The Billionaire's Bartered Bride

"Oh my God Nicole! I just said yes to Rafael,"

Nicole heard Natalie say in excitement as she entered her workshop, she dropped the brush she had been using to paint and pushed aside the painting board in front of her, she turned and faced her twin, she looked so excited and her eyes sparkled.

"Wow,"

Nicole said.

"Is that all you have to say, Nicole ? Really? You are such a mood spoiler,"

Her twin said frowning at her, she looked exactly like her, they were identical, born just a minute apart, Natalie was older with one minute and never fail to rub it on her face everytime, they had identical face, body type, hair type and color, although Natalie currently had hers in blond and straightened out, but when left in it natural curly state, it looked exactly like hers, and they even do some movement in sync, they were so similar that even their parents find it hard to tell them apart, that was majorly because they weren't always around though, the only person that could tell them apart sadly passed away three years ago, their nanny Percy, she had been the only one to recognize them no matter how similar they dressed or act, and it had been tough on the both of them when she had died, anyway her twin and her were identical in everyway, well almost every way because Natalie was the social bird while she was the book worm who stayed indoor all day and had no friends, in all her twenty six years, she could count the number of times she has gone out with people and it not much, even those few times Natalie had been the one to drag her along, not like she was complaining, she liked her life the way it was.

"Aren't you going to say something else?"

Natalie asked her frown deepening.

"I don't know what else to say,"

"At least look happy for me, I am getting married,"

She said in excitement showing off the huge diamond ring on her fingers.

"Congratulations twinnie,"

Nicole said getting up to hug her, she screamed in excitement and Nicole had to pull away from her to prevent herself from going deaf.

"I am so excited, I am so happy, imagine how I felt when he got on one kneels and pop the question, I wasn't expecting it, so imagine my shock, I am getting married not just to any man but to Rafael Salvador, the most sort after a man in the whole city,"

Her sister exclaimed, dancing around the room.

Nicole had met Rafael once before when Natalie had been too tired to go on a date with him and she had begged her to go in her place, the image she had of the man her sister was so excited to be engaged to wasn't so pleasing to her, in fact, it was the opposite, he had been arrogant and too full of himself and had talked about himself and his business throughout their date that she had wanted to run away, she had been happy when he got a business call and had to leave, she hasn't seen him again since but sometimes when she opened the internet or turn on the television, there was always something about him, he was like the talk of the town, her twin had been so happy when they started dating and had gone on and on about him for weeks, but as the weeks ran by, she had complained that he didn't have her time and was always too busy. until this morning Natalie had said she wanted to end things with him, which made this marriage proposal even more confusing.

"Nat, I thought you said you were gonna end things with him? "

"I did, but that was before he popped the question, who wouldn't want to be married to Mateo?"

"Well, congratulations,"

"You know, if you weren't my sister and my twin at that, I would think you hate me or something,"

Natalie said frowning at her.

"What do you mean by that Nat? Why will I hate you?"

"You act like it sometimes, I just told you I am getting married to a man of my dream but you seem not to care,"

"Nat, you know I care,"

"You are not acting like it though,"

Nicole didn't want to say anything to ruin her happy mood, she didn't just seem to get it over her head.

"Are you sure you really wanna marry him? I know you Nat and I know you change your mind about things easily, I mean you are the same girl who has changed her career a hell of a lot of time,"

Nicole asked her sister, still not buying the idea of Natalie committing to a marriage, even she didn't want to be married.

"I am sure, you know, of all the people I have told about my engagement, you are the least excited and you don't seem to care and you are supposed to be the one who is more excited for me, why are you such a killjoy, Cole?"

"I am not, I just want to make sure it what you want, I am trying to look out for you here,"

"Whatever, any way to answer your question, this is what I want, what I have always dreamt of, and what I was born for, I am going to be Mrs.Mateo, do you know how many ladies will kill to be in my shoes right now? I mean our engagement is already everywhere in the paparazzi, everyone marveling at how lucky I am,"

She said, once again dancing around her workshop while staring at the ring. Nicole was sure their parents will be proud of her since this was the kind of life they wanted both their daughters to Nate but only Natalie was Nating up to that and that's why she was their parents favorite even though they couldn't even tell them apart when they switch roles, Nicole avoided her parents as much as she could, even though they lived together, she rarely sees them, not that they were around much, they are always away on some vacation or business trip, she was used to it because that was what she grew up to when they were both younger, they had hated it when their parents were away but as they grew older, they got used to it and right now, she was glad they were always away because the few times they were around, her mom always does everything to ruin her mood, she really want to leave the house and be on her own but her twin had talked her out of it, now that she was getting married maybe it was time to leave anyway.

"Have you told Mom and Dad about it? When is the wedding?"

She asked sitting back down in front of her painting, she planned on finishing it before the end of the day as she hoped to send it to the local art gallery before the exhibition date, which was only one week away, she was super excited to show off her work finally but at the same time, she was scared that people might not like it, only four people had seen her work so far, her parents who told her to quit painting and become a model like her twin, Natalie , and their nanny, if she counts the staffs them maybe the numbers will increase, she had been so happy when the art gallery had requested for her work when she had sent them a picture of what she could do, she was super excited to show off her art.

"I haven't said anything to them, I will do that as soon as I get to my room, they may already have found out through the news because it already trending everywhere,"

Natalie said bringing out her phone and showing it to her, there was indeed a photo of her and Rafael , lips locked, she couldn't quite make out the heading because she was without her glass, another thing that differentiated her from Natalie , she had bad eyesight, while Natalie 's were perfect.

"I was thinking of a summer wedding but Rafael wants to be married soon, so in two months, we are yet to fix a date,"

Natalie continued her excitement growing with every passing minute.

"Ah, okay, want me to be your chief bridesmaid?"

She asked even though she already knew Nat's answer.

"No way, you want to confuse my husband to be?"

"Why? you will be wearing a wedding dress while I will be in a bridesmaid dress, we can have different hairdo and makeup too,"

"No, thank you, Chloe will be my bridesmaid."

She replied.

"Alright then,"

Nicole answered picking up her painting brush to go back to work.

"You are bad at everything but your paintings are top-notch Sis,"

Natalie said coming to stand beside her, her twin and their nanny had been the only ones to like her painting, their parents as usual didn't support her but she didn't need their approval, the fact that her twin loved her art was enough for her if Nanny Percy was still around, she was sure she would have loved it too.

"Thanks, Nat, I will paint you something as a wedding present, just get me the photo you would want me to paint,"

She said smiling at her twin, the giant diamond ring on her finger glittering.

"I trust you, bitch, I need to rest, I am off, I haven't slept since last night,"

Natalie said heading out of her painting workshop.

She went back to painting, but she couldn't help but be worried that Nat was making a mistake, she wished she could talk her out of it but she knew, no one can talk Natalie out of doing what she wants...

"Your work has been approved ma'am and it will be displayed on the day of the exhibition, you just have to come over to the art gallery and sign some few papers,"

The voice at the other end of the phone informed, Nicole resisted the urge to scream in excitement until she dropped the call.

"Thank you so much, this is such a huge opportunity for me,"

"The pleasure is our, your work is too beautiful to be ignored, when will you be chanced to come to sign the papers,"

"The day after tomorrow, if you don't mind,"

"Not at all, take your time,"

"Thank you so much for this opportunity,"

"Alright, we will be seeing you soon, have a nice day Miss Evans ,"

"You too, thank you once again."

Nicole replied as the call ended, she dropped her phone and danced around the room in excitement, her work has been approved which means she gets to show off her art to the world, she couldn't be happier, she had not expected them to respond so early, she submitted three days ago and had been a shock when they called.

"Good job Nicole ,"

She said to herself, smiling at her first huge achievement, she had dropped out of business school in her second year in the Uni to pursue her dream profession, of course, her parents have been mad but she had not let them talk or bully her out of doing what she loved, they never supported anything she did so it was no different when they didn't support her choice, or when they choose not to pay for her training, she had used some of the inheritance she had gotten from her grandma to see her through school.

After Natalie gets married, she was going to finally move out and be free from parents, the only reason she stayed was that Natalie didn't want to be separated, even while Natalie had been in fashion school in New York, she came home more than she could count, she act like she is independent but she doesn't like to be alone and Nicole didn't want her to be alone. Even though she didn't like, and was a little scared of the man her sister chose to spend forever with, she didn't know him that much to conclude, her sister knew him better and if she says he is the right one for her then she was gonna believe her and be happy for her.

"I need to go get the materials for Natalie's wedding present,"

She said out loud smiling brightly, she put on light makeup, checked to make sure she was looking okay, Natalie talked her into dyeing her hair and straightening it out to match hers, she loved the turnout but she won't be doing it again, she loved her hair in it natural curly state more, she put on her glasses, and checked her appearance in the mirror before she exited her room, her parents were scheduled to return by evening, she wasn't looking forward to it.

"Robert?"

She called the staff whom she met in the hallway.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Can you tell Natalie when she gets back that I went out and will be back before dinner time?"

"Sure ma'am, should I get the driver?"

"No, I am taking a cab,"

She replied, she couldn't drive due to her poor eyesight and mainly because she was scared of driving. She never got a driving license for that reason, another thing her parents mocked her with.

She got a cab, and directed him to take her to the art shop in Melbourne, she loved everything about Vhrisma, and that's where she got almost all her art materials from, the house of Vhrisma had everything an artist would need to create a masterpiece, she knew she might as well order at home but she prefers to see what she is buying physically, she also likes to look through the works they have on display, she hoped to own a place as beautiful as Vhrisma someday, not necessarily an art store, but a studio where her various works and other works of talented artist will be displayed, she had dreams, and she was finally taking steps towards them.

It took her so long because even after graduating, she still had doubts as to if she could do a good job and if her work was worth it. Now she is happy she made the decision, it might have taken a while for her to decide but it was perfect, the timing was perfect.

"Miss Evans , hello, it's been a while, you look different today,"

The sales rep greeted when Nicole entered, she has met her a couple of times and they have become some kind of friends, Grace was much antisocial than Nicole herself, she spent almost all her time in Vhrisma, based on what she had told Nicole , she was a cool lady though and Nicole liked how she had answers to almost all her questions, she had been the one to help her pick out the materials she used for the work that got accepted by the art gallery.

"Hey, Grace it's been a while for real, how have you been,"

"I am fine, you haven't come around for over a month, enough for you to change your look, I love your hair, and your dress is really pretty, you look so beautiful as always,"

"Thanks, Grace, you are not looking bad too,"

"You are here to get materials? Are you doing new work?"

"Yes, for my sister, she is getting married."

She replied smiling at her.

"Wow, congratulations to her, I always thought you are an only child, my bad,"

"No, that's wrong, I have a sister, my twin,"

Nicole replied laughing, she and Natalie were rarely seen together outside even though they were quite close, they have different preferences nd their daily life rarely clash, up until they went to high school, they had been homeschooled and even during high school, she mostly took online classes, they didn't attend the same Uni either, Natalie had gone to New York for her fashion degree and modeling, even though she hardly does modeling, right now she mainly worked as a designer for models and Nicole , on the other hand, had stayed in Florida and had attended Miami Herbert business school for two years before she pulled out and had gone to study art, she had graduated two years along and had turned one of the many rooms in the mansion to her first studio, she spent most of her days there and had over hundred works made that haven't been seen by anyone except her sister, her nanny who had passed away a year before she graduated saw some of her works too.

"Wow, are you guys identical?"

Grace asked as she lead her to where she would drop her bag as those weren't allowed inside, they walked into the shop, she saw a beautiful piece and couldn't help but be drawn to it, it was so pretty.

"Yes, we are,"

"She must be pretty like you then,"

"Yes, she is,"

"Cool, I wish I had a twin or at least a sibling, I am an only child, unfortunately,"

"It's all fun until you have to put up with her mood swings,"

She replied laughing.

"You are so lucky to have a pretty sister, I will give anything to have one even if she is a pest"

"Well,"

"Don't feel bad for me I have cousins and nieces to make up for that,"

"That's a relief,"

"Yup, that's beautiful,"

Grace said pointing at the piece that she had been staring at.

"I know right,"

"Did you still submit that work?"

"Yes I did, and it got accepted, I got the call today,"

"Congratulations, the world needs to see your works,"

"Yeah, I agree,"

"I will like to see them too,"

"Don't worry, I will send you an invite,"

"Yah!!!"

She replied excitedly, "I know you will do great,"

"Thanks, Grace,"

She replied looking around, there were new pieces added in every column, she recognized most of the works and the artist that made them.

"You can look around, I need to go, the new owner is arriving a few days and we are trying to make the place as presentable as we can,"

She revealed.

"Vhrisma was sold?"

She asked out of concern.

"Yes,"

"Wow, why? Did something happen with the former owner?"

"No, she retired and her kids didn't want Vhrisma so she sold it, but don't worry, we are not closing,"

"Aha, thank goodness, this is my favorite art shop, I hate to look for somewhere else,"

"You don't have to,"

"Good to know,"

She said looking around as Grace left, admiring the different art pieces, she hoped to get to this point or even further someday, where her works will be seen and admired everywhere, she moved over to the side where various samples of art materials were displayed, she spent the next thirty minutes or one hour looking around the shop, there were so many beautiful materials to pick from, she wanted to do something that Natalie would love, so she took her time picking out colors and blends.

She finally decided on the ones she wanted and went over to pay for them, She saw him a little too late, at first, she thought maybe it was someone who looked just like him or maybe she felt he couldn't possibly be in Florida, not to talk of an art store, She should have at least hide herself to confirm but it didn't register until he saw her too, she made to turn away, but it was too late.

"Natalie?"

"Fuck!"

She caused under her breath as her sister's fiance walked up towards her...

Nicole thought hard on what she should do, she thought of just telling him that she was not Natalie but her twin sister, but then Natalie said she didn't want them to meet until the day of the wedding, she couldn't understand why her sister felt they shouldn't meet but she couldn't blame her either, her parents still got them confused, not to talk of someone who hasn't met the two of them before.

He stood there handsomely, he a button-down white shirt and a pair of black trousers and also matching black shoes, he gave off the young, rich and handsome vibes that almost made her dizzy, he looked so confident in himself standing there, that she wanted to run and hide, he beckoned on her to come over.

"Well, fuck it, we will deal with this later,"

She muttered under her breath as she walked up to him

"Hi, dear,"

She said going over for a hug, she quickly drew away from the hug as his unique smell hit her nostrils, he smelled good and had a nice body, all good, Natalie liked her men big and broad so she wasn't surprised.

"Were you trying to avoid me?"

"What? Me? No, I wasn't,"

"Are you sure? I got the feeling that you were though,"

"I wasn't, I just didn't know I will meet you here,"

She said truthfully, she would never have imagined he would be here. She didn't see him as someone who comes to places like this, maybe he stopped by to see a friend or maybe he is an art lover too, even though he didn't look like it.

"I didn't know you liked art, and I have never seen you dressed so casual and you even have glasses on,"

"Is it a bad thing?"

She asked, avoiding eye contact with him, this was how she usually dresses, she preferred casual and has never been a fan of a heavy makeover.

"No, not at all, I just almost didn't recognize you without the make-up and glamorous dresses that I am used to.

"Great, they don't even know much about each other, and yet they are getting married,"

She thought, and then remembered she wasn't Natalie , to begin with.

"Well, I was just getting some materials, so I can dress down and my neighborhood is just about a thirty-minute drive away,"

She said suddenly feeling conscious.

"I didn't say it a bad thing, stop making it sound like that,"

"I wasn't, so what are you doing here?"

She asked wanting to be anywhere but here.

"I told you before that I got a new property, this is it,"

Great, he was the new owner of her favorite art shop, the universe must be playing with her, she just didn't like his aura, maybe because her first impression of him had not been nice. He was handsome, no doubt about that, not to mention he was super wealthy too, ever since Natalie 's told her about the engagement she had googled him to at least know more about the person her sister was long to spend forever with if she was the materialistic type she would have been impressed, but unfortunately she wants, her parents were wealthy people too, although not as wealthy as Rafael, but still wealthy, and wealth wasn't much of a pull to her if, for nothing, she won't mind being from an average loving family where both parents will be around to watch her grow, instead of the absent parents she grew up with.

Back to Rafael, the only admirable thing she found out about him aside from his hot body, which she couldn't deny, was that he was a self-made billionaire, which means he worked for his money from the bottom to the top but that made him kind of ruthless too because some of the things she read about him were no good, she read about how he took over smaller businesses capitalizing on their inability to meet up and feeding off jus growing account by buying out the businesses and rebranding them, which of course means the original owner will be out of the picture, even though he paid money to acquire them, she still felt he was heartless, she knew the media shouldn't be believed but there was no smoke without fire, so it might not totally be true but there might be some truth in what they said about him, and the fact that he towered over her five feet seven-inch self was another thing to worry about, she just couldn't see herself being comfortable in his presence.

"Are you even listening to what I am saying?"

He asked which brought her out of her thoughts.

"Sorry, mind coming again?"

"Nevermind, you have always never been interested in my business, you already said it bores you,"

"I didn't mean it that way,"

She said, she wanted to add 'it's not me that said your business bore me'

"I never meant it that way,"

She said again.

"It's okay, have you gotten everything you needed?"

"Yes,"

"Okay, should I take you home? I came to check on the property and decided to stop by here since I have heard about it but never seem how it looks like"

She wondered why he kept saying property, Vhrisma was just a shop, yes it was big but not all that big.

"Wait, are you saying you bought the whole of this building?"

She asked as it dawned on her that he might actually be talking about the whole building.

"Uh, not the building, the estate,"

"What?"

She screamed before clamping her hands over her mouth.

"Why are you so surprised? I showed you the layout, or were you also not listening when I did?"

"Sorry,"

She said. "I need to use the restroom if you don't mind,"

She added, she needed to call Natalie before she messed up.

"Sure,"

She heard him say but she was already on her way to the restroom, she passed by where her bag was dropped, took it, before and went through to the ladies, she brought out her phone as soon as she got in and dialed Natalie 's number, she picked up on the third ring.

"Hey, Lia, what's up?"

She heard her say, she sounded like she had been sleeping.

"Natalie , I met your fiance at the art shop and I don't know if I can just tell him that I am not you, he thinks I am you and I don't wanna mess things up so..."

"Don't tell him, just play along,"

"What? But why? Why can't I just tell him that I am your twin sister?"

"Because I don't want him to meet you until we get married,"

She voiced.

"What does that even change?"

"You won't understand, I don't want to confuse him, he thinks you are Natalie so please be Natalie for me,"

"Nat!?"

Nicole called, she knew Natalie would say this, she just didn't understand how not telling Rafaelwill help him not be confused, telling him now would even help him adjust.

"Cole, can you do me this favor please? Don't tell him, just act like how I will act, I can call you so that you won't spend a long time in his presence and we will talk better when you get home,"

"Okay, fine,"

She reluctantly agreed, she was spending too much time here and Rafael would maybe be waiting for her.

"Thanks twinny,"

"Whatever, please call me in the next five minutes,"

"I will,"

Natalie said before she hung up, Nicolechecked her reflection in the restroom mirror before making her way back to where Rafaelnow stood with the manager of the place, she walked up to them and smiled politely, fuck Natalie for making her go through this, she thought counting the seconds until Natalie calls.

"This is my fiancee, Natalie ,"

He introduced, Nicole, mentally rolled her eyes as she smiled at the manager, thankfully the manager didn't know her name, in fact they have only met a few times.

"Wow, congratulations on your engagement,"

"Thank you,"

She replied checking her phone, it's been over five minutes and her twin hasn't called.

"I came to see the estate and decided to check on here, it's nothing official so you don't have to worry,"

He said politely, wait, she thought looking at him, why was he acting polite?.

"You don't know him,"

The voice in her head whispered and she agreed, she didn't really know him.

"Do you have to leave?"

He asked taking her hand in his, her first reaction was to remove his hands from hers as she wasn't a big fan of sudden touch, but then she remembered she was Natalie , not Nicole, for now, thankfully, her phone rang, the bitch decided to finally call, she excused herself while she took the call.

"Hey, babe?"

"Are you still together?"

What did she expect? That she would suddenly grow wings and fly out of his presence, Natalie has a lot to answer to.

"Yes, oh, mom and dad are back? I am on my way,"

"Means you guys are still together,"

Natalie replied over the phone laughing.

*

"I have got to go,"

She mouthed to him while covering her phone speaker, Natalie was going on about nonsense she couldn't make out.

"Oh, and I still have other things to do in the estate before I leave, I will tell my driver to drop you off,"

"No, no, there is no need, I can manage, thank you,"

"Are you sure? The last time I told you to get home yourself you threw a fit,"

"Natalie !!!"

She thought

"Aha, I must have been Pmsing,"

She voiced, Natalie 's laugh over the phone wasn't funny one bit, neither was the laugh of the manager, who was acting like he wasn't listening to their conversation and failing at it, here she was sweating to her feet in her twin's fiance presence and the bitch was mocking her over the phone.

"Who is on the phone?"

"My sister,"

"Oh, Nicole?"

At least he knew her name, and for some reason, she liked how he called her name.

"Cut it out, Nicole,"

She mentally scolded herself.

"Yup, my parents are back home, I haven't seen them for over a month,"

"I know, you told me,"

"Yeah,"

She replied laughing, the laughter sounded awkward even to her ears.

"You are acting differently, are you sure you are okay?"

Uh-huh, I am fine,"

"Alright, then,"

She didn't wait for him and walked to the reception, gave the list of what she had picked to Grace, passed her phone to her for her number, She typed in without questions.

"I will call you, thanks Grace,"

She said as she exited the shop without looking back.

She let out a huge sigh of relief when she finally entered the cap.

Never in a million years did she imagine her day would feature her sister's not-so-nice but handsome fiance...