The Billionaire's Bidding Wife

The night was cold and quiet. Emily was running fast, holding her pregnant belly. She was scared and breathing hard. The lights in the alley were flickering, making everything look darker.

She heard footsteps behind her. Someone was following her. Emily looked back, her eyes full of fear. She couldn't see who it was, but she knew they were close.

"Please... not my baby," she whispered, her voice shaky.

She ran faster but suddenly bumped into a tall man. She fell back, her heart beating fast. She looked up and saw him smiling, but it wasn't a kind smile.

"Running won't help you," the man said.

Emily tried to scream, but he grabbed her neck. She gasped for air, trying to push his hand away. Everything started to go blurry.

Six months ago

Alexander Sterling stepped out of the fancy black car. He couldn't help but stare graciously at the towering Sterling Enterprises building.

"Soon, this company will be mine," he whispered to himself before entering inside.

He made his way to his office where Emily was already seated at her desk, sorting out some files.

"Good morning, sir," Emily said immediately she sighted Alex but he just nodded in response and went to his giant table.

"Emily, can I get the financial report you worked on?"

"Yes, sir," Emily said and walked towards the large shelf where different files were kept. She shuffled through the files and brought out a file tagged financial report.

"Here is it, sir," She handed it over to Alex before returning to her desk.

Alex flipped through the pages of the file and went through it for some minutes with focus until he was interrupted by Emily who walked up to him with a phone in her hand.

"Sir, your grandmother wants to speak with you. She insists it's urgent,"

Alex sighed, reaching for the phone, and heard his grandmother's voice from the other end. She sounded urgent but a bit nostalgic.

"Alexander, my dear. I need to see you. It's related to the handing over of the company."

Alex's eyes widened. He has been working hard over the years so that he could be fit enough to inherit his grandmother's company and become the president.

"Erm. Ma..Ma..Margaret, what's it about? I am free at the moment." Alex trembled.

Hearing his grandmother sound urgent regarding what is related to his handling over scared him because he didn't want anything to prevent him from becoming the president.

"No, Alexander. It is not a matter of the phone."

"Is it good or bad?" Alex asked

"Only you can answer the question when I tell you. See me at home after work today. Be good, my dear." Margaret said as she hung up.

Alexander's focus was halted as several things went through his mind. Seeing his grandmother at the moment was his greatest priority at that point to be sure of what she wanted to say but he knew she was strongly against the workers coming to her house during working hours including himself.

***

Immediately after work, Alex drove to Margaret's house to see her. As he entered the large compound, he looked at the colorful big garden close to the main building. Remembering when he was little and he would play hide and seek with his grandmother. The maids hurriedly came to pick up his suitcase and other documents inside his car as he entered the living room where his grandmother was waiting. A familiar smell of rose mixed with a hint of lavender filled his nose.

Margaret was seated near the window looking fragile in the sunlight.

"Alexander," she said shakily as she hugged him tightly.

Margaret opened her hand wide as Alex moved closer to her. Her grey hair flowed down like a waterfall, and her eyes, though old, were sharp, like they were searching for something. Margaret had been a very loving grandmother to Alex. Ever since her son, Alex's father died in a car accident with his wife, Margaret had been to Alex as a father, a mother, and also a grandmother.

"Grandma," Alex said, returning the hug warmly.

Alex was happy to see her again after a long time. The last time they saw was during the inauguration ceremony of his election as the Vice President.

"You have looked leaner than the last time we met. Are you sure you are eating well?" Margaret said with concern as she scanned through Alex's body.

"I wasn't conscious of that," Alex said, sounding disinterested in continuing about his welfare. "Grandma, about the call..." he continued and paused.

"Oh yes, come and sit. There's a lot to discuss." Margaret said softly.

"About the call," Margaret began but this time around, her tone was deadly.

Alex knew at that point that something was wrong. Everyone had known Margaret to be formidable and strict when it came to the enterprise she built with her late husband. Alex stared at her with prompt attention while she slid a photograph across the center table towards him. Alex's heart fell as he recognized the picture. It was an image of him at the club making out with a striper.

"I-I can explain," Alex stammered, his mind driving fast to find a reasonable excuse.

Margaret raised a hand, silencing him. "Save your explanations, Alexander. This photograph speaks volumes. The stakeholders of Sterling Enterprises are growing increasingly concerned about your... lifestyle choices."

Alex swallowed hard, his dry throat. He knew the implications of his grandmother's words. As the heir apparent to Sterling Enterprises, his behavior reflected not only on himself but on the entire company.

"Alex, you must understand," Margaret continued, her voice softening slightly. "The board members are hesitant to entrust the future of the company to someone whose personal life is in disarray. They question your ability to lead with stability and integrity. Moreover, Max's parents are doing everything to ensure Max takes over and not you"

Alex felt the weight of his grandmother's words bearing down on him. He had worked tirelessly to prove himself worthy of inheriting the family business, but one moment of indiscretion threatened to destroy everything he had built.

"What do you suggest, Grandmother?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Margaret leaned forward, her gaze being serious.

"You need to prove to the stakeholders that you are capable of maintaining a stable relationship. You need to get married, Alexander."

Alex felt as though the ground had dropped out from beneath him. Marriage was not a decision to be taken lightly, especially not for the sake of appeasing corporate stakeholders. But as he looked into his grandmother's relentless gaze, he knew there was no room for negotiation.

"I understand, Grandmother," Alex replied, his voice matched with submission. "I will do whatever it takes to uphold the reputation of Sterling Enterprises."

Margaret nodded, her expression softened slightly. "I knew I could count on you, Alexander. Time is not by your side again. My retirement is fast approaching and you need to prove to the world that you are ready to lead."

"I have never wanted Robert nor his son, Max, to inherit the company. Your father is my first child and it is right that you take over since he isn't alive again." Margaret scoffed.

"Talking about time, why don't you and your fiance you once told me about coming to see me this weekend? We haven't all been together for too long." Margaret said, looking like she was thinking hard.

"Fiance?" Alex looked surprised but adjusted quickly so that Margaret wouldn't figure out something was wrong.

"Yes. Robert and his family will be here too. It'll be a great chance for everyone to catch up." Margaret ignored his protests

"Okay, Grandma. We'll come this weekend." Alex couldn't help but smile at his grandma's excitement

This is trouble for Alex. The fiancee Margaret was referring to was Sophie who is now his Ex. He wondered how he would bring a woman home when he was single. Now that Alex would be introducing his fiancee to all his family, he knows that he has less than a week to find himself a wife. Either real or fake.

*****

Alex felt more and more pressure to find a wife. Standing on his balcony, looking at the city lights, he thought about Sophie-his first love and ex-girlfriend.

Sophie was kind, loving, and caring. She wasn't like anyone Alex had ever met. Years ago, they met in school. Alex was rich and popular, but Sophie was also from a rich family but she didn't care about that. She was different. Alex worked hard to get her attention, and when she finally let him in, he fell in love.

But Sophie always put her family first. Her parents wanted her to marry someone from another family for the sake of their family business. When Alex asked her to marry him, she said no. She loved him, but her family's wishes were more important. Her decision broke Alex's heart. Even though they weren't in contact for so long, his heart still longs for her as he feels he won't find another woman who has a good heart like Sophie.

Now, after some months, Alex picked up his phone. He wasn't sure if calling her was the right thing, but he had no other choice.

"Hello?" Sophie answered. Her voice sounded careful but familiar.

"Hey, Sophie. It's Alex," he said slowly.

"Alex?" Sophie paused. Then her voice softened. "Wow, it's been a long time. How are you?"

"I'm fine," Alex said quickly. "But, Sophie, I need a favor."

"A favor?" Sophie asked, sounding surprised.

"My grandma is having a family dinner this weekend. She wants me to bring my fiancée. I never told her we broke up," Alex said quietly.

There was silence on the line. Then Sophie asked, "It's been seven months already. Why didn't you tell her?"

"I didn't want everyone asking questions," Alex replied. "But now, I need your help. Just for one night, can you pretend to be my girlfriend? Please, Sophie."

Sophie sighed deeply. "Alex... I can't. And also, none of your family members know we ever dated since our relationship was a secret. I think you should be able to find someone."

"Oh, why don't you want to do this for me? Just once," Alex asked.

"I'm engaged now. My wedding is in a month. I can't risk any rumors." Sophie said.

Alex's heart sank. "Engaged?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Sophie said. "My parents arranged it. I'm really sorry, Alex."

Alex forced a laugh, but it hurt. "I understand but you know I still love you."

"Alex... please move on. We both know my parents won't accept anyone else. I..." Sophie started, but he cut her off.

"It's okay," he said, even though it wasn't. "Congrats, Sophie. I hope he makes you happy."

"Thank you," Sophie said gently. "I wish you the best too, Alex. Goodbye."

When the call ended, Alex stood in silence. Sophie was the only person he ever loved, and now she was gone for good. And she was right, aside from Victor and Max who knew they dated from university days up till Sophia relocated, no one else knew. He could look for someone else to be his one day girlfriend and pay her.

With a heavy sigh, Alex called Victor, his best friend.

"Victor, I need your help," Alex said. "We need to find a wife-and fast."

Victor said. "Sure. Since you told me last night, I've been thinking of this whole girlfriend stuff and something came to my mind."

"Spill it," Alex replied, hoping for a favorable answer.

"Well, you know what's popular nowadays?" Victor said, lowering his voice slightly. "Contracted marriages."

"Contracted marriages?" Alex repeated, surprised.

"Yeah, think about it," Victor continued. "You find someone willing to enter into a contractual relationship with you for a set period. It's like having a temporary girlfriend but without all the complications. Plus, it's a win-win situation for both parties involved."

Alex paused, considering Victor's suggestion. While it sounded unconventional, he couldn't deny the appeal of having a temporary solution to his current predicament.

"Do you think it's a good idea?" he asked tentatively.

"Absolutely," Victor replied confidently. "It's worth looking into, at least. You never know, you might just find the perfect arrangement for your situation."

Feeling a bit calm, Alex thanked Victor for his advice and changed their topic to something less tense. As he ended the call, he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, a contracted marriage could be the solution he needed to get through the weekend unscathed.

Alex arrived at the office the next day and as he settled into his desk, he noticed that Emily, his usually punctual secretary, was nowhere to be found. Minutes turned into half an hour, and still, there was no sign of her.

Alex's face had changed as he needed Emily to run some errand but she hadn't come. He had always had zero tolerance for late coming. As he glanced at the time, he knew Emily couldn't overcome the penalty of her action. Finally, Emily rushed into the office, her face flushed with anxiety.

"Emily, you're late," Alex said sternly.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Alex," Emily gasped, her breath coming in short bursts. "I had to rush to the hospital. My father had a health emergency, and my phone battery was low, so I couldn't call to inform you earlier."

"Okay? You know my rule. Being late without prior notice is unacceptable." Alex's irritation flared at the excuse.

"Please, Mr. Alex, I tried my best. It was an emergency, I swear." Tears welled up in Emily's eyes as she pleaded,

"Emily, I can't tolerate this level of unprofessionalism. Leave my office and don't come back again today." Alex said, remaining unmoved.

As Emily left the office, her sadness was palpable in the air, Victor entered, noticing her unhappy demeanor immediately. He looked concerned as he approached Alex's desk.

"Hey, what's going on? Why does Emily look so upset?" Victor inquired, glancing at Alex.

"She was late today and got me waiting. Said it was because of her father's health emergency, blah, blah, blah. But you know how I am about punctuality." Alex said.

Victor listened, his brow moving with understanding. "I get it, but sometimes life throws curveballs. Maybe you should cut her some slack, especially if it's a genuine emergency."

"I know, but I can't let things slide, especially with the deadline looming." Alex hesitated.

As they spoke, Victor's stare drifted towards the door where Emily had exited moments before. An idea sparked in his mind.

"You know," he began slowly, "Emily's been with you for a while now. She's a hard worker, and everyone knows she's been struggling financially, especially with her father's medical expenses."

Alex nodded in agreement, "That's true. But what does that have to do with anything?" Alex asked with curiosity.

"Well, what if we consider offering her a contracted marriage arrangement?" Victor suggested tentatively. "She would be able to pay her father's surgical bill and you will secure your position too."

Alex looked surprised when he heard the sudden idea.

"A contracted marriage for Emily? Hell no! It can't work." Alex refused.

"Give it a thought. You have a few days till the weekend," Victor concluded.

Throughout the day, Alex thought about the idea and decided to give it a trial and talk to Emily. He believed it might help both of them.

***

When he got to the entrance of his office, he stood and watched Emily at work, he deliberately noticed her for the first time. She wore a white blouse and a black skirt, looking professional and confident. Her brown hair was tied back neatly, and her hazel eyes sparkled with intelligence. Emily suited being his secretary than being his wife but he accepted that she would be the best fit for the job because Emily sure knew a lot about him and his family wouldn't be able to detect when she was being asked questions.

"You're welcome, sir," Emily greeted with a bright smile.

"Yea. Emily, see me in my office." Alex requested, going towards his seat.

"Okay, sir," Emily said as she walked towards Alex who was already seated on his black giant chair. "Is everything fine, sir?" Emily asked.

"You can have your seat," Alex said.

He gestured his hand towards the seat in front of him and Emily in return sat on it, looking confused.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. How's your dad?" Alex asked.

"He's fine, sir," Emily responded, surprised at Alex's unusual niceness.

"Well, I thought about your dad's treatment and surgery and I decided that I would pay for his surgery," Alex continued.

"Oh my God, thank you so much, Mr. Alex," Emily said, as she beamed with joy as she couldn't believe that her hostile boss could ever think of such.

"But... I would need your help inasmuch as you would need mine," Alex said, resolute.

Emily's smile reduced and her brow furrowed in confusion. She nodded at Alex for him to continue.

"I want you to be my wife," Alex finally blurted out.

Emily's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth opened in shock. It wasn't a big deal for Alex to propose such an offer to any girls. He's a young billionaire and handsome at the same time. Moreover, he's a playboy and every lady is dying to be with him for just one day so who wouldn't want to be his fake wife?

For a moment, the room became excessively silent so that they could hear each other's breath. Emily processed Alex's unexpected proposal.

"Your wife?" Emily repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, a contracted marriage to be precise. It's... unconventional, I know but trust me, nothing will ever happen between us. No touching just to live together and act as a couple in public," Alex said.

"This proposal would secure my position and offer financial stability for you because you will be regarded as my wife. I know how hard you are working to meet up with your father's medications." Alex concluded.

Emily's mind ran fast as she tried to get hold of Alex's proposal. She knew for sure he was right about needing a lot of money for her father's health but marrying the successor of the Sterling Enterprises is a whole lot for her to take in whether it's a real marriage or a fake one.

"I... I need some time to think about it, Alex," Emily finally replied, her voice mixed with uncertainty.

"Of course, but you have till tomorrow to give me a response," Alex said.