Her Contract Marriage To The Billionaire Alpha

Reluctant

Theodore POV

"Fuck." The words echoed in the room as Karen and John glanced uneasily at each other and Dahlia tightened her lips, looking everywhere but at me. "This is your fault" I snarled, as Karen trembled where she was standing "I told you to keep a close eye on her" I roared, grabbing an empty glass and smashing it in the reception area.

"How could I know that your stepbrother was going to take her and marry her?" Karen's voice is incredulous as she glares at me "What did you expect me to do? I've done everything you asked" she protested "This would never have happened if you hadn't been screwing Dahlia behind her back!" she snorted.

I glare at her. John steps into the conversation. "Calm down everyone," he says, wiping the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief and glancing between us all. "We still have to decide what to do. The media is outside, waiting to see what happens. Not to mention the family company..." he trails off.

"Your stupid company" I growled. "Do you really think I'm going to save it now that I don't have Alyssa in my grasp?" I stared at him with condemnation.

"Theodore, please" Karen begged, "we can come up with another solution. You're taking this entirely too personally" she added, as I continued to stare at her.

"I need a bride" my words are barely above a whisper "before my business partners pull out, and before my reputation is ruined entirely. Where am I going to find one on such short notice, that will be believable and still high society? I can hardly marry somebody off the damn street" I yelled.

Karen blinks at me. "Well, isn't it obvious, Theodore?" she stammers, shooting her daughter a quick glance as Dahlia looks back at her coolly "why not marry Dahlia? She's a socialite, she's beautiful, and the media will believe that you have been in love with her the entire time that Alyssa has been in love with Xavier. The press will eat it up" she said, her voice rising with each word, "and clearly you have chemistry since you've been" she blushed, "well you know..." her voice trailed off.

John nodded vehemently "it's the perfect solution. You're still marrying into the family, just with Dahlia instead of Alyssa."

"If I wanted to marry Dahlia, don't you think I would have chosen to propose to her" I snarled, unable to believe my ears, while Dahlia blushed "Alyssa was who I wanted."

"Well. She's gone now, Theodore, and you're literally standing at the altar without a bride" Karen's voice is relentless as she stares at her daughter. "Dahlia understands what's at stake, and she won't mess this up for the family, will you dear?" she smiles sweetly at her daughter.

"Of course not" Dahlia's voice is shaky as she glances at me, but there's a sly smile on her lips, "at least you know that I'm willing to marry you, Theodore. Or do you want to be humiliated in front of everyone? Because I could open those doors in a minute and let everybody see that you're standing here alone with no bride to be seen."

My hands clench into fists as I rake my gaze up and down, carefully considering my options. Without Alyssa, though, I'm officially screwed. That little b***h had well and truly left me hanging. I can feel disgust washing over me as I'm forced to consider Dahlia's proposal and I glance back at John who is adjusting his tie, a look of discomfort on his face, and Karen, whose face is shining as she beams at me.

"Go and get changed" my tone turned dismissive as I spoke to Dahlia, whose eyes instantly lit up. "Wear something elegant, white, and becoming" I warned dangerously, "anything less, and I swear to god, I'll turn you back around and make you get changed again."

She nods, grabbing her mother's hand and tugging her towards the exit, practically jogging in her heels.

John clears his throat. "I know this isn't quite what you expected, Theodore", he begins, an awkward expression on his face.

"Not what I expected? This isn't the agreement we made John" I hiss, moving closer to him ", as for the company, I still require fifty percent ownership of it after this so-called marriage sham. I'll inject the cash you need to ensure it remains a success, but I will be in charge, not you" I spat out as he nodded, looking ashamed. "I know all about your pathetic gambling debts and the reason the company was going into debt. I'm not stupid, although your wife and daughter appear to be ignorant. As long as you do what I want and what I say, they don't have to know their father is a trainwreck," I threaten, and he nods again, sweat beading across his brow again as I glare.

I can feel my temper getting the best of me. I dig my nails into the palms of my hand, drawing blood, the pain a welcome distraction to the ever-increasing fury that is rising inside my body. I was angry. More than angry, I was filled with pure rage, that my stepbrother had taken my bride and my fiancée and left me with this complicated mess to clean up. Xavier had always been a bastard, that hadn't changed. We would always find reasons to fight and disagree with each other, but now he'd crossed the line. He'd taken what wasn't his to take. I had spent ages molding Alyssa into the kind of wife I wanted, the kind of girl that would impress my business partners and become an asset to me. Now I was stuck with Dahlia, who wasn't the brightest tool in the box and whose beauty was as fake as her collagen-filled lips. She relied on heavily applied makeup to look pretty, whereas Alyssa's beauty was natural and understated. I growled under my breath and then looked up as Dahlia and her mother came back inside. Dahlia's face was shining. No doubt, after confessing her love to me, she thought this might be a chance to prove that we could fall in love after all. She was in for a great deal of disappointment. I turned to the minister who had been hovering silently in the background, while Karen got a staff member to clean up the broken glass.

"Yes Mr Trace."

"We're about to let the media in to take photographs and find their seats, along with the wedding guests" I gave an unpleasant smile, watching the minister tense. "Please get yourself prepared to conduct the ceremony. The bride will be Dahlia, Alyssa's stepsister. Make sure you have everything you need for the certificate" I growled.

He swallows hard and nods. John instructs the staff to open the doors where the media are swarming. Soon, guests and media are heading inside, graciously finding their seats. Dahlia is speaking quietly to the minister and producing her ID. She came to my side with a triumphant look on her face. I force myself to take her hand, to play the role of a doting husband, forcing a smitten expression on my face as the media laps it up.

"I thought he would be devastated that Alyssa left him, but it looks as though he's in love with Dahlia Evans. How fortunate. Isn't it great how everything has turned out for the best?"

The media began to murmur among themselves. I can feel my body stiffening and I force it to look relaxed.

There are expectant looks on everyone's faces. I can see my important business partners in the front row and nod to them with a smile as they look at the bride. Dahlia's dress is surprisingly quite bridal for the occasion. The minister steps towards us both, a broad smile on his face. He clears his throat and the room goes hushed.

"We are gathered here today, to witness the nuptials and the bonding between two lovers, Dahlia Evans and Theodore Trace" he begins as I inwardly roll my eyes.

He's laying it on thick, but whatever. That's what he's being paid for. Smiles on people's faces now, bright lights as photographs are taken. Dahlia smiles at me. I grit my teeth and tune out the rest of the ceremony, wanting it over and done with as soon as possible.

The words I've been waiting to hear, to signal an end to all this, are spoken aloud. "You may now kiss the bride."

Dahlia's eyes were shining. I cup her cheek, raising her chin. The media are lapping this up.I press my lips against hers, feeling nothing, acting for all I'm worth, my hand gripping the back of her neck, trying to look passionate and like a groom who can't wait to take his bride back to the bedroom.

John coughed loudly and pointedly. I pull away from Dahlia, the media grinning and calling out congratulations. I shake hands as guests and media both pass by, heading for the reception. Once the room is empty, I glance towards my bride, who looks too happy for my liking. Does she not realize this is merely a marriage of convenience? Did she have certain expectations?

"Congratulations", Karen's voice is quiet as she hugs her daughter.

"We have a reception to get through before we can retire" my voice is cold as Karen looks at me in surprise and Dahlia's eyes widen ". After that, we can stop pretending for as long as we like until we go out in public again."

"Theodore, I thought that maybe..." Dahlia's voice was soft and hesitant.

"You thought that I might possibly fall in love with you?" I am callous "get this through your thick head Dahlia. I do not love you and I never will. You are merely a stand-in for Alyssa and this mess that your so-called parents created. If you think that something is going to happen otherwise in this marriage, then you're in for a huge shock. I will never love somebody as fake and plastic as you," I told her, curling up my lips as tears shone in her eyes. "Even if we have an heir together" she stiffens as realization dawns on what else the marriage is going to consist of "I will never see this as anything but a marriage of convenience."

"How can you be so cruel?" she whispers, with a trembling lower lip as her mother and stepfather shuffle their feet and stare at the ground, unable to offer anything in support.

I gave her a cold smile. "Easily. You have no idea what I'm capable of or the viciousness of my true nature. Keep pushing me though and you'll find out soon enough. Dry those tears", I instructed in a dark tone as she let a lone tear trail down her cheek, "and force a smile on your face for the media. I don't know about you, but I'm suddenly famished", I smiled, watching as she quietly wiped her tears with the handkerchief her father provided and then quietly took my arm.

Not a word was said as I led my new family out to the reception area, Dahlia's lips curved into a fake smile, my own eyes glittering with promised retribution. I had no intentions of letting Xavier get away with what he had done to me, but for now I would bide my time and wait for a chance to present itself.