by Mary Smith
“I believe the pleasure is mine, Mr. Butler. Thank you for your condolences.” I extend my hand for him to shake.
“Please call me Gable,” he says shaking my hand. “I believe, since we’re going to be discussing a lot today, we should be on a first name basis.”
“Agreed.” I put on a smile. “Please, have a seat.” I point my arm to the square table on the far side of the office. Mr. Nickerson is already seated, as is Mrs. Stones. Gable pulls my chair for me and I give him another polite, fake smile. I’m not sure what his deal is. Maybe he’s just a chivalrous gentleman.
“Gable, you will have to forgive me for a moment; there are no notes on why you were meeting my father today.” I start.
“The only person who has any knowledge about this meeting, other than myself and your father, is Mr. Nickerson. The only reason he knows is because he wrote up the contract.”
Contract?
He’s planning on doing business with JE? This could be good. This could be really good. Having Gable Butler’s name associated with ours might pull in others and buy us some time to make the revenue to pay off the debt.
“What does this contract entail?”
“You.” Gable smirks.
“Wait…what?” I’m momentarily thrown off my game.
“Gable, let me explain this to her.” Mr. Nickerson jumps in. “Dream, your father had a tentative contract set out between Gable and himself. Now, I need to warn you as your attorney that this contract really does not have any true legal bearing.”
I look between him and Gable—the smirk still painted on his face.
“I think once she hears the terms and conditions, she’ll be willing.” Gable says confidently.
“Don’t hold your breath. You don’t know her,” Mr. Nickerson replied.
“Hey.” I’m beginning to lose my cool. I don’t know what Dad and Gable have in the works, but I don’t like being talked about as if I’m not in the room.
“Dream, let me explain everything and then you can make your decision, okay?”
I cross my arms and narrow my eyes at Mr. Nickerson and then at Gable.
“All right.” I agree because I’m nosey, I want to know what Dad had planned, and why does this contract have no legal bearing.
“Your father had been desperate to save the company.” My blood is beginning to boil as Mr. Nickerson speaks frankly about JE’s money trouble in front of Gable, but I let him continue. “The last bargaining chip that your father had was you.”
I tilt my head in confusion. Me? I’m a bargaining chip.
“Mr. Butler is willing to bail out Jackson Enterprise, take the company back into the black, in exchange for your hand in marriage.”
“What?” I squeak along with Mrs. Stones, whom I forgot was still been in the room. “You can’t be serious.” I add. “There’s no way my father-”
“Dream, he did.” Mr. Nickerson hands me a stack of papers.
I snatch them up and being reading the contract.
Shit.
It’s true.
The contract states I would marry Gable within twenty-four hours of the contract execution. In return, Gable would give thirty million dollars to me to ensure JE would remain in business. I couldn’t bear to look at the sections marked ‘children’.
“This is the most absurd contract I’ve ever read. There’s no way in hell I’m going to marry you.” I shove the contracts back at Mr. Nickerson and Gable.
“You’ll lose JE in a few short weeks. Then what are you going to do?” Gable crosses his arms.
“I have a plan,” I lie. I have no plan. I have nothing, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to marry him to bail out JE. I’m smart enough to do this on my own.
“No, you don’t.” Gable calls me out. “There’s nothing you can do to save this company. I’m your one and only resource. Your father burned every bridge he had. Unless you plan on winning the lottery, there is no one else.” His blue eyes pierce me and I know he’s right, but I’m not going to tell him that.
“Get out.” I jump to my feet. “Get out this instant.”
Gable slowly rises to his feet, adjusting his blood red tie.
“You will either marry me, or I’ll buy this company when it goes on the auction block. Trust me when I say I’ll only have to spend five dollars for it.” He turns on the heels of his shiny, black shoes and stalks out of the office.
I turn to Mr. Nickerson and Mrs. Stones. “What the fuck was all of that?”
“Dream, I had no clue. I’m still in shock.” Mrs. Stones rushes out.
I narrow my gaze at Mr. Nickerson.
“Your father had no other options.” He shakes his head.
I begin to pace the room. This is too much for me to take in. My father dies, I find out that JE is broke, and now some billionaire wants to marry me. This is the beginning of a bad romance novel.
“I need to be alone.” I turn to Mr. Nickerson, who gets up and leaves without saying a word.
I slump into the desk chair and swivel to face the window. The view is amazing. The autumn sky is clear and the sun is bright. People are moving about their lives, and I’m sinking in quicksand.
What am I going to do?
Gable is right. I don’t have anyone, but I’m not going through with this preposterous plan. I can’t imagine what Dad was thinking.
Family and Jackson Enterprise are all that you need in your life.
Shit.
He was thinking about the company and me. But, there had to be a better way. There has to be something I’m missing.
I need fresh air because I can’t think with the walls closing in on me. I grab my purse and blow past Mrs. Stones and out of the building. I race down the street, passing people but not looking at anyone, as I make my way to the nearest coffee house.
I order a caramel latte and take a seat in the corner. I’m the verge of tears at the pain of my father using me as a pawn and the rage that he thought I would have gone through with it. Let’s not forget to add Gable’s arrogance as fuel to the fire.
I try to think of every possible scenario that could help me dig my way out of this mess. I can’t sell the house because I would have to pay off the mortgages first. He’s already borrowed against my trust fund, so that means it’s gone.
I run through the inventory of the house. I could sell the paintings, the cars, the light fixtures that are made of crystals, all the antiques, but in the end it wouldn’t be enough.
My phone is ringing and when I look at the display, I don’t recognize the number.
“Hello, Dream Jackson.” I answer.
“You know, I do believe you’re the first woman to ever throw me out.”
I roll my eyes. I know his voice instantly.
“How did you get my number, Gable?”
“Considering you’re about to be my wife, I had you on speed dial.”
“Trust me when I say, I don’t want to talk right now, especially to you.” I growl into the phone.
“I think you should. I’m sure you have a lot of questions and I can answer them all for you. How about a nice lunch together?”
I shake my head as if he can see me. “No, thank you.”
“Dream, don’t act like you don’t want answers. Your father and I had several conversations about you, our marriage, and the future of JE. I know you care about that company like your father did. I know you want to save it.”
This bastard thinks he knows me. Well, I hate to admit that I’m nosey and I do want to know what the full story is.
“Lunch and only lunch.” I cave in.
“I’ll see you in an hour. Is Yearwood’s okay?”
I sigh. The top restaurant in the country, sure, I can lower my standards and eat there, is what I want to say, but instead I say fine and disconnect the call.
I call Mrs. Stones and tell her what’s happening. Then I send a text to Leo to pick me up in a half hour and take me to Yearwood’s. This is going to be a long day.
~~~
I walk to the hostess and give her my name. She nods and tells me to follow her. We walk the length of the restaurant until we reach a private dining room in the back. My father would reserve one of these when he had business dinners.
Gable stands when I enter. “Right on time. I like that.” He pulls my chair out for me to take a seat.
“Let’s cut the shit and get down to the purpose of the meeting.” I take a large gulp of the water from the glass in front of me.
“Your father told me you like to get to the point. I like that, too, because I’m the same way. I think that’s another reason why you and I would be good together.”
Before I open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, the waiter comes in. I’ve been coming here since I was a teenager. I already know what I want and order it.
When the waiter leaves and we are alone again, I turn my attention back to Gable. “I don’t know what you and my father had planned, nor do I know what sort of sick daddy-daughter fetish you have, but I’m not going to marry you.”
Gable stares me down for a moment.
“First, there is no fetish of any kind. Second, the contract is simple and had you read it, you might not be as upset.” He reaches down then puts the contract in front of me. “Why don’t we read it together? This way you can sign it here and we can be married tomorrow.”
“You’re so sure of yourself, aren’t you?” I cross my arms, not touching the papers in front of me. “Whose idea was this originally? Did my father approach you first?”
Gable shakes his head. “Actually, our meeting was about me just buying the company outright. I knew JE was in trouble. I knew it was a good company and had a lot of decent contacts.”
“But, Dad refused?”
Gable nods and takes a sip of his wine. “He claimed JE was his, but you were going to be the one who was going to put it back at the top. When the conversation turned to you...well...one thing lead to another.”
“So, my father was bragging about me and you thought marriage was option to what…meet me?”
“No. I’ve seen you a lot around the University campus. You father enlightened me about you, your accomplishments, and I became more impressed. Then I was able to get a hold of your thesis and I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen something that specular since I wrote mine.”
“I’m glad to know your ego isn’t easily inflated.” I roll my eyes. “I’m guessing stalking is part of your résumé, too.”
Gable smirks. “Among other things.”
I look away from him, trying to figure out what the hell kind of tailspin I am in. My father had always been a determined, hard-working businessman. Among his other great qualities, he was a loving, caring father. He wouldn’t hand me off to some stranger.
“How did you meet my father?”
“I’ve known his reputation for years, and I had contacted him when I had heard of the demise of JE and offered some help.”
“I can guess his answer.” My father was a proud man. I know there was no way he was going to take a handout from anyone. He may have borrowed money, but he wasn’t a charity case.
Gable chuckles. “It was a few colorful words, but he turned me down. Soon, the conversation turned to you and now we’re here.” He taps on the contract.
My heart is racing. Gable makes it sound like they had been talking about the weather more than my life. “You can’t do this. I’m an adult and you can’t force me into marriage under duress.”
“I know, Dream.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I see a beautiful woman, a smart mind, and a company that needs help. Think of me as a fairy godfather.”
My mouth curls in confusion and I’m lost for words, which rarely happens. “A fairy godfather? You seriously let those words leave your mouth.”
“I’m sure you understand what I mean.” He shakes his head realizing that his words aren’t exactly what he meant to say.
“My answer is still no.”
Gable places his elbow on the table and his head rest on two fingers. He’s staring at me and I’m don’t understand what part of ‘no’ he isn’t getting.
“You’re father explained to me you’re a bit hard-headed, and I really don’t think you want to make the front pages of every newspaper, across the land with the words ‘broke’ below it. Your father’s friends have been nice enough to keep this quiet, but it’s not going to last for long.
“Soon, the doors of JE will close and then the lawsuits will begin to pour in. Will you be able to afford Mr. Nickerson? His fee is five hundred dollars an hour. Then there’s your home. Well, I mean, the bank’s home. I’m sure they will let you stay in there for a couple days, but then they’ll lock you out. Where will you go then? You don’t have any family and I’m sure you don’t have any close friends. So, what’s your plan?”
My mouth is dry. I can’t breathe, as each word out of Gable’s mouth speaks nothing but the truth. I don’t have any other plan. I don’t have anyone to help me. I don’t have family. I have nothing.
I’m alone.
“What’s your plan?” Gable repeats.
I stand, pick up the contract, and walk out of the restaurant.
Chapter 3
I had told Leo to wait for me because I knew I wasn’t going to be staying long. I had been right. He opens the door for me and I jump in.
“Take me to the park,” I order.
Leo rushed me to the city park. I don’t wait for Leo when he pulls up to the curb. I leap from the Lexus and jog, in my Prada heels, to the center of the park. Panting, I collapse onto the first unoccupied bench I find. I put my head in my hands and try to regulate my breathing. It seems to take longer than I thought it would, and the problem is I can’t stop crying. I’m lucky there are not many people on the trail today to watch me having a nervous breakdown.
“Dream.”
I look up and Leo is sitting next to me. I didn’t even hear him come up and sit down. “He left me with a shit pile to clean up and you know how much I like to clean.”
Leo chuckles. “I know he did.”
“Did you know about Gable and that stupid contract?”
“I did.”
“And?” I push him to tell me more.
“Your father believed it could save JE and that you could be happy with Mr. Butler.”
“Please.” I huff in frustration. “Dad really believed that nonsense?”
“He thought Mr. Butler and you have the same business sense and could carry JE and Butler Corp to a whole new level.” Leos speaks frankly with me, as he always has.
“When did all this start? Why the hell didn’t he tell me?” I raise my voice to hide the pain.
“Ulrich planned on telling you right after you came back from your last trip, but he…”
“Died.” I finish the sentence for him. “What do you know about Gable?”
“Smart. Rich. Not really a ladies’ man. Has one brother who works with him. He’s recently been buying up a lot of real estate in the city and the surrounding areas. Your dad did an extensive search on him.” Leo hand me the folder that I didn’t notice in his hands. “Everything you need to know is in there.”
I flip through the pages and do a quick scan. Leo had been correct; Dad did do thorough research on Gable.
“What am I going to do, Leo? People depend on JE to put food on their table, send their kids to school, and keep a roof over their heads. Jobs are hard to come by. On top of that, what am I going to do? I have no one and no where to go.”
“Dream, you’re a strong girl. You’ve been doing stuff on your own since you could walk. You’re a hard-worker and I know you’ll figure this out. Plus, I’m still here.” Leo gives me one of his rare sly smirks.
I harshly wipe the tears from my cheek.
Family and Jackson Enterprise are all that you need in your life.
“Dream, I know you have no real friends or any family to speak of, but you have me and Mrs. Stones. We will stan
d by your side. However, I know you’re smart enough to read the contract and make a clear cut decision.” His brown eyes look at me and I can see he has faith in me and is speaking the truth.
Shit. He’s right. I need to read this damn thing and figure this out.
Now.
“Take me home.”
~~~
I pour myself a glass of wine and sit on my bed. I pull the contract from my purse and begin to read.
It simply states the contract is between Gable and me. It further goes on, in detail, of how JE is in financial trouble and Gable will bail it out. He will give thirty million dollars in exchange for my hand in marriage. Once the contract is signed we have twenty-four hours to officially become married.
There will also be a pre-nuptial agreement in place. Of course, it’s mainly to protect Gable because at this time I have nothing to give or have taken from me. In the section marked children Gable will handle the financial security of any children we have together. I have to live in one of Gable’s numerous homes with the kids. I’m not allowed to be far away from him with them.
I chug the wine.
Children?
Could he really think he and I would have sex?
As I continue on, I see that there’s a cheating clause. If I cheat on Gable then I have to pay him back all the money he gave to me. On top of that, I have to relinquish my parental rights to the child or children. He also takes overall control of JE. The bottom line is: I lose it all. If Gable cheats on me then I can leave the marriage with fifty million dollars. I would also have custody of the children.
I pour another glass of wine as I continue.
According to the contract, JE stays with me. Gable would be nothing more than a silent partner. I would have a monthly allowance and I need to attend all events with Gable unless I’m instructed otherwise. I guess we are meant to act madly in love at those.
I push the papers away from me and finish my wine. I make myself one more glass and then go into Dad’s office. The albums I had been looking at the other day are still scattered around the desk.
