Chapter One

Raymond called for his assistant immediately he got to work, anybody who saw him knew that he was angry and so no one tried to get in his way. A knock on the door startled him before he composed himself "come in." The door was pushed open and a young man entered, he has a sandy blonde hair and light blue eyes, he was carrying stack of documents and snappily walked to Raymond's desk and dropped them "you...you...you sent for me sir?" He asked nervously. Raymond stared at him coldly "Morris, why did it take you five minutes to get here?" "Em...sir, I was still on my way to the office when I received your call, so I hurried up to meet you. I'm sorry if I kept you waiting." "Kept me waiting? Which assistant stays at home until his boss arrives at the officer before him?" Raymond bellowed. "I'm so sorry sir but the company resumes by eight hundred, it's still seven fifty five sir. I didn't know you will be here early" Morris tried to defend himself. Raymond eyelashes lowered and he stared at Morris coldly "so now you tell me when my company resumes work?" "No..no...no..no...sir, I was just" he paused and took a deep sigh "I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again." After receiving his apology, Raymond looked away from him "a new uprising arose in my grandparents home this morning" he paused and pinched the bridge of his nose "they are giving me condition." "What condition sir?" Morris asked. "I am to be the sole owner of the Baldwin Empire only after one year of my marriage." "What!" Morris exclaimed. "Yes" Raymond stood up from his desk and walked to the floor to ceiling window, his hands in his pant pockets "now this is a really big problem. I don't see myself getting married soon and even I am to be, one year is way to long. I must be the CEO of the Baldwin, I must." Morris was silent as his thoughts run wild "hmm, as far as I know old boss Desmond, he will do as he say." "Exactly" Raymond turned to look at him "why do you think I'm worked up about this? He even said he will put it like that in his will" he walked to his desk, his hands on his chair with his brows creased, he was thinking really hard "something has to been done. I must own it before the anniversary next year because of that membership to the World Club, I can only be accepted if I own the Baldwin since they only accepts Legendary companies. I can't join with any of my own, it's not be long I set them up. The Baldwin has been around for a hundred years, I can only get Raymond Corp and the rest into the World with the Baldwin as their umbrella. So you see, I have to get married this year" he looked at Morris. "So what are you going to now?" Morris asked before a new idea struck him "wait a minute, how about you fake a marriage?" Raymond looked at him with confusion evident in his eyes "fake a marriage? Is that possible?" "Of course. You just need to find a girl, tell her about your plans, offer her some money which she can't refuse and you get yourself a wife." "Hmm" Raymond considered the idea until a sweet smile graced his lips "offer her money, ladies can't refuse money. I just need to hire a priest, fake the certificate and get a contract with the girl, once grandpa makes me the owner of the Baldwin, we will claim to have issue and request for a divorce. Grandpa and grandma will remain in the dark, I will pay the lady and she goes, life goes on for me" he laughed. "This is why you are still by my side Morris, your brain is really why you are here" Raymond smiled and sat down on his chair. Morris don't know whether to accept his comment as a compliment or an insult but he still said "thank you sir." "Now, the problem now is to find a suitable bride" Raymond said. "You have had a lot of flings sir, can't you choose one from your exes?" Morris suggested. "No, no, all of them wants to marry me. None of them will agree to be Mrs. Baldwin for a year and let go, they might expose me to grandpa because they will like to remain my wife for good. I need to find a new girl, an innocent one who is only after money and not fame" Raymond looked thoughtful and a move at his office door knob caught his attention. He stood up and quietly walked to the door. Morris stared at him confusingly "what..." He wanted to ask when Raymond placed a finger on his lips. Raymond opened the door abruptly and an older woman fell into his arms. The woman stood uprightly immediately. "I'm so sorry sir, it's... Its...it's not what you think" the woman apologized immediately. Raymond stared at her "what brings you to my office Mrs. McCarthy?" "Em...em, this letter arrived and I just wanted to pass it to you" she fumbled with her cloth and passed an envelope to him nervously. Raymond took the envelope from her "okay." "I will return to my desk now sir" Katherine turned to walk away. Raymond stared at her leaving figure with his eyelashes lowered "I think she heard everything sir" he heard Morris whispered behind him and he nodded "I know" he replied. "What should I do sir? Do you think she can keep her lips sealed?" Morris asked. "I don't know. Even if she will, I don't trust her" Raymond answered "doesn't she has a niece?" Morris thought about it "yes she does. The daughter of her late brother, she has been taking care of her since she was little." "Hmm. I'm I not in need of a bride at the moment Morris?" He looked at him with a sly smile. Getting his hidden meaning, Morris smiled "yes you are sir." Raymond smiled "you can leave now, tell McCarthy to come to my office during her break period." "Yes sir" Morris nodded and left the office while Raymond shut the door and walked back to his desk, a sly smile playing on his lips.