Contract Marriage Deal

Arthur Onetti, the Chairman of Onetti Empire, sat on the plush central couch, his gaze fixed on Suzy Watson, the youngest self-made billionaire. When the women of her age were enjoying their lives, she started working on her start-up. Through relentless day and night efforts, she achieved an unrivaled level of success.

Little did Suzy know that her own mother would betray her, leaving her with no choice but to seek assistance from one of New York's wealthiest families, the Onetti Family to save her company from crumbling down.

"Mr. Arthur wants me to marry his grandson, who is nine years younger than me," Suzy exclaimed, her astonishment evident on her face.

"Yes, I want Miss Watson to marry my grandson, Chris Onetti," Arthur asserted firmly. "This marriage will grant Miss Watson shares from my side, and it will rescue her company from bankruptcy," he explained.

Suzy took a deep breath, anxiously biting her bottom lip. She had never dated anyone before, and now she was unexpectedly asked to marry a man much younger than her.

"I believe there are other ways too. If Mr. Arthur invests in my company, I can guarantee him a good return within a year. I don't think I need to marry Mr. Arthur's grandson," Suzy confidently stated.

"Miss Watson, in the world of the rich, the poor don't have any right to make the choices. I refuse to see those who don't belong to the level where Onetti Family is. However, I made an exception for Miss Watson. Does she know why?" Arthur asked, clasping his fingers together and resting them on his lap.

Suzy felt a bit humiliated by Arthur's words. Because her company was like her own child, she decided to stay silent on that remark of being 'poor'. She knew except the Onetti family no one could save her company from collapsing.

"I don't know why Mr. Arthur made an exception for me," Suzy truthfully replied.

"Because I see Miss Watson as the perfect wife for my grandson," Arthur replied.

"Chris has everything, but he doesn't have a single person around him, who can show him the path of right and wrong. I, as his grandfather, did a lot to bring him to the right path. He is graduating within a year. I want Miss Suzy to help him ascend as the company's chairman as soon as he finishes his studies. Also, Miss Suzy shouldn't forget the benefits this marriage will bring to her. Investors who are feared to lose their money in her company will return and her company's value will soar high in the market if she becomes the daughter-in-law of the Onetti Family," Arthur confirmed.

Suzy's phone rang before she could speak and found it was from her secretary.

"Miss Watson shall answer the call," Arthur stated.

Suzy expressed her gratitude to Arthur and left the living room to take Daniel's urgent call. As she brought the phone close to her ear, Daniel's worried voice filled her ear, "Miss Watson, our biggest investor from overseas has decided to withdraw her investment. We're on the brink of collapse. I tried my best to convince her, but she wouldn't listen."

Suzy felt everything turning into dust right in front of her eyes. The livelihoods of her employees and the future of her company were hanging by a thread. Determined not to succumb to despair, she assured Daniel that she would find a solution and swiftly ended the call.

Returning to the living room, where Arthur awaited her, Suzy mustered her resolve. "Mr. Arthur, I am ready to marry your grandson. Let's make the deal," she declared, inquiring about any necessary paperwork.

"That was a wonderful decision, Miss Watson," Arthur said and shook his head. "This is a contract marriage deal in which Miss Watson needs to stay married to my grandson for her entire life," he asserted and glanced at his close confidant, Benjamin, who already had readied the contract.

"Here, Miss Watson," Benjamin forwarded the contract document to Suzy. "Please sign it after reading the clauses," he asserted.

Suzy checked the contract carefully. It was clearly mentioned that if she tried to divorce Chris, she would lose her company. Another clause was if she failed to make Chris the chairman, she would lose the company.

"Sir, isn't Chris the sole heir of this family? Isn't it evident that he will be the next chairman?" Suzy was a little confused thinking why she must help Chris when he was destined to take over the Onetti Family business.

"Chris knows he will be the chairman. Everyone around him thinks the same. But his cousins, his half-siblings are more capable than him. When the board meeting will be organized no one will vote for Chris. He has the capability, but he is not ready to see his potential. A woman like Miss Watson, who is a self-made billionaire, can definitely change my son," Arthur explained to her.

"What if I fail, Sir?" Suzy inquired.

"You will not want to fail, Miss Watson. My grandson isn't easy to handle. His failure to succeed as a chairman will mean a collapse of your company too, in turn, your downfall," Arthur stated with an intimidated gaze.

Suzy took a deep breath. She picked up the fountain pen and signed on the contract, making Arthur smile brightly. "I have signed the contract," she asserted and placed the pen on the table.

"Chris and you will get married tomorrow at an intimate ceremony. As per the contract, I will invest in Star Corporation, and upon your marriage with Chris, some of the shares be transferred in your name," he pronounced, causing Suzy to heave a sigh of relief.

"Benjamin, do the rest of the work. Invest in the Star Corporation," Arthur ordered his confidant-cum-assistant. Benjamin nodded and made a call to their chief investor, conveying to him the order of Arthur.

Suzy was quite relieved because now her company got saved. "Thank you so much, Sir. I will never forget this great help you have provided me," she said, her eyes turned watery.

"It's a business deal, Miss Watson. Trust is essential between partners. I believe Miss Watson will do what we have discussed. Also, none of this conversation is shared with Chris at any cost. This shall remain a secret between me and Miss Watson. Does she understand?" Arthur asked for confirmation.

"I promise, Sir. Chris will never find out about this conversation," Suzy asserted.

"Very well. Make sure to finish your work by tomorrow afternoon because Benjamin will come to pick you up," Arthur informed her.

"I understand, Sir," Suzy said. "I have a last question, Sir. If you allow may I ask?" She humbly queried.

"Please ask," Arthur politely responded, allowing her to ask the question.

"Through all our conversations about Chris, I realized he is not easy to handle. Also, he may ask the reason why I decided to marry him. I want to be truthful to him. So, can I tell Chris that his grandfather invested in my company and that's why I agreed to marry him?" Suzy inquired.

"Well, Chris will find it out somehow. Miss Watson can definitely tell him about it," Arthur replied.

Suzy got all of her answers and now it was time to leave for her company. "I shall take my leave. I again thank Mr. Arthur for helping me," Suzy said as she stood up. Bowing to Arthur, she headed out with the house butler.

After Suzy left, Benjamin asked Arthur why he took such a quick decision of making Chris marry Suzy.

"Chris will rebel," Benjamin asserted with a concerned tone.

"Chris needs someone to control him. I have heard what he does in college. Suzy Watson is an ambitious woman. No matter how rich I am, an ambitious and hard-working woman will never want to marry Chris. This opportunity knocked on my door and I couldn't lose it," Arthur explained to Benjamin.

"I hope Chris doesn't create trouble for Miss Watson after they get married," Benjamin stated.

"Chris will definitely create trouble for her. Suzy is a woman with patience. Her company was falling, but she didn't lose hope and remained patient. I've seen how the company founders decide to leave the ground instead of fighting until the very end. She is the perfect woman for my grandson," Arthur affirmed while rubbing his fingers.

"Grandpa, why did you call me?" Suddenly Chris' voice reverberated in the living room, causing them to look toward the entrance.

"Chris, have a seat first," Arthur said.

Chris settled onto the couch quickly and saw Benjamin leaving the living room.

"Tomorrow you will get married to Suzy Watson. I have chosen her as your future wife and the daughter-in-law of the Onetti Family," Arthur pronounced with a wide smile on his lips.

"What?" Chris exclaimed while chuckling.

"You must be joking, Grandpa. I am 21. I am not going to marry at this age, especially with the woman of your choice," he angrily announced and stood up to leave.

"If you refuse to marry Suzy Watson, then I will throw you out of the Onetti Family. You will get nothing from me," Arthur pronounced, thus drawing a strange tension between them.

"Grandpa will never do this," Chris said.

"Yes, I will. I have already prepared the papers to leave you penniless if you don't agree to marry Suzy Watson," Arthur pronounced with a stern tone.