Chapter 6: CHAPTER 6

Michael’s POV

When Jasper walked into the room, his eyes fell on the signed contract on the table. One of the things I liked about him was his discretion but he lacked any ability to mind his business.

“Your date has been waiting for over thirty minutes now, Michael,” he said, strolling in.

The date was the lady my father had arranged for me. He was tired of me being mateless and thought hooking me up with the heir of the largest steel company was a way out.

“You can cancel, Jasper,” I said. “Send some flowers and apologies.”

He stopped. “Alpha Raymond is not going to like this,” he said, watching me. “I think you are pushing this one too far.”

“He wants a wife, doesn’t he?” I asked. “A wife I've got," I said, nudging at the contract on the table.

He glanced at it. “Evelyn Moon?”

I crossed my legs and observed him. “Yes. Evelyn Moon.”

He shook his head. “He’s not going to like this either, Micheal.”

I frowned. “Why is that?”

He sighed. “Their family is in debt. It’s not really a good image for Greywood to be linked with them. Plus there are whispers about their daughter, Evelyn.”

I leaned forward. “What rumors, Jasper?”

He struggled with his words. “just hearsays.That her step-mother is pimping her out for money. They seem to be in much more financial trouble than they let the world know.”

I leaned back. I had heard the rumors too, and I had seen it on two occasions. “They are just rumors, Jasper. The gossip blogs shouldn’t be your concern.”

It was just one year after all. I would find my mate in this period and our fake marriage would be dissolved. Until then, no one needed to know about it. Including Jasper.

My phone vibrated beside me and I grunted as I saw the caller ID. I tapped on my smart watch and accepted his call, waving Jasper away.

“Hello, dad -”

“Michael,” his voice boomed over the speakers. “I just received information that you have left the daughter of Alpha Eric waiting for you for over an hour.”

I winced at the exaggeration.

“I have sent my apologies, father. You shouldn’t have set up a date without letting me -”

“And what do I tell the board of trustees? When my heir has refused to find his mate,” he snapped back.

Talking to my father was like speaking to a brick most times.

“You didn’t need to do that, Alpha Raymond,” I said, calling him by his name to piss him off. “I just got engaged.”

There was a long silence on the other end, followed by him snapping angrily at someone.

“You said what?”

“I’m engaged, dad,” I repeated.

I could almost see him smiling through the phone. “That’s some pleasant news, son. If you had spoken earlier, I wouldn't have bothered Alpha Eric. His daughter isn't even worth a second glance. So who is she? Which family?”

I paced. “You’ll meet her soon, dad.”

“No. No,” he protested. "I need to know how to prepare to meet my future daughter in law and her family. I know you have good taste, my son.”

I was sure he wasn’t going to be pleased with my choice. “Evelyn,” I said. “Evelyn moon.”

He was quiet for a while. “I can’t seem to know any - the Moons? The bankrupt family?”

I sighed. “Yes, dad.”

“Michael, I won't let you adopt a bankrupt family as ours,” he said, his voice rising. “They have nothing to offer to us.”

He was right, but I couldn't explain my motive to him. It was his fault I had to get married in the first place.

“You want me to get married, dad. Getting married, I am. I will bring her to the house this weekend. You should meet her.” I glanced at the clock. “I have an urgent meeting, dad. I’ll call you soon.”

I ended the call before he could protest and I collapsed on the sofa. The only way I could ensure that my father doesn't interfere in this was to make a bold move. A move he would not be able to alter.

I reached out to my person in the gossip blog. I wanted the story of my engagement to Evelyn Moon to trend throughout that week. I wanted it to be a story of love, whatever he could come up with. Once our story was on everyone's lips, he would not be able to object.

Jasper returned minutes later.

“The Alpha’s daughter was pretty upset that you stood her up,” he said, dropping the flowers he had bought. “She refused the flowers and said a lot of unimaginable things.”

We both laughed. Jasper always had the ill luck of dealing with my rejected matches. It was becoming quite his task. “it’s a shame,” I said, looking at the flowers. “They are pretty. You can give them to Tamara. Don’t let them waste.”

He nodded in agreement. We both knew Tamara would be upset if she found out she was getting rejected flowers.

“You won’t believe who I bumped into on my way here,” he said, beaming.

I had no idea who could warrant so much smiles. “Who?” I asked.

“Rosaleen Blackwood,” he said, dropping her name like a bombshell.

“Rosaleen? Are you sure?” I asked.

“I was equally as shocked, Michael. But it was her flesh and blood.”

I was quiet for a while. Rosaleen had gone abroad for over five years, studying in an Ivy league college. She was doing incredibly well too. Why was she back?

“She mentioned that she would love to see you,” he added, looking at me knowingly.

“Absolutely,” I replied. “It’s been at least five years.”