บททั้งหมดของ The Billionaire's Marriage Investement : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Ryder ended the call and slowly looked at Victoria.The room suddenly felt too small. She had the urge to immediately turn around and run out the door. Instead, she straightened awkwardly and cleared her throat.“That was your fault.”One of Ryder’s eyebrows lifted.“My fault?”“Your briefcase was in the way.” She pointed accusingly at the object that nearly killed her dignity.Ryder glanced at it.Technically, she was right.Unfortunately for her, that didn’t explain why a stranger was standing inside his room.“This is private property.”Victoria’s brain raced.Okay.The situation was bad. Recoverable, maybe, but definitely bad.If she got thrown out now, she might never get another opportunity like this again. She had spent weeks researching board members, memorizing company reports, and convincing herself this ridiculous plan would work.Her grandmother was counting on her.So was EVANGELINE.Failure wasn't an option she could afford.“Sorry.” She forced an embarr

Los Angeles never slept.Night-time simply gave rich people another excuse to become worse versions of themselves.Romper was proof of that. The club only opened its underground floor to the wealthy and influential after dark.Ryder sat inside the restricted lounge with a drink in his hand.Across from him, Rita smiled lazily.“I don’t know what lies you’ve been feeding father,” Ryder said coldly, “but if you don’t back off, you’ll regret it.”Rita laughed. “Aw. Is my little brother threatening me?”“I’m warning you.”The smile remained on her lips, but her eyes turned sharp.“You sound very confident for someone about to lose his position as CEO.”Ryder’s jaw tightened. “And why exactly would that happen?”He already knew. But hearing it aloud irritated him.Rita leaned forward slightly. “Because the board doesn’t trust a man who can’t continue the family line.”There it was. The real issue.Ryder’s fingers tightened around his glass.The board meeting he was excluded

“What???”The coffee went down the wrong pipe. Victoria erupted into a coughing fit, nearly dropping the cup.Across from her, Ryder remained completely calm. As if he had merely commented on the weather.“I will fund EVANGELINE,” he said. “And provide everything you need to launch it. In return, you marry me.”Silence. A thick, suffocating silence.Victoria stared at him.Then she laughed.It burst out before she could stop it. She laughed so much tears gathered in her eyes.Ryder watched the spectacle with remarkable patience.Sam looked concerned.When Victoria finally caught her breath, she wiped her eyes. “Oh wow.”She shook her head. “That was a good one.”Nobody laughed with her. Her smile slowly disappeared.Ryder's expression hadn't changed. Not even slightly.The realization hit her. He wasn't joking. His words had been completely real. The amusement drained from her face.“You're serious.”“Yes.”The room suddenly felt smaller. Victoria placed the cup dow

Rita had never been so straightforward. Usually, she would drop comments simply hinting at how she deemed Ryder unsuitable as CEO. But now, it seemed she had grown confident enough to state it so openly. Ryder tried to control the building anger. But it got harder, as he looked at her from across the table, and she gave him a triumphant smirk. That did it!Ryder got up from his chair, its screeching ringing in the conference room, making all eyes snap to him.“Ryder..” Rocco Lake called out to his son, like he were some petulant child.Ryder ignored him, as his eyes swept across all the board members. He looked at each of them in the eye, before they landed on his sister who felt so grand for introducing the topic. “I will not sit here and listen to you all talk about such a redundant matter. Doesn’t Tecna have more urgent matters that need to be discussed?”Rita gave him a smile, before she responded with a patronising tone. “This is a very important matter. Tecna nee

After a night of deliberation, Victoria made a decision. But first, she needed a second opinion.“Do you think I should marry him?” Was the first thing out of her lips, when she burst out of her room.Julie yawned, stretching her arms above her head. “Good morning to you too.”“Do you think I should sign the contract?” Victoria asked again, because she had lived long enough with Julie to know she was quite slow in the morning. Her roommate slowly scratched her head, and shuffled into the bathroom. Victoria followed, hot on her tail.“I think,” Julie picked up her toothbrush to put paste on it. “It’s a bad idea.”“Why?” Victoria had to wait for Julie to brush a row of teeth and spit, before she got a reply.“First of all, never heard that nothing good ever comes for free.”“Yeah. But it isn’t free. I’ll be acting as his wife.” Julie raised an eyebrow. “Several allowances, an investment into your start-up along TEN MILLION DOLLARS, all to act as his wife for a year?”Victo