A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 122: RICHARD

Chapter 122: RICHARD

"What the fuck just happened?" I asked myself yet again, my eyes still glued to the door from which Sofia had disappeared.

It all felt surreal. One minute she was this close to signing the document and the next she was dashing out of here like the last forty minutes didn’t happen.

I didn’t know what to make of the whole thing. As rare as diamonds, was this moment that I didn’t know what to do?

That seldom happens, being clueless as to what to do, I mean. None of it made sense, I knew she wanted this. She was kinda desperate for it in fact, so why the sudden change?

What could have prompted her to desert her dream, her very purpose in life as if none of it ever mattered?

"Could it be the marriage?" I wondered out loud. It could have been it. It sure sounded like it. But why throw away my gift of choice for the curse of being roped together with someone she probably hated?

Sofia didn’t strike me as the ’love’ kind and even if she was since it was as impossible as finding a needle in a haystack to find a woman who didn’t believe in love. She didn’t sound like she liked this Charlie guy.

I just didn’t see the need or the reason behind her leaving. There had to be something I was missing. A piece that was alien to me. And I hated not knowing things. I just couldn’t stand being in the dark about anything.

My perfect revenge just went up in flames and I didn’t even know what started the fire. I was this close to ruining her life, to making her pay and now, I doubt I would ever see her pissy face ever again.

If only she had signed the contract, then I would at least have hope of tying her down with it. Her signature would have made her mine to command as pleased for at least 6 months. That was more than enough time to break her. More than enough time to pay her back for all the insults and disrespect I’ve had to endure from her.

She would have paid dearly, that by the end of our time together, she would have learned humility and her place. Discovering that I never intended to grant her, her brand would have most definitely perfected her humility.

The bitch would hate me more, but at least she would be bested. Bested with the never-forgetting memory that there were people not to be messed with. People that are above and always be above her. People like me.

But all that left with her. The soft latch of that glass door shut away my hopes for revenge, my aspirations for the selection process to take less than six months and not a day more. The extra 6 months was just a contingency. A foolproof so as not to give people the wrong idea.

It would be hella suspicious if I sack my personal assistant a month or less after I found a wife. Not that I cared what they would think, but it won’t be just about me, it will affect everything else. The Empire, the new collection even if it has been launched by then, the lady I chose and the least, Sofia Blake.

I may claim that I could hire top judges and relent the entire process to them, not that I couldn’t do it, but hiring Sofia would have been an easier process. It will save time, less expensive, better and easier to manage and supervise, and a greater chance at discretion.

Except that I might start considering the alternative. Because it was simply all I had left. I couldn’t possibly think of taking Claire’s help, not after I rejected it for good and justifiable reasons in fact.

She and Edward don’t get to spring this selection on me and expect me to seek their help. They’ve done more than enough already, besides what use will it be when their minds were already set on a particular candidate, Olivia Fisher.

I sighed leaning back in my seat. The alternative was going to be tedious. Just finding the right judges, those who can keep their lips sealed, would be hard and to mention, very costly. Even if it’s just two judges, male and a female. It would still cost about a quad more than what I would pay Sofia.

Perhaps I should have agreed to her demand of letting her off with her own brand, at least from the first time she mentioned it. Maybe if I had done so, she would have signed the contract before that call that had her dashing out of here like a dog playing fetch.

I wasted time arguing with her. Yes, the processes involved in starting a brand were too cumbersome, but it was possible. It could be done. In fact it was less cumbersome than this alternative I’m left with.

I was about to make inquiries concerning The Couple. The two judges who usually sat for the New City Talent Show. Not just that, they’ve been known to be exceptional in the dispensation of their duties.

They weren’t partial nor were they known to ever collect bribes. They’ve sat in many tv shows including the ’The Couple Games’ where they got their name, ’The Couple’.

They’ve sat and judged the ’The Couple Games’ for years now, in fact I know they’ll sit for it this year as well. The show was usually around November.

Their experiences from the ’The Couple Games’ would make them perfect for the selection process. The Couple, Sam Paige and Whitney Trent were not a couple as their stage name depicts, they were just good at playing ’Couple’.

I hear they were once contestants in the same ’The Couple Games’ in different teams actually years back before they were selected as the judges. They were part of the two winning teams, Team Paige and Team Trent. The two teams that always made it to the finals. Their rivalry was part of what prompted the show organizers to pick Sam and Whitney for the position of judges. And they still bring that bickerings and rivalry to the show while judging which makes the show very funny to watch.

For this situation of mine, they will have to do. I was about to contact their manager via email when Vera knocked twice before letting herself in.

"Sorry to bother you, Sir, but Michael and Dan are requesting for an audience with you"

"Did they say why?"

"No Sir, just that they would like to speak with you"

Michael Patel and Dan Stan were the Marketing Director and Press and Media Director, respectively. If they were here requesting an audience that means it must’ve something to do with the soon-to-be launched collection and I hope it won’t be bad news because I don’t know how much I could take.

But I’m welcome to the distraction, anything to take my mind off the last forty minutes with you know who.

"Let them in," I dismissed.

The two men in question swept in five seconds after Vera bobbed a " Yes Sir" and left.

Michael had on a navy blue Wellington vest, with our crest embroidered at the right corner. He complimented it with a cream colored shirt and pale grey pants.

Dan Stan, on the other hand wore a tee from the last Wellington Edition with dark blue jeans. For them to dress in Wellington outfits, outfits designed by myself. It meant that they were trying to not only impress me, but hoped to remain in my good graces.

It could only mean that whatever they were going to tell me held the tendency of making me angry or triggering a foul reaction.

"Well?" I said, when they made no effort of sitting down or coming any further. These men feared me and they had every right to, I knew of my excesses and I’m not sorry about them, because they are part of me, the ugly part I had to grow when life decided to be cruel to me.

"Um, Sir" Michael swallowed before continuing, "We wanted to run something by you real quick."

He paused to see if I would tell him to continue or hint at it, but I remained silent, my expression - neutral.

At his signal, Dan took up from where Michael stopped,

"Sir, I’m sure you are aware that Halloween is just a week away. We were wondering if we, sorry, the company might host a party to create more awareness about the upcoming collection and most importantly our soon-to-be released perfume and body spray, Aura. Reeling towards its theme, ’For gods and goddesses’. That’s it, so what do you think?"

I allowed the silence to weigh, causing the men to fidget and drop their heads from my gaze, before asking,

"Why wasn’t this raised in the board meeting?"

It was Michael who answered,

"We weren’t sure how the Lords would take it, the short time frame and all. But I assure you we have everything under control..."

Dan continued cutting his partner off, apparently he didn’t want it to sound like it was only Michael who would take all the credit.

"Yes, we’ve planned everything. We are just waiting for your go ahead order, we have mails of invitations, waiting to be mailed to our partners and VIP customers."

From their faces, it really appeared that they had everything under control, but I couldn’t be sure.

"Come and sit down and tell me how much control you have on hosting a Wellington Halloween party in 7 days."

This time, they didn’t hesitate. And I listened while they talked about turning the lobby into a ballroom worthy of Olympus. And with the first batch of Aura to be sampled which will garner reviews, pre-orders and promotion. The same for Wellington Edition II. They even mentioned running the idea by my father, who suggested that it should be a party and a fundraiser for those with heart diseases.

I hated it when he did that. When he thinks that by doing these charity deeds, it could change my condition. And I hated it more that they had run this idea by him before me, it wasn’t entirely their fault. I was not the most approachable person and they’ve worked under Edward for years before I took up the mantle.

I finally gave them the go ahead order with the guarantee that it will be their jobs on the line if they fail in any way.

"Oh yes, Sir," Dan said, halting at the door, "one more thing, could you help us reach Anna from Bogue, it’s no secret she seems to have cut ties with us"

"Never worry about that. ’Wellington gods and goddesses’ (which was the theme they were going with) would be on the front page of Bogue tomorrow" I finished smiling as the plan took hold in my mind.

I was going to pay the Blakes a visit and Sofia was going to sign the damn contract.

Pulling up the address from Sofia’s application file, I called Lanke and had him pull up by the entrance. In less than twenty minutes, we stood by the door of the Blake Mansion.

I had a smile on my face as Lanke knocked.