The Billionaire's Wife

01.

Alaric's POV:

"Good morning Mr. Hale, you are late today", a woman giggles and turns to face me in my office chair drinking an espresso.

"I am the future CEO, Mack, I am not late", I scoff placing my briefcase on the desk, shoving my hands in the pockets of the pants.

"It's already 9 am Al, what were you even doing this morning?" She looks at me suspiciously.

I shrug, "here and there, get out of my chair."

"Whatever", she gets up,"you should seriously get a new personal assistant, this one has an attitude."

"What is wrong with Ms. Sai?"

"Um.. Everything and she even dare to glare at me, doesn't she know I am the daughter of Jacob Brown? She should respect me more", she crosses her arms.

I laugh.

Mackenzie and I have been best friends since we were teenagers, she was 14 and I was 15, we met at a gala hosted by important people and we immediately hit it off; we even got into the same university. Mackenzie being a smart girl skipped a grade and ended up graduating at the same time as me.

"What are you doing in Seattle?" I ask as I sit behind my desk.

"I missed you so I decided to come spend the weekend", Mack shrugs,"I already put my luggage at the hotel and thought you would be in by the time I get here."

"My father wanted to see me and I have a meeting to prepare for 10 am so if you don't mind come back around 12, we can go eat at our favorite restaurant", I tell her.

She grins,"you're the best and don't forget my father is coming in next week to talk about the proposal you presented to him last month", she hugs me just as my personal assistant came in with some files.

"Good morning Mr. Hale, I see you're busy", she gives us a tight smile as she places the files on my desk.

Mackenzie looks at her slightly annoyed, she can be quite protective.

"Don't you see me standing here?" She glares at Ms. Sai.

"And you are?"

She gasps and looks at me,"Al, tell me she didn't just say that?"

I decide to stay out of it and turn on my laptop.

Mackenzie stands up proud and confidently, she got her height from her father putting other women to shame, but got her mother's beauty, her biological mother is the wife of a famous actor.

"I am Mackenzie Brown, daughter of Jacob Brown", she announces and I see Ms. Sai turns pale.

"S- sorry Ms. Brown, I- I didn't know", she stutters.

"Since you only recently start working here I'll give you a chance, but next time you wouldn't be so lucky", she turns to me,"I'll be at the restaurant at 12:15, don't be late."

Mack leaves.

"Do you want your morning drink sir?" Ms. Sai smiles at me, she got a curvy body and isn't ashamed to show it off everyday. I think she purposely does it to get my attention, she has red hair and hazel color eyes.

"Of course and prepare for the meeting", I nod.

She leaves.

I am left with my thoughts, thinking about what my father told me an hour ago.

How could he do such thing?

****

"We'll be in contact Mr. Hale", the man shakes my hand then Ms. Sai's, I have been waiting for this company to sign with me for months and now it has finally happen.

"Have a safe trip back", I smile.

He leaves with his secretary while Ms. Sai packs up the signed contracts.

"Good job sir", she smiles at me.

"Thank you, make sure you make copies of the documents and put in with the safe files", I say as I glance at my watch, 11:45 am. I still got time.

"Right away sir", she nods and I leave the conference room.

My phone rings and I take out, I roll my eyes and answer,"Alaric speaking."

"Alaric, darling, did your father tell you the news?" My stepmother asks eagerly.

"How is that good news Daphne?" I retort.

"Its mother to you Alaric", she sighs.

My father married Daphne when I was 12 and my brother, Dante was 10. Our mother disappeared when Dante was four years old, we were happy when dad finally met another woman three years later, but for some reason I didn't warm up to Daphne,

"Why did you call me Daphne? I got things to do."

"I just want to make sure that you're coming to dinner tomorrow night.", she states.

"Yes I'll be there and I'm also bringing Mackenzie, she's in the city for the weekend", I explain.

"Absolutely not, it wouldn't be appropriate", she says sternly.

"I didn't ask for this so I am bringing Mackenzie, Dante will be there to support his best friend so my best friend will be there to support me, end of story."

"You know that she has fe-"

I hang up and sigh, I hope Mackenzie doesn't reaction too badly when she gets the news tomorrow.

20 minutes later

The paparazzi takes out pictures as I get out my black Lamborghini, I throw the keys to the valet so he can park it in a secure spot.

I enter the restaurant and see Mackenzie already sitting with the menu in her hand, she looks up and smile at me.

"You're here, I already ordered for us", she puts down the menu.

"A bottle of red wine please", I tell the waiter as I take my seat,"that's fine if you already ordered."

"What are your weekend plans?" She asks.

"Tomorrow I have to go to dad's place for dinner and I want you to come", I answer.

"Of course, are we staying the night or driving back?" She asks.

"Driving back, I want to sleep in my own house."

She nods.

"I'll pick you up at 5 pm", I add.

"I miss seeing Dante so it'll be good to see him again and Sarah", she smiles,"do you think they are finally dating?"

I shake my head,"he's in love with Sarah's female best friend remember."

"Oh yeah, but I don't think she sees him that way though", she frowns.

I shrug,"he'll get over it."

"I hope so", she mutters.

The bottle of wine arrives and the waiter pours it in both glasses and leave.

"This is why I like coming here, no waiter is trying to flirt with me", Mack comments.

"Maybe they think you're with me just like everyone else", I state the obvious.

She laughs,"if they only knew that I only see you as a best friend."

"Yeah, but at least your acting in public don't make other women throw themselves at me."

"They know who my family is", she shrugs,"I hope our fake flirting in public doesn't cause a problem for your future relationship like the last one did."

"That woman was overly obsess with me and I wouldn't give me a minute to breathe, I barely get to see you", I shake my head.

"I am sorry she dumped you, I know you really like her."

"Yeah, but that's all in the past now, focus on the future."

The future of me getting married soon.

"My brother will be coming with our father next week as well", she informs me.

Jayden is three years younger than Mack, he was a surrogate case as well, but is biologically Mackenzie's father and adopted mother's son.

We eat in silent when our food arrive and I go back to work when I pay the bill.

What an interesting weekend this will be.

_____

Sarah's POV:

"You wanted to see me dad?" I enter his home office, he is technically still CEO and doesn't look like he is retiring anytime soon since he's only 59.

"Yes, have a seat pumpkin", he smiles.

He spoiled me when I was growing up, I am the last born and has a seven and five year age gap to my older half siblings; who are married and have kids.

I sit down to listen to what my father has to say, today is my day off from the office.

"I'll just tell you without beating around the bushes, you're getting married."

"What?!" I exclaim,"no! I am not ready to get married", I shake my head.

"You don't have a say in this, it is an arranged marriage and you two grew up around each other so its not a stranger", he explains.

"Is it Dante?" I ask hopefully.

"No, his brother."

My mouth falls open,"dad you can't be serious, he's cold and treat me like I'm no one, plus he is dating Mr. Brown's daughter, why don't he marry her instead?"

"He's not dating her, they're best friends, you know that."

"That's even worst, he wouldn't console with me when he is stressed out, he'll always run to Mackenzie",I sigh,"it wouldn't work out."

"Well it has to, the marriage license has already been made and the contract signed by his father and me states you can't divorce with five years."

"Five years? Dad, please, why are you doing this?"

"This deal been made for a long time Sarah, Suzy got married before I can talk to her so you're the next available daughter besides, it wouldn't have been more appropriate since she's older than Alaric."

"I can't believe you'll do this without talking to me first about it, Alaric doesn't like me, he's a cold person and Mackenzie is the only person he is warm and gentle with", I get up and leave.

"Auntie, look what I made", my three year old niece, Esther runs up to me with a paper in her hand.

It is a drawing of her with her family, she got her father's brunette hair and my half sister's blue eyes.

"It's pretty", I hand her back the paper and she runs back down the corridor.

Suzy and her husband are at work so she leaves her kids here with mom, her eldest, Jacob is in first grade even though he's five, Esther doesn't have school today and her youngest, Naomi is six months.

I go to my room and fall on my bed, I am staying over here for the weekend, but I do have my own apartment close to work.

I cant believe dad will do this to me, I rather marry Dante, but he's in love with Phoebe who seems to like him but shy to say it so her body language makes it seem like she's not interested. Phoebe and Mackenzie are the same age, same as Dante and I; Alaric is the oldest one in the group.

My phone rings and I answer,"hello brother."

"Hey Sarah, are you busy? Can you pick up the twins for me later?" Sammy asks.

I roll my eyes,"I need to get paid for babysitting, where's Emily?"

"She can't make it to pick them up, but she'll be home by the time you drop them off."

"Fine."

"Thank you and I heard the news, are you okay?"

"How can I be okay, Sam? Dad totally throw me for the wolves", I scoff.

"The Hale family are nice people, I am sure you agree."

"Yeah they are, its Alaric I can't stand, he's so cold."

"You'll get over it, see you Sunday."

"Yeah, bye", I sigh.

Sammy's kids are twins, they are six years old; Samuel and Smith Barlowe are such a handful when they are with Jacob.

I call Dante, I hope he isn't busy, unlike me, he followed his own path and become a journalist.

"Hey my beautiful friend", he answers.

"Are you busy Dan?"

"No, what's up?"

"Can we meet for lunch? I need you."

"Is it about your arranged marriage to my brother?"

"How did you know?"

"My father told me about it this morning, Alaric wasn't happy neither, I'll see you at 11:30 at our usual cafe."

I smile,"thanks Dan."

"I got your back, don't worry."

"I know."

_____

I hug Dante when we meet up just outside the cafe,"thanks for coming."

"It's my lunch break and I wasn't going to leave you sulking alone at home, I know my brother is a pain in the butt, but he's not a bad person", Dan assures me.

We enter the cafe, sit down at our usual table and order our usual meal.

"So what color do you want for your wedding?" Dan grins and I glare at him.

"Its a question you'll have to answer eventually, I was thinking purple since its your favorite color although Alaric's favorite is gray."

"I'm not surprise, I thought it was black like his soul", I scoff and he laughs.

"I'll really like to see you two get along, luckily he has a lot of empty rooms in his huge house."

"Good, I'll take the one that is the furthest from his", I state.

"You do know you'll have to act like you're in love in public eyes right?"

"I can pretend I am in love."

He laughs loudly,"you?"

I stomp on his foot and he flinches.

"I was just kidding, you'll have everyone fool."

A few hours later

"Auntie!" The twins run to me, I am waiting by my car outside their school. They look so much like Sammy with their chocolate brown hair and bright blue eyes, if they are with Esther and Naomi in public you'll swear they are all siblings.

I hug them,"I miss you guys."

"We miss you too, mommy says we will see grandma and grandpa on Sunday", Samuel says.

One Sunday in every month mom made it a tradition we all come together and have a BBQ in the back of the house, the kids play together, the men talk and do the BBQ while the women do the cooking and setting the table.

The twins' school is a private school, Jacob attends a public one in the city, Suzy wanted it that way.

I open the door to the back seat,"in you go."

They climb in and I make sure to buckle them up before getting into the front seat.

"Can we stop for ice cream, please?" Smith asks.

"Your mother is expecting you home, but I am sure we got time to do so", I look at them in the rear view mirror.

They scream excitedly.

When I pull up in front of Sammy's house, I see Emily talking to a guy who is in a suit by the front door.

Who is he?

"That's mommy's friend", Smith says as if he read my thoughts, maybe I speak out loud.

Oh.

I get out, unbuckle the twins and help them out of the car.

"Mommy!" They run to Emily.

She smiles and takes them up into her arms,"I miss my handsome boys so much, thanks Sarah."

I wave, the guy watches me.

"This is Cole, he recently move to Seattle", she introduces the curly black hair guys.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sarah", I wave.

"Sarah Barlowe?"

"The one and only", I nod.

"Wow, the magazines weren't lying about your beauty."

I blush,"thanks, anyway I'll see you on Sunday Em."

I get into my car and drive away as quickly as I can.

When I get home, dad and mom are sitting in the living room.

"Sarah, tomorrow we're going to have dinner with your future in laws", dad announces.

"Yeah, whatever."

Mom gasps,"Sarah respect your father, I know you're upset, but Alaric is a nice man."

"He seems so to you, but you don't see the way he looks at me when we're alone, he doesn't like me, I bet he's in love with Mackenzie."

"I talked to Daphne, they are just friends."

"Why can't I marry Dante instead? We're the same age and totally get each other", I cross my arms.

"He isn't taking over his family company", dad replies.

"So this arranged marriage is to build alliances with Hale Industries?"

"We'll make a lot of money Sarah, we haven't been doing so well for the past two years, you know that by this marriage we'll be able to be back on top."

I sigh because dad is right.

"I'll do it, but if it doesn't work out then I'll be leaving him and only divorce when the five years are up", I go upstairs.

I am not looking forward to tomorrow, on top of that Mackenzie is in city, she and Alaric were seen leaving a restaurant together earlier today. They arrived at different time, but its no doubt they had lunch together.

How can I compete with that? She's pretty, popular and a model, heck her biological mother is married to an actor.

I am plain and simple, Alaric and I wouldn't last long I can tell.

How the heck I am supposed to come up with a fake love story for the press leading up to our engagement and wedding?

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