Playing the Marriage Game with Mr Billionaire

Xander Black's POV

"Mum" I called as I strode into the house, my eyes searching for the 4'7 woman, who acts like she's 6'5

"In the kitchen," she said in a singsong voice and my lips tugged up into a smile. I changed the direction of my steps and walked into the kitchen.

I shook my head when I saw the mess the kitchen had turned into from the numerous dishes she already prepared, and the others that were still cooking. I shook my head again, rolling up my sleeves, I walked into the kitchen and began to clean up.

"You prepared a whole feast when it's just the two of us having dinner?" She let out a laugh and from my peripheral vision, I saw her shrug.

"What can I say? I still enjoy cooking and gladly eating the meal after." The memory of her forcing Dad to eat the random dishes she'd make flashed through my mind, and I smiled. "And you know, it wouldn't just be the both of us if you just..."

"Mum" I cut her off in a warning tone

"Get married" she finished and I let out a sigh. "You're getting old, Xander, and so am I. I want to see my daughter-in-law, and carry my grandchildren before I die"

"You're not dying anytime soon" I sharply cut in and she dropped the spatula on the desk, the clanging sound of it echoed in the kitchen and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"You don't know that for sure, Xander. I can die any mi..."

"Mum!"

A deafening silence settled in for a few minutes before she broke it with a loud sigh. "All I want is to carry my grandchildren, Xander. That shouldn't be a big deal"

"Let's have this conversation later, Mum," I said and resumed my work silently. Once I was done washing the dishes and cleaning up the counters, I crept out of the kitchen to my old room.

I always spend the night here whenever I visit for dinner, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I wouldn't be spending the night here today. I massaged my temples and collapsed on my bed.

Marriage has been the cause of bickering between my mum and I ever since my dad died, but her tone today felt different. She spoke as if she was daring me to say no.

"You are most likely imagining things, Xander." The words had barely left my lips when I heard her beckoning me to come down for dinner.

I deliberated on just staying in and giving her an excuse as to why I can't come down, and just bury myself in work but this is the only time I get to see her. Heaving a deep breath, I stood up from the bed, mentally preparing myself for the bickering I was sure would happen as I walked downstairs, however...

We had a silent dinner.

My mum didn't say a word to me except when she would ask me to pass something or ask me if I wanted more, and the silence was scarier and more uncomfortable than the back and forth I expected.

"Mum, are you okay? You haven't said a proper sentence to me." I started once we were done cleaning up.

She stared at me blankly but the corners of her lips tugged up in what I guess was a smile as she placed a brown envelope on the table.

I raised a brow while my eyes darted from the envelope to her face, and when I made no effort to open it after a while, she pushed it closer to me.

My brows scrunched together, forming crease lines on my forehead as I reached out for the envelope and opened it. My eyes took in its contents, and when I was done, I dropped it back on the table.

"Why?" I asked and her smile widened, this time with a hint of genuineness in them.

"Those are my company shares, 25%, making me the 3rd highest shareholder of the company"

"I'm aware, Mum"

"Good. I'm sure you are also aware that they are meant to go to you after my...." The sentence trailed off and I bobbed my head. "Well, I've changed my mind"

For a solid minute, all that rang in my ears and my head was the sound of an annoying bell. "What!?"

"You heard me right, Alexander Pope Black." My eyes widened and an involuntary scoff escaped my lips. "I am only to give you my shares if I deem you worthy of them. You don't automatically get it just because you are my son"

"Mum!" She raised a brow, and I ran my hands down my face. "What do you mean mum? I have single-handedly handled the company since Dad's death, I reinvented myself and the company. The company's profit has increased by 95% since Dad's death and is currently one of the top companies in the country. Have I..."

"As the CEO and the highest shareholder, you are simply doing your duty. As for my requirement, you are yet to fulfil that"

"Mum, you can't be serious," I said, leaning towards her but she stared back at me blankly. "You can't possibly be blackmailing me right now to get married!"

"You will keep your voice down when you speak to me, and I am in no way blackmailing you. I am simply stating my demand, which I expect to be fulfilled within 3 months, and if you are thinking of an excuse along the lines of 'Where will I find a decent girl within this time frame' you can stop that now, there is a perfect candidate for you."

"Mum!" She stared at me unblinking and I threw my head back, breathing out through my lips. "And if I fail to meet your demands?"

"I will sell the shares to your cousin, I'm sure you wouldn't mind losing your title to him"

"You can't possibly be serious mum, Draco and his father have had their eyes on the company for ages. You can't give it up to them..."

The creaking sound as she stood up from the chair cut me short, and I instantly stood to my feet. "I am quite tired, Xander, and I will be retiring for the night."

"Mum!" I called after her as she turned her back on me.

"You are dismissed. Come back when you have my daughter-in-law, good night" I couldn't get another word in before she walked out on me.

Sophia Crux's POV

My eyes scanned the restaurant for the man I was meeting with today. I was too busy tying the loose strings of the contract to fully research the business guru I am meeting with, and now I'm relying solely on the rumors of him, hoping I don't mess it up.

My lips parted a little and I exhaled through it as my eyes finally landed on who I presumed I was meeting with, he was the only one at the axis he directed me to via email. Clenching the file in my hand tightly, I let out another deep breath. Plastering a smile on my face, I took confident strides towards him.

The closer I got, the more I could make out certain features of him. Black hair, straight nose, a sharp jawline that seemed to be clenched as he stared out of the window. His lips began to move after a while and that was when I noticed he was on a call.

"You're trying to say there is only but one eligible candidate in all of Manhattan?" He angrily muttered into his phone, turning his face just as I finally closed the distance between us, his eyes boring into mine and I instantly felt my knees buckle.

I grabbed the nearest chair to support myself as I stared at him, my eyes threatening to fall from their sockets. It's him

He raised a brow, his eyes flickering over my body in confusion. "I'll call you back" he mumbled into the phone and ended the call. "Are you okay?"

My throat ran dry as I tried to muster up the words to tell him I was fine, but I couldn't. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, and bobbed my head.

"You don't look like you are"

I forced a smile on my face, standing straight. "I am good. I apologise about earlier. I was thrown off a bit"

"By?" This time he raised both brows and I choked on my spit. "Are you the candidate I am to meet today? I don't think it's time yet, I have a meeting now"

My brows scrunched together and I cocked my head a little to the side, "Candidate?" I mumbled and he just stared at me. "Well, I don't think I am. I'm Miss Sophia Crux, I'm here as a representative for Jenkins Company for the collaborative trade." I stretched out my hand before him.

He stared at my hand for a while before he looked back up at me. "You are late"

Clearing my throat, I retraced my hand. "I am not, I came right on time but you were too busy on a call" I retorted and his jaw ticked. "Can I have a seat now?"

"I thought you preferred standing" I bit down hard on my tongue to refrain from making a nasty comment as I took a sit.

The moment my butt touched the chair, I opened the file and passed it to him. "This is the file, sir" I gritted out and opened my copy, "it contains the resources and services needed for the smooth importation and distribution of the materials, taking note of the global market trend, your company is to get the goods through a middle man but..."

"What is the profit and cost percentage?" He cut me off and I clenched my jaw. Arrogant ass.

"The cost percentage has been reduced by 30% for your company and the profit rate increased by 35%, therefore Jenkins demand the profit ratio to be 50:50"

"That's impossible. 65:35 is the best I can do"

"It is non-negotiable, sir." I pinched myself hard as the words escaped my lips. My boss is going to have my head if this falls through, 65:35 is the ratio he aimed for.

He seemed to think for a while before he snapped the file shut. "I'll have to go over it, I will be coming to your company to finalize the deal." I swallowed hard but bobbed my head nonetheless. I was meant to finalize the deal today, how on Earth will I explain to Mr Jenkins that I let the deal fall through because I was annoyed at his attitude?

I picked up my bag and smiled. "In that case then, I will be on my way. It was nice doing business with you." I made to stand up but he immediately held my hand, making me freeze

His eyes roamed around my face as if he was trying to figure out where he had seen me before. My heart threatened to burst right out of my chest from how fast it was beating, I felt my armpits get sweaty and I mumbled a short prayer.

"Miss..."

"Crux" I finished for him and he bobbed his head.

"Will you marry me?" He blurted out and I instantly drew back. Is this some sort of business test or is he trying to crack a joke?

"What?" I asked with a chuckle, believing it was a joke, but my eyes widened when he stared blankly at me. Is he being serious right now? Am I dealing with a crazy man here?

"Wha..." I paused and took a very deep breath. "What on Earth did you just ask? Is this meant to be one of those webnovels where the rich billionaire asks the girl to marry him for a year with promise of riches?" This time, he chuckled and slowly let go of my hand.

"Something like that?" He shrugged and I raised my brows. "But this is a little different? I do not have a timeline for when the marriage will end, we might have to stay married for a long while and I expect you to have my child within the first 2 years of the marriage. You will be..."

"Just because you have seen it in dramas and webnovels, that doesn't mean it works the same way in real life. If you want a wife, go out there and find a real wife." I quickly cut him off.

"10 million for every year we stay married, that excludes your monthly allowances. You are a business woman, the pros cleanly outweigh the cons"

The corner of my lips tugged up in a scarstic smile. This man is definitely crazy. Just as I made to reply him, my phone blared loudly. "Excuse me" I fished the phone from my bag and dismissed the alarm. "I have to pick my daughter from school."

I watched as his eyes widened and he lost track of his words before I walked out. She really had to get involved with a nutcase?

I shook my head as I walked to my car and pulled the door open, but a familiar voice made me halt in my tracks just as I was about to get in. "Your daughter will go to the best of schools, will be treated as part of the family, and will have opportunities that will be closed of to the average person opened up to her, during and after the marriage"

My eyes nearly bulged out of its sockets as I stared at the man, whom I was sure had lost all sense of reasoning. "All this just to marry you?" I asked when I finally got my voice back.

"You are professional and seem to know how to get the job done, and that is just what I need for this." He stretched out a card to me, "Send a text when you have thought it all through." I tilted my head to the side and stared at him for a while before I took the card from him.

"Very well then" he gave me a nod and walked away.

Sophia Crux

I stared at the card plastered on my table as I twirled the spoon in my coffee. "Is he crazy or is he just desperate?" I mumbled as I thought back on the outrageous offers he made, coupled with the fact that getting involved with him meant getting a step closer to the truth.

Everything feels way too good to be true. Way too good. I sighed and dumped the remaining contents of the cup into my mouth.

"Mum" a high-pitched voice called as the little owner of it ran into the room, her pigtails bouncing with each step she took. Dropping her iPad on the table, she helped herself up the chair, then directed my attention to the iPad. "Look what I drew; Barbie! "

She held up her version of Barbie to my face and I let out a laugh, giving her a thumbs up. "It looks beautiful, baby" I said, waiting for a bigger smile to grace her face but instead her face fell, and she looked at me with as much disappointment as a 5-year-old could muster, and my heart dropped.

"Mummy," she called accusingly and I hummed in response, "You lied" my eyes widened and I immediately shook my head.

"No, baby...I didn't, your Barb..."

"This is what Barbie looks like mum. Look at what I drew" she swiped back and forth between the two pictures and my throat ran dry.

I gently stood from my chair and walked over to her, making myself comfortable before her. "Baby, do you remember the Barbie movie?" She bobbed her and I smiled. "Remember how there were different types of Barbie? Exactly! Your Barbie may not have looked like the typical Barbie, but that doesn't mean it's not Barbie. It's your version of Barbie and it's..." I paused, hoping I don't fall yet into another one of her traps, "It's beautiful baby" I finished and her pout turned into the beautiful smile I was hoping to see the first time. She threw her little arms around me and giggled.

"Thank you, mummy." She placed a kiss on my cheek before running off with her iPad. I circled the cheek she had kissed and a warm smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

She would have been so happy seeing this and being a part of it. Tears welled up in my eyes threatening to fall as I recalled the last time I saw her. She looked frail on the hospital bed, her eyes that always shone with mischief and happiness were sunken in, looking almost hopeless. But for a brief second, that shine seemed to return when she set eyes on Amanda and I. For the first time in a while I saw her smile, sincerely.

The last words she said as she returned the baby and a cut-out picture from a magazine ran through my mind, and it felt like the final piece to the puzzle in my mind.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," I whispered as I took the card from the table and walked to my room, picking my phone up from the bed I typed a message to the number. My finger hovered over the send button and after a while, I threw my phone on the bed. "This doesn't seem worth it. I can find out the truth without doing all of this. It is so not worth it" I groaned and collapsed on the bed.

My mind seemed to have a mind of its own because without meaning to, I began to think of all the reasons agreeing to that contract was the best way. My train of thought was however cut short by my phone's notification.

I reached out for it and immediately sprang up on the bed when I saw who the sender was, the exact person I was thinking of. How on Earth did he get my number? I quickly opened the message and my mouth dropped open.

"I seem to have done a bad job at convincing you. I'm outside your door. 5 minutes of your time and whatever you say afterwards, I'll accept it."

I immediately threw a jacket over my body, rushed to Amanda's room and once I made sure she was safe, I walked out to my front door after making sure I had put 911 on speed dial.

"First things first, how on Earth did you find my house? And secondly, are you that desperate?" I asked the moment I opened the door, and a smile graced his face.

"It takes just 2 things to live life the way you want and get whatever you want, and that's power and money. And I'm not desperate, I just found what I want and I'm going after it. Does that answer your question?"

I stared blankly at him for a while then sucked my teeth. "I'll just give you the benefit of the doubt that you're a good businessman."

"I am." He retorted instantly. "Will you invite me in now?"

I immediately shut the door tightly behind me. "No." He raised a brow and I did the same. "I'll be stupid to invite a stranger into my house. You said 5 minutes and your time is ticking"

He cleared his throat and gently bobbed his head. "Fine. The offer I made you still stands and I am open to any demands from you, and they remain flexible throughout the course of our marriage." I bobbed my head, urging him to continue. "In return, you are to remain my wife for however long I deem fit, if you should ever want a divorce, the reason must be... reasonable. I expect loyalty from you and I need you to be ready to show the world that we are a true happy couple, a child will be expected of you during this period, exception of yours of course, surrogacy is an option but I'd rather we not go through that. Basically, I expect you to be a real wife to me during that period."

He paused and stared at me a while, "my requirements are non-negotiable but you are free to add in what you want"

Silence loomed over us for a while before I took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay." I said and both of his brows shot up instantly. I can't believe I'm doing this. "I accept your conditions, I'll need a date for us to go through this legally. Then I would let you know whatever demands I may have. Have a blissful evening, Mr Black." I immediately walked into my house, shutting the door tightly behind me.

I just freaking did that.

I glued myself to the door for a while, taking deep breaths and when I finally calmed down, I ran to my room, gunning straight for my drawer.

A picture I had buried there for ages finally resurfaced and out of the two faces that once looked unfamiliar, one finally has a name attached it.