I woke up with a sound of squealing.

Who the fuck is dying and ruining my sleep?

You know the answer already Ace. My brain mocked me.

I sighed and got up from my bed only to find Ryder looking at me and grinning like an idiot. He is actually an idiot. I sometimes think why am I even friends with a person like this? If I stay with him a little longer I would definitely be in an asylum. I shook my head when I heard him saying

"Don't you think that you love me anyways that is why you are my friend" he said smirking somehow knowing exactly what I was thinking. How did he even know what I am thinking?

"Now don't start thinking how did I come to know what you were thinking, that look you make always, means this only. Come on bro! It has been more than 10yrs since we are friends." Ryder said.

I rolled my eyes and pushed myself off the king sized bed I was on. My room wasn't something you can call interesting, it was definitely boring. All black and grey. But I liked it because it defined me. But Ryder definitely knows better and that is why he gets his ass here whenever he needs to annoy someone. He can be the most annoying, frustrating, idiotic person but he is like my brother. The best thing about him is that no matter what happened or how bad I looked - he never estranged me. He stood by me and still does.

Ryder is goofy but still his talent for doing great business is unbelievable. He owns his own companies and works along with his father and mother. Both his parents are really sweet and I really envy Ryder for having such parents, but I haven't told this to him yet. Both his mother and father run the business and naturally the talent runs in the blood.

I came out of the bathroom to find Ryder sitting on the recliner and looking into his phone. When he saw me he said "Your dad was calling you in his office." without taking his eyes off his phone. He was probably posting something stupid on Instagram.

Can you believe that he was a Xbox in his office cabin? Yeah, that's Ryder.

I turned around and said "Now? It's almost the time to head out for office. I will be late."

Ryder looked at me in disbelief and said "You are impossible. Sometimes I think you might marry your work or rather office than a girl. Seriously Ace you work for almost 20 hours a day. I pity the girl whom you will marry. But there is an advantage - if she is hot I could give her a company....maybe all the time, you know." Then he chuckled winking.

"Hahahaha very funny " I said sarcastically. "Anyways I am never gonna fall in love with somebody so I am not going to marry except if there is a business deal." I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You will definitely love someone one day like you did..." Ryder stopped mid sentence seeing my glare and angry eyes. "Okay sorry I didn't mean that . Lets go otherwise your father would barge in your room to ask why do you take as long as a girl to get ready" Ryder said laughing only to earn a eye roll from me.

I went to dad's study only to find him in deep thoughts. I knocked and asked if I could come in. "Come inside Ace I was waiting for you only. Actually I have a very important thing to discuss with you about my company." I went inside and took a seat and my father continued nodding. "You see my son I am growing old and that is why I think it is the right time to pass my company to someone who is worthy and capable of taking the responsibility of this vast PARKER COMPANY. I have made this company with a lot of hard work and that is why I want to ensure that the company is in safe hands." I listened his every word carefully. The day had arrived for which I have been dreading from a long time. I always wanted to have PARKER COMPANY as my own. Who would not want it anyways. It is the top company in the world and I am the best businessman and richest billionaire. I am truly capable of having this company, I have the brain, looks which could kill not that I give any shit to girls because they are all gold diggers. I can buy anything in this world and everyone stays beneath my feet because they are afraid of me. Who would not be afraid of the arrogant, ruthless and cold Ace Parker?

Don't get worked up but my ego is my pride.

"You don't have to worry dad I assure you that I would take the best care of your company." I said. "My son I know you, you are a very good businessman but I want you to .....uh......get settled....you know to....have a family....like someone...I mean... I want you to get married". My father said and I could tell he was hesitating because he knew I hated the idea of marriage. But knowing my answer he was asking which made me pissed off. I said angrily "I will not marry someone and you know that. You expect me to marry some girl? You very well know that I don't love or believe in it. I just love my work and that's all. I don't give a shit to these stupid relationship and marriage, these girls are all gold diggers they don't have anything else to do than to snatch all the money. I don't want to get married and I won't, and my answer is final." Saying this I got up and stormed out of the house and went to my car to go the office. I walked past Ryder in between who saw the fury in my eyes and asked what happened but I clenched my jaw and went out without a word. I started driving furiously in full speed thinking.

How can he say that? I have always tried to get the company from him by all means. For all these years I have kept my anger towards him about what he did, to myself and behaved like I didn't know anything just to take his company and punish him for everything he did to my family. He is just a piece of shit who....okay control yourself Ace , you are driving you cannot think about it now. You will burst out and even Ryder is not here who will calm you. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

I stopped my car side on the road to calm myself or I would do something I would regret later. Damn these anger issues.

*

Later I went to my office for work. It was around 6pm when Ryder came and gave me a note.

Ace,

you have 1 week to get a girl who would marry you or else the company will be given to Nick and not you. Remember the girl should not be one of your chicks.

Nick? Seriously? Those 2 lines made my blood boil and I could not control further so I threw the glass on my table in anger. That man has the audacity to threaten me like that. I am going to ruin him. After I take that company from him.

"Let's go to a café and talk. I need a coffee and I think you too." said Ryder cutting me and I agreed. It was better to have some distraction then to sit here throwing everything around. We went to a café that Ryder stopped at. I had no idea about it, but I just hoped that the black coffee was strong and good.

When I opened the doors of the café I found a women with pale blue eyes and pale complexion. Her eyes reminded me of somethings that I wasn't sure about. She was a waitress. I guess from her dress. She was staring at me scrunching her nose, making her look weird. But she didn't seem to realize that as she tried to concentrate. If I was not myself, I would have said that she looked adorable. But I was myself.

So I ignored her and harshly told her to get aside.

*

After Ryder flirted with that women, who looked more like a girl with her tiny frame, I and Ryder got into the car and I started driving towards my house.

"I will be staying with you only tonight, too lazy to go to my house. Also I think I found a solution for your problem." Ryder said.

"My problem?? You are talking about what that man said, right?" I asked raising my eyebrow in confusion.

"Yes about what your dad....." He stopped seeing my glare realizing my warning. "Okay sorry Mr. Parker said. Listen first of all, you know why you have been doing all this act of loving and caring for your father to get his company. So for the time being, you have to forget about whatever he did to you and your family because if he senses anything wrong he is not going to give you his company then all your hard work till now will go down the drain. He would give it to Nick, your step brother and secondly stop giving me that I-will-eat-you-alive glare, for 2 reasons . First you know I am not scared from you" He said with a proud look and smirk. "And secondly you look like a man who is going to swallow someone who stole his underwear." Ryder finished only to get another glare from me to which he chuckled. Anyways he was true about the first part but underwear seriously? no way!

"Okay Okay now listen" He suddenly grew serious. "This is about your revenge and even though I have tried a lot to make this one point go into your not so useful brain that this is not correct, you have not listened to me so I have no choice but to support you as a friend. So I think we can find a solution to this stupid deal of your father. But first promise me you won't get angry ". I raised an eyebrow to show my confusion yet again.

"Okay not being angry is not possible, what about not killing me after listening my idea." Ryder said.

"You are testing my patience Ryder, just cut the crap and say what you want to." I yelled controlling my anger and frustration.

"Okay listen, remember the girl we met now in the café. The waitress idiot, to whom you were busy throwing glares and saying crap about standards. I think she is the right girl to be your wife. She is...".

"Are you out of your mind ?! I would never marry a girl like that. Look at her, her attitude screams that she is some spoiled girl maybe run away from home and now trying to earn. How can someone of such a low standard be my wife! Are you high Ryder, seriously?" I shouted stopping my car on the side otherwise I would have hit someone in anger.

"Listen Ace you don't have much time. In less than a week's time you have to show your wife to your father how will you find a girl so fast? And as for the standards she is pretty beautiful and simple girl . If you take a spoiled bitch who is really rich then your fath....sorry Mr. Parker would come to know that you have bribed her or something, but this girl looks a simple and kind girl who may be in a need for money but has her respect and doesn't look like a gold digger. Also what you can do to reduce that frown on your face is give her a proposal of marrying you for maybe a year or 2 and then she can leave you. Maybe like a deal or agreement wherein you both have to act and then when you have the company you can have a divorce and you two would be free to go wherever you want to." Ryder finished.

I considered the idea and it seemed to reduce my anger. Yes Ryder is correct. We can have a contract marriage. She will act as my wife in return I will give her the money and then when the work is done she can go where the hell she wants to go I don't care and also I will be free.

It is not like I have any other choice.

I have been planning that bastard's destruction since years and if the company goes to Nick then everything will go waste.

I can't let that happen.

But how can I marry someone? I know she will just be a pain in the ass. How am I supposed to live with the thought of someone else sharing everything what is mine.... even if it is just for a year or two?

I have been running from commitments and relationships for years but now I have to actually commit to one of the most overrated things - marriage?

But I can't let this company go out of my hands.

I shook my head and having no other choice, I made my decision.

"Okay it seems it would work but she won't just agree to act.....we have to do something that will force her to accept the proposal." I started to ponder.

"Okay first of all we should get a background check on her to be done." I told Ryder. Ryder nodded and took out his phone to call someone.

"Hey Jack , actually I wanted to run a background check on a girl......no no I mean yeah she is hot but no not for dating, some business work. Yeah......the name is Eva Johns....yeah.... thanks a lot........ see you around. bye." He said and ended the call giving me a thumb's up.

"Seriously hot?" I said scrunching my nose showing disgust. "Anyways thanks" I said.

We reached home and after that we had dinner and discussed some business deals and problems. The next morning Ryder showed me the girl's file and I went through her details. There was not much about her past, it was all general. But then something caught my eye.

Oh!

What a coincidence... is she really....

The piece of information I got was enough for clearing all my hesitations I had about this marriage.

Now I definitely have to marry her. I took my phone called someone. "Hello Mr. Stanley, actually I called to tell you that I want you to throw one girl out of your apartment..... because I said so else you know the consequence. Good."

Then I cut the call and called someone else. "Yes hello, this is MR. ACE PARKER....is this the manager of Barista café? Yes I would like to buy your café. no I am buying it and the papers are ready. If you have any problems you can come and talk to me in my office." I cut the phone and looked at Ryder who was smirking.

"POWER".

You have made my life hell. Wait and watch I will show you what all I can do. I know you have done this just to make sure I don't get your company but I would . Now you will see what I do. Now you see Mr. Parker, I will take every pinch of my revenge from you and no one could stop me from that. "

A/N

EDITED - 7.02.22

So what do you think ACE Found out about Eva?

What made him decide to marry her no matter what happens?