(The Will).
Grayson Wolfe walked into his family home in long, elegant strides; his polished shoes making low tapping sounds as they came in contact with the polished, shiny tiles.
His white shirt was half buttoned and neatly tucked into his black trousers, and he looked neat with his perfectly combed black, short hair.
With an unreadable expression, he ignored the maids who greeted him as he walked into the living room and went straight to the middle-aged woman, who was sitting on the white couch with a book in her hands.
He reached the front of the woman and stopped, "I believe there's been some kind of mix-up, Mother." Grayson's blue eyes locked on his mother's slim figure.
Mrs. Wolfe gently closed her book and slowly raised her face to look at her son.
Grayson stared into his mother's eyes that were Identical to his, but his had a contained intensity in them as he waited to hear a worthy explanation from his mother.
"Sit down, Son." Mrs. Wolfe gently patted the space beside her, placing her book on the glass table before her.
Grayson clenched his jaws and lowered himself beside his mother, his elbows resting on his knees as he turned his face to look at her.
Mrs. Wolfe sighed and crossed her legs. "Coming home after so long, it means you've also received your father's will from the lawyer. What you saw was correct, Grayson; there was no mix-up." She spoke in a calm, clear voice.
Grayson's face was devoid of any smile. "That's interesting. So, let me get this straight... before I get legal ownership of the company I've built and handled for eleven years, I'm required to get married to prove that I'm man enough and ready to take on the responsibilities of life?" His perfect brows were raised in question.
"Get married and stay married for a year... that's what the will stated," Mrs. Wolfe added.
Grayson scoffed, balling his fists in frustration.
"Listen, Grayson, your father did this because he was worried about you. He knew how hardworking you are and didn't want you to spend the rest of your life just closing deals after deals and opening different companies in different countries. He wanted you to have a life, Son..." She paused and held his hand in hers.
"He wanted you to realize that there was much more to family than our broken home. Yes, we might have separated for a long time but because he cared for his children, he never filed for a divorce, he wanted his children to grow up with their parents beside them; we might not have been the best, but we strove to give you and your twin sister the best," She looked into his distant eyes, sighing.
"I understand all this, Mother. However, it doesn't make sense. I put his name in because I was underage when I started my company, seventeen. And when I did become an adult, I just let it be because it didn't make much of a difference. I never knew he had other plans for me," He frowned.
"I wouldn't have bothered if getting married was the deal, but he had to get Omar involved," Grayson mentioned, cracking his fingers.
Mrs. Wolfe gently patted his knee, "You don't have to worry about your cousin, Omar. Your companies will only be transferred to him if you don't get engaged within this month and the next. However, if you do, I will temporarily take ownership of your companies and capital until you fulfill the terms of your father's will. But, don't worry, it's only on paper, you still run your company how you do... just make sure your marriage lasts a year, Grayson. We really can't do anything if you don't meet the terms and end up losing your hard-earned work to your flamboyant cousin," She advised.
Grayson suddenly chuckled, a low, mischievous chuckle, "You guys want a marriage, right?" He stood from the couch, "Then you better prepare to meet your daughter-in-law in a few weeks," He informed confidently and walked away, leaving his mother staring at his retreating figure in perplexity.
***
"I need a wife," Grayson announced to his manager as he slowly reclined against his office chair, staring out at the city's morning view through his glass-to-ceiling window.
His manager, Willow, a slim, younger man who had come to submit some physical files to him, now stood thunderstruck across the table behind Grayson.
His hands held tightly onto the files as he fought to comprehend his boss's words; it was something he never expected to hear from his cold, unfeeling, aloof, and workaholic boss.
Guess nothing was impossible under the sun.
"Did you hear me, Willow?" Grayson spun his chair around to pin his quiet manager with a cold look.
Willow blinked rapidly, "I'm sorry, sir. I did hear you. It's just -"
"And what do you suggest? I don't pay you to be a decoration, you have to think of something," Grayson cut him off.
Willow gulped, "Yes, sir, if you just give me a few hours, I'm sure I'll come up with something." He wiped his perspiration with the back of his sleeve.
Grayson raised a brow at him, "You think I have that luxury of time?" He rolled his pen around his fingers.
It's been two days since he told his mother to expect a daughter-in-law; yet, he hadn't found a single woman worthy enough to be his wife.
He knew it was not going to be a real marriage since he had already drafted a year's agreement for whoever he was going to marry. He was playing the game to win a prize, and his company and reputation were his ultimate prize.
Once he got his possessions under his name, he'd divorce the woman, and both of them would be on their way.
It wasn't so hard to find a gold-digger; yet, he couldn't find one. Maybe he was searching in the wrong places, or maybe he needed to lower his expectations; there was no way a gold-digger would be homely and humble.
But that was his problem, he needed someone who would be able to convince his mother with her character that she was really in love with him and not with his fortune.
He never knew that finding a wife would be harder than making the perfect proposals.
"Ahem, sir, maybe we can -"
"Good morning, Will. Hi, Grayson," A tall, handsome, young man in a caramel suit that matched his skin tone walked through the tinted swing door, sitting himself on the chair in front of Grayson's table.
"Good morning, Mr. Okani," Willow greeted and took a step forward to place the files on Grayson's table.
"You're late, Okani," Grayson said with a frown.
Okani shrugged, "Calm down, abeg." (Calm down, please).
"How about you ignore my punctuality and tell me why you have your manager sweating this cold, early morning?" Okani crossed his legs, his brows raised.
Grayson's frown deepened; he sighed and waved Willow away. He didn't want his manager present while he spoke to his best friend.
"Hold on, man. Tell me, what has he asked you to do this time?" Okani held Willow's hand as he was about to leave.
"Um," Willow shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing at Grayson.
"Speak," Okani urged.
"He wants a wife," Willow blurted out, facing away from Grayson.
Okani paused for a second before he chuckled, "Stay for a second, Willow." He said and faced Grayson, who had now busied himself with work, ignoring what was happening around him.
"Is this true?" Okani asked cautiously.
"It's the will, Okani. I emailed you the damned will," Grayson replied in a low tone.
Okani smirked as he retrieved something from his pocket, "This is why having a Nigerian as your friend is a must... we come through." He pushed two cards toward Grayson.
Grayson looked up from his screen and stared at the white and red card in front of him. "And, what are these?" He questioned Okani.
"What you've always declined each time I try to invite you. It's Harvey's show, it's happening tomorrow. If you don't want Omar flashing your wealth in front of you, you better take those; they're the last ones out here," Okani convinced.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Okani; but, the boss does not attend such exposing and undeserved -"
"Ask the press department to publish the news, Willow. I'm going," Grayson suddenly announced.
"What?!" Willow asked in disbelief.
Grayson pinned him with a serious look, "Make sure it makes headlines before lunchtime," He ordered and waved him away.
"Y-yes, sir," Willow bowed and scurried out of the office to announce his shocking news.
"Don't give me that look, Okani. I'm going there for business, not for love. I already have my priorities straight and nothing can distract me from that, you know this," He clenched his jaws and went back to work on his screen.
Okani remained quiet but had a certain look in his eyes; he picked up the files Willow had dropped on the table and left the office.
Once alone, Grayson sighed, massaging his temple.
'Why didn't I think of this?' He thought quietly.
This was his best option. Everyone knew that only desperate women went to Harvey's game show; his prey would be right there, waiting for him, a perfect tool for his mission. Just give her some money, and the rest will be history.
He smirked as he imagined the shocked look on his mother's face when he took his new 'bride' to see her.
He wasn't one to be toyed with; they needed a wife, right? A wife, they would get. As long as he got his prize in the end.