Chapter 1
I crossed my right leg over my left one, glancing at the clock which told me I had been sitting here for an hour. Clutching my file with my hands, I waited for my turn to go into the CEO’s office for my interview. But as I looked around me, taking note of nearly fifty women sitting waiting for their turns, I knew it was going to be a long time before I was allowed to go in, which didn’t help lessen my anxiety in the least. I needed to get this interview over with as soon as possible, my little brother was at home, alone, which was not ideal for his current condition, and I needed to go to him.
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 towards the lone elevator that was present on the floor and stabbed the call button repeatedly until the elevator arrived. Entering the elevator, her existence 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 with 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 was not 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.
Gideon Maslow owned the world’s biggest business empire, and was the very definition of rich, he was practically royalty. There was nothing in this world that the man couldn’t buy. He owned five private islands and was planning on buying one of the Bahamas; something I got to know after doing some research on him when I saw the newspaper advertisement.
It was just another day when I was scanning the newspaper searching for a third job, when I came across an unusual advertisement.
Bride Wanted
Gideon Maslow, a world renowned entrepreneur is in need of a potential bride who can provide him with an heir in less than a year, who will inherit his empire in the future. Mr. Maslow will pay the woman one million pounds in cash after the baby is born and the year long contract is over.
Interviews for Mr. Maslow’s potential bride will start from December 6th, 2015 till December 7th, 2015. All interested candidates must bring their résumés containing every little detail about themselves; their age, race, background, genetic diseases, etc. Candidates with forged information will be disqualified.
For more information contact, Maslow Enterprises Headquarters;
Contact number: xxx-xxxxxxx
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 for 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 picked 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 towards 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 begun fiddling with the necklace around my neck. Nico, my little brother, had given me the necklace on my nineteenth birthday. It was nothing extravegant, 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 like 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 towards 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’s 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 there 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 slightly graying on the edges, with piercing brown eyes. His face was hard, with only a few wrinkles that hinted at his old 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, blonde hair and sea green eyes. His face was smooth with a lean body.
Besides the young man, sat a man who was about twenty seven. He had a sharp jawline, with 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 supporting 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 spoke.
I quickly sat on the opposite couch and put my file on the glass table, which the deadly man instantly took, opening it while 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 in my palm 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 voice. 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 being 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 enquired.
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 on his face.
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, ehh 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 one of London’s most eligible bachelors.
“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 just said.
I nodded, hoping he would agree to the marriage. “Yes, sir.”
“What makes you think I would marry you?” he enquired arrogantly.
“Pardon me?”
“After going through your information, I am not really convinced that I want you as my wife. Both of your parents died due to heart diseases, 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 a heart disease, and I don’t want my child to have a defective heart,” he stated.
“It’s not necessary that I will suffer from a 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 unhygienic environment, meaning your body is flowing with all sorts of toxic chemicals that you’re inhaling, not to mention the fact that you live in East End London, a place for the poor,” he countered, making me feel small after 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, is 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 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, 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.
Shaking my head, I smiled and stood up. “Thank you, but no thanks, I would prefer to earn money for my brother’s surgery. I might not be rich, Mr. Maslow, but I’m not a charity case either.” Taking my file from him, I clutched it to my chest.
“You sure? It would benefit you and your brother greatly,” Gideon persisted, but I wasn’t going to budge.
“I may lack class and status, but I do have dignity and self-respect. Thank you for your time, Mr. Maslow, I’ll be going now, goodbye Mr. Maslow,” I stated. Turning on my heel, making sure to keep my head held high, I walked out of Gideon Maslow’s office, and out of his life.
Exiting the lofty building which was Maslow Enterprises, I begun fiddling with my necklace again, as the weight of my problems and responsibilities threatened to pull me down. Looking around the busy London street I had only one thought swirling in my head.
How was I going to pay for Nico’s surgery now?
What was I going to do now?
