Marrying the CEO

ALICE

I stared at the strange advertisement again, still wondering how it could be real.

Gideon Maslow, world-renowned billionaire entrepreneur. He owned the world’s biggest business empire. A man so rich and powerful he was practically royalty.

The UK’s sexiest man alive.

And he wanted a wife. A woman that could provide him with an heir for his vast kingdom in less than a year. Even weirder, this marriage would only last for one year.

And what would the woman get in exchange for her body and soul, rented out for twelve months?

One million pounds in cold, hard cash.

After the baby is born, you’re expected to give away your baby, shake hands, and walk away flush with cash.

What kind of girl would agree to such a crazy advertisement?

Well, I would.

Along with fifty other women, apparently.

The door of the CEO’s office opened, and a woman with blonde hair exited, crying her eyes out. Her mascara was running down in thin black streams while her gray eyes were bloodshot.

Without saying a word, the woman stormed toward the lone elevator on the floor and stabbed the call button repeatedly until the elevator arrived. Entering the elevator, she vanished as the doors closed.

“Number twenty-seven, Ms. Hannah, Mr. Maslow will see you now,” the lady at the reception said in a monotone.

A lady with jet-black hair and green cat-like eyes stood up gracefully and smoothed her already smooth pink dress.

Pasting on a seductive smile, she confidently sashayed inside the office. I didn’t understand how she wasn’t freezing in that flimsy dress.

My confidence faltered for the twenty-seventh time as I saw yet another beautiful woman go for her interview. Even though I had absolutely zero interest in the man himself, I was interested in what he was offering. Money.

Seeing the hefty amount the man was paying was the only reason I was sitting outside his office, waiting for my turn, ignoring the cramps in my butt from sitting for so long.

When I saw the amount, I knew the money would be enough for my brother’s surgery, and I needed to do everything I could to make sure Mr. Maslow picked me to be his wife.

All I had to do was give him an heir, and then I would be able to save my brother’s life. I just wished he’d pick me.

The door opened once again, and the lady, Hannah, stormed out looking livid. Her lips were pulled back in a snarl. Grunting angrily, she stormed toward the elevator.

“That tosser rejected me because I’m not a virgin! What planet is he from?!” she shouted, earning gasps from a few women. The elevator doors opened, and Hannah wasted little time in getting in.

Once the elevator doors closed, I sighed in relief, glad for the fact that I was still a virgin. I began fiddling with the necklace around my neck. Nico, my little brother, had given me the necklace on my nineteenth birthday.

It was nothing extravagant, just a simple rose-gold charm with a thin gold plated chain, but it meant the world to me. It had been four years, and I never took it off; it was my lucky charm.

“Number twenty-eight, Ms. Alice. Mr. Maslow will see you now,” the lady at the reception said in the same flat voice.

My heart started thumping as I slowly stood up, trying my best to look graceful, doing it just like the other women, but I knew I wasn’t exactly successful.

Tightening the belt of my coat around my waist, I clutched my file to my chest and slowly walked toward the wooden door that might or might not help save my brother’s life, my heart hammering against my ribcage.

Taking a deep breath, I gently turned the knob and entered Gideon Maslow’s office. The office was beautiful to say the least. The interior wasn’t fancy, but it looked expensive.

There were two white full-size couches, one in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling glass window and the other across from the first one, with a glass table in the middle.

On my right, there was a desk with all the office supplies neatly placed with a big, dark brown swivel chair behind it.

Against the wall were several large cabinets made out of dark wood, and a few potted plants placed expertly in the room completed the look.

Sitting on the couch against the glass window were four immaculately dressed men. All of them were wearing expensive designer suits.

The one sitting on the left corner looked to be the oldest with dark brown hair, which was graying slightly on the edges, and piercing brown eyes. His face was hard, with only a few wrinkles that hinted at his older age.

Next to the oldest man sat a young man who looked no older than twenty. He looked similar to the man on the left, except he had curly blond hair and sea-green eyes. His face was smooth, and he had a lean body.

Beside the young man sat a man who was about twenty-seven. He had a sharp jawline, thick brown hair, and piercing sea-green eyes. He looked vaguely familiar; however, I couldn’t recall where I had seen him.

Just looking at him had a shiver running down my spine. The man looked deadly, ready to strike. I knew he was the kind of man who wouldn’t hesitate to take down his opponent, no matter who it was.

The next man in line looked to be around twenty-five with curly brown hair and soft brown eyes. His handsome face was sporting a soft smile, which strangely put me at ease.

He looked a little bulky, as if he worked out a lot. But, I really liked him. Out of the four of them, the last one was the one who didn’t make me feel as if I had just entered the lion’s den.

“Sit down, miss. We don’t have much time,” the deadly man said.

I quickly sat on the opposite couch and put my file on the glass table, which the deadly man instantly took, opening it and quickly scanning its contents, his face void of emotions.

“What’s your name?” the oldest of the four men asked. He had a deep voice, and he talked with purpose.

“Alice Gardner, sir,” I answered politely, digging my nails into my palms to stop my heart from pounding.

“Where are you from?” the same man questioned.

“East End London, sir,” I replied.

“You’re poor,” the deadly man with sea-green eyes stated. His voice was rich and smooth, like melted chocolate, but he spoke with a dangerous tint in his tone.

His eyes were hard as they scrutinized me, making me feel like a rat under observation.

“I-I—” I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t deny the fact that I was indeed very poor. But hearing it said in such a derogatory manner made me feel stupid for ever thinking about coming here.

“Why did you come here?” the youngest of the four inquired.

My hand instantly flew to my necklace as I felt overwhelmed sitting in front of these rich men. “I need the money,” I answered honestly.

“Wow, honest much? And here we thought you would profess your undying love for my brother,” the bulky man stated with an amused smile.

Lowering my gaze as a blush colored my cheeks, I continued fiddling with my necklace.

“With all due respect, sir, how can I profess my love for a man I had no clue even existed until two days ago?” I blurted out then cursed myself for babbling.

“Ouch, that must’ve hurt, eh, Gideon?” the bulky man taunted, glancing at his brother, who looked as if he wanted to murder me.

My eyes widened slightly. This was Gideon? The Gideon Maslow?! No wonder he looked familiar. I had seen his pictures on the internet. He really did look like London’s most eligible bachelor.

“Why do you want the money?” Gideon questioned.

“My little brother has VSD, Ventricular Septal Defect. He has a hole in his heart, and I need money for his surgery,” I responded, my fingers not leaving my necklace.

“So you’re willing to marry me and provide me with an heir in order to get money for your little brother’s surgery, is that right?” he asked, as if confirming what I’d just said.

I nodded, hoping he would agree to the marriage. “Yes, sir.”

“What makes you think I would marry you?” he inquired arrogantly.

“Pardon me?”

“After going through your information, I’m not really convinced that I want you as my wife. Both of your parents died due to heart disease, and your brother is also suffering from a heart disease, which means, in the future, there is a strong possibility that you, too, will suffer from heart disease, and I don’t want my child to have a defective heart,” he stated.

“It’s not necessarily true that I’ll suffer from heart disease,” I argued.

“Yes, you might not, but there are also other things. You are only a high school graduate, which means you’re not highly educated either.

“You work at a trashy bar and at a gas station, meaning an unhygienic environment, meaning your body is flowing with all sorts of toxic chemicals that you’ve inhaled, not to mention the fact that you live in East End London, a place for the poor,” he countered, making me feel smaller with every word.

“The only reason I didn’t go to college was because both my parents passed away and I had to take care of my younger brother. I have to work two jobs in order to buy medicines for my brother and still need to save some money for his surgery.

“East End London is the place I was born and grew up in. I can’t and won’t apologize for that,” I explained, desperately wanting to run away.

“Tell me, have you ever eaten at an expensive restaurant? Have you ever been to a charity event?” he questioned.

“I don’t have that kind of money, sir, and if I did, the first thing I would do is get my brother the surgery he needs,” I responded firmly.

“Your hair color, is it natural?” Gideon asked.

Running a hand through my wavy, strawberry-blonde hair, I nodded. “Yes, it’s natural. My mum had strawberry-blonde hair as well,” I answered with a smile, my mum’s angelic face flashing before my eyes.

“Interesting, however, I must say there is nothing about you, other than the fact that you’re a virgin, appealing to me. Not your genetics, not your financial status, nothing. I’m looking for a woman with class and status, and unfortunately, you lack these traits.

“I’m not looking for a one-night stand; I’m looking for a wife, and I just don’t see a wife in you,” he stated, his eyes not showing a hint of emotion.

“I know how to be a wife,” I defended, trying to find some way in which I could convince Gideon to marry me. I needed the money for Nico.

I’d promised myself when I left my apartment that I would do whatever it took to convince Gideon to marry me.

“Do you now? If you become my wife, I am going to be your priority, not your brother, not anyone else, me, do you realize that?” Gideon questioned.

“I know how to divide my time according to my priorities, and I’m telling you, you will not be disappointed,” I stated firmly.

Gideon shook his head, and I knew that there was no convincing him. My heart sank. I had to find some other way to get the money.

I couldn’t let Nico, my little brother, my only family, suffer for much longer. I was just going to have to find a decent-paying job.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Gardner. I just don’t think you’re the right woman for me. However, I can pay for your brother’s surgery,” Gideon offered.

“W-what?” I asked, unsure I heard him correctly.

“You short circuited her brain, Gideon,” the man on the right laughed.

“Why would you do that?” I asked.

“Does it matter? You’ll get the money you need.” The steely look in his eyes made me nervous.

I stared at him suspiciously. There had to be a catch.

“What do I have to do?” I asked.

He smiled, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It looked almost vicious. His eyes were calculating, measuring my reaction. “Stand in front of me.”

I walked over to him, my heart hammering inside of my chest. He stood up from his chair, and even with the high heels I was wearing, he towered over me. I had to crane my neck to look up at him.

I was so close I could smell his cologne. I could see the muscles underneath his finely tailored suit. His sea-green eyes glared down at me, his gaze so domineering it made me feel small and vulnerable. I suppressed a shiver. He was the UK's sexiest man alive for good reason.

“On your knees,” he ordered.

My face went red.

“Excuse me?!” But the image flashed in my mind. I could see myself on my knees before a man like Gideon. So strong, dominant, and powerful…I shook my head. What the hell was I thinking?

“I want you to beg,” he said, his voice cold. His eyes held no mercy. “I want you to grovel and kiss my feet. I want you to beg until I see tears in your eyes. Do that, and I’ll save your brother.”