Mr. CEO Sassy Bride

Herbert Jones bounded toward his boss’a SUV as soon as it came to a halt in the parking lot. He intended to unlatch the backseat door, but was taken aback when he saw his boss emerging from the driver’s seat.

Tall and distinguished in his appearance, he exuded an air of accomplishment.

‘What’s the deal with the new driver?’ Herbert wondered. ‘Has he already been fired? Please don’t tell me he’s been let go yet again. I have enough on my plate without having to chauffeur him around.’

Lost in his thoughts, Herbert only snapped back to reality when his boss stood in front of him with a displeased look.

“Did you even hear what I said?” Nelson snapped, his handsome face contorting into a scowl.

Herbert straightened his tie and shook his head. “No, Mr. Carter,” he replied honestly.

“Research Archaeopteryx for me right away,” Nelson commanded, his tone authoritative as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

For a split second, Herbert was puzzled. “Archaeopteryx?” he repeated, testing the word. He considered asking his boss for clarification, as he had never heard of it before.

But then he realized that his boss wouldn’t be asking him to search for something he already knew.

“I will investigate the definition, Mr. Carter. This way,” He intended to escort his boss to the hall when Nelson suddenly howled.

“The meaning of that word now, Herbert!”

“Right away, sir,” Herbert nodded curtly and swiftly typed away his fingers on his tablet.

Almost immediately, his brows furrowed in a scowl as he gazed at the unattractive creature on his device.

“What is it? Let me see,” Nelson had advanced closer as Herbert handed him his tablet.

“That is Archaeopteryx, sir,” he observed, puzzled as to why his boss was suddenly searching for such a bird.

In the meantime, a deep frown manifested on Nelson’s forehead, dominating his features.

“Is this truly Archaeopteryx?” he muttered to no one, zooming in to get a better glance at the unappealing bird images.

“Herbert,” he called out after a few moments of silence, without breaking his gaze from the tablet. “Does this bird bring anyone to your mind?”

Herbert grimaced in disgust, “Not at all, Mr. Carter. That bird is the most ugly thing I have ever laid eyes on, sir.”

Nelson then turned to face him, “So you are saying this bird bears no resemblance to me, or that I do not resemble this bird?” His expression tensed as he spoke the word.

As Herbert let out an almost implausible chuckle, he remarked, “Mr. Carter, you are undoubtedly the most striking man I have ever encountered. I must admit, I am sometimes envious of your striking appearance. So what could lead you to believe that you resemble this dreadful bed?”

Nelson’s fury, which had never truly dissipated, tripled upon hearing his assistant’s words.

“I swear, I will comb every corner of this city in search of that despicable woman,” he uttered through gritted teeth in a low voice.

“Excuse me, sir?” Herbert hadn’t heard his words just now.

“Have the candidates arrived yet?” Nelson inquired, attempting to shake off his grumpy mood.

“Yes, sir. The hall is nearly filled with the candidates, which means you will be stepping into the spotlight soon. However, you still have a few minutes to prepare,” Herbert delivered proficiently.

Nelson gave a single nod. “Let’s go.”

On the other side, Leilani Hernandez had arrived at the interview venue, but she couldn’t wrap her head around what was happening.

A large signboard stood at the entrance of the hall, proudly displaying bold letters that posed the question; Can You Make A Good Wife?Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

It was at this moment that she realized she hadn’t asked Hannah anything about the job, leaving her clueless and confused.

Desperate, she attempted to call Hannah, but her phone was not in service. Damn!

As she let out a sigh, she made her way towards the grand hall, only to be greeted by a woman asking for her name and handing her a number tag before leading her inside.

Once inside the lavishly decorated hall, Leilani spotted a lady seemingly contemplating where to sit amongst the crowded room.

“Hello. Can you please tell me what is happening here? I am at a loss,” Leilani inquired.

The woman smiled and asked, “Have you ever heard of a contract marriage?”

Leilani nodded, and the lady continued, “A wealthy billionaire is in urgent need of a wife. Therefore, all the women present here will be interviewed one by one on how to be an ideal wife.”

“From there, I believe the chosen lady with the highest scores will sign a contract with the billionaire. Oh, how I wish to be that lucky lady,” the woman dreamily finished, embracing herself.

Leilani absorbed the explanation, a contract marriage promising a fortune at the end of their fake arrangement. A pretend wife? No big deal.

With her lips stretched in the widest grin, she thanked the lady before eagerly making her way into the magnificent hall.

She resolved to answer any questions posed accurately and excel in any tests administered.

After searching for a front-row seat for some time, she finally found an empty one in the middle row of three. She had barely taken her seat when the woman who had given her the tag earlier appeared on stage, speaking into the microphone attached to her fitted jacket.

“Welcome, esteemed participants, to this thrilling competition. Although I have the honor of serving as host for this esteemed affair, I am delighted to announce that the judges and the head of the interview will be joining us momentarily. Best of luck to all of you.”

As the audience erupted in applause, the woman gracefully retreated to the side of the stage.

Just then, the distinguished presence of Nelson Carter and his assistant, along with another well-dressed gentleman, graced the high table. The enigmatic aura of the room seemed to intensify with their arrival.

“A handsome one, isn’t he?” the blonde lady sitting beside Leilani gushed, her eyes fixated on the podium where the judges were taking their seats.

Curious, Leilani followed the blonde’s gaze, only to have her breath taken away as she laid eyes on the man now seated at the center of the high table. Her lungs seemed to have closed up entirely, and she couldn’t believe her eyes.

Her heart raced, and she found herself gaping in shock. She blinked repeatedly, hoping it was all just a mirage, but it wasn’t. The man she had insulted and nearly slapped earlier was now sitting regally in front of her.

In that moment, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. She knew there was no chance she could make a good impression now.

Desperately, she looked to her left and right for a way out, but it seemed every possible escape route was blocked. Resigned, she prepared herself for the inevitable embarrassment to come as the first candidate began their interview.

Leilani took a sharp breath, her words stuttering as she scolded, “You’ve tarnished your reputation, you foolish girl,” she chided, her head lowered as her cascading brunette locks covered her face.

She persistently concealed her face with her hair, avoiding Nelson’s piercing gaze.

His chin raised with regal grace, Nelson surveyed the crowd like a king examining his subjects. Yet his expression contorted with deep frowns upon spotting Leilani’s hair-covered face.

“What’s the matter with her?” he wondered aloud.

Unexpectedly, Nelson’s voice boomed, cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. “Hey, brunette!” he called out, attracting attention. “Why are you hiding your face?”

Leilani’s heart raced, murmuring under her breath, “Holy thunder.”

His frown deepened, anticipating her to reveal her face and regain her composure. But Leilani remained resolute in her actions.

“Get up, young lady,” Nelson commanded, his tone as cold as ever.

For the first time in a while, fear flooded Leilani’s lungs, a living entity within her. She struggled to rise to her feet.

Despite the shock and confusion of the onlookers, Leilani stubbornly continued to obscure her face, earning her the title of a ghost among some of them.

“Uncover your face now,” Nelson demanded, but Leilani stood firm, her chest heaving vigorously under her hair.

Nelson’s blue irises morphed into a menacing shade, demanding, “Reveal yourself at once!”

The resonance of his baritone sent tremors down Leilani’s spine, causing her to unconsciously tuck her hair behind her ear, exposing her defeated face.

The second their gazes locked, a look of shock washed over Nelson’s features, unable to mask his surprise.

Bending towards his assistant’s ear, he hastily searched for information on Leilani’s background. As soon as he processed the information…

His eyes ignited into a blaze of blue flames, his lips twisting into a predatory snarl as he fixed his gaze on a visibly anxious Leilani.

“Congratulations, Leilani Hernandez. For the next three months, you shall serve as my bride. Let us proceed and sign the contract.”