Chapter 8 An Evidence
Alexander.
"I told you she’d be back," I said, unable to stop the small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.
Walter didn’t reply.
Not verbally, at least, he didn’t even bother looking impressed.
He simply adjusted his glasses, and gave me that annoyingly patient expression, the kind that said 'You didn’t have to enjoy being right this much, sir'.
I leaned back in my leather chair, A comfortable silence settled between us....well, comfortable for me. Walter looked like he was debating whether to scold me or applaud me.
Dandelion Williams.
What a strange name, it suits her soft beauty though, but it might be more of a burden than an advantage.
Just like a troublesome flower that attracted misfortune like bees to pollen.
Not even twenty-four hours ago, she had marched out of this penthouse with fire in her eyes, fury in her voice, and pride so thick I could practically taste it.
I almost wagered she’d stay gone out of spite.
But no.
Of course pride definitely bends under desperation.
And desperation had brought her right back to me, exactly as I predicted it would, she's just too naive and like an open book.
“She’s settled?” I asked Walter.
“Yes,” he replied curtly.“I've showed her to the guest room. She seems calmer now.”
Calmer.
Good.
It meant she wasn’t planning to jump into another river.
Not on my property, at least.
I clasped my hands behind my head. “I knew she’d crawl back once reality hit her hard.”
Walter raised a brow. “You do enjoy your ‘I told you so’ moments, don’t you?”
“I earned them.” I smirked
Walter cleared his throat. “She looked exhausted, sir.”
I arched a brow, unimpressed, what's my business with that. “And?”
“And she might require a gentler approach if you want this to go smoothly with Madam Winifred.”
I scoffed outright “My grandmother likes results, not sob stories.” I stated firmly, what gentler approach is he talking about, this is just a simple, straightforward exchange that requires results, and I'm definitely not going to babysit a grown woman who made wrong choices.
Walter gave a tight sigh, the kind he only ever gave when I was being particularly impossible. “With all due respect, sir, your grandmother likes evidence not just results. You can’t simply walk her into the estate and announce you’re suddenly married. She won’t believe it. She’s much too sharp for that.”
I turned fully toward him now, irritation rising, slow, heavy and inevitable. He always knew how to pull the wrong string.
I had a hunch where this topic was going.
“No.” I snapped firmly.
“No what?” Walter asked.
“No..... to whatever performance you’re about to suggest, the answer is no.” I retorted with finality.
He wanted to use Noona, as an excuse to suggest something that I'd definitely not be comfortable with, and it's her fault for giving him leverage,
by threatening me with her life, heck if she wasn't my beloved grandmother I'd have ignored all her annoying tantrums.
Walter blinked. “Sir, you need photos.”
My jaw tightened. “Absolutely not.”
“A simple photoshoot—”
“No.”
“With both of you together—”
“No.”
“Even if it's just casual atmosphere shots—”
“Walter—”
He exhaled loudly. “Sir before things escalate, you need evidence for Mrs. Winifred, A simple photoshoot should do. Something believable, something domestic. Perhaps even invite Mr Cage and Mr Quinn as witnesses.”
I ignored the urge to correct him for the umpteenth time, to stop using honorifics all the time, especially when he is referring to those annoying friends of mine, Nicholas and Xavier.
“Absolutely not. Walter, I’m not staging a circus because of my grandmother, all in the name of marriage.”
He didn't reply, but his silence was louder than any argument.
I glared. “What?”
Walter’s tone flattened completely.
“Sir…. Of all people you should know that your grandmother is not easy to fool.”
I scoffed, Of course she wasn’t, that sly old woman and her theatrics.
"Madam Winifred is not stupid. If she doubts the marriage is real, she will investigate. And if she investigates, she will discover the contract. Then everything collapses and she'll personally set up a marriage with one of those clingy heiresses you so much hate" He stated as if reminding me of her capabilities.
I exhaled in frustration, ruffling my hair.
"So I advise you make this one look more real and believable, since you'll have absolute control and the lady in question won't disturb you.” He added
Mrs. Winifred Graham. my grandmother, the empress of the family, the one who raised me after the death of both my parents, who had died separately and both in mysterious ways, Causing her to grow cautious of everything, she had eyes everywhere and suspicion flowing through her veins.
If I showed up with a wife out of nowhere, she’d request to interrogate the priest, the wedding planner, the neighbor’s dog, anyone, until she found a crack in the story. And when she eventually finds out, her already weak heart wouldn't be able to handle the shock, or she might force me into marriage with one of those clingy heiresses, like Walter said.
My jaw tightened.
This was ridiculous.
All of it.
“It’s unnecessary.” I insisted
Walter raised a brow. “Sir, You want your grandmother to believe you, don't you?.”
I rubbed my eyelids and exhaled sharply.
All this....all this irritation, all this acting, all this pretending....for one old woman who had enough stubbornness to rival an entire parliament.
Damn her.
Walter continued, gentler now, “You know how she is. She’ll ask questions. She’ll test the girl. She’ll test you, too.”
My expression darkened.
Of course she would. Noona had never trusted my choices, or the women around me, she thinks they're all after my wealth.
Well technically she's right, judging from my deal with Roxy, the sex and money exchange no strings attached.
Noona would dissect Dandelion with her eyes the moment she enters the estate.
And Dandelion….
That weak girl would shatter under her scrutinizing gaze.
Walter continued “Her seventieth birthday is in a month, She expects you to show up Actually married. And if she suspects deception….” He let the sentence hang.
“I know. I know.” I said rubbing my temples already tired of his constant persuasion.
Marriage before her birthday.
Her condition and threats.
Her obsession and unending interference.
As if I didn’t have a thousand things to worry about already.
Walter stepped closer. “Sir....I believe she has a reason she hasn’t told you. Something to do with Graham Corp. Possibly the succession plan.”
I scoffed immediately. “ I know already, She wants me to get married before handing over Graham Corp to me” I laughed humorlessly. “I don’t even want it.”
“Perhaps not,” Walter stated, “but she doesn’t know that, and if you told her, she’d have a heart attack then you'll have to carry her corpse just like she always says....So you have no choice than to play along.”
I rolled my eyes.
“She's obsessed with me inheriting her empire that I don't even want….meanwhile, I’m amused watching my stepmother and dear brother struggling to claw over it.”
Walter pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sir, you cannot keep taunting them forever.”
“I can and I will, besides, it's not My fault Noona insists on me inheriting Graham corp”
He didn’t argue. He knew better than to bother.
If only that punk Tristan, understands the amount of pressure I have to endure as a CEO, he won't be striving so hard to take over Graham Corp.
Honestly, I couln’t wait to finish the business project in Greenville and return to the States, far away from my grandmother’s nagging and ending this additional headache I had unwillingly dragged into my life.
A fake marriage.
A suicidal scandal woman.
A grandmother with expectations.
A family plotting over succession.
Wonderful.
Just perfect.
I exhaled slowly.
“Right. The photos. Start making arrangements, Hire a team of hackers, quietly but efficient. I want those images wiped from every corner of the internet.”
Walter nodded. “Understood. I’ll contact them immediately.”
I leaned forward, cracking my knuckles. “Good. If we’re going to clean up her mess, we might as well start now.”
“Call Roxy,” I added casually. “Tell her to come to the penthouse tomorrow morning.”
His expression soured instantly.
He blinked. Twice.
Then his face dropped into pure annoyance.
“Sir….really? Now? Of all times?”
“ What?, I need to.... release some tension.” I shrugged picking up a pen and twirled it between my fingers with a smirk.
“You want me calm enough to deal with Miss suicide queen's scandal and my grandmother, don’t you?”
Walter muttered something under his breath out of annoyance, but bowed anyway.
“Fine. I’ll inform Miss Briggs.”
I smirked.
He shook his head on his way out. “Your libido will ruin you someday.”
I scoffed “Only if I let it.”
He shook his head and closed the door behind him with a disapproving thud.