Chapter 4: The Offer

“Why would I marry you?” Freya yelled, critically. Her words made Kenneth frown.

“Why would I want to marry you?” he replied, coolly defensive.

Realizing how scornful her question must have sounded, Freya stepped back and cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I meant to ask if the contract requires me to marry you.”

Kenneth turned cold. He handed her the document. “You can read it yourself. Let’s step into my office.”

Freya walked out of Kenneth’s private room and found a seat in his office. She flipped through the documents and read:

[Clause 1: Shareholding Arrangement

Mr. Kenneth Lee Wright shall retain fifty percent (50%) ownership of ADLEY & Co. shares until such time as the Board of Directors determines that Ms. Freya King possesses the requisite capacity and qualifications to manage said shares in accordance with the company’s interests.]

[Clause 2: Restrictions on Transfer of Shares

Mr. Kenneth Lee Wright shall have no authority to sell, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any portion of the aforementioned shares to any party, except to the following individuals: Mr. Adrian King, Mrs. Riley King, Ms. Freya King, or Mrs. Gabrielle Wright. Any attempt to transfer said shares to a third party outside of the aforementioned individuals shall be deemed null and void and in violation of this agreement.]

[Clause 3: Conditional Transfer of Shares

As a condition precedent to the transfer of Mr. Wright’s shares, Ms. Freya King must enter into a legally recognized marriage, which is deemed essential for the enhancement of the company’s public image. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Ms. King may resume her duties as Chief Executive Officer of ADLEY & Co. upon conclusion of her approved leave of absence, subject to board discretion.]

“Oh, my God. They are hell-bent on making me get married!” Freya screamed, her hands shaking on the document.

“But—” Freya frowned, realizing something. “It doesn’t have to be you.”

Kenneth only hummed as he took his seat at the table. He stared at her, eyes cold. “What a relief.”

Inner Devil 2: ‘I think he’s mad.’

Freya’s brows knitted. “Look, I said I’m sorry. I overreacted. You have to understand the pressure I’m under right now. The jewelry company has been my life since I was twenty-four. Even before that, I’d already set my eyes on it. I knew it was my destiny.”

There was a pause before Kenneth spoke. “I understand. My parents have also been pressuring me to find a suitable wife. Honestly, at this point, I’m tired of going against them. I think it’s time I find a wife, but she must be perfect for me. I won’t settle for less.”

“Is that why you haven’t met anyone? You have high standards? Or are the rumors of you being—” Freya pursed her lips, unwilling to say it.

“I certainly am not. Gossip doesn’t bother me.” With his eyes fixed on her, he added, “You’re welcome to test me if you want.”

The inner devils’ jaws dropped.

Inner Devil: ‘What did he say? I hope that wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment!’

Inner Devil 2: ‘Can I test you, Mr. Wright?’

Inner Devil 2 blushed.

“Um—E—shut up!” Freya snapped. “I’ve known you all my life! Don’t you think it’s weird?”

“It is weird,” Kenneth echoed, narrowing his eyes.

“But after reading the contract and the transfer terms, I thought about it.” Kenneth stood and walked around the table. He took the seat in front of Freya, moving closer to her.

They were incredibly close.

He stared at her intensely as if he were burning through her frame.

Inner Devil: ‘Wow! He has such beautiful eyes!’

‘Does he?’ Freya mused.

Inner Devil 2: ‘Freya, are you blind?’

“Why don’t we work together?” Kenneth proposed. “Clearly, you and I share the same nuisance.”

“Work together? How?” Freya asked, but just then, Geneva stirred on the sofa not far from them.

“Miss King? Are you awake? I’m hungry. I only had oatmeal,” Geneva mumbled.

“Ignore her,” Freya told Kenneth, but he was already leaning back, smirking.

“Then let’s eat. You’ll want time to process this anyway,” Kenneth said, rising with finality.

Their assistants joined them for dinner. Both Geneva and Kirk quickly sensed the tension.

After scanning the contract, Geneva summarized, “So, Boss, you can still go back to being CEO, but if you want the shares in your name, you must be legally married?”

“Yes,” Freya replied.

“Damn, your dad is determined to marry you off,” Geneva muttered. “It doesn’t have a deadline, though.”

“You’re right. So there’s no pressure on when I can get married, but the shares will remain in Kenneth’s name unless Dad asks for them back,” Freya explained.

Kirk chuckled. “Miss King, you and Mr. Wright have the same problem. Your families both want you married.”

They were dining in an exclusive restaurant, seated in a semi-circle booth. Freya gulped down a glass of water and said, “Kenneth here offered a proposal—one that’s mutually beneficial for both of us. Right?”

She turned to Kenneth, who was still chewing the last piece of steak. “Hmmm.”

When he finally finished, Kenneth said, “Obviously, our parents want us to settle down—for a reason.”

Freya nodded. “I’ve tried meeting other men, only to be disappointed.”

“Most women don’t interest me,” Kenneth added.

“But maybe we just haven’t met the right person!” Freya suggested.

Kenneth’s eyes grew hooded. “Maybe.”

“So, my suggestion is to help each other,” Kenneth continued. “We could—”

“You’re a computer genius. You can hack into any system and find anyone you want.” Freya’s eyes gleamed. “We could work together and find our perfect match! That’s a great idea!”

For a fleeting moment, Kenneth’s eyes narrowed. There was an awkward silence around the table, and Freya could not understand why.

Inner Devil: ‘He is so difficult to understand.’

“Yes. Find. Our. Perfect. Match,” Kenneth said at last, clearing his throat. “You get what you want. I find a wife. Problem solved.”

“Wait. Wait. Wait,” Geneva interrupted. “Are you seriously planning to search for your best possible match and date them?”

“That’s the plan,” Freya confirmed. “Go on dates, get to know them, until we find the right one.”

Freya didn’t miss the confused looks from Geneva and Kirk. Their brows twitched before Kirk asked, “Why don’t you just… marry each other? That would certainly solve the problem.”

Inner Devil 2: ‘Yes, Freya. Mr. Hottie is right there!’

“Marry each other?” Freya repeated. Her laugh came out louder than she expected. “That’s ridiculous.”

But her eyes slid to Kenneth anyway.

He was already looking at her, watching.

Measuring.

“If I marry Kenneth, my dad would hand me the company on a silver platter—on the spot, no questions!” Freya claimed.

Inner Devils: “...”

Freya: “My mom would host five fireworks shows!”

“What would your dad do?” she asked Kenneth.

Kenneth leaned back. “My dad would probably cry out of the blue, and my mom would scream for joy.”

“Our moms will waste no time planning nursery rooms and picking baby names!” Freya declared.

“They definitely will,” Kenneth agreed.

Freya let out a long breath. “If we even looked like we were dating, they’d hold a press conference. I wouldn’t be surprised if spies were planted just to confirm their hopes.”

“Hmmm,” Kenneth murmured.

Inner Devils: “...”

“And that’s such a bad thing?” Geneva asked, face twisted in confusion.

“I don’t get it either,” Kirk echoed.

“Of course!” Freya said with conviction. “It’s like giving in to what they want! They can’t control us.”

“No, they can’t,” Kenneth simply said.

“We have to make our own path!” Freya declared.

Kenneth said nothing. He simply listened.

“Besides, it’s weird.” Freya looked at him. “We’ve known each other for so long. We—we never considered each other romantically. Right, Kenneth?”

Kirk choked on his drink just as Kenneth reached for his glass. He gulped his water down and said nothing.

Later, Kenneth cleared his throat. “Yes. So, the best solution is to find our ideal partner.”

“Then it’s decided,” Freya said, smiling. “Tomorrow, we begin finding Mr. and Ms. Perfect.”

***

Meanwhile, in Halliport City, Freya’s hometown, two elegant couples gathered for dinner at the Diamond Hotel.

“So, my insider shared that Freya is in Freedonia and having dinner with Kenneth,” Gabrielle Wright, Kenneth’s mother, revealed.

“Are we doing the right thing?” Riley asked, looking unsure.

“Those two left us no choice!” Kenneth’s father, Kyle, declared. “Single at thirty-five! What’s a successful businessman going to do with all that money if he doesn’t have a family?”

“I say the same thing about Freya,” Adrian added. “And playing matchmaker? Trust me, this isn’t like me at all.”

“Let’s admit it—we’re all desperate,” Kyle said frankly. “Since we’re interfering anyway, we might as well guide them. Help them see each other differently. We’re not forcing them. We just... gave them a little push.”

“Who knows,” he shrugged. “They might actually fall for each other.”

“We can only hope,” Riley said softly, then frowned. “But it would’ve been better if they stayed under one roof. Too bad Geneva arranged separate bookings.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Gabrielle’s lips curled into a sly grin. She winked. “I’ve got that covered. After all, Geneva booked the Diamond Hotel in Freedonia.”

“You did?” Riley’s eyes lit up. “Ahhh! You’re amazing!”

“A mother’s gotta do what she’s gotta do to get her desired daughter-in-law,” Gabrielle said proudly.

“Can you imagine if they end up marrying each other?” Riley asked.

“I know, right? We can plan the baby names!” Gabrielle squealed.

“If Freya marries Kenneth, I’ll buy out the other shareholders and hand ADLEY & Co. to her!” Adrian declared.

“I’ll light up the skies with fireworks!” Riley announced.

“I’d probably cry out of happiness,” Kyle admitted. “I’d probably kiss both his cheeks too!”

“Awwww.”

***

Back in Freedonia.

After dinner, Freya and Geneva arrived at the Diamond Hotel, only to discover something was wrong with their reservation.

There was only one room available, and it was under Geneva’s name.