A Wife for the Billionaire

My grin vanished and the thoughts that geared on how to make Sofia suffer, braked as my steps echoed in the hallway.

Michael Patel, the Marketing Director rushed towards me.

"Sir! Sir! Could you halt for a moment, I need to run something by you. Please Sir, I have been waiting all morning."

"Just keep everything for the board meeting, I don't have time for any of it now" I called back, halting him from coming any further.

Apparently, Vera wasn't joking. Men and women formerly seated in the conference hall rose as they saw me pass.

"Had I really accepted that number of applications?" I found myself asking as I waved and smiled at them even when all I wanted was to banish them all from my sight.

"Well, I'll have to make this brief. I barely have two hours before the board meeting. God, I might just die before the estimated time" I hissed, regretting why I didn't appoint anyone to handle the interviews.

"Welcome Sir, can I take your coat?" Vera asked, trying to match my stride.

Not even caring to spare her a glance, I snapped, "No!, and please tell me you finally did something for that crowd, I just saw in the conference hall."

Still trying desperately to match my stride and talk to me as I hurried along, she panted,

"Your suggestion worked excellently, Sir. Harry was able to take them on a brief tour, before entertaining them with some facts about our esteemed establishment. That's what they're still doing in fact."

I smiled in spite of myself as an idea took form in my mind, for Claire's sake I decided to spare my incompetent secretary.

"Go back to the conference hall and tell Harry that he has 30 minutes to round up everything." She was glad of the errand, as she straightened, standing akimbo and panting like a bull who just ran through a stampede.

"Wait" I called as she made to leave, the eagerness plain in her hurried strides. I'm sure her face squeezed with frustration before she turned, masking her best smile as she asked, "Sir?"

"Yes, one more thing, make sure to tell him that I request that he rewind the questions for the sake of… someone in particular" I said smiling as I saw a bewildered Sofia get led into the conference hall.

"Yes Sir, and please before I forget, there's something I think you should know_"

"If it has nothing to do with that crowd loitering my conference hall with their presence, then I suggest you hold it in for a moment longer. By the way, who came with that idea? Couldn't they be taken to the other conference hall? Just hurry, so they can leave, remember exactly thirty minutes" I said, walking off already.

I barely acknowledged her rejoin as I threw my tinted glass doors open, not even bothering to admire the tag,

"Richard Wellington"

CEO

I didn't even have time to admire my decor. Or be entranced by the view offering the city's skyline. Skyscrapers shimmering like a thousand mirrors bathed in the morning sun.

I removed my suit and hung it behind my Herman Miller embody chair. Resting a few inches away from the chair was a small cooler, no doubt Claire's salad was inside.

I was about to go through some files before the phone rang. Vera rushed in and mouthed, "it's Madame Dame" still gripping the office telephone.

"Yes Ma, he is finally free and I'm sure he'll speak with you now" she kept saying as she walked back to her desk, throwing me a pleading look.

Grumbly, I picked up my own telephone connecting the line and cutting Vera's off.

"Good morning, Madame Dame, how is her fashion majesty doing this morning?"

The Dame Dynasty was the only fashion brand that could hold a candle to our achievements. And that is mostly because they have been in the business at least a decade before the Wellington Empire was founded.

They have also been our rivals for more than a century, until I took over the affairs of the Empire and found a way to turn the rivalry into partnership. A feat that shocked the whole world. And they haven't even seen anything, featuring some of Dame iconic fashion trends during our collection launch will be the real shocker. Even to everyone in the Wellington Empire, as I'm yet to tell them of that development.

With their headquarters in London, they used the same naming convention as the British. Where each successor must go by the name 'Dame' in accordance with the decree issued by the founder and very first Dame — Madame Dame Victoria.

"Oh boy you can keep your compliments to yourself, I expect an answer when I call not to be put off like a third class citizen!" Madame Dame Elena, the current CEO yelled.

We may be partners, but she never lets me forget who is the boss. Most people in her company, especially her council already think that partnering with a rival is the greatest mistake the aged Dame has made during her administration and they're already conniving for another succession.

That is where we come in, every Dame before passing the mantle must leave a legacy project, be it the launch of a new brand, market expansion, or in Madame Dame Elena's case, a partnership that will help the brand grow. But first, she has to prove to her council that it's not a mistake and we, the Wellingtons, are going to help her convince them.

"You see Madame Dame, I doubt you'll still think that when you receive the package I'm sending your way" I said, already racking my brain on a gift worthy of the 5th Dame of the Dame Dynasty.

"A package?"

Motivated by the intrigue in her voice, I continued glad that I had her exactly where I wanted.

It's no secret how women loved gifts and flattery. It just works every damn time.

"Surely her Ladyship knows that I, Richard Wellington, don't take it lightly with my business partners. Consider the package a token of my appreciation and my sincere apologies." I continued.

"For your sake, I really hope that whatever is contained in this package of yours would be worth my taste."

"And her Esteemed hurts me by her words, making me wonder if I have ever disappointed her or failed in meeting her standards?" I queried, genuinely hurt that she could question my taste. But then again, I'm sure she's just flaunting her superiority… once again.

"It's true you are yet to disappoint me, but as you know there's always a first and like I said, I hope this won't be it" she mused, clearly enjoying this.

I, on the other hand, not so much. I hate being downplayed like that. The way she phrased her first statement with "yet" as if it was only a matter of time before I disappoint her. I honestly don't blame her, we haven't known each other for long and I'm yet to let her know that Richard Wellington hardly disappoints.

"I suppose I will let you be the judge of that after receiving the package. And if you don't mind me asking, why exactly did her Ladyship call, am I wrong to presume that she just wants to hear my voice?"

"Oh ever the proud boy, you must think you are irresistible and I know why"

Sensing that she needs me to ask why, I obliged.

"Why?" I asked.

"It's simple, you are yet to meet a girl who doesn't worship you. And I know for certain, that one day when you meet that girl and fall in love with her and she doesn't reciprocate your love, then you will realize that not everyone falls for your charm." she said like a mother talking to her child.

"I doubt that" was all I could bring myself to say.

"Oh don't you worry, I'm sure that one day you will remember my words. Then about why I called, I will get my secretary to email you an address and time. I expect you to be there tomorrow, so we can talk about some things. Have a nice day."

And she ended the call, not even giving me a chance to argue about the meeting I'm certain she had already arranged even before she dialed my office. Or the fact that I will never have any cause to remember her words.

One, I doubt I would live long enough to do so and two, there's no girl in this whole wide world who's immune to Richard Wellington's charm.

"Me, Richard Wellington in love, impossible" I scoffed at the thought.

Soon, I will have to set her right about our agreement and the way she talks to me like I'm just another employee in her company. But first things first, I have to arrange her package.