MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE'S HEIRLOOM

MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

ANNETTE'S POV

"Why? You look shocked." He commented and again, my face became a piping hot red I could tell. It made me want to smack his mouth shut. "Don't you get enough compliments? I'm very sure the last time I saw you, you had makeup on. Even though most of it was soaked in sweat from all that anger. Still looked stunning."

There was a hint of mockery in those words but still I hopefully held on to the words, pretending they were genuine. As a girl whose whole life had been centered around being the good girl, leading a life of direction with people having high expectations for her, I was restricted for half of it. I was portrayed as perfect. Yet, beneath the girl who looked like she got it together, I was crumbling. Like I am right now with students debts, a shaky job and a rent that's due. Plus, my mother's health.

My countenance fell.

"Are you okay? If my words seem provocative, I'm sorry."

I scoffed dismissively. "What? No. That's not it."

"I guess I'm free for now. The name is Connor Friedman and you are?"

The name sounded familiar—too familiar even to be true. I tried ransacking my brain to remember where I'd heard the name but it just didn't click so I gave up.

"I'm Annette but you can call me Ann for short." He nodded as if observing the name in his head before he sat up straight to talk.

"My mother's name was Annabelle."

"Was? What happened to her?"

"Died. She had cancer but it was too late to save her, I guess. It had become terminal before we realized she had it. Even if she did realize, she wouldn't have had enough money to treat herself."

I frowned. He looked and acted rich. How come his mom never had enough money to treat herself? She had so many questions to ask but she went with the simpler question.

"And your dad?"

"He was too busy with family and work so he barely had time for me. I was with my grandfather when the news got to me that he was murdered. I knew he was one hell of a tough man but I still blame him for mother's death." His voice slowly lost the iciness to it for a second which was weird but before I could dwell too much on it, he cleared his throat and sat up. "What about you? What dark gruesome experience has life thrown at you?"

"Me?" I laughed shortly and bit my lips. "My story is pretty crazy and embarrassing but it's one of the reasons why I'm here."

Connor leaned back, a grin on his handsome face.

"If you're here to forget your worries then I can guess your experience has to do with a breakup, a divorce or family issues."

His accuracy made my heart skip a beat as I looked at him from the side of my eyes. There was something about this man that pulled me in, made me lose every wall of protection that I've built around me and be vulnerable to him.

I swallowed. "You're right. Family crisis. Mom is sick with no money to keep up with her medication and I've just broken up with my boyfriend. I'm here with my friends to catch fun."

"Oh. So, you're that type of girl, uh?"

Connor rose and walked to the mini bar situated opposite the pool, close to the building. As he returned with two glasses and a bottle of Chardonnay, I wondered what he meant by "that type of girl".

"You know, sometimes, things like this are necessary for growth. You won't understand until you finally realize. Then, you'll thank him for breaking your heart." He spoke, experience swimming in his eyes.

One could tell he was in his late thirties but he looks like he ages like wine. I wondered how many girls had the nerve to break his heart.

"My ex wife...she was all I could ever wish for. But she left. Today, I realized if she didn't, I would have been limited. No freedom, weighed by the responsibility of being a committed husband and so many bullshit." He drank heavily.

"You don't want to be committed?"

"No. I'm looking towards being in a relationship but strictly on my own terms." We stayed quiet for a while as I studied his words carefully. "Tell me, Annette, what do you seek in a relationship?"

I looked into his beautiful hazel eyes and then down to his chiseled jawline and grim lips. "I...I don't want a committed relationship as well. Many years, I've been committed and look where it got me. Nowhere."

He seemed to be studying my face as well as his eyes hovered all over my body. I quivered internally and my toes curled. What the hell is wrong with me? I quickly swallowed the drink so as to stop my nerves from shooting precariously like a teenager.

"Then, I have a proposition for you."

"What is that?"

"Listen, it's all going to benefit you and me if you agree to this. I don't want commitment but I must get married. You don't want commitment either and I'm sure you need the money."

I glared at him. "So?"

"So, what do you say we get married? I get to keep you for two years and you cannot file for divorce unless I ask for it. In return, you earn fifty million dollars."

I gasped audibly and as my hands shook, I spilled the drink over myself. My face and chest were soaked in Chardonnay.

"Oh! This is so crazy. What do you mean get married for two years?" I was still trying to heal from heartbreak and he's here asking me to marry him. "I don't even know you."

"Even better. Besides, I'm sure I could teach you a thing or two about pleasure." He inched closer with a napkin in hand as he dabbed at my lips and his voice dropped low. "Since you wouldn't stop staring at me like that."

Our eyes met and I could swear I saw electricity cackle between us. I could feel it in my spine, in my hair and on my skin. He tucked a loose strand of my hair away which made my skin pebbled. His touch ignited fire.

What the hell am I doing? Thankfully, a ring tone jarred us both out of our fantasy before we did something stupid. Before I did something stupid. It was his phone.

"I'm sorry, excuse me." He walked away, now engrossed in his phone conversation.

I decided to grab this opportunity to slip away but he caught me, pressed a card to my hand and disappeared into the building.

"Is he crazy?" I pondered.