Chapter 2

Prince's POV

As I drove to my company, my mind raced with thoughts.

The woman I'd picked at the bar last night was my only hope to secure my inheritance. Would she even agree to the contract? I'd offered her a lot of money, but there were no guarantees.

As I pulled into the parking lot of my company, I pushed those thoughts aside, straightened my suit, and stepped out of my car, ready to face the day. It was my first day back after my vacation abroad and I expected everything to be in order. As soon as I stepped through the glass doors, the faint murmurs in the company instantly ceased, leaving behind a total silence.

The atmosphere was tense and the employees' movements were stiff and cautious.

“ What's with all the noise earlier?” I barked, my voice cutting through the tense silence. The faint murmurs that had filled the air instantly stopped. Everyone bowed slightly.

“ We're sorry, sir”, they mumbled in unison, their voices trembling.

I ignored them and made my way to my office. Moments later, I heard a knock on my door.

“ Come in,” I said sharply.

My secretary, Flora stepped in, “ Sir, the stakeholders want to meet you in the conference room immediately”

“ Okay, tell them I'll be there shortly,” I instructed.

“ Yes Sir,” the secretary said before leaving.

I stood up, adjusting my suit, already knowing what was about to happen in the conference room. When I got to the door to the conference room, it was already open. I saw James with a lady standing in front of the stakeholders.

“ This is the lady I want to marry. We're already preparing for the marriage” I heard him say as I stood behind them.

“Okay,” one of the men began. “ That's good to hear. Now we have who to hand over the family properties to”

“ Wait?” The lady interrupted. “ Family properties?” she asked, her confusion evident.

“ Yes, babe,” James replied. “ As soon as we get married, this company and everything will be ours” James explained to her. I stood there still listening to them.

“ Is this why you asked me to forget the pictures from yesterday?” She asked, her voice shaking. “So you could use me to get what you want?” she snapped at him.

“ No…I,” he began, but she cut him off. “ I can't get married to a cheat,” she said, her voice louder.

She flung her bag over her shoulder, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. “Keep your money, James. Keep your company. I'm done with all of this..”She walked past James and left the room while I stood steady to prevent her from seeing me.

A few minutes after she left, I entered the room, clapping my hands. “ What a pity, James” I smiled sinisterly.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

I went to sit on my chair and looked at the faces of everyone in the room. “And you all were going to hand over the company to a cheat like him”

“ We wanted what's best for the company. That's why we're saying get engaged, and that's going to make you a responsible man who can take care of the company,” another stakeholder answered.

“ You're not going to get away with this, Prince,” James snapped, leaving the room.

After he left, one of them said, “We're giving you one week, Prince. Find someone or else we're going to give it to any other family member”

“ Trust me, Mr Reynolds. I'll bring her before the weekends,” I assured them, knowing that the woman from the bar hadn't agreed to the contract yet.

“ That's good to hear. We'll take our leave now.” They left the conference room, leaving only me there.

Compete with me, James? Foolish! I never lose. I left the room, went to my office, and continued with the day's work.

After a hard day's work, I decided to go back home. By the time I drove home, I was exhausted. But as I entered the mansion, the sight of her sitting in the living room brought me back to the present.

She looked up, surprise evident in her eyes. “ You're back,” she said hesitantly.

I nodded, my expression unreadable. “We need to talk”

“We can't talk now. I must leave this place as soon as possible” she said, grabbing her bag and heels.

She moved closer to the door, her steps slow and deliberate as though she wanted to leave but couldn't bring herself to. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

“ The contract. Have you decided yet?” My voice was calm but my gaze didn't waver.

Her hand hovered near the doorknob, fingers twitching. She bit her lips, eyes moving away from me. “ I…I don't know. It's a lot to take in,” she replied and left, not allowing me to talk.

Before I could stop her, I got a message from my assistant. As I read the message, a slow smile spread across my face. She wouldn't be able to resist. I thought as I turned to my room to rest.

Later in the evening, as I sat at the dining hall to take my evening meal, I heard a knock on my front door.

I called out to my maid to open it. She did and told me who the person was. I saw her leading the woman to where I was sitting. “ Wait for me in the living room,” I said, smiling at her. I already knew why she came back.

After a few minutes of eating, I stood up and went to sit across from her. “ But you told me that, it's a lot to take in. So why are you here?” I pretended as if I knew nothing.

“ It's…it's not about the contract,” she said, her voice cracking.

“ If it's not about the contract, then stand up and leave my house” I snapped as I stood and took a step to leave her.

“ No, please wait!’ she stopped me, my lips curled up in a smile.

“ What now?” I asked, fuming in anger.

“I…I just got a message from my boss” she began.

“ What does that have to do with me?”

“ He just dismissed me from the job for not coming today. I've gone to him to plead but to no avail”

“ So?” I ignored her and moved closer to the stairs.

“ So I need your help, please,” she said, her voice faltering.

I leaned back, my gaze cold, “ And what makes you think I'd help you”

She hesitated twisting her hand “ I'll do anything”

“ Anything.” my lips curled into a smile.