THE CEO'S SECRET BRIDE

If someone had told me years ago that I’d end up in a fake marriage with the most powerful CEO in New York, I would have laughed in disbelief.

Because I, Annabel Drake, wasn’t a desperate or love-starved woman looking for a rich man to save me. I have principles and I take pride in it. And most of all, I had hatred for everything men like Carson Clair represented.

Yet life happened when my father was framed and locked up. Leaving my mother, once a happy woman became devastated and now here I am right here standing in the luxurious office of Carson Clair that I would have vowed not to have anything to do with.

"I need you to marry me."He spilled that fateful evening after work.

My brain stopped working for a full six seconds.

Then, I laughed."I must have heard you wrong."I said, sounding as shocked as possible.

Carson leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered, like he hadn’t just dropped the most insane statement of the century.

"You heard me just fine,"he replied.

I stared at him, unsure of how to feel or what to say. A man like Carson Clair didn’t need to buy a wife, women practically threw themselves at his feet. He was rich, ridiculously good-looking, and had more power than the President, so why the hell was he looking at me like I was his only option?

"Why me?" My voice came out shaky, but I didn’t care.

"Because you hate me."He smiled.

I blinked. "And that makes me the perfect wife… how?"

"Because I don’t need a real wife," he said smoothly. "I need a contract wife.

Someone who won’t fall in love, and who will do exactly what I say and walk away when it’s over. No strings. No complications."

"And what do I get in return?"I asked curiously.

"I’ll clear your father’s name,"He said.

"Excuse me?" My voice lowers like a whisper.

"I know what happened to your father, I know he was framed. I also know that the people who did it are too powerful for you to fight alone."

"And you’re saying you can fix it?"

He nodded. "In just six months of marriage, your father’s record is wiped clean, your mother’s medical bills will be settled and you will have a secured life for yourself”.

“Be my wife,that's all,”He added.

For years, I had fought and had suffered humiliation, I watched my mother waste away, and stood helpless as my father rotted in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

And now, out of nowhere, the well known wealthy arrogant man offered me everything I had been fighting for? It's too good to be true.

"There’s something you’re not telling me," I whispered.

"There are many things I’m not telling you, Annabel. But that’s not your concern."He said unmoved.

For a second, I found myself in a situation where I just wanna run off and deny this ambush I smell, but then, my mother’s sick