The CEO’s contract wife

~Mary’s pov~ I just found out that my father’s company is going bankrupt which explains why he has been so moody and sad during the week. I tried asking him what the problem was but he didn’t want to tell me anything. Even my stepmom Regina hasn’t been herself, she hasn’t cursed at me which is her normal routine anytime she sets her eyes on me and the house has been awfully quiet . We had a family meeting in the morning. my dad sat on his chair in his study while I, my stepsister Cassandra and my stepmom Regina sat on the couch facing him. “I called all of you here this morning to discuss an important matter with you”. He said and took a deep breath. “ our company is about to go bankrupt”. He said with a shaky voice. “What do you mean by ‘our company is about to go bankrupt” my step mum Regina replied. “I put a huge amount of the company’s money on an investment I was sure was going to yield positive results but surprisingly it didn’t work out and now we’re about loosing everything “. He said then he took a tissue paper and wiped the corner of his eyes. “Mario Wilson, how could you make such a mistake?”Regina cried out. “Now it’s not the time for the blame game, we have to think of a solution if not we’ll loose everything and I don’t want that” Cassandra said with a calm voice. I’ve never seen someone so calm but malicious at the same time. “Dad is there anything we can do to avoid this?” I asked. “I don’t know but I’ve called many of our investors who hold shares with our company but they refused to help and a few of them will sue the company if I loose any penny of their money”. “ How could you let this happen Mario?” Regina shouted and stoop up angrily. “Well, the only person that agreed to help me is Mr Ronaldo Steele but he wants something in return” my dad said and looked straight into my eyes. I got scared at that point. “And what might that be?” Regina asked curiously and sat down quickly. “He wants Children” my dad replied. “If he wants children, why can’t he have that with any woman of his choice,c’mon he’s handsome or does he want you to help him search for a woman who would bear him children?” Cassandra asked and laughed. “ something close to that, he specifically said he wants Mary to bear him children, he Also said she had all the characteristics he wants his children to have”.I was speechless for some seconds, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from my father. “ is this a joke or what. . Why me?. . Is he crazy? . . Did you agree to that ?. . Dad?” I asked with curiosity written all over my face. Everyone in the room was as shocked as I was. Cassandra couldn’t stop staring at me. “ I didn’t agree to it. . So he threatened to make sure no one helps me get back my company if it finally goes down the drain”. My dad said and started shedding tears. I couldn’t help but feel pity for him but I had to walk out of his study because It felt like I was suffocating in there. Regina and Cassandra were still talking to my dad and I could here Cassandra throwing a tantrum, I didn’t know what it was all about. I ran to my room and closed the door behind me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how devastated my dad would be if he finally looses his company, his hard work. I still remember how my mum and dad built that company together from the scratch before my dad impregnated Regina his secretary. My mum couldn’t bear the pain so she divorced my dad and later died of cancer. I’m still very angry at my dad for what he did to my mum but I love my dad and I wouldn’t want to loose him the way I lost my mum. In the evening, I heard a knock on my door so i went to open it. “ Regina, what do you want?” I asked with a disgusted look on my face. “ can I speak to you for a minute?” She said. “ you have only one minute” I replied. “ I know you hate me for everything happened but I know you clearly that want you dad to loose his company, he built it from the scratch, do this for him and your mum”.she said. I got so angry and I swore I could feel my blood boiling inside my vain. “ the nerve of you to say anything about my mum, when you and destroyed her home and made her devastated. . You have no right to ask me for any favors . . Please leave my room” I said I held the door open for her to leave. “ I know we clearly hate each other , I won’t deny that but think about your dad” she replied. “ the only reason you’re trying to convince me is because you don’t want to go broke , you want to continue living your luxurious life and you’re not begging because of my dad . . Gold digger” I said and shut the door. I know she doesn’t have the right to beg for anything but she’s right. Even if I have to do this, I will do it because my dad is the only family I have now and I don’t want to loose him. In the evening I walked to my father’s study, he was standing next to the window and staring at the sky. “ I’m going to do it. . I’m going to bear his children but i can’t do that without him getting married to me, I promised myself never to have a child outside marriage”. My dad walked up to me and led me to the couch and we sat down. “ you don’t have to do this Mary, I’m sorry I haven’t been a good father to you and I haven’t been protecting but you don’t need to sacrifice yourself”.he said and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “There’s no need for this long conversation we’re having, I’m doing it because I don’t want to loose you, you’re the only true family I have now”. My dad hugged me tight and it was as if the flood gate in his eyes were opened, he cried so much, I’ve never seen him like this and I felt bad for him so I hugged him. “ I’ll call Mr Ronaldo and tell him about what you just told me , I know we don’t have a choice but i have to try my best”. He said and looking straight into my eyes . “Okay” I replied and retired to my room