CHAPTER 4 ~ THE OFFER

LOUIS'S POV

If I am being honest, I don't want her as my wife or anything remotely related, in fact, I don't want her in my life but looking for a substitute Bride has been more difficult than I thought.

For the last three to four days or so, Tommy and I have interviewed more than ten ladies for the position of a temporary bride and there is something always terribly wrong with all the candidates... It's almost like the universe is against me getting married.

But in the case of Flavia, she's beautiful, classy, sexy, stylish and very outspoken, although I dislike her and it's not like I have anything against her in particular but from the first day I saw her, it was pretty obvious to me that she hates everything about me and the only reason she tolerating me is because of my money and I honestly can't stand golddiggers.

"Is that like a contract marriage." She asked and I can already tell that she's excited by the prospect of making money... Yes she's working but she's not different from other ladies.

"Yes, a contract marriage."

"Well I don't know if I can stand you enough to stay married to you for a year." I am a little curious to know the issues she has with me but I am too upset to ask. I mean, most people like me, maybe not as a husband but I am friendly, so she's definitely the one with the problem.

"Don't get it twisted, I can't stand you either but I am a business man and irrespective of my feelings, I can still do business with you. The wedding is going to be purely transactional, you are not even my type." I pointed out.

"I am everyone's type but it doesn't even matter because you are not my type either, anyways, let's say I am willing to agree, what are you offering?" Honestly, I would have been bummed if I was her type considering my size but one thing I know she's interested in is money and luckily for me, I have a shit load of it.

"Like I said, it's going to be for a period of one year, so I am offering ten."

"Is that a joke, you want me to pretend to be your wife for twelve whole months and you are offering just 10,000 dollars?"

"Million, I am talking millions. Look I know you have never even seen a million dollars before, so I know that 10 million dollars is more than enough. You can either take it or leave it, I can always use someone else." I know I don't have any alternatives right now but she doesn't have to know.

I didn't miss the shock on her face when I mentioned 10 million dollars, so even though she likes to pretend and act stubborn, I am confident that she will take the deal. It's pretty obvious that ten million dollars is a lot of money to her.

"You are so annoying but like you said, the fact that I can't stand you doesn't mean I can't do business with you, so yeah, I will do it."

"That's what I thought, so go ahead with the wedding plans for 28th and then I will get our contract papers ready for you to sign tomorrow." I don't really know her and I don't trust her, so she has to sign a contract and even though ten million dollars is nothing to me, I will pay her in installments because I don't trust her, she can just decide to disappear with the money.

"Alright that's fine, so I should plan the wedding according to the 50 million dollars budget you gave, right?" She asked and I couldn't help but laugh.

Hahaha. "Is that a joke?" I asked as I continued laughing.

"I don't understand what's so funny, you gave a 50 million budget right?"

"Yeah but that was when I was getting married to someone that mattered, you on the other hand is just a substitute Bride. So plan something very small and private." I clarified.

"I see, what about my payment?" She asked while looking upset.

I didn't mean to be mean but how can she expect me to spend that much on a fake wedding.

"I will send you some money to plan the wedding and get yourself a dress for the wedding and on the wedding day, I will send half of your money and the balance will be later." I said as I gave her a sticky note and a pen. "Write down your account details."

I grabbed my phone and token to make the transfer. "There you go." She pushed the paper across the my desk and I transferred 2 million to her.

"If there is need for more money, let me know." I informed as soon as I finished making the transfer. "Now take all your things and leave my office." I can't believe she came over here with food just to frustrate me.

"Gladly, I will see you some other time." She got up, packed her food and hand bag before making her way to the door.

"Tomorrow, not some other time. You still need to sign the contract papers." I informed just before she opened the door.

"Alright, see you tomorrow." She stepped out and I finally had room to breathe, she's a handful.

I decided to give Tommy a call and give him the update about the substitute bride situation.

"Hey bro, I was just about to call you." He pointed out as soon as he picked up.

"Oh yeah? What's up?"

"At this point, it's either you cancel the wedding or postpone so that we can have more time to search for someone because none of the ladies I have spoken to so far are capable of handling the task." I guess it's a good thing that I offered Flavia the role even though she's fucking annoying.

"Well it's a good thing I found someone, the event planner showed up at my office a while ago to create a scene because she needed compensation for her efforts, so I offered her the deal instead and she took it." I informed.

"Oh wow, that's quaint. I thought you guys don't like each other, what changed?"

"Nothing changed Tommy, I still don't like her but she's desperate for money and I am desperate for a bride, so this is more of a business transaction." It's going to be difficult to tolerate her for a year but I don't have a choice.

"Alright then, I hope you don't kill each other before the end of the contract." He teased.

"I hope so too, anyways the wedding is back on and that's all that matters."

"Of course, I will see you later in the day." He said before I ended the call and I went back to my work, I am just glad that the embarrassment has been avoided.