by Mary Smith
I flip open the one closest to me and it happens to be several years of company picnics. All the employees and their families, with their happy, smiling faces shine through the pictures. My father knew every one of them. JE didn’t have problem employees. They were like family to Dad and to me.
I slam the book shut and let the tears fall.
~~~
I couldn’t sleep all night. Hell, I’ve barely slept since Dad died. I’m sitting in the back of the Lexus reading the file Leo gave me.
Gable grew up in the city with his parents and a younger brother, Gideon. He went to a local state college and majored in business. He started his company when he was twenty-five. He’s never married nor had children. The file states he had one long-term relationship several years ago, but it ended. By all accounts, from this file, Gable seems to be a driven workaholic.
So, why me?
Why the marriage?
“Leo.”
“Yes, Dream.”
“Take me to Gable.” I still have questions and he’s going to answer them.
Leo turns and heads to Gable’s building.
Butler Corp owns the second largest building downtown. It’s equipped with massive solar panels on the roof and is the greenest building in the state.
Leo opens the door and I blow past him, storming into the building. I don’t check in with security; I follow the sign to the elevators and push the button for the top floor. I’d never been in this building, but the boss is always on the highest floor.
I listen to the boring music as I travel up the fifty floors. When I step off, there’s a pretty blonde sitting at a white desk.
“Good morning. May I help you?”
“I need to speak with Gable Butler right now.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No. I need to speak with him right away.”
The blonde gazes over my shoulder, and I turn to see where she’s looking. There’s a man standing there. He’s in his mid-thirties, darker blond hair, and brown eyes. He looks like Gable in a way.
“Mr. Butler only sees visitors by appointment only.” The man’s tone tries to be firm.
“I’m sure he’ll make an exception when he knows Dream Jackson is here.” I cross my arms. If this guy thinks he intimidates me then he’s wrong.
“You’re Dream Jackson?” he questions.
I nod.
“I’m Gideon Butler, Gable’s brother.” He sticks out his hand.
I firmly shake, but I had already guessed who he was.
“I want to see Gable.”
Gideon holds up his finger letting me know that he’ll be right back and walks through a large door on the right.
I turn to the blonde, but she quickly looks away from me and at her computer screen. After a moment, Gideon comes back through the door.
“Miss Jackson,” he calls for me.
I confidently walk over to the door and he motions for me to come in.
“Dream.” Gable stands from behind his large white desk and walks over to me. “How can I help you?”
“We need to talk. Now,” I command.
Gable looks over my head and nods. I catch a glimpse of Gideon leaving the room and shutting the door.
“I can make time for you, Wife.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes. “Let’s sit here.” He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me over to a round white table on the other side of the room.
I glance around the room and see that the entire office has white walls, white furniture, white chairs, and even a white carpet. Gable pulls my chair out, and I sit.
“What shall we talk about today, Dream?” he takes the seat next to me.
I reach for my purse and pull out his contract and the one I wrote up last night.
“What do we have here?” he eyes the new contract.
“A compromise.”
“Come again.” He seems perplexed.
“I have some questions first.” I keep the papers by me as so he doesn’t become distracted.
“Okay,” he nods.
“It’s not a joke, but I want to know why me? You don’t know me. Now, all of the sudden, you want to marry me.” My tone came out more stern than I had intended, but it doesn’t seem to faze Gable.
“You’re correct, I don’t know much about you, except what your father told me and the research I have been able to dig up.”
“Then why? I’m sure you’re able to find some other female who will marry you in a heartbeat. Is it because you feel like I’m a charity case?”
“The reason is not only to help JE out of the hole that your father put the company in, but it’s because you have a brilliant business mind and I think that we’ll make a great team. I told you before, I have seen your work.” He leans back in the chair and eyes me. I know he’s waiting for me to have some sort of outburst and now I’m not sure.
“My school work? You think I’m good with my homework?”
Gable chuckles. “No. However, some of it was impressive, but your father showed me some of the business plans you had helped him with. Don’t you remember when you worked with him late in the evening in his office?”
My mouth drops a bit. How did he know that? I worked with Dad all the time. He would come home and tell me about his day, his clients, and his struggles. I would listen to him and draw a battle plan of sorts for him. I didn’t think anything of it. I thought he was trying to keep me busy so I would stay home instead of shopping or traveling. Until this past summer, when he’d sent me all over the world.
“I remember.”
“They are good. You have a keen sense for business and that’s one reason why I want you.”
“Then offer me a job instead of marriage,” I counter.
“No.” He shakes his head. “We need to be a team. An official team. People will take us more seriously if they know we’re married.”
“So, I can’t run a business because I’m not married. I need my big, strong husband to be the face and I’ll do all the work. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sexist at all.”
“Say what you want, but my money keeps your company alive. In return, with our marriage, it will gain more clients.”
I will not say he’s right, but I had thought of same scenario in my head last night. His name associated with JE will bring clients. That’s crystal clear.
“What with the new contract?” he nods to the papers in front of me.
“I made up one that has some of my rules too.” I push it over to him.
Gable picks it up and begins to look at it. He nods his head a few times and smirks at other pages.
“No sex?” he tilts his head.
“No sex.”
“How about no sex until you’re ready? I’ll concede to that, but not the ‘no sex at all’.” His dark eyes stare me down.
Shit, if I’m going to keep going with this as plan, I need to be willing to compromise.
“Not until I’m ready and the first time you try any shit, I’ll break your leg, divorce you, and take your money.”
“Deal,” Gable’s grin deepens, showing off a cute dimple behind his groomed beard. No, not cute. It’s not cute at all. “I’m getting the hint you’re going to go through with this.”
“Is there anything else that you have concerns with?” I ignore his other comment and the dimple.
“You didn’t make any notation about children.”
“Figured we covered it with the sex issues.”
He looks up at me and leans back again, crossing his arms this time. “I’m very adamant about you not cheating. I’m not joking about this.” His mouth is a thin line and I can see the seriousness on his face.
“Okay. Now, if you agree with my contract, then I will agree to yours. But,” I point at him. “I will not marry you until I have both contracts back and signed by you.”
He nods and gets up from his chair. He pushes a button on his desk, and a second later Gideon walks into the office.
“Take these
to Mr. Nickerson and tell him I want them back before the close of business today.” Gable hand him both of the contracts. “Also, tell him the notes in the margin are the changes that need to be completed.”
When did he take notes?
Gideon takes the papers and leaves.
Gable comes back over to the table. “When he comes back then I’ll call my contact at the courthouse, and we’ll be married tonight. In the morning, I’ll make sure you have your check for JE.”
Even though my insides are jumping because I’m going through this, I can feel the relief that JE and the employees are going to be okay.
“Fine. Call me.” I grab my purse and leave his office without a second glance.
Chapter 4
When I reach my office, I tell Mrs. Stones to call for Ronnie and I want a meeting with both of them. I toss my purse on the desk and put my head in my hands.
I did it.
I signed my soul away to the devil for JE and the employees. On top of that, for my house, Leo, Mrs. Stones, and anything that mattered to me.
A few moments later they walk in.
“Everything okay, Dream.” Ronnie looks at me.
“The contract and pre-nup will be here today; I’m marrying Gable.” There’s no point in beating about the bush.
Both of their mouths drop.
“I don’t want to hear any backlash on this. It’s for JE. I trust you two; this stays in this office.”
They both nod.
“Ronnie, I should have that check tomorrow. The moment it’s in your hands, you get this company back into the black. I want everything paid off and no more loose ends.”
He nods.
“What do you needs from me, Dream?”
I give Mrs. Stones a small smile.
“Just help me if I need it.”
“Always.”
I nod and they walk out of the office.
~~~
Mrs. Stones knocks on the door and comes through.
“You have a very important package.” She sits the manila envelope on my desk. “It needs your signature immediately.”
I don’t have to open it to know that it’s the contracts.
“There are two copies. Gable has signed them both. One is for you and the other is his.” She continues to stare at me, but I’m unable to move my eyes from the tan envelope in front of me.
With shaky hands, I open it up, and there it is. There is my future staring back at me on white paper and black ink. I flip to the last page of both contracts and there’s Gable’s name scrolled on the line.
Family and Jackson Enterprise are all that you need in your life.
I pick up my pen and swiftly sign my name on the line. I slip his copy back into the envelope and hand them back to her. She leaves without saying a word.
My gaze doesn’t leave the papers. I did it. I’m going to marry Gable Butler and start a new chapter in my life.
This isn’t how I thought my marriage would be. I had always pictured I’d be with someone I loved, with a big wedding, and my dad walking me down the aisle.
I have everything set for 5. Your office or mine?
Gable’s text broke me away from my daydream of having Dad here.
Yours. I’ll be there. I text back.
There’s no point in fighting this. I’ve signed the contract. I gave him my word. Now, I need to go through it.
~~~
“Dream, are you sure about this?” Leo asks as we pull up to the building.
“No, but I have to be.”
This is it. I’m about to marry Gable Butler.
Leo parks and opens my door. I stiffly walk into the building and security doesn’t even to stop me. I’m sure Gable has already told them who I am.
When I step off the elevator, Gideon is the one to greet me.
“If it isn’t my new sister-in-law.”
I hear a sneer in his voice and I straighten.
“Yes, it is.” I might only be five-foot-seven, but I’m not going to let him intimidate me.
Gideon gives me an evil smirk. I can already see I’m not going to like him. He’s going to cause me problems.
“My brother is waiting along with the justice of peace.” He steps to the side and I stride past him toward Gable’s office.
“Dream.” Gable quickly stands from behind his desk. “Right on time, baby.”
Baby? I refrain from rolling my eyes and telling him shut up.
“This is John, the one who will marry us.”
I stick my hand out and the older man with gray hair shakes it.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Jackson.”
I smile and nod.
“Now, I know you don’t like to waste time, Gable. Are you both ready?” John looks between us.
No.
“Yes,” Gable answers proudly and calls for Gideon. He walks in with the blonde secretary. “Now, we’re ready.”
“Okay.” John smiles and quickly begins.
I can feel a headache forming behind my eyes and I know it is going to only get worse throughout the night as he begins to talk.
“Gable, do you take Dream to be your wife?”
“I do.” He sounds sure of himself and confident.
“Dream,” John turns to me. “Do you take Gable to be your husband?”
I swallow back the lump in my throat.
Family and Jackson Enterprise are all that you need in your life.
“I do.” I can hear my voice cracking, but I held strong.
“You’re now husband and wife. Gable asked me to skip everything else. Let’s sign the license.”
That’s it?
That’s my wedding.
I can’t move because it’s all so unbelievable right now. My whole wedding had been condensed to a couple of sentences and nothing more. No flowers, music, or even two people who gaze happily into each other’s eyes. It’s just a few syllables.
“Dream.” Gable calls me over to his table. “You need to sign this.”
I make my feet move over to him and sign my name where he is pointing.
“Congratulations.” John shakes my hand.
Gable hands him a small wad of cash and Gideon the license. “Go take care of this. The clerk’s office is still open for me.” Gideon nods and leaves. The blonde and John follow him out the door.
Now, I’m alone with Gable.
My husband.
“Shall we go to dinner? I also planned for a press release in the morning.”
Of course he had. He wants to show off his trophy wife. Oh shit, that’s what I am now. I’m a wife.
“Dream, we can go out for dinner or back to the house?”
“House?” I squeak.
“Yes. You will be living with me now.”
Shit.
How could I forget that minor detail? At this point, I wonder if I even know my own name. I can’t believe I did this. I sold myself for thirty million dollars.
I stare at Gable’s blue eyes. It’s like he’s searching my face, trying to figure me out. Well, that’s not going to be easy because I don’t even know what the hell is happening.
“Do you want to sit down? You look very pale.” He takes my arm and guides me over to the chair.
I can feel my heart racing and my chest tighten. I can’t catch my breath. My head is pounding even harder.
“Dream, do I need to call for a doctor?” he squeezes my hand. I didn’t even notice that he had been holding it. He’s kneeling in front of me. He actually looks concerned.
“No. I’m fine.” I’m finally able to push out the words. Even though I’m having a nervous breakdown in his stark white office.
“I know it’s a lot to take in. That’s why I had John do everything quickly. I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
“What?” I feel my face scrunch up in confusion. “Overwhelm me?” He can’t be serious. I know he’s toying with me and what’s left of my sanity.
“I wouldn’t do that to you. I know this is a lot, eve
n for me.”
“Please.” I roll my eyes and jump up to my feet. “Don’t feed me a line. You want this much more than I do. You want me to be some arm-candy you can parade around the city and parties. Am I right?”
“No, you’re not.” He stands in front of me. He towers over me and his blue eyes are piercing me. “You’re different. You’re not a piece of arm-candy. You’re my wife and I’m trying to make sure you’re okay.”
I don’t need this. Besides my dad, I’ve had no one look after me. I’ve kept my nose in the book and my focus on the goal of being the CEO of JE and I’m there. Yes, I married him for the money, but nothing more. I’ll build JE back to where it needs to be and I’ll do it without his help.
“I’m going home. To my house. We’ll have dinner some other time.” I race out the door and away from his saddened look.
Chapter 5
Surprisingly, Gable never came after me. I thought he might. By the time I arrived home, I thought he would be in the driveway, throw me over his shoulder, and make me go to his house.
It never happened.
The only communication I receive is a text message as Leo drives me to work the following morning.
I would really like to take you to lunch today, please.
I spent my night, tossing and turning again, thinking about me, us, and this marriage. It’s a sham. It’s a lie and I did it for JE. I did it to save the employees, my name, and my money. I shouldn’t be cowering in the corner like a scared child.
I’m Dream Jackson.
I don’t get scared.
I do it my way and there’s no other way.
I can’t for lunch, but dinner sounds delightful.
It’s time to bring out the real Dream Jackson, the strong, independent, and determined woman that I am. Kill him with kindness. Then figure out how the hell to get out of this mess.
I’ll be there at five. He returns.
Perfect.
~~~
The press release hit the airwaves at exactly ten in the morning. Mrs. Stones has been diverting calls from the press all morning, but I ignore them. I stare at my phone as I read it again.
In a statement released by billionaire Gable Butler and Dream Jackson, they’re happy to announce they have married and are excited to start their new life together.
