The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Unhappy Birthday

CENRIC

The last two days had been rough at work, even for someone who had billion dollars. Money couldn’t buy happiness if you were not materialistic. Getting to where I was right now didn’t happen overnight. I worked hard—sweat, blood, and tears were my investment. There were trials, a lot of problems, and errors along the way. There were criticisms and rejections—tons of it, but I never gave up. I had a goal to reach, and my efforts had paid off.

I worked for long hours than usual, only to divert my attention from apologizing to my wife. I was not good at sharing my emotions and spilling my guts, and it wasn’t going to happen now. Yes, I was an asshole, a selfish son of a bitch, but Sadie was disrespectful, and she had to learn some lessons. If I tolerated that kind of attitude, she would get used to it and do it again. One of us should change, and it should be her.

And this birthday party gave me a headache. All I wanted was a charity event that didn’t have to focus on me. Everyone invited was expecting me to show up with my wife, and it was getting into my head, considering we didn’t talk. Still, everyone knew that I just recently got married and was officially off the hook from the eligible bachelors’ billionaire club. And that kind of shit I didn’t realize was a big deal.

To get her attention, I had to do something stupid. She didn’t come to me and threw her tantrums again. I gave her credit for her tenacity. Maybe she realized that it was her fault, that she deserved to get punished.

If she decided not to show up at my party, I had already arranged everything. She would be staying at one of my properties in Italy in the middle of nowhere. Her choice—be a good wife, or she wouldn’t get the job she wanted, once and for all.

“Are you sure this is what you want? I mean, can you stomach it?” I knew Linden had a soft side, and he liked my wife, but he was not also someone who questioned my decision.

“That’s a little bit jarring, don’t you think?” Devin supported him.

“That’s too much of teaching lessons. You literally locked her up in the attic, emptied the fridge, cut her off from the internet, and you’re also cutting her off from civilization?” Beck was right, but that was only if she would humiliate me at my birthday party.

“I’m just telling you my plan and what would happen. If you care about her, or this is your way of telling me that I’m gone mad, then go ahead and tell her my terms. Otherwise, I’m not changing my mind.” Well, I hoped she would catch my bait. Or else I would lose my wife forever. There was that twist in my stomach again. Fuck me. I’m losing my shit.

The way they looked at me right now, that was precisely what I wanted them to see—Wollf went mad. Because I fucking am.

“Great. Whatever you say, boss,” said Devin. It was too evident that he was against my plan, but he was just one of my employees, and his opinion shouldn’t matter.

“I guess we have a woman to convince then,” Beck said. “Chop chop, guys.” When the two didn’t even move, he glared at them. “What? Not up for it?”

“I have to meet your sister. She’s on the way here,” I told Linden.

“Thanks for doing this. It means a lot to her,” he replied.

“It goes both ways, Gabe.”

“You’ve done a lot for us. I can’t thank you enough.”

“What brothers are for if I can’t help you and your sister.” My phone buzzed. “It’s her.”

I went to my office to get the catalog she sent me two days ago, and I met her in the hallway. Willa was beautiful and kind. I was still finding it hard to believe her ex-husband cheated on her. After their divorce, she started back from the ground. As a friend and I had the privilege to help, I helped her with her gallery. Her genuine love of art made her successful in her career in just two years.

“Well, if it isn’t the birthday boy.”

“Thanks for coming.” We always hugged when we met. She was huger, and I felt like she was the woman version of Linden.

“Anytime for a friend. Happy birthday, anyway. Where’s your wife?”

“Up.”

“I’ll meet her at the party then.” She smiled.

“Of course. Sorry for the sudden changes.”

“No, no, no. The paintings are on the way.”

“Thanks. You’re the best.”

“I know, and I’m happy for you. Happy birthday again.” She kissed me on the cheek.

“Thank you. See you later.” When she was gone, I felt someone was watching me, and I knew who exactly was. I always got this feeling when she was around—the tingling sensation, the extra beating of my heart, and this stupid excitement.

When I turned around, our gazes met, but there was no hint of warmth or excitement in her eyes, just a hollow and an unfamiliar emotion I’d never seen in her before. What was it? Jealousy?

Before I could say something, she turned on her heels and left. Great fucking birthday!

I stayed in my office for a couple of minutes or maybe an hour. I decided to change my plan. I didn’t need them to convince her. On my way to the guys’ room, I heard her voice. I stopped.

It wasn’t in my nature to be interested in others’ business, and I never eavesdropped, but I couldn’t help it.

“Imagine that.” Linden sounded amused.

I started to get a bad feeling about this. I felt like they were talking about me.

“And we’ve not even celebrated our one-month anniversary. He’s already cheating on me.” Oh, boy. She was pissed. Wait, what cheat? When? How? I snorted. I never even had sex in months.

“What?”

“No way. That’s impossible,” Beck kept back. He knew wherever I went, and whatever I did, sometimes it was disgusting that someone had to know your every move.

“He won’t do that to you. He may get angry—”

“Angry? How about gone cray cray? That selfish son of a bitch!” she cut off Linden. I should be pissed off, but to my amazement, I chuckled in silence.

“Not nice to say to your husband, don’t you think?”

“He started it.” I could imagine her pouting. “And I just saw him with that bitch. He may own the roof I live in, at least be a decent human being and not sleep with someone while I’m just a door away.” What? What the fuck is she talking about? My brows knitted further.

“What do you mean?” Beck sounded so perplexed. “He was just here a while ago.”

“I saw them.”

“You saw them having—” it was Devin. He didn’t continue his sentence but knew the next word.

This chat is fucking ridiculous.

“Oh, fuck me. You got it all wrong.” Linden must be holding his laugh right now. “This woman is happened to be brunette, tall?”

“Yeah, and pretty,” she added. She sounded insecure. Poor thing. She had no idea how beautiful she was, sometimes it hurts to just look at her, and I couldn’t do anything.

“Did you take a closer look at her? Did she and I have something in common?” The room went eerily silent until a loud laugh erupted.

“She’s my sister, you little rascal. And my sister would never sleep with my brother.”

“That’s gross.” I could see her wrinkling her nose. A small smile appeared on my lips.

“That’s awful,” Devin commented.

“Cenric can be harsh sometimes, but he is softie inside. He has just a lot of things he’s working on right now. He’s always under a lot of pressure. It would be best if you gave him some credit. Even for a guy as tough as a nail, he can break sometimes. Beneath that thousand-dollar suit and rough exterior, your husband is just a man. You should get ready for the party.”

“Not going, Beck.”

Fuck.

“Everyone is expecting you. His business partners, the supporters of the charity. It would look nice if people see you together as a couple as your first official public appearance after the wedding.”

“I can’t. I’m not ready. I mean, I can’t fake that I’m okay if I’m not. I can’t lie to those people.”

“Okay. Then just be there for the event, especially for a charity you’d like to support.”

“About?”

“Child labor, violence against women, to name a few.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” they agreed in unison.

Finally, I showed up. Everyone stopped as if I had just triggered their own remote. Sadie picked up right away.

“Enjoy the party, guys.”