A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 108: RICHARD

Chapter 108: RICHARD

"The main reason?" I repeated, feigning indifference.

The truth was that I didn’t like how quickly she had brushed off what she had been going to say on account of my slight interruption.

I had really wanted to know what she was going to say. In this meeting, I feel like I’m getting to know who she really was, without those layers she usually hid behind, until now that she has retreated back to them.

She was all serious now. All business. The moment was lost, there was no need trying to recover, there’s only forging ahead, hopefully she will drop the serious act as we forge ahead.

Reclining on my chair, I said,

"On my word, I promise I will tell you about the main reason, but before that I need you to tell me why this situation of yours appears choiceless when it’s clear you can say no to her. I mean she’s your stepmom not your goddamn creator"

It was true. Her situation wasn’t as choiceless as she had it cooked up. Stepmoms can be cruel, but doesn’t the girl always find a way to get happiness in the end. I mean, isn’t that what happens in all the movies about them?

"I ask the same of you," Sofia said, countering, "why does your situation seem choiceless when you can clearly say no as well, I mean you must want to with the kind of life you live, right?"

I smiled, leaning forward, glad there was now a crack in her wall of seriousness, and asked,

"The kind of life I live, what does that entail?"

With the same air of indifference I had exhibited, she answered,

"Well, if you must know, I have heard things, but that doesn’t matter. It’s not like you need a rundown of your scandalous lifestyle..." she allowed her statement trail unfinished, hoping that I take up from there.

I shouldn’t indulge her, especially as it concerns her judgmental view of my lifestyle. But keeping silent or waving it off, will just feel like an acceptance, so I said in my defense,

"My scandalous lifestyle," I repeated, "what I do or how I live my life should never be anyone’s business, especially the press. But those nosy asses literally endorse gossip for a living, so touche. Anyway, you probably shouldn’t believe everything you read online"

Her cheeks quirked, leaving small almost invisible dimples. She was enjoying this immensely and I really wasn’t sure how I felt about it, until she said,

"Like I said, it doesn’t matter, just tell me what I want to know and if you must know, I don’t believe everything I read on the Internet, except those that I know are true"

Most of the stories about me on the internet were true, extremely exaggerated, but nonetheless true. I am a rake, a rake who didn’t give a damn about what others said or thought of him... until now, apparently.

Never have I considered the words of another like it mattered, especially in regards to my sexual affairs.

It shouldn’t, but Sofia’s words and her perception of me, felt like a stab. An unforseen stab from behind. Sagging back in my chair, I tried to pretend like I didn’t care, as I said,

"I don’t even care about any of that stuff.

Back to what we were discussing, I will tell you ’my why’ if you will agree to tell me yours afterwards, no games"

Except that my voice had betrayed my attempt at nonchalantness. The notes of anger in my tone spoke volumes about the truth of the matter. And I knew she was going to use it against me,

"Lots of terms and conditions today, aren’t we a bit docile today?" she said, surprising me.

I quirked a brow, silently questioning why she didn’t capitalize on that moment of truth. Except she didn’t answer, she placatingly dismissed, when she said, after I offered no return at her attempt at wit,

"Fine, I promise to tell you"

Now, I knew it was my turn to speak, but I still couldn’t shake off her pliantness, so with another flash of a questioning glare, directed at her I began,

"My reason is very simple, as the only heir, and with my family’s position as the head family, it’s kinda sacrosanct that I sire an heir as soon as possible"

It was true, but not entirely. I couldn’t tell her about my HCM, I still can’t really tell if she will take the job when I’ll offer it.

"Yeah," she said, "but aren’t you what, 24, right? So what’s with the rush into something that from your words is mainly for procreation?"

She may have said that last part like it she was disgusted by the concept, but I could tell, she kinda related. And that prompted me to share more, tilting my chair to the side, I answered,

"I shouldn’t be telling you this, but the Lords of the Wellington Empire, which I’m sure you know their names being the encyclopedia of Wellington Fashion Empire and all. They are not exactly in the friendship zone with us, they have been plotting to remove my family from the position of head family and recurring CEOs. And the only way to do that is if the current CEO and heir, who happens to be me, dies without an heir to continue from whence I stopped and inherit the mantle thereby maintaining the family’s position"

"Poor you" she mocked.

Now I could tell she meant that exactly as it had sounded, a jeer. As if she believed her situation was more perilous than mine.

"Don’t frump me, just tell me yours and remember no games this time"

For a moment, she accessed my words, then she spoke,

"Mine is rather complicated. My stepmom hates me and her daughters as well, and so they will sooner see me out of their lives than be a reminder of what they don’t want to remember"

I almost scoffed at her reason. It wasn’t as dire as she made it to seem. If anything, it was kinda basic. In an attempt not to let her see my disbelief, I stole a look at the skyline, stilling my face to neutrality before turning back to her and asking,

"Complicated how? They hate you, they

can’t stand you, so pack the hell outta that place"

It was really that simple. Or was she not financially capable of renting a flat or a room somewhere else? Even if that was the case, she must have a friend willing to let her bunk with her, don’t girls like living together, sharing gossip and shit?

"Were that a possibility, believe me I would have done it, but like I said, it’s complicated. I can’t just leave. I simply

can’t" she said.

"Don’t be ridiculous, of course you can leave. You are not confined, and that house isn’t a prison, so why don’t you leave?" I queried, unable to let this go. It felt like she was either hiding something or just spewing bullshit. And of the two, I was more inclined towards the latter.

She was angry. It was abundantly clear from the firm square of her shoulders and the murderous gleam in her eyes. And yet I didn’t want to drop it, if anything I wanted to press further. To see her snap.

"And you think I haven’t tried," she exploded, "that staying there against my will, I haven’t tried to leave? What is it about the word ’complicated’ that you don’t understand? You think I haven’t exhausted all my options and yet, I’m still trapped? You really have no idea"

"Then make me understand!" I barked in return, irritated that she was being close lipped about something, or sticking to her bullshit.

"No offense, but are you dumb or what?

I told you it’s complicated and that means I can’t tell you about it, doesn’t it? Just drop it, I have told you about my own ’why’ so stop stalling and tell me about this main reason of yours"

That’s it. She had done it. She had spooked the bear and how dearly she was going to pay. How dare she call me dumb? No one has ever called me dumb, this was most certainly a first and I was resolved to make certain that it was the last.

She should apologize. She should fall face flat on the floor in obeisance and tender the most sincerest of apologies. Even grovel the goddamn thing. And I gave her the time to do that, as I allowed seconds to stretch into minutes.

Unable to stand her impudent look or the glint of fierce defiance in honey eyes, I kept my gaze on the tiles of the floor. I was really trying not to lose it. Not to allow my rage consume me to blindness against reason. And I fear if I gazed at her, I might be forced to do something that I will definitely regret later.

It was simple. Scarcely less than three words, but she was too proud. Too hot headed to ever allow her mouth to say those words. She was mouthy enough to call me, the CEO of one of the most famous brands of this century, dumb, but can’t apologize for her mistake.

I suspect the bitch was waiting for me to apologize to her. Dumb bitches like her often find themselves in exactly this situation she has landed herself in, and they are even dumber because they don’t seem to see that they are in the wrong.

There was no way in hell, I was going to apologize to her. And if she wasn’t going to apologize to me, then clearly, we were done. Two captains can’t man a ship and even if it were so, she has to be the one to relegate her position for me.

From the corner of my eye, I watched her prideful ass lift her raggedy purse from the other seat beside her before

standing.

As pursued by demons, she made her way to the door. I hadn’t expected that. I needed this bitch, I needed that ability of hers and again she was slipping past me. Perhaps she knows that underneath my clouds of indifference, I needed her.

Her palm closed on the metal handle, she was going to do it. She was going to leave, and I knew that if she crossed that door, it’s over. She won’t look back this time. She won’t even hesitate. The girl was too prideful to do so again.

Just as she pulled the door open, I found myself call in haste,

"Wait"

With that one word, I had let down all my defenses. A lot was at stake now, and I was going to make sure she takes this job and after getting her to sign the NDA, I will make sure she pays. For a whole motherfucking year.