Chapter five

Kaden 

“Hey, brother,” Kai said, dropping into the chair.

Kai’s my half- brother. I was seven when my father remarried. Just a few months later,Kai was born. Turns out my old man had been cheating on my mother.

“What do you want, Kai?” I asked, never looking up from my computer.

“Can’t I drop by and see how my big bro is doing?” 

“Well, big bro is busy running the company, Kai. I don’t have time for chit-chat.”

“Well then.” He stood and left the office.

I called my assistant to make a  reservation for two. We needed to make an appearance as a couple If people were  going to buy our marriage, though I don’t give a fuck what people thought.

I came from old money. My  family was solely built on tradition. and my grandfather  even my father honored this tradition, and now it was  up to me to honor mine. Marry before forty to acquire the whole of the empire, or lose it to my half baked uncles. and I’d rather die than let the latter happen.

I’d worked my ass off  for this empire, and I wasn’t about to lose it over  something as meaningless as marriage.

I picked up my phone and called Catherine. She picked up  on the first ring.

“Hello, Kaden.”

“Hello, wife, get dressed. We are going out tonight.”

I hung up.

*******

Sam, my driver, pulled up  in front of my  house, and I texted her to  let her know I was here.

Minutes pass by before she comes out wearing a red fuck- me dress and red lipstick. and I couldn’t deny it, she was a  beautiful woman.

“I don’t like to wait,” I said as she slid in.

“Well, you’ll have to put up with it now  I’m about to become your wife,” She shot back.

I grunted. “Let’s go, Sam.”

The Restaurant was classy and quiet just how I liked it.

I pulled out a  chair  for her, and she sat with a soft, “Thank you.”

We ordered and  ate, as we made small talk. 

We were leaving when Catherine suddenly halted, her eyes locked on something ahead. I followed her gaze and saw  her ex husband walking in with a brunette in his arms.

I placed my hands on her waist and turned her face to me.

“Look at me, Catherine.” She  looked up, tears in her eyes. “You don’t get to cry over him again. understand? You  are a heiress, act like one.”

I slammed my lips onto hers to pull her attention back. Pulling back, I took her hand as we exited the restaurant.

We pulled up in my driveway. She stepped out. “Catherine,” I called.

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay?” 

She sighed. “I’m okay, Kaden. Let’s just go in.”

I nodded and waved Sam off.

A week had  passed after dinner  with Catherine. We’d gone on two more dates. I sat in my office after a tiring meeting when my phone buzzed.

“You found anything yet?” I asked.

“No, boss. All  the transfers moved through internal clearance channels. It means someone inside the company is behind the embezzlement.”

I hung up and hurled the flower pot across the room. I yanked at my tie and  messaged my private investigator to dig deeper.

No one steals from Kaden Mitchell.

******

With one knee on the ground, I held up the ring box to a smiling Catherine.

“Marry me, Cat, and make me the happiest man on earth.”

“Yes,” she  whispered, clutching her chest. I slipped the ring onto her fingers and pulled her into a hug.

“You make an amazing actor, wife,” I whispered into her ear. 

“I learned from the best.”

A day had passed since the call  from my office. Now I stood here, proposing to Catherine in front of many eyes. The  news would  be buzzing soon.

Chicago’s  most eligible bachelor off the market.

After taking my Fiancée home, I drove off to my family estate.

“Hey, son, you’re here,” my mum said. Smiling, she pulled me into a hug.

We sat at the dining table, everyone looking at me warily.

“You guys want to tell me what’s going on, or what?” I asked.

“Son,” my father said, wiping his mouth, “you got engaged and  didn’t bother to tell us.”

Well, looks like the media is already on it.

“Well, I have reached the age of marriage, so I don’t think  I need to explain myself.”

“I know, son,” my father said again. “Well, congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

The rest mumbled their congratulations. We toasted, and they moved on to the next topic. That was it. No one really cared about anyone here.

“I’m leaving. I’ve had a long day.” I bid them good night and left. 

I had almost made it to my car when I heard my name.

“Kaden!” 

I turned to see Kai jogging toward me.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Catherine Rosawood? Really, bro? Isn't she, like, married?”

“Yeah, before. Not now. And she’s twenty-four, so why not?”

“I don’t know about this,Kaden. She doesn’t seem like the right person for you.”

“I know what’s right for me,Kai,” I snapped. “And you  don’t get  a say in  who I marry. Understood?”

“Jeez, man, calm down. I’m just looking out for you.”

“Thanks for your concern, Kai, but it’s Catherine or nobody else. Good night.”

I slid into my car and drove off.