The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife

2 “Does he really need a wife?

“You have everything,” Bruce asked as he walked her to the door. Larissa clutched the papers he gave her to her chest. Their meeting was over, but she felt like there was much they needed to discuss. They couldn’t just jump into a marriage.

“Listen…” she began to say. But Bruce pushed her through the door that led to the garage. The driver that brought her to the house, waited for her with the door open.

“Shhh…trust me,” Bruce said ushering her into the car. “I have your cell number. I will call you tomorrow. But you firstly need to read through everything I gave you, and sign the contract. We will continue from there.” He closed the door and turned back into the house.

Larissa stared after him.

What did I get myself into? She asked herself for the millionth time.

The driver got into the car, and reversed out of the garage.

“Does he really need a wife? A bodyguard would be more suited for the job,” she said to no one in particular. She sighed feeling like she just signed herself to a freak show. Larissa leaned her head on the headrest. She internally groaned. She felt the driver’s eyes on her.

“What?” she asked.

“Do you know how many bodyguards Mr. Tak has?”

Larissa gave her a duh look. Of course she didn’t know how many bodyguards he has. How would she know that?

“He has fifty bodyguards on his payroll just for his house, but the person still managed to get to him,” he sighed sounding defeated. “He needs something. A wife might not be the thing he needs but we have to find a solution to this problem. Or he might end up dead, right there in his house.”

Damn…Larissa thought. She didn’t have anything to say to that. And it would seem she didn’t have a choice in the matter. This was her next case, whether she liked it or not. But at least she will get to investigate Alexei Malkovich. That was a high profile case. If she nailed Malkovich to the wall she will definitely get promoted after this. She wanted to be in charge of her own operations, take the lead on cases, and investigations.

Maybe marrying Bruce Tak was worth the sacrifice after all, she thought to herself.

The driver dropped her off at her apartment, and she walked inside the building. She avoided the elevators and took the stairs to the fourth floor. She breathed hard as she walked to the door. She searched for her keys in her purse, but the door was pulled open.

“You’re late,” Teresa said staring down at her for a few intense minutes. She turned and walked back into the apartment. Larissa internally groaned as she walked in. She closed the door behind her, trying to think of what to say to her.

They were supposed to go on a blind date that Teresa had set up. It was going to be a double date type of thing.

Larissa dropped the papers on the kitchen island and walked to her. She checked the time on the opposite wall. Maybe they could still make it. The date was at seven and it was six thirty.

“If we get ready fast we can still make it,” she said following her to the couch. The apartment was an open plan with the sitting area and kitchen a few feet from each other. It was a nice place, though Larissa wished for something bigger. She didn’t get to see much of Bruce’s house, but damn…if that’s what money can buy, she would love some.

Larissa slumped down. She really didn’t want to go anywhere. She didn’t think she could smile through meaningless conversations and some man trying to get into her pants. She had some reading to do. She eyed the bible thick papers that Bruce Tak gave her.

What did he even think this was? College? Why did she even have to read? She was going to be his wife, wasn’t she?

That should be simple enough.

“You don’t even want to go,” Teresa whined. She moved to the side of the kitchen. She went for the fridge and took out a bottle of beer. She took a gulp and slammed the bottle on the kitchen island. Larissa cringed and sprang to her feet, thinking to rescue the papers. The bottle didn’t break, but she knew it was time to move her s**t. She has been best friends with Teresa since kindergarten. And she knew how mean she could be when she was disappointed. She tended to destroy whatever was near, and most of the time she destroyed the things of the person who disappointed her.

Larissa dove for the paper, before she could tip the bottle over.

Teresa gave her a dirty look.

“Calm down, or go home,” Larissa said pointing to the door. “I had some work stuff. You know I wouldn’t do you like that.”

“Sorry, I can be evil when I don’t get my way,” Teresa said walking back to the couch, beer in hand. Larissa rolled her eyes. She didn’t know why she put up with her. But she loved her. She was the only family she got. Teresa’s family kind of took her in when her father and mother died in a car accident when she was ten. She was supposed to have ended up in foster care. But Mr and Mrs Kinley took her in and gave her a home.

“Give me a minute, I’ll be right back,” Teresa said walking to her bedroom. She dropped the papers on her bed, and walked to her closet. She pulled out some lounge pants and a simple t-shirt, and changed her clothes. She closed the door as she walked back into the room.

Teresa was nursing her beer. Something was up with her, Larissa could tell. She picked up her phone where she left it on the island, and opened an app to order some food.

“What do want on your pizza?” she asked as she walked to the fridge. She chose a bottle of water, avoiding the beer since she still had some reading to do.

“The usual,” Teresa said. Larissa nodded, and ordered their usual mushroom and chicken with extra cheese. Once she was done she walked to the couch. She sat down next to Teresa.

“Now, tell me what’s got you all sad.”

“Its nothing,” Teresa said taking a sip of her beer. “Maybe I am just thinking about my life. I thought I would be married with kids by now. But I am still looking for Mr Right. I feel too old.”

“We are not that old. Thirty-five is not old.”

“I know,” she said with a sigh. “So you don’t think about getting married, settling down and have kids.”

Larissa shook her head. Marriage was the last thing on her mind. She even thought that she was averse to the whole concept of being attached to another human being like that.

And she was about to marry the worst man on the damn planet.

“I envy you,” Teresa said.

“Why?”

“I wish I didn’t want the white picket fence, and 2.5 kids. I think I would be happier.” Larissa pulled her in a half hug.

“You will get it soon. Just be patient,” she said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go on that blind date. We can still make it.”

Teresa shook her head. “No. Let’s have a quiet night.”

“Yeah, let’s,” Larissa said with a grateful sigh. She really didn’t want to go anywhere. She had some work to do.