Billionaire's Contracted Wife

Chapter 1: Business Arrangement

Celeste’s POV:

I adjust my Chanel black square sunglasses over my eyes, sashaying my way towards the entrance of Royce Tower, which serves as the main headquarters for Royce Enterprises in New York City. It is a skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan and is 283 meters tall and has 55 floors.

My Father, Richard 'Rick' Royce, is the founder and C.E.O. of Royce Enterprises, the city's most extensive and most renowned corporation. The company was initially organized as an aerospace engineering firm when my father bought a struggling airline and renamed it RoyceAir. Under his ruthless management, Royce Enterprises grew and prospered by absorbing smaller businesses' scores, and Royce Enterprises proliferated into a diverse international conglomerate. 

I stepped into the private elevator my father had installed exclusively for his suite and walked into the main entrance. It was crowned by one large diamond chandelier sparkling above from vault ceilings and hand acquired walls with mother of pearl inlay. His lavish suite captured breathtaking 360-degree views of uptown, downtown, and Midtown from high up in the clouds. 

"Hello?" I call out as I untie my beige wool wrap coat and hand it over to one of the housemaids. 

I flatten out my figure-hugging, off the shoulder black dress, which showed off the right amount of cleavage and rested just above my knees. I stroll my fingers through my thick, long dark hair and apply a coat of my Yves Saint Laurent nude lipstick on my plump lips.

The sound of the guests' elevator chimes, informing me someone had arrived, and I suddenly felt my heart racing inside my chest. I enter the foyer, and my mouth parts as the one person I dreaded ever seeing again stood before me, Logan Lockwood.

The mild shock of his appearance left me speechless as I let myself look up at him as if meeting him for the first time.

He wore a tailored fit all-black three-piece suit. His messy black hair was slicked back away from his face, sharpening his features and accentuating his angular cheekbones. 

He was incredibly hot, and being this close to him wasn't easy. 

"It's been a while, Miss Royce," 

Hearing him call me Miss Royce, which hadn't happened since our first encounter, hurt a little more than it should've. If he wants to act like he doesn't know me, then I will do the same. Two can play at that game.

"Indeed, it has Mr. Lockwood," I responded. 

He didn't say anything, but a devilish smirk appeared on his unnatural face as he ran his eyes up and down my body. Is he serious? I raised my perfectly arched brow back at him in defiance. Giving him the biggest 'screw yourself' look I could muster when another male came into view. 

"Celeste? Oh my, have you grown, more beautiful of course." Michael says, handing his coat to one of the maids before strolling towards me to embrace me with a kiss on the cheek. 

"You're too kind, Michael." I greet him with a genuine smile as he releases me. "My father failed to inform me that you were coming. Had I've known, I would've arranged for a more suitable greeting,” 

"That won't be necessary, though I'm sure you'll think of something," he grins, his arms now folded behind his back. His confidence was over the roof. He must be used to this sort of reaction, considering how handsome he was for a man in his forties.

After his brother's death, Michael Lockwood became the C.E.O. of Lockwood Industries and Logan’s legal guardian. However, as heir to the Lockwood fortune, Logan became the majority shareholder and chairman of the company, which gives him substantial power, even more than the C.E.O. 

"Ah, Michael! Get the devil over here!" My father greets abruptly, descending the glass stairwell.

"Rick, it's good to see you," Michael smiles, giving him a rough manly handshake followed by a hug. 

"Logan," my father acknowledges him with a little nod, "How was the flight back from Seattle? I'm assuming you handled the business over there effectively," he says, placing one hand in his pocket and the other on my lower back. 

"It was endurable to a degree," Logan remarks huskily, billionaire playboy and all. 

Following his father's death, Logan took a much more significant role in the family's real estate business. He set about expanding the company and purchased almost $7 billion in properties, much of it in New York. 

"Well, let's not waste any more time exchanging pleasantries. There is something important we have to discuss," my father says, adjusting the lapels of his navy pinstripe suit as he steps into the formal living room. 

My father set his drink on the table and gestured for me to sit down. I silently complied, taking a seat beside him on the white plush sofa while Logan and Michael took a seat directly across from ours.

"Celeste," my father sighs. "The board has suggested that you step down as C.O.O. temporarily," he tells me.

"What?" I ask, appalled.

"They haven't seen anything in the last year that suggests you have what it takes to run a company, and long spans of inconsistencies can be detrimental to the business,"

"I delegate many of the tactical responsibilities on making managerial decisions for one of the largest corporations in the world by myself, on top of running RoyceAir and the Royce Foundation," I exclaim.

"Be that as it may, but they feel you carry more downside risk than upside in managing the transition phase of the company. You've shifted corporate strategy for the worse considering your debt to the company." He says.

"Excuse me?" I ask, folding my arms over my chest.

"For one, they don't understand why the prototype of your supersonic jets haven't yet moved from the hangars, considering you have spent over $5 million on research alone," he fumes. 

"I don't know if you're aware, but developing a supersonic aircraft capable of flying at a speed of approximately 185 knots while about 900 feet in the air is somewhat tricky," I say, but it only adds more fuel to his wrath.

"It better be worth it because this project has done nothing but increase our debt to the company! We had to sell everything from RoyceTech's storage facility that wasn't needed for our latest software!" 

"Okay, so what? I negotiated a few deals, moved some key elements in the organization, but I consider it a life lesson. If you check the balance sheet, you'll see that Royce Enterprises not only recovered from that loss, but we made a tidy profit this quarter." I say, trying to shine a light on the situation.

His anger seemed pointless to me; we've had countless disputes over these jets for the last year and a half. There had to be something else; just as I had that thought, he pulled a disclosure form out of his suit pocket.

Oh no.  

"I've received a revised financial closure form stating you borrowed several loans from three different banks! Had I known you weren't capable of spearheading this project, I would not have left it upon you!" He yells, throwing the corporate form on the table in exasperation.

I leaned forward, taking the form in my hands as I read through my annual disclosure report. Great, the balances owed to my visa account decreased again. The amount owed fell to a range of $90 million to $200 million. I continued to read on when I placed my hand over my mouth to muffle the sound of a gasp escaping my parted lips at the amount I owed these banks, and at least five of those loans are due by the end of the year. But that's not the worst part; I'm also liable for $55 million of the debt, meaning a creditor could go after my personal, not corporate assets if I default.  

I curl my lips, fighting the urge to laugh at the situation, as I slowly close my form and place it inside my purse. 

"You better pray your Luxors are a success because they will not only be used to pay back your loans to the bank but to compensate Royce Enterprises for every dollar you wasted on this project!" He yells, furrowing his eyebrows in anger. 

I nodded my head as I sat there, helpless. I was too scared even to think. The smallest thing would have my father flying into a rage, yelling, saliva spitting out with each jagged word. 

"However, your recklessness is not the reason why I called you here,” he sighs heavily, placing a hand on my thigh, “I'm selling Royce Enterprises."  

I look up at him with just my eyes, "Why?"

"I built this entire company from the ground up when I was only 22 years old, and I've served my purpose to ensure Royce Enterprises has a precedent for the future. That being said, I'm officially retiring. I have been on the search for someone to take over the company for a while now,"

"Daddy, I am fully capable of handling the company alone," I say, trying to talk him out of making a big mistake.   

"You don't have enough experience with international relations, and with the current growth rate of Royce Enterprises, your ability to conduct business separately is unacceptable." He says.

"You and I both know that's not true," I seethe. 

"How many times have I told you to keep the corporate jets out of the hands of celebrities and sell them mostly to larger corporations. Honestly, Celeste, there is not enough money in the world to fix the mess you created,” he states, rubbing his face in frustration.

"What, I make one mistake, so I lose the company?" I ask scathingly.

"Celeste, be rational. You and I both know you're not capable of running a billion dollar company, especially since the board wants you out. I'm trying to come up with a compromise to keep the company's integrity intact and secure your position as C.O.O.,"

"Fine, if you insist on selling the company, Royce Enterprises better go to the highest bidder. Someone who will maintain the company's integrity and not cheapen the brand," 

"Exactly! This buyer is committed to maintaining the company's integrity, and he wants you to be a part of the next phase." 

"Who's the lucky bastard?" I ask.

"That bastard would be me, princess," Logan says, with a devilish smirk on his lips. "I have agreed to buy Royce Enterprises in its entirety for 10 billion dollars," 

God, that's a lot of money. No wonder my father wasn't hesitant to sell the company; his net worth will be billions. But they're crazy if they think I will ever work under Logan. I don't work under anyone. 

"Daddy, please, I will not downgrade as Mr. Lockwood's new executive assistant." I fume at him. 

"You will not be Logan's executive assistant, Celeste. You still acquire full authority as the public face of Royce Enterprises. Nothing can be bypassed without your confirmation or signature," he says. 

"I can assure you that we have the company's best interest at heart. Lockwood Industries has taken pride in the oil business, and we have amassed a private fortune of our own as successful real estate moguls. However, for us to agree to the terms of this agreement, you must be in a pretentious relationship with Logan in return," Michael says, bringing the glass of scotch to his lips.

"What!"

Telling by the way my father sat there quietly confirmed to me he was in on it. It hurt that he only saw me as a tool to sell as transactions to save his company. But, I was honestly more shocked at Logan’s silence and the lack of rebuttal on his end against this imposed agreement. 

"Our investors are very keen on Logan's corporate identity. And with the number of women selling their warped stories about him to the press, it won't ease the situation. I believe the best way to ensure his reputation remains intact is if our families made a merger," Michael says, looking directly at my father.

"I agree," my father acknowledges with a nod. 

"Agree to what? Marrying your daughter off against her own will?"

"This relationship will bring great P.R. to the business, which will carry on to reimburse the rest of your debts to the company. Now that Logan will become the majority shareholder of Royce Enterprises, he can convince the Board to let his wife keep her position. At the same time, his reputation remains intact to the public eye," My father smiles, which only infuriates me more. 

I could feel my face heating as the veins in my neck throb as I grew angrier from my father's betrayal. How dare he go behind my back with something so big. I refuse to let them take advantage of me. 

"He can find any girl to marry. Why does it have to be me?" I ask, leaning forward with my hands in my hair. 

"We can discuss the technicalities of the relationship later. For now, I need you to sign the agreement contract that will forgo this marriage and will allow Logan to oversee most of the negotiations, legal work, due diligence, and other formalities of the investment," Michael says, which causes me to scoff. 

Their deal doesn't line up. I can feel something not right about them. I don't believe our new acquirers genuinely care about the company at all. 

"I think this meeting is over," I say, smoothing down my dress as I rise from my seat.

"If you refuse to sign the agreement contract, then I will remove you from all affiliations with Royce Enterprises," Logan growls in a threatening voice. 

I glare at him, his captivating ice blue eyes darkened by every second that passed by. 

"I will do it, don't tempt me." 

How dare he disrespect my father by treating me like this! Not that I could care less if my father deserved any respect.

"Logan, that's enough!" Michael fumes, rising from his seat. "Celeste, don't let your personal feelings fathom over the prosperity of the company. Unfortunately, my nephew happens to be a highly sought-after businessman throughout the corporate world. Look at this arrangement as a very profuse engagement rather than a marriage. If it is believable to our investors, you won't have to marry Logan. And, the money from the sale will give you a chance to build a future and maybe one day buy it back,"

I highly doubt that. I fiddle around with my 20 carat diamond ring on my finger, which was a family heirloom given to me by my mother. I bit the inner portion of my cheeks inside my mouth before letting out a deep sigh. If my own father couldn't even help me, who could? I had no choice but to relinquish control and become his wife. 

"Okay, I'll do it," 

I avert my gaze to my father's as he hands over the agreement contract and a pen; the oh-so-familiar pain starts to make my eyes gloss up as they wait for my signature. I reach for the pen, adjusting it to the comfort of my palm, and with that, I press the pen to the paper and sign my fancy signature, Celeste Victoria Royce.

"Well, gentlemen, it's been a pleasure doing business with you," my father says, shaking their hands. 

I angrily rose from my seat and stormed out of the room so they wouldn't see the continuous angry tears streaming down my face. I hurriedly brushed them away and stalked down the hallway towards the elevators.

I felt a hand grip my upper arm, and my body jerked back. I managed to catch myself centimeters from crashing into my assailant's chest. I looked up, straightening myself when my eyes met a pair of icy blue eyes that belonged to none other than Logan Lockwood. 

How dare he touch me like that!

I scoffed, turning my back to him, but he circles his hand around my waist, and pulls the back of my body tightly against the front of his, igniting an unexpected, raw emotion within me.

I close my eyes, flinching in obvious discomfort, and try to fight out of his strong hold, but the grip he has around my waist only tightens.

"It's been a long time since we were this close," he says, while his other hand travels down my neck and then slowly down the bodice of my dress. "It is admirable how much you care for your company that you're willing to give yourself so easily to the man who took it away,"

A burning hatred boiled silently in my veins. I take a deep breath, turning around to face Logan, speaking with as much authority as possible. "Listen carefully, don’t ever touch me like that without my consent, got it! Now you will let me go, and if you so much as try showing your face at my company, I promise you will regret it. I hold all authority in my company, not you!" I held eye contact with him to make sure he understood.

He scoffed, pulling back. I attempted to walk away, but this time he caught my hand and pushed me against the wall. A gasp escaped my parted lips as both of my arms rose against the wall. His face was close to mine, his nose barely an inch from mine, and he pinned me further into the wall using his hips, rendering me immobile for the moment. 

His entire being radiated power. "Now you listen carefully to me; this deal is nothing more than a f*****g business arrangement. I have accepted that you will be my betrothed, but I am warning you right now that is all you are, and if you defy me again, I promise it will not end well for you. Do you understand me?”

Enslaved by fear, all I could do was submit. "Yes,"