DANIEL'S POV.
That's it. Clara had officially gone mad."Are you hearing yourself right now, Clara," I said, giving her an astonished look which she returned with a shrug."People do stuff like that all the time Sir, it's nothing new."Nothing new? She wanted me to find a random girl to marry so my dad could give me back my properties. I'd only heard of contract marriages in the movies, I didn't think it was a real thing."And who would want to do that with me? Wait ... No, how does that help my situation? My dad would obviously see through the act, you don't know him like I do," I said.She smiled and crossed her arms. "There are plenty of ladies who would be down for that, I can tell you. What you need to be thinking about right now is a woman who would be willing to go into a contract marriage. I can help you with that if you want."What was Clara saying? It all sounded so wrong to me. I didn't believe in love, but I wasn't one to think a marriage should be manipulated. I didn't believe in love, but I knew for a fact that love was supposed to be the main reason for a marriage, which was why I was so against it. I didn't believe I could love any human like I loved my self, talk less of more than myself.I was about to reply he when my phone chimes with a text from the housekeeper, Jessica. She wanted to know if she could go into my room to clean and it irritated the hell out of me that she was disturbing me for something so flimsy while I was in a huge pickle with my father.I shot her a reply that said, "do not text me over things like this whenever I'm at work ever again," and slammed my phone on my mahogany desk with anger. I really didn't like that Jessica and I'd just seen her a couple times precisely. She wasn't the type of woman I was used to.I liked easy women, and judging by the way she acted on our first meeting, she's feisty as hell. I didn't like feisty."Sir, you need to relax and think of a solution," Clara took a seat and set her both hands on the table. "You can start by thinking of all the things your dad complains about you and then trying to see how you can change them."My dad thought a lot of things about me, and changing them was going to be as hard as changing my womanising ways—wait, what this meant was that I couldn't get as much girls as I was getting in the past. No woman would want to sleep with a broke and useless asshole. Shit. It was kind of good, maybe I could finally stop it for good."Where do I start from?" I asked. "I think I'm fucking trying my best Clara. I don't know what to do, do I stop partying? Do I stop having sex? Do I change my friends? Do I change every single fucking thing about me that I like? It's driving me insane honestly. My dad hates everything about me."Clara reached out her hand and placed her palm on mine. I froze at the contact at first until I relaxed. We had never been touchy touchy so it was weird. "I know how it feels Sir, but you have to trust me on this. The best thing you can do right now is to try to find a woman who would be willing to pose as your partner.""And my dad? I just told him I wasn't going to get married, how would he believe it if I tell him that I have someone who wants to marry me?""That is what I wanted to explain," Clara said. "You could always tell him that you were scared. You had a girlfriend who you were very serious with, but you were scared of commitment and that was why you were so against marriage.""And if he asks why I suddenly want to marry her?""Simple," Clara laughed like an evil mastermind. "You act all emotional and tell him that his words pierced through your words and you decided to think of things in a different light. You could always say that you changed your mind after you started to think about all he said. That way you make him feel like you respect him enough to change your beliefs."This could work, but they were a lot of things that could go wrong."And when he asks why I haven't talked about the girl before? What if I can't act? What if he finds out it's all fake? I know my dad and I know his first instinct would be that I am doing it for him to change his mind.""Firstly," Clara said, "You would say that the girl had always been on your mind, but because you didn't believe in marriage, you shoved her aside. Secondly, he would never find out if you act it out perfectly and lastly, you would have to take time before you finally tell him you want to marry her."This was getting crazy and crazier, the more she went on. Could I actually fool my father so greatly?"How long do I take before I tell him?""Maybe two or three months, you'll introduce her as your girlfriend, " Clara got up and started pacing around the room, rubbing her palms together like she was getting more crazy ideas. "Then when he is already used to her, you would announce your marriage, and that is when you will tell him of how he changed you with his words and how you are a changed man who can't wait to start a family."Okay, smart. This could really, really work.One last question."What do I do now that he is this mad? I don't know if he'll take my CEO position and I don't even know how I'll cope without his money.""Easy," Clara smirks. "You just need to play by his rules and obey everything he says, then you need to start looking for your potential wife as soon as possible."This was it. The time for me to finally get married—even though it's not real. It's either that or I keep getting turned down by every potential business client and keep being underestimated by my father.My neck was stiff and my heart leaped out of my chest anytime I heard the word, "wife". Fear gripped my chest in a tight hold and I can't lie, my hands were shaking. The room felt stuffy so I undid the buttons on my shirt and took off my tie. When I couldn't take it anymore I got up from my seat and took my belongings."Clara, you can leave early today," I managed to choke out. My palms were so sweaty, I'm sure she noticed. "I'm leaving right now, so you can too if you want to."She looked up at me with concern in her eyes and I darted my eyes away from hers. "Are you okay? You don't look too good.""I'm fine," I lied, already walking away from her when she held me by my wrist. "What is it?""Please don't turn to alcohol," she pleaded with her eyes. "I promise to think of a way to get you out of this."I almost chuckled darkly at the look on her face. I didn't deserve her pity or concern and I'd rather believe the concern in her eyes is because she fears she'll lose her own job if I don't succeed.Nobody gave a fuck about stupid Daniel Snider. Everyone thought he was a screw up, including his own father."Good night Clara," I yanked my wrist away and stormed out of the company, ignoring the confused faces of all the employees as I passed them.I ignored all the calls from Schumann and my mother as I drove to my house. The only thing I could think about was my father and how disappointed he was in me. I also kept thinking of the kind of woman I could possibly use for this charade. None of my hookup chicks were good enough for my father—he had always liked humble and respectful girls and had always tried to hook me up with several of them in the past—so I had to think of the perfect girl from a simple background for my father. I was pretty sure if I had brought home any of my fuck buddies, he would have chased them away with a baseball bat.My thoughts were still swirling when I got out of the car and dragged myself into the house. The lights were on and it was early so it meant Jessica was fully awake and maybe somewhere in her room doing something.The thought irritated me so I flung my blazer to the couch and sluggishly went to the kitchen. What I saw next made my jaw drop to the floor.JESSICA'S POV.I was in my room arranging my things into my assigned room when I heard the sound of someone coming in through the front door. Must've been Mr Snider, I thought. I abandoned the few clothes I was stuffing into the cupboard and went out to greet him, like the perfect housemaid would do.However, my eyes turned as wide as ostrich eggs when I saw a gorgeous lady instead, dressed in a large coat, which was unbuttoned, revealing a very gloriously naked body. What sort of thing was that? I never expected to witness something like this ever. Should I've been worried? The lady scowled when she saw me and plopped down on the couch in a cat-like position. "Who the fuck are you?"I averted my gaze from her pointy pink nipples and cleared my throat. "Excuse me, could you cover up?"She stared at me, with challenge in her eyes. "No can do. Answer my question, who are you?""I'm the maid, who are you?"She chuckled darkly and ruffles her hair like she was trying to be seductive. "I
DANIEL'S POV.I woke up with a feeling of spite. My neck hurt and my eyes were probably swollen because of the drinks I'd taken last night and how long I'd slept in. I felt like shit and hated the fact that I still had to show up for work. If I didn't then it would confirm everything my father said about me.My phone started ringing so I snatched it from the bedside table and scrunched my face when I saw the words, MUM. Oh, now she remembered her son?"Good morning mum," I said in a gruff voice, staring at my cupboard which looked like it was attacked by an animal. I should really be more organised."Morning son, how was your night?" Worst night ever. I haven't hated my self as much as I did yesterday and that Bianca chick just had to be the icing on the cake."It was stressful," I went with the safest word, I didn't want her to know how much Dad's words hurt me. There's no way she wasn't aware of what happened yesterday."Oh my poor boy," she said in a babyish way and I cringed. She
JESSICA'S POV.I've really had enough of Daniel Snider. He has been nothing but rude to me since I got employed and honestly if I wasn't desperate for the cash, I'd have quit this job just like the last one. I needed the money and most of the accommodation, so I sucked up my pride and took his rude behaviour.After my hurried departure from the kitchen, I went back to work which wasn't that much, because I'd been cleaning the place like my life depended on it since I started. I did a few touch up here and there and called it a day. I went to my room and switched on the lights. A part of me still always expected to magically disappear back to my former apartment(if it could be called that even) and my old job, but no matter how much I punched myself, it was real. I'd finally abandoned my old meaningless life and made it into the house, I'd wanted to work in since I saw the housekeeper advert on the internet.My phone started blasting out my ringtone and I smiled when I saw the contact
DANIEL'S POV.My dad was still very much mad at me. He wasn't taking my calls and he hadn't said a word about our argument, according to what Mum said. It was like he had completely shut me out of his life, and was waiting for me to do something to impress him.I really couldn't think of anything to impress him with. According to Clara I was supposed to give it sometime before I introduced my potential wife to him, and that was going to take me about a month. She was right by the way, I couldn't just suddenly bring a girl to him, after telling him times without number that I didn't want a relationship. My dad was smart and he'd have caught the joke immediately if I tried.So, the relationship stunt was out of the picture. I needed something that would make him see how ready I was, but he was being too stubborn.I was swirling around on my chair when Clara stepped in with a blonde chick behind her. Clara was dressed in a hot pink professional dress while the Blondie was in a black not
DANIEL'S POV.I was in my office, arranging some files when a surprise text message made my phone buzz. It was from Bianca. I made a mental note to block her after that.Bianca: Hello handsome. I sneered. What had suddenly come over her? I wished our last conversation would've been able to spell it out that I didn't give a damn about her or what she did. It was fun while it lasted.Me: what is it Bianca?I'd started sorting out some important files I needed when another message came. I was so pissed, I dumped the files and they got mixed up again. Shit.Bianca: I'm sorry for my behaviour.What the fuck was wrong with her? She couldn't possibly have been apologising just so we could get back together, could she?Bianca: I hope we can meet soon and straighten things out.Me: There's nothing to straighten out. We're over and I'm sorry for how I treated you.I wasn't actually sorry, but I needed her to leave me the hell alone. Her name popped on the screen again and I groaned so loudly,
JESSICA'S POV.I'd been feeling stuffed and sick of Mr Snider's big ass house, so after I was done with my cleaning in the house, I made up my mind to take a trip. Check out the environment and maybe try to make some new friends. You never know where you could find someone that might be willing to help you out.I chose a black t-shirt and some form fitting jeans that were kind of faded, having Mr Snider's comment about my choice of dressing in mind. When I was sure I looked decent and approachable, I took my bag and ventured out.I walked around the busy streets, staring at job adverts and interesting places until my eyes landed on a park. My feet moved me towards it before I could even second guess going over there. I took a seat on a bench and was about to start munching on a sandwich I packed on my way when my eyes locked on a hungry looking cat at the corner of a tree in front of me.I always had a soft spot for animals and cats especially. Back in the orphanage I'd volunteered to
DANIEL'S POV.I finally got a call from home to come for dinner and although it was what I'd been wishing for, I felt uneasy as I drove to my parent's house. It was like I couldn't think of anything, but the possibility of me ruining things completely with my dad and ending up a useless broke puppet.As I parked into the garage, I tried to steady my heart by placing my hand over it and saying a prayer for everything to work out, like Mum used to do in the past. She used to tell me to do that whenever I felt scared or couldn't take my mind of something upsetting, and I used to laugh at her, saying it was nonsense. It actually helped me a bit as I did it now. I felt kind of relieved of the tension in my body.I rang the bell and Rita the maid opened it with a large smile on her face. She studied my appearance for a while before pulling me in for a bear hug and I hugged her back. Rita was like my second Mum back when I was younger, she'd been working with my family ever since I was a lit
DANIEL'S POV.The deal was officially sealed. I had to find a girl to pose as Melissa as soon as possible, the bad thing was whoever it was would've also had to be my wife. I still had no idea who it would be even two days later.After debating over it in my mind for several hours, I finally got the leading to approach Jessica. I took a quick shower, put on comfortable clothes and even used my favourite cologne. I wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible.It was when I got downstairs that I realised Jessica was still in her room despite it being nine in the morning. That was so unlike her, she usually got up by seven am prompt. She wasn't in the kitchen or any other room, but her bedroom lights were on when I got there.I took a deep breath before knocking. It took a second knock for her to open up the door and the look on her face had me worried. Her eyes were puffy and she had dark circles, like someone who was dealing with a whole lot of shit or maybe even doing drugs. I hoped