's life by getting involved in a relationship I wasn't prepared for.

It was a difficult realization, but one that I knew I needed to face.

I left Mr. Thompson's office in a fit of anger, ignoring his calls to come back. I was too overwhelmed by my emotions to care about the greetings of the other workers, even though I normally would have responded to them. I was consumed by my feelings of anger and frustration, and I just wanted to get out of there.

Driving towards Colton's House was the only thing my brain could make up at that time. Colton has been my best friend since childhood, he stayed by my side when I lost my mom and my younger sister and he was the only friend at that time who was able to tolerate my shit.

"Don't you dare break my door, or else imma kick your ass out of my house", said Colton with a smug face.

I didn't care about him right now, so I simply went to his bar and opened a bottle of Four Cousins without using a glass.

''Bro, you don't take alcohol directly from the bottle unless you are stressed, so what's up?'' He said while looking at me with a knowing smile.

I knew I had no way to hide things from Colton because he just knew me too much.

"My Dad has dug a pit for me", I said. "He wants me to get married within a Month or else I will lose all my inheritance and that also includes his name," I said, annoyingly.

"Wow, but you got this man, just find any of the side bitches and offer them money in exchange for their hand in marriage and after a year, you can get divorced"; Colton said, acting as though he has solved the whole puzzle because he knows I don't do love anymore after my experience with Lisa in college, a painful, regretful experience that left me with a scar, I'd been hesitant to get involved in a serious relationship.

"The situation is more complicated than you know," I explained. "My father doesn't want me to marry for love. He wants me to marry someone who is already part of his inner circle. He didn't specify who, but the implication was clear: I'm not allowed to bring in someone from outside the family's circle of friends."

The weight of this realization hung heavy in the air, and I struggled to find the right words to express my feelings.

"Take it easy man," Colton said as he took the bottle of drink from my hand and placed it back in the cabin, he agreed to help me dig out more information about most of our close family friends, while I plan and strategize how to meet my soon-to-be wife and capture her into my dark world without letting her have a glimpse of it at the beginning, until she is all in.

"Wait, Mr. Gerber!" I shouted as if my father's ghost gave me a clue.

Mr. Gerber has been my Dad's Favorite Business Partner for the longest time and according to Dad; "The Man has a lot of hidden abilities". I have met him several times at our Annual End of the Year Party organized by the Company and I think he also has a daughter.

Colton replied, Are you talking of the late Mr Lucas Gerber? Mr. Gerber, who I know of, died last month and rumors have it that he owes millions of dollars to some firm, and his family is currently in deep shit, about to lose their only mansion.

I added with a more serious face as I got a hold of myself, "Is he late? I never heard of that".

Colton caught me shut with a shout,

"Yes, perfect that's where you come in the picture, You help them clear the debt!

Ask for the daughter's hand in marriage in return!

Get what you want!

~ANNA'S POV~

As I strolled down the deserted Mainzer street, I felt overwhelmed by my troubles. Everything seemed to be going wrong, and I couldn't help but wonder if the universe was conspiring against me.

My emotions boiled over, and I broke down in tears. Just then, my phone rang, interrupting my sorrow. It was Johnny, my boyfriend, calling to check in.

I tried to compose myself, but he could tell something was wrong. "How are you doing, my love?" he asked, his voice cool and calm.

I hesitated, unsure of how to share my struggles with him. "I'm not fine," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Johnny's tone turned concerned. "What's the matter? You don't sound well," he said.

He suggested we meet at the hotel he was lounge in, to talk things through. I agreed, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension about opening up to him.

Johnny and I have been together since graduating from college four years ago. Despite his struggles to find a well-paying job, which has caused tension in our relationship, I'm deeply in love with him.

My recent job loss weighed heavily on my mind. I hadn't informed my mother, knowing she'd be outraged if she found out I was visiting Johnny instead of being at work. Her disapproval of our relationship stemmed from Johnny's financial status, which she believed made him unworthy of me.

I let out a deep sigh as I closed the taxi door and provided the driver with the address of the hotel where Johnny wanted to meet. A few minutes later, I arrived at the hotel, feeling uncertain and unprepared to face him.

As I made my way through the hotel, searching for Johnny's room, my emotions swirled with anxiety and doubt.

I finally found the room and knocked gently on the door. "Yes, come in, the door is not locked," Johnny's soft voice invited.

I stepped inside, feeling a bit out of place. We rarely met in a hotel room; our usual meeting spots were my house or his. Johnny's eyes narrowed with concern as he took in my appearance.

"You don't look okay, what's been going on with you lately?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry. "Why aren't you at work?"

Tears began to fall as I entered the room, trying to compose myself before answering. Johnny's eyes never left mine, filled with empathy and understanding.

"Come on, Anna, say something," he coaxed, sitting down on the bed. "Is it your mom? Or that annoying boss at work? Is she still giving you a hard time?"

I took a deep breath, trying to put on a brave face, but my voice cracked as I replied, "I just got fired."

Johnny's expression changed from concern to shock, and he immediately got up from the bed to wrap his arms around me. "Oh, Anna, I'm so sorry," he whispered, holding me close.

As Johnny held me, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I had been carrying the weight of my job loss alone, afraid to tell my mother or anyone else. But Johnny's warm embrace and gentle words of comfort made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore.

I pulled back from him, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling a little embarrassed about breaking down in front of him.

Johnny smiled and took my hand, leading me to the bed. "Don't apologize," he said, his eyes filled with kindness. "You've been through a tough time. You deserve to cry."

So how about we change the subject, and you tell me about your trip?I gathered courage trying to change the atmosphere.

"Well, it went well, but from the looks of things, I don't think I'll be getting the job," Johnny expressed his disappointment.

I stood up and came closer to Johnny, who was sitting on the bed, saying, "Don't say that, let's try to be optimistic about this one." I grabbed his hands, encouraging him, even though I knew they would never call him again.

Johnny has applied for jobs at various companies and regularly travels outside of the country, but he remains unemployed. Some organizations may encourage him by summoning him to the office only to notify him that the position has already been filled or is no longer needed.

"Thanks, Babe," Johnny said as he got himself together

"How is your mom doing? Hope she's ok. He asked, clearly worried.

I inhaled trying to steady my nerves. "Well I wish she was fine, she's going through a lot right now"

Johnny's eyes widened. "What do you mean by that"

"We just got an eviction notice from my dad's business partner, they want us to pay the sum of 50 million pounds my dad borrowed before his death, or we leave the mansion," I said as I couldn't control my emotions. tears fell down my cheek.

"Is that an eviction notice?" What is the reason behind this? "How could they do something like that?" He inquired, his tone mild and kind.

"Calm down, take it easy on yourself". He grasped my head and placed it on his chest.

"Well, according to the notice, we have until the end of this month to make the payment." The situation has utterly overwhelmed me. "It all just seems like everything is crumbling"

Johnny reassuringly squeezed my hand. "Don't be concerned; we'll figure it out together." "Perhaps we can talk to them and see if they have any time."It's vital to keep your calm in this situation."

"You're right," I said, feeling a little more hopeful, even though I know he can't assist monetarily.

"Thanks for listening, Johnny."

"I'm always here for you," Johnny said, smiling. "We'll figure this out together and come out stronger in the end." He kissed me reassuringly, his lips soft and pleasant.

The situation was overwhelming, but his kiss was a nice respite. His hand rested on my waist as his kisses traveled to my neck, delicate yet intense. As he bit on my skin, I couldn't help but sigh quietly. I placed my arms around his neck, signaling that I wanted him to keep going. His lips moved gently and purposefully.

As his tongue drew a line on my neck and he softly sucked on my flesh, I gasped. I was in a trance, every nerve in my body on fire, and the heat was growing between my legs.

There was a knock at the door just as things were heating up. "Room service," a voice on the other end said.

Johnny went to answer the door, which left me disappointed. My phone suddenly rang, and I realized it was my mother calling. My displeasure faded as I answered the phone.

"Anna, where are you?" Madam Angelica said, franker than usual. "Come home right now, it's urgent!"

I wasn't sure what the rush was about, but the desperation in her voice made me want to go. All of the joy and eagerness I'd had moments before had vanished. I grabbed my belongings, worried and interested in what was going on.

Moments later, Johnny came back into the room with a tray holding two glasses and a pitcher of drinks. With a playful grin on his face, he offered me a glass.

"Who was on the phone?" he asked. "You don't look as happy as you did before. What's going on?" He set the tray down on the table, a worried look on his face.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go now," I remarked, sipping my drink. "I'll call you as soon as I get home." I kissed him on the cheek and dashed out the door.

I was so frightened that I didn't consider how my abrupt departure might hurt him.