A CONTRACT WITH THE HOT CEO

I’ll buy the entire company

I’ll buy the entire company

Hayes POV

I glared at my phone as it rang persistently, the screen flashing my mother's name for what felt like the hundredth time that day. I had no intention of answering. She was a master of manipulation, and I wasn't in the mood for her theatrics.

All I knew was that she wanted to grill me about Bianca, my new fiancée. We'd been engaged for only a few days, and already the drama was suffocating. My mother's relentless questioning was exhausting.

"Can't she just leave me alone?" I muttered, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

When my phone refused to silence, I shut it off, severing the annoying connection.

No sooner had I done so than my assistant, Alex, walked in, his expression apologetic. "Sir, I'm afraid your schedule for the day has been cleared."

My eyes narrowed. "Who authorized that?"

Alex hesitated before responding, "Your mother, sir. She insisted that you needed a day to...reassess your priorities."

I slammed my fist on the desk, incredulous. "What is wrong with her? Can't she see I'm busy?"

My mother's meddling knew no bounds. I was a grown man, yet she still treated me like a puppet on strings. Bianca was my choice, and I wouldn't let my mother's interference ruin everything.

I was about to unleash my frustration on Alex when my mother, the world’s most dramatic Margaret Caldwell, swept into the room, her presence commanding attention. Her elegant appearance belied the drama that often accompanied her.

"Mum..." I stuttered, caught off guard. I knew how far she could go if she wanted something yet I chose to underestimate her and here she was, standing before me with a grin I was sure had an underlying message.

I rolled my eyes in frustration.

"Alex, dear, would you excuse us?" she requested, her voice sweet but firm.

Alex nodded discreetly, turned towards me and bowed slightly with a small smile before he departed, leaving me alone with my mother.

I knew what was coming.

“Mum, what are you doing here?” I asked as soon as Alex stepped out of my office”

“When has it become a problem to visit my son? That’s all I came for my sweet boy” she said with a smile, one who doesn’t know her would mistake for a genuine one.

“I know you mum, why are you here” I asked again.

"Hayes, darling," she began, her tone measured, "the family has an important dinner engagement tonight with some dignitaries. Your presence, along with Bianca's, is mandatory. No excuses."

I opened my mouth to protest, but she raised a hand, silencing me.

"I mean it, Hayes. No excuses. You know how crucial this dinner is for our family's reputation."

With that, she turned on her heel and left, leaving me exasperated.

I quickly dialed Bianca's number, bracing myself for her reaction, knowing she would freak out.

"Hey," I said when she answered. "I need to pick you up soon for a family dinner. My mum just stopped by and insisted we must be there."

Bianca's voice rose in alarm. "A family dinner? Oh no, Hayes, I don't know if I'm ready for that. You know how your mum can be. That would be a big gathering, how would I even make it through without her trying to drain me of my blood?"

I chuckled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll be there to protect you. Just get ready, and we'll make it through this together."

"But what if she asks me questions I don’t have answers to?" Bianca's anxiety was palpable.

"My mother can be...overwhelming, but she'll come around. Just be yourself, and we'll be fine."

I heard Bianca take a deep breath before responding.

"Okay...what time are you coming to pick me up?"

"We'll make a stop for shopping first. I want you to look stunning tonight because my entire family; nuclear and extended, will be there and I don’t need anyone raising eyebrows. How about I pick you up in an hour?"

"An hour? That's soon!" Bianca laughed anxiously.

"I'll be there, Bianca. Be ready."

As I hung up, I couldn't help but smile. I try to act really tough around Bianca because I don’t want her having any ideas. The “no strings attached” was something I'd like to keep in check.

*

I arrived at Bianca's location in record time, and we set off for a shopping spree. As we browsed through the upscale boutique, Bianca's eyes widened at the exquisite designs. I spotted a stunning gown that would perfectly complement her beauty, she tried it on and it fit perfectly, her curves and figure were all out. Exactly what I wanted and decided to get it for her.

"Wait here, I'll be right back. You can still look around in case you see anything else you would like" I said, excusing myself to purchase the gown.

*

As I walked towards Bianca with the garment bag, I noticed a group of girls surrounding her. Their body language screamed hostility, and my instincts went on high alert.

"...think you're worthy of Hayes Caldwell?" one of the girls sneered. "You're just a gold-digger, Bianca. Everyone knows it."

Bianca stood tall, her expression serene, but I detected a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

"I'm not afraid of you," she replied calmly. "And Hayes loves me for who I am, not for his family's wealth so please do me a favor and focus on yourselves."

The girls snickered, their leader, a petite blonde, stepping forward.

"Love? Ha! Hayes is just using you for his own amusement. You're a temporary distraction, nothing more."

Bianca's composure began to falter, her voice trembling slightly.

"I know what Hayes and I have with each other so please leave that to me to worry about."

The blonde's smile twisted into a cruel grin.

"We know enough. You're just a poor, desperate girl trying to climb the social ladder. Hayes will tire of you soon, and you'll be left with nothing."

Their venomous words struck a chord within me. I felt a surge of protectiveness towards Bianca, my anger simmering just below the surface.

These people were unmistakable bullies and from the look of things, they had more grounds than her… maybe her seniors in school or something.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I strode towards the group, my authoritative voice boomed.

"Back off!"

The girls froze, their faces pale with fear immediately they turned to see it was me.

“Get out! Now!” I scolded bluntly and scurried away. I turned to Bianca, and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us lost in the moment. Her lips were as soft and succulent as I remembered.

When we broke apart, Bianca's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered.

I guided her to a quieter spot, concern etched on my face. I saw how tensed she was and I don’t know why but I felt deeply sorry for her"What happened? What's going on?"

Bianca took a deep breath before unleashing the torrent of emotions she'd been holding back. "They stole my project, Hayes. I worked tirelessly to secure that contract for my company, and after they signed it, they discarded me like trash. They threatened me, saying no one would believe me if I spoke out."

Tears welled up in her eyes and I wiped them off gently meanwhile deep down, my anger simmered, boiling over at the injustice. "That's despicable. I hate bullies and abusers of power."

Bianca's voice trembled. "That's why I came to the bar that night. I was trying to escape, to forget. And then I met you..."

My eyes locked onto hers, determination burning within me. "I'll buy you the entire company," blurted.

Bianca's eyes widened in shock, her jaw nearly dropping. "You can't be serious!"