I’m the contracted bride of the billionaire

The ballroom glittered with the wealth and prestige of over 500 elite guests gathered under the crystal chandeliers. Philip moved smoothly among them, flashing his megawatt smile, closing deals and charming even the most curmudgeonly investors. This was his element – schmoozing power players and leveraging his clout as sole heir to the Waller empire.

“Philip! There you are,” boomed Walter Kendrick, CEO of one of their major partners. “I wanted to congratulate you personally on closing the Hanson account.”

“Thank you, Walter,” Philip shook his hand firmly. “It will be a lucrative merger for both our companies.”

“No doubt about it! With you taking over soon, Waller Communications will reach new heights,” Walter declared.

Philip nodded demurely, though inwardly he swelled with pride. All his life he’d been groomed to lead the company like his father and grandfather before him.

Gliding toward the open bar, Philip checked in briefly with his assistant Noah. All his meetings and speeches that night had gone flawlessly. Philip allowed himself a rare moment of self-congratulation. The board members and investors had practically been eating out of his hand.

Nearby, Philip spotted his stepmother Cambel holding court with her ladies’ charity club. Though they traveled in the same social circles, he’d never warmed to his father’s aloof second wife. They exchanged merely a polite nod before Philip moved on through the crowd.

“There you are, darling!” trilled a familiar voice. Philip steeled himself as Alexa, draped in diamonds and couture, suddenly approached, trailing camera flashes.

“Alexa,” he greeted tightly. “You look lovely as always.”

“I’ve missed you these last months, Philip,” she purred, getting in close. “Don’t you think it’s time we put that messy breakup behind us?”

Philip deftly extracted himself from her grasping manicured hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to find my father.”

He left Alexa pouting prettily. As much as it displeased his family, Philip had no intention of giving her a second chance to betray him after he discovered her cheating ways.

At last Philip spotted his father, Arthur Waller, surrounded by a circle of gravell-voiced businessmen. Though in his 60s, Arthur still cut an imposing figure with his astute gaze.

“Philip, come say hello to the investment team from Singapore,” Arthur summoned him over. Back ramrod straight, Philip joined his father, making polite conversation, but subtly noting the bags under Arthur’s eyes, the wrinkles deepening on his forehead. The decades building this empire had taken their toll.

After over an hour of schmoozing, Philip was able to snag a brief private word with his father.

“You did well tonight, son,” Arthur told him gruffly. “Our partners are assured Waller Comm is in good hands with you at the helm one day.”

Philip’s chest swelled. “Thank you, father. It’s gratifying to hear.”

“Yes, well, don’t let it go to that big head of yours,” Arthur cautioned. “There is still much preparation ahead before you take over. We’ll discuss more at brunch tomorrow – I’ve called a family meeting.”

Philip nodded, surprised. His father was not inclined to casual family gatherings. Whatever was on the agenda must be serious.

After the gala, Philip headed to the members club with some colleagues, letting off steam over cigars and cognac. But his mind kept returning to the cryptic family meeting. What was this about?

By Sunday morning when Philip arrived at his family’s sprawling Hamptons estate for brunch, questions and speculation were still swirling in his mind.

He found his father, stepmother, and two stepsiblings, eighteen year old fraternal twins Becky and Thomas, already settled around the table on the sun-dappled veranda. Arthur was scanning the Wall Street Journal while Cambel sipped mimosas with Becky. Thomas was fully absorbed with his phone.

Philip pulled out the empty seat beside his father. “Good morning. I trust everyone slept well after last night’s successful events.”

There were murmurs and nods in response, though the atmosphere seemed charged with tension. Arthur folded his newspaper and cleared his throat.

“As you all know, I’ve built this company up from nothing over the past 35 years through sheer will and determination,” he began solemnly. “But I’m not getting any younger. The time has come for me to consider stepping back and putting my legacy in strong hands.”

Philip’s breath caught in anticipation, wondering if this speech was leading where he hoped.

“With that in mind,” Arthur continued, “I want to make some changes to my succession plans for who will one day control Waller Communications.”

Philip sat up straighter, pulse elevating. This was it. His life’s work about to be rewarded.

“Thomas,” Arthur turned to his stepson. “You are hardworking and innovative. I see you taking over the tech divisions someday, on the executive leadership team.”

Thomas glanced up, seemingly unsurprised by this pronouncement. “Of course, father. I’m happy to contribute however you see fit.”

Philip clenched his jaw. Thomas was booksmart but green as grass when it came to the realities of business leadership. Still, challenging his father now would not be wise.

Arthur went on. “Cambel, my dear, you will increase your presence on the lifestyle media board. Becky will join you there once she completes her MBA.”

The women murmured gracious acknowledgements.

“And Philip…” Here Arthur finally turned to him, lips pursed. Philip resisted the urge to loosen his suddenly tight collar.

“Your gala performance last night proved you have the charm and connections to influence investors,” Arthur said. Philip allowed himself a thin smile.

“However…”

Philip’s smile faltered.

“There is still the open matter of your maturity in relationships. I need assurances you will settle down responsibly. The leader of a empire like ours requires an appropriate partner.”

Philip blinked, wrongfooted. “Father, I assure you since Alexa I have been far more discerning with-”

“No need to explain,” Arthur cut him off briskly. “I have devised a simple test to confirm you are ready for leadership. You will select a suitable wife and marry within the next six months. Once married and settled into family life, we will revisit you taking over the company.”

Philip’s jaw dropped as the bomb detonated. Marry within six months? To a stranger? He looked around at the others. Thomas was smirking while Cambel avoided his gaze, sipping her mimosa with pursed lips. They must have already known.

“Father this is highly unreasonable,” Philip spluttered in outrage. “You cannot dictate who I should marry!”

But Arthur was immovable as granite. “You have your instructions. I need evidence you are reliable and stable before placing billions in your hands. End of discussion.”

The rest of brunch passed in a blur. Philip responded woodenly to Becky and Thomas’s wedding speculations, his dreams crumbling around him. Marry whoever Cambel deemed appropriate or lose his destiny as CEO. An impossible choice.

Storming out to his sports car, Philip peeled out down the long driveway, gravel spewing in his wake. As he navigated back to Manhattan, knuckles white on the steering wheel, his thoughts spun feverishly.

How could he marry some vacant socialite to appease his father? Love was not on the table, only duty. Well, he had six months to figure a way out of this fiasco.

Little did Philip know, the remedy to his conundrum lay not with the vapid upper class women his family expected, but in a captivating artist who still lingered sweetly in his memory…

The coincidental encounter with Amelia at the mall suddenly took on new meaning. But could Philip persuade her to enter into a practical arrangement, when his scarred heart yearned for so much more?