Happily Ever After, page 1
Happily Ever After
A BWWM Romance
Tyla Walker
Copyright © 2020 by eBook Carousel.
All rights reserved.
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Contents
Description
1. Tatum
2. Ayesha
3. Tatum
4. Ayesha
5. Tatum
6. Ayesha
7. Tatum
8. Ayesha
9. Tatum
10. Ayesha
11. Tatum
12. Ayesha
13. Tatum
14. Ayesha
15. Tatum
16. Tatum
17. Ayesha
18. Tatum
19. Ayesha
Description
Ayesha Merlot is the most sophisticated actress in generations - but her current role is fake wife.
The charming and in-need Tatum Langris is the hot shot white boy that’s CEO of Brilliance, which sells the world’s hottest jewelry.
And after spending time with Ayesha?
The relationship may be fake, but his feelings for her are real.
Just one problem. Their relationship isn’t the only thing he’s lying about.
How will he dig himself out of this mess, and make sure she knows that he really loves her?
Did he ruin everything betraying this sweet, tender woman’s trust?
Or can he hire her for a sequel...as his actual wife?
Find out in this sizzling hot BWWM romance!
One
Tatum
White flashes. Unintelligible words. Pack of vultures and parasites on either side of the room.
I've been to dozens of press conferences, but not as rowdy as this. I can't blame them, though.
Everyone wants to be the first to know about Brilliance's next move. They want a piece of the pie.
I enter the room, and my intimidating presence shuts even the rowdiest member of the press. Not a lot of people can bear the brunt of the ire of Tatum Langris—no other than me—CEO of Brilliance, so most refuse to be on the receiving end of it.
Clearing my voice, I begin the press conference.
"Brilliance has been the biggest and most successful jewelry company for the last few decades. Catering to the fine taste of New York's high society, we have delivered high-class quality and proved that we are the best in what we do.
"However, these last few years have hit the company hard. We've been having problems with low sales coupled with more than a few customer dissatisfactions with the jewelry that we are selling."
I look at the press in front of me, and hardly any of them seem to blink, intent not to miss even a single detail of this announcement. On the other hand, the executives sitting beside me can't seem to comprehend my words.
They've been placated and made to think that this press conference was to inform the people that our company is doing just fine and is still in the competition.
"Because of this, we've been barely holding on. As much as we try, the company has struggled to keep things afloat. Consequently, rumors have started spreading about the company's struggles, which didn't help with our reputation.
"So today, we've decided to put the rumors to rest. As of this afternoon, Brilliance declares bankruptcy and will proceed with a buy-out," I conclude, which sends the entire room in a state of shock.
Guess nobody expected that.
A full minute passes, then the entire room erupts into chaos.
The conference lasted for two hours. I answered every single question that the reporters had for me.
All the while, my relatives gave me glares on both sides, unable to truly express their anger at the fact that I blindsided them.
Finally, it ends, and I'm able to leave.
However, as much as I want to relax after the tiring affair, there is still much to do. Arriving home at my condo, I receive a call from Atty. Landon.
The papers for the agreement between my sales agent and I have already been processed; it only needs my signature. After ten minutes, they arrive, carrying a briefcase, which I assume contains the contract.
"As per the arrangement, Mr. Langris, the terms of your agreement with Mr. Clint Denvers are here," Atty. Landon states as she pushes the documents towards me.
Perusing the papers, I see that all the terms that I've decided needed selling are listed: my house, my condo, my favorite cars, and a whole list of other private properties.
Signing the agreement, I thank Clint and Atty. Landon for their service. Before Clint leaves, I hand over the keys to my house to some of my cars.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Langris. I know how much your company means to you," Atty. Landon attempts to comfort me as she lets her hand rest atop my toned chest.
Her eyes lowered in a flirtatious gaze.
Another woman who thinks I'd actually bed her, I thought as I internally sigh.
"Thank you for your concern. Brilliance could still be tided over by the proceeds of the sale of my assets, letting me keep my position as CEO for a few more months, so there's no need to shed tears yet," I respond coolly, as I remove her hand from my shoulder.
Realizing that she's been denied, Atty. Landon leaves, her annoyance evident in her body language. With her departure, I'm finally alone with my thoughts.
I turn on the tv, news coverage of the press conference earlier is being replayed.
As I continue to watch, I can't help but notice the various shades of red and purple that the company's executives and my relatives are sporting.
Seeing their faces, I finally let out a smug grin, knowing that the efforts that I've spent staging this declaration of bankruptcy for the last few months are worth it.
Brilliance has always been a family corporation, having most of the family members as a part of the board and holding high positions within the company. And through the years, it has never prospered as much as it has now, under my command.
However, with Brilliance's rise in greater fame and status, came the problems. A few short months after the report of the success of our newest line of jewelry, malicious comments about how I run the company began circulating that had a few members of the family campaigning to have me resign from my post.
When that didn't work, the company's reputation began suffering due to a few well-placed malicious articles, and customer dissatisfaction began rising.
Then in the last few months, company funds were embezzled, and large sums of money were lost.
I know that all the events that took place in the last few years were because my 'relatives' are becoming restless, wanting to take over. After all, it had all their dirty fingerprints on it.
Unfortunately, I can't precisely pinpoint the traitors who are destroying the company's reputation and embezzling money. And since I'm still the CEO of the company despite their efforts, I know they would stop at nothing.
They're going so far as even to sell company secrets to our competitors, just so they'd have a reason to take me down.
Hence the need for this elaborate scheme.
Because while my relatives are prideful and greedy, they're not stupid enough to stay in a sinking ship. I know that the moment Brilliance loses its luster, they'd choose to jump off and sell their shares.
And the moment they do that, I'd be right there waiting to buy them, leaving the truly loyal people in the company.
The thought of finally rooting out those fucking parasites excites me that I want to have an early celebration. I head to the kitchen to get a glass of scotch to celebrate my victory when somebody suddenly barges in my condo.
Lithe, sun-kissed arms envelop me from behind, catching me by surprise. But before I could toss the person out, a wonderful perfume smell hit my nostrils.
I recognize the person in question as Ayesha Merlot, my contract fiancee. This brings forth my confusion about her current presence in my place.
And here I thought she won't bother with me now since I won't be able to pay her anymore.
Two
Ayesha
"And cut!" the director yells, and my co-actor releases me as the fake rain finally stops pouring on top of us. "Good take!"
My manager, Candice, hands me a towel for my hair as she covers my body with a bigger one. I walk towards the director to review the shot that we just finished.
Finding no problems with it, my co-actor and I give each other a high-five as the director grins at us.
"Good work, you two. Now you go get yourself warmed up and prepare for the next scene," the director compliments us before turning to her staff for new instructions.
I proceed to my trailer to wash up and get into dry clothes. After getting changed, my make-up team dries my hair, and Candice hands me a cup of coffee and my script.
As I'm reading through my lines, my phone lights up, and I see a text from one of my friends. The message only contains a link with a short caption—you have to see this.
Clicking on it, it directs me to a news media outlet with a recording of what appears to be Brilliance's press conference. I put down my script to focus on Tatum's words.
But the next thing that comes out of his mouth shocks me.
"...as of this afternoon, Brilliance is declaring bankruptcy and will proceed with a buy-out," the Tatum on-screen says, which
While the press recovers from their shock, I remain wholly frozen in my seat. The only thoughts running in my head is that Brilliance is shutting down.
Then Tatum crosses my mind, and my thoughts shift.
He needs me right now.
Grabbing my keys and my phone, I rush out of the trailer, face bare and hair still damp, ignoring the screams of my manager to come back.
Getting in the car, I drive as quickly as I can back to his condo, even if I'm not sure if he still owns it.
As I leave the location, my tears fall, realizing how much pain Tatum might be in. Brilliance is his family's legacy and his life's work.
He's never been prouder of being able to bring that company's fame and fortune to greater heights. To suddenly lose it all must be horrifying.
All because of his stupid relatives.
My thoughts of the Langris family reminds me of the day that I became a part of Tatum's life. I was working on a small endorsement for Brilliance when he had arranged a private meeting with me through my manager.
Back then, I was so ecstatic to see him again in person. All thoughts and scenarios ran in my head as I prepared to meet him, daydreaming that he'd ask me on a date.
"I want you to act as my fiancée."
Those were the first words that he uttered the moment I stepped inside his office while he was facing Manhattan's night lights through his glass walls.
"I'm sorry?" I said, confused.
"Six months. That's all I ask. I'll pay you a hefty sum for your troubles," Tatum negotiated.
"With all due respect, sir, why would someone like you need someone who'd act as your fiancée? And why me?" I held back my disappointment at the way things were turning out.
"As to why I need one: my family is full of vultures, parasites, and leeches. Having a fiancée would deter them from their hare-brained schemes. Why you..."
He finally faced me, and his piercing blue eyes looked at me from head to toe. At that moment, I felt like I was being scrutinized instead of being admired.
"Ayesha Merlot, 28, actress. Graceful and elegant, has many friends among New York's elite and is used to New York's high society. Those things make you the perfect candidate," he explained.
My confusion was evident on my face, but the man in front of me didn't bother to elaborate.
"Don't stress with the details. The only question you needed to think about is, will you accept my proposal?"
A marriage proposal was something that I thought I would have received from the man that I love in a romantic setting. Not as a form of a business proposal.
However, as Tatum stared at me, despite his cold and unfeeling blue eyes, I knew my answer.
"Yes."
That night, I officially experienced what it felt to be his fiancée. And how it felt to be branded as a gold-digger by said fiancée's relatives.
It wasn't long until I figured out the reason for the facade.
Before Tatum had hired me, his relatives had already been long creating problems for him so that they could take over his position.
And the lack of a woman by his side was one of the biggest issues they had with him; one uncle even said that he's untrustworthy because of that reason.
After several forced blind dates and hired escorts, Tatum had enough and fixed his problems by hiring me. While I knew that it's all fake, a part of me, the part that is in love with him, couldn't help but jump in joy.
Because even for a moment, I could call him mine.
And it is that very same love that drives me to leave work without notice and run to his side. Just three months in this lying business, and I know that I won't get out of this unscathed.
However, all those things are pushed to the back of my mind the moment I see my fiance's forlorn back. As he stands up and walks to what I assume is the kitchen, I rush to Tatum and hug him from behind, unable to hide my actual feelings for him at that moment.
Fortunately, the door is left open, so I have this opportunity.
If there is any way that I could take your pain away, I would. But I can't. So I hope that this would be enough to ease it, if just for a while.
I have so many words to say, but I don't know if I should say it.
Because I don't have the right.
Three
Tatum
“Ayesha?” Her name escapes me when I recognize her perfume’s scent and she responds by tightening her embrace.
What’s she doing here?
My mind scrambles to catch up with her sudden visit and the unexpected hug she’s giving me right now. I feel her bury her face against my back and even though I know it’s her, my body doesn’t react.
Ayesha Merlot.
The extremely attractive woman who’s been playing my fiancée for the last three months. And also the last person I expected to see after declaring bankruptcy now that I can’t pay her anymore. Why is she here when this isn’t part of the contract?
We kept our relationship professional and emotionless, with clear boundaries and reasonable demands. A business relationship. No matter how gorgeous I think she is.
But this is new. Different. She was never this…warm. She only ever acted sweet when we were in public. What happened to the woman who agreed to the contract because of money? The actress to whom I pay millions for an act?
When her arms loosen around me, I turn around to see her face only to be surprised once again by her expression. Gone was the calm and elegant demeanor she always had when she was with me. Her eyes are sad and filled with concern. For me. I’m seriously at a loss.
What the hell am I supposed to do when my contractual lover hugs me outside the required job?
“Ayesha, what are you doing here?” I manage to ask and pull away from her so I could get a better look. Her eyes speak volumes and I don’t know how to react nor what to think.
There’s something in the way she looks at me that makes a strange warmth blossom in my chest. The corners of her lips pull upward into a sad smile. It’s disconcerting to see that I could be the reason behind its sadness.
“I’m here for you,” she says simply. And I realize that she must care enough to at least comfort me in my time of need. Not that I needed any comforting given that the entire bankruptcy is a ruse. But, if I’m being honest, it feels…nice, for someone to care so deeply that she felt the need to be with me.
“You don’t need to do that,” I tell her honestly. It’s the least I could do since I can’t tell her the whole truth. The fewer people know about it, the better. And while I don’t think Ayesha is the type to blabber, I’d rather be on the safe side until my plans are over and done with.
“You don’t have to act tough around me,” she reassures but moves away from me, her arms falling to the sides.
I miss her warmth already.
“I’m not acting,” I murmur, still baffled by this turn of events. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” I summon a smile for good measure expecting her to return to the Ayesha I’m used to.
Yet, she looks unconvinced, a frown forming on her face. I can feel she wants to say something, but she’s holding back. Instead, she looks on the floor, muttering to herself, and I seriously, don’t know how to handle this.
“Ayesha?”
“I can return your money,” she says under her breath that I almost didn’t catch it.
Wait. Did she just say return my money?
“The $2 million dollar payment,” she starts, head tilting up to meet my gaze, resolve in her eyes. “I still have it and I can give it back.”
“What?” I couldn’t keep the shock from my voice. Why would she do something like that? All that money was payment for her services.
“I’m here if you need anything, Tatum. All you have to do is ask. I also have money in my account. It’s not much. But if it can help you, I’m willing to lend it to you.”
