Chapter Two

I had a large sum of money at my disposal. But I needed a wife to get the one thing I really wanted.

But I didn't believe in love. I had no faith in eternal love, marriage, or family. They made no sense to me, so I resolved never to let them back into my life. Unfortunately, my uncle, Albert, changed the rules of my life.

My stomach clenched as I stared at the will on my table. How could my uncle do this to me? I rose from my leather chair, removing my jacket, blue tie, and white silk shirt. I quickly unbuckled my belt and put on gray sweatpants and a t-shirt. I entered the inner sanctum of my office wearing my Nike air sneakers. When I needed to clear my mind or make a strategic decision, it was one of my favorite places to go.

When I was upset, running helped me to relax, especially in a completely controlled environment. There would be no distracting noises, no scorching sun to burn my skin, and no rocks or gravel to get in my way. I turned on the thread mill and began the steady pace that would lead to a solution.

Even though I understood my uncle's motivations, the sense of betrayal was slowly eating me away. In the end, one of my favorite family members played me as a pawn. One of the primary reasons I never believed in love or commitment.

I shook my head as I paced on the treadmill. I should have predicted it, as well as the contents of the will. Uncle Albert had spent the last few months of his life talking about marriage and the importance of family.

He had done everything he could to persuade me to marry and had accused my response of being sluggish. I couldn't understand why he was surprised by my decision not to marry. My parents' marriage should have given him enough reasons to understand me.

I'd been in and out of a few relationships, and one thing was sure: all women desired marriage, and marriage meant messiness.

It offered nothing but emotional fights, children tearing both parents down and nagging uncontrollably, wanting more attention, needing more space until it ended like every other relationship or marriage. Divorce. With children as victims or as a reminder of the terrible mistake.

No, thank you.

Uncle Albert clung to the hope that I would change my mind and fall in love even after he died. He thought a woman would change my mind.

The heart attack that killed him struck him unexpectedly and violently. I assumed the legalities would be simple. Aria, my sister, had previously stated that she had no interest in the company, and Uncle Albert had no other family members.

As a result, I began to believe in luck. I imagined myself finally having my own possessions. The joke was on me, that is, until the attorneys read the will and I discovered it.

I could only inherit the majority of Goldscape shares after marrying. If I did not follow the rules, I would only receive half of the shares.

The rest would be divided among the board members, with me serving only as a symbolic leader. My ambitions of becoming more successful and owning large shares would be dashed.

Instead of building things, I'd be bogged down in meetings and business politics, which is the complete opposite of what I wanted to do with my life.

Uncle Earl was aware of it, which is why he put me in such a difficult situation.

I was now forced to find a wife. The incline decreased when I pressed the switch. I slowed down and evened out my breathing. My mind cut through the emotional emptiness and assessed the options that could save me from my disaster.

I got off the treadmill, grabbed a chilled Evian bottle from the minibar, and returned to my chair. I drank the cold, clear liquid and placed the sweating bottle on my desk. I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts before taking the gold pen in my hand and rolling it between my fingers.

Find a wife.

I resolved not to waste any more time whining about injustice or my late uncle. I decided to make a detailed list of the qualities my wife would require to see if I could find any suitable candidates.

An image of Alexa flashed through my mind, but I suppressed it. My stunning supermodel was ideal for social functions and great sex but not for marriage.

I enjoyed Alexa's company and witty banter, but I was concerned that she was already head over heels in love with me. She had mentioned that she wanted children, which was a deal breaker.

Whatever marriage guidelines I devised, emotion would undermine them. She, like any other wife, would become envious and demanding. No prenup could ever stop her greed once she felt neglected. That was something I was not prepared for.

I drank some more water while circling the jagged edge of the bottle top with my thumb. I once read that if a man made a list of all the qualities he admired in a woman, one would appear. I frowned as I grasped at a passing thought.

I was almost certain the theory had been proven.

It has something to do with the universe. Returning what you put into the universe. Some spiritual nonsense that I didn't believe in. But I was desperate.

I placed my pen on the left edge of the page and began writing my list.

I wanted a woman who didn't love me, who wasn't emotional and rash. I wanted a woman who saw the marriage as a contract and an opportunity to make money. I wanted a woman I wasn't emotionally connected with and someone I did not want to sleep with. Finally, I wanted a woman I could trust.

I went over the summary again. I was aware that some of my desired characteristics were stubbornly optimistic, but if the universe theory was correct, I might as well write down everything I desired.

I required a woman who saw the venture as a business opportunity. Perhaps someone looking for a large payoff.

I intended to provide many perks, but I only wanted the marriage in name. There will be no jealousy when there is no sex. There will be no love if the woman is not overly emotional. A marriage with no messes was the perfect marriage. I sifted through every woman I'd ever dated, every female friend I'd ever met, and every business associate I'd ever worked with.

I couldn't think of anyone that matched my list.

My nerves were frayed by frustration. I was 32 years old, reasonably attractive, intelligent, and financially secure. And I couldn't find a single decent woman to marry? I only had a week to find a wife, or my nightmare would come to pass.

My phone rang, and I answered it. “Bryn.”

"It's me, Aria,” She paused. "Have you found a wife yet?"

A chuckle strangled my lips. My sister was the only woman who could consistently make me laugh, even if it was occasionally at my expense. "I'm still working on it right now."

"I believe I've found someone."

My heart rate increased. "Can you tell me who it is?"

Another brief pause. "You'd have to agree to her terms, but I don't think they'll be too difficult. Besides, you've known her from childhood, so you can trust her."

I tried to think about someone I had known from childhood that would be interested in the deal, but I couldn't come up with anyone. "Who is she, Aria?"

For some seconds, silence fell over the line. “Veronica.” She said.

The familiar name from my past caused the room to spin in a dizzying blur. I had forgotten to go over the name. My only thought repeated itself in my mind.

"No way, no how," I mustered.

"What?" Aria replied. I had forgotten she was still on the call. "She's your only option. I don't know why neither of you is reacting as I expected."

My sister didn't know what happened between me and Veronica years ago. She had no idea about the reckless, romantic past we shared.

It was impossible to have Veronica as my wife for a year. Not after everything I had done to her. Not when I knew it would only take one stolen kiss to recreate our past.

I remembered the words she said to me when I broke her heart, how she had looked me in the eye and expressed her burning hatred for me. What could have made her so desperate to agree to the deal?

"Hello? Are you still there?" Aria asked, waiting for a response. I couldn't find the right words to say. As she said, she was my only option, and she was willing to accept the deal. Could I be walking into a trap I built for myself?

"Yes," I voiced, accepting my fate. "I'll like to see her so we can discuss this further."