Secrets of a Billionaire

Chapter 10

Amanda’s POV

I’m not going to lie. Having my own father ask me to leave my only brother’s wedding stung pretty badly. I thought it was very sweet when Mark tried to take the blame for upsetting mom, but I kind of wish he hadn’t done that. It just shows mother that there is one more person who is willing to kowtow to her manipulative ploys. She already has enough people dancing to her tune already, in my opinion.

It turns out, though, that Mark already had my mother all figured out. His own mother claims he was only acting, and she called him by his full name. Marcus Shipton-Reynolds. What the hell? I mean, I knew that if he was related to Eleanor Shipton that he came from some money. But that’s her money, not his. But I now find out that he’s also directly related to Elliot Reynolds, the 3rd richest man in the entire state? This is HUGE, with a capital H!

Is Mark one of Elliott Reynolds heirs? If so, he could potentially inherit BILLIONS! Is this related somehow to Mark’s supposed ‘need’ to get married immediately? It would certainly explain why he says I need to sign a prenup.

If he is going to inherit Billions, though, why does he seem so ordinary and down to earth, then? He’s just a property manager, right? Sure, his car is new and not exactly cheap, but nothing that flat out says he’s rolling in money.

I look down at the rings he gave me. A huge diamond and platinum engagement ring, and a matching wedding band. His mother seemed to believe this huge diamond is real. Is it, though? I figured it must have been fake if he was willing to hand over a flashy diamond engagement ring willy nilly to a woman he had seriously only known for a few hours, most of which was spent drunk, asleep, or apart.

I have to assume Mark must not be the heir to the Fantasy Footwear company if he’s actually working as a property manager instead of working for the multi billion dollar corporation that his grandfather started and is still CEO of over 50 years later. And even if he is, I’ll be signing that prenup so none of that money will be mine.

As I follow our little party of four to the limo, I realize suddenly that this is no rental, but that it was actually owned by the family, and that the driver was actually Ms.Shipton’s employee. Not some rent by the hour service like I had originally thought.

Why did Mark feel the need to lie to me about everything? I mean, he didn’t know me before today so he probably wasn’t sure if he could trust me, I suppose. But why was he marrying me if he felt that he couldn’t trust me to even know his name? What the heck is going on?

There are just so many unknown factors, that I decide not to jump to conclusions about anything. I’m sure I’ll know everything some time soon if I’m patient.

During lunch, I come to the conclusion that Marks mother is very… persnickety. Challenging, even, in a way my mother could only dream of being. I try to be pleasant in an effort not to set my new mother in law off into some sort of rage like my own mother might do if things didn’t go her way, although I do relax after a while when it appears that everyone else is relaxed and enjoying their meal, even if the waitstaff seems wary due to Chef Roberto not being here today.

By the end of the meal, I’ve concluded that Ms. Eleanor Shipton, while definitely a demanding customer who expects to be served only the best, is far to classy a lady to behave like my mother just because she doesn’t get her way about something. She did send the scallops back due to being overcooked, but she was pleasant about it and the next plate of scallops that were brought out were deemed perfect. No tears. No threats to have the chef or the waitstaff fired. Not even a demand to have the meal comped. I was honestly gobsmacked!

And then I was even more surprised when I told the older woman of how I earn a living, and she truly seemed very interested in what I do. And her companion actually knew my of work,and was a fan. Most people when finding out that I’m an author are only interested to know how much I get paid, or lose interest completely when I tell them I write children’s books and juvenile literature. Most people seem to believe my work unimportant, I suppose.

“So, darling… just what is it your grandfather is trying to do?” The older woman asks towards the end of the meal. “And how did this lovely young woman get involved? It all seems very suspicious, you getting married to a woman I’ve never met before except in passing. Although I don’t believe I ever spent above 10 minutes in the presence of that other woman you were going to marry, Karen was it? Krista?”

“Corina Davenport,” Donny supplied.

“Well, apparently Grandfather claims that he’s impressed with how I took over dad’s apartment buildings and turned that business around,” Mark says. “He is considering taking me under his wing and then eventually leaving the family business to me instead of cousin Elliot.”

Ok, see? That answers quite a few of my burning questions, and I didn’t even have to ask.

“Are you sure that’s what you actually want, sweetheart?” Eleanor asks, obviously concerned for her son. “Working like a slave for that horrible man! I still blame him for your father and I divorcing. He was never home, always at work!”

“Better me heading the company than that pain in my ass cousin Elliot!” Mark replies, and everyone seems to agree wholeheartedly with that. A few derogatory things are said about the cousin, and if even half of those things are true he probably is detestable.

“But what does any of that have to do with marrying either Corina or Amanda?” Eleanor asks, and I’m honestly wondering the same exact thing.

“Well…,” Mark says, and I can tell that he uncomfortable disclosing this next part in front of me. “Grandfather said I should be married first while I’m still basically unknown, to someone who doesn’t know that I’m possibly going to inherit his company. I also had to get my future wife to agree to a prenup, which Amanda has agreed to do as long as there is a clause in it regarding her future earnings. And finally, he gave me a deadline to get it all done by my next birthday.”

“Well, as your mother I am shocked and appalled that you let that old buzzard sink his claws into you so deeply, my boy,” Eleanor replied to that strange scenario that Mark had just laid out. “But as a major stockholder of Fantasy Footwear who is living quite nicely off of the dividends from my very generous divorce settlement, I applaud Elliot Reynolds ingenuity and forward thinking. Too bad the younger two Elliot Reynolds are such duds.”

“I kind of figured you might enjoy that!” Mark grumbled. I notice he seems to do that a lot.

“So what happens now that I know everything?” I ask reasonably between sips of my ice tea.

“Well, technically I’m in the clear since you and I were married and you agreed to sign the prenup before you found out that I’m possibly the future CEO of Fantasy Footwear, and an heir to Elliot Reynolds fortune,” Mark supplies the answers, and I nod. That is how it happened, after all. “I can’t be held responsible for you finding out after the fact from someone else. But I’ve seen your thespian skills, pretending you didn’t know your mother was planning to wear white today all along. If grandfather asks anything about it, just lie.”

“I can’t just lie off the cuff, though,” I carefully warn him. “I actually have to practice to make it sound convincing. Telling the truth is so much easier, since you don’t have to remember a bunch of lies. But I’ll try my best.”

A quiet buzzing sound comes from Marks back pocket, and he pulls out his phone. He doesn’t appear happy about whatever it is he’s reading.

“Well, Mrs. Reynolds, I hope you’re ready for your acting debut,” He says with a groan. “Just follow my lead. I’m being summoned immediately to a pre-wedding meeting at the church. If we do well, I’ll make sure you’re given a major award!”

“Oooh… Will it be a gold statuette, like at the Oscar’s?” I joke around, as we all start to make our way to the limo. “Can I work on my Oscar acceptance speech on the limo ride there? I shouldn’t forget to thank the academy!”

“I like her,” Eleanor says to her son as the limo door is opened for us. “She has a sense of fun in the face of absurdity!”