Arec’s POV:
I stood in front of my grandmother’s desk, her eyes boring into mine with that familiar mix of expectation and disappointnt.
She had always been the matriarch of the Weston family, the one who had held our dynasty together through sheer force of will. And now, she had set her sights on .
"Arec, you’re not getting any younger," she began, her voice firm, carrying the weight of generations of expectations. "It’s ti you settled down. This family needs stability, and as the future CEO, you need a wife by your side."
I sighed, raking a hand through my hair, feeling the familiar tightening in my chest that always accompanied these conversations. "Grandmother, we’ve been over this. I’m focused on the company right now. Marriage isn’t a priority."
Her gaze sharpened, a sure sign that she was about to drop a bombshell. "And I keep telling you, that It’s not just about you, Arec. It’s about the family. Our legacy. You need a wife who can support you, soone who fits the mold of what a Weston should be."
"And who, exactly, fits that mold?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. The na was always the sa, the one person she had been pushing on for so ti now.
"Joanne," she said without hesitation. "She’s been a part of this family for years, and she’s perfect for you."
I clenched my jaw, struggling to maintain my composure. Joanne was a good friend, but I didn’t love her, not in the way my grandmother wanted. "Joanne and I are just friends," I replied, forcing my voice to stay steady. "There’s no romantic interest between us."
"Then find soone else," she snapped, her tone leaving no room for argunt. "But mark my words, Arec, you will marry within the next month. Or I’ll find soone for you."
The weight of her ultimatum hung in the air, thick and suffocating, as I left her office. My mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other in a chaotic whirl.
I had always known this day would co, but I had hoped to delay it longer. The pressure to marry, to find a suitable wife, had been a constant undercurrent in my life, but now, it seed, I was out of ti.
As I paced the long, embellished halls of the Weston estate, a thought began to take shape in my mind, a way to solve my grandmother’s problem without giving in to her ddemands
It was risky, unconventional, and it would require the right person. Soone who was intelligent, independent, and trustworthy. Soone who could understand the stakes and keep her emotions out of it.
Soone like Ella.
The idea struck like a bolt of lightning, unexpected and undeniable. Ella, my assistant, had been by my side for few months now.
She was sharp, resourceful, and, most importantly, she wasn’t interested in romantically. We had a professional relationship - except for that one night.
And she’s exactly who I needed.
A contract marriage.
It was perfect. We would marry, I would secure my position as CEO, and then, after a year or two, we would divorce. It would be a business transaction, nothing more. No emotions, no ssy entanglents. Just two people helping each other out of a tight spot.
But as soon as the idea ford, I realized there was one significant problem, convincing Ella to agree. She was nobody’s fool, and I knew she wouldn’t take the proposal lightly.
The next morning, I could barely focus on my work. Every ti I tried to concentrate on a report or an email, my thoughts drifted back to Ella and how I would approach her with this proposition. I kept running through different scenarios in my mind, imagining how she might react. Would she laugh in my face? Be offended? Or would she see the logic in it?
By the ti the clock struck eleven, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to talk to her, to get this weight off my chest. I left my office and walked over to Ella’s desk, trying to keep my expression neutral.
"Ella, can I see you in my office for a mont?" I asked, doing my best to sound casual.
She looked up from her computer, surprised but not suspicious. "Of course, Mr. Weston."
She followed into my office, and I closed the door behind her. The silence felt heavy, and I could see the curiosity in her eyes as she waited for to speak. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say.
"Ella, I have a proposition for you," I began, choosing my words carefully. "And I want you to know that I’m serious about this. It’s a business deal, nothing more."
Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. "A business deal? What kind of deal are we talking about?"
I hesitated, feeling a sudden wave of doubt. But I had already co this far, I couldn’t back out now. "My grandmother has given an ultimatum. She wants to get married within the next month, or she’ll choose a wife for ."
Ella’s expression remained neutral, but I could see the gears turning in her mind. "I see. And where do I co in?"
"I want you to marry ," I said, the words hanging in the air between us. "Not for real, of course. It would be a contract marriage. We’d stay married long enough for to secure my position as CEO, and then we’d get a quiet divorce. You’d be compensated, of course."
The silence that followed was deafening. Ella stared at , her eyes wide with disbelief. "You’re asking to marry you for a job?"
"It’s more than that," I quickly clarified. "This isn’t about love or a real marriage. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangent. You’d be helping out of a tight spot, and I’d make sure you’re taken care of, financially, professionally. I’d give you a generous severance package when the marriage ends."
Ella shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You think I’d be willing to sell myself for money? Is that how you see , Arec?"
"No, of course not," I said, my voice strained. "This isn’t about selling yourself. It’s about a business arrangent between two people who respect each other. I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t think you could handle it."
She was silent for a mont, her eyes searching mine as if looking for so hidden motive. Finally, she spoke, her voice cold. "I’m not interested, Arec. I won’t be used as a pawn in your family’s gas."
Her words cut deep, sharper than I expected. I had prepared myself for resistance, for questions, but I hadn’t expected her outright rejection. "Ella, please, just hear out..."
"No," she interrupted, standing up abruptly. "I don’t need to hear anything else. I can’t believe you’d even suggest sothing like this. Do you really think so little of ?"
"I don’t think little of you," I said, desperate to make her understand. "I’m asking because I respect you. I know you’re the only person I can trust to do this with ."
She shook her head, a look of disappointnt crossing her features. "Arec, I work for you. I’ve always respected you, but this... this is too much. I won’t do it. Find soone else."
And with that, she turned and walked out of my office.
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