The Billionaire Bargain Bride: Marriage by Bytes

Chapter one

"Hello?" with a croaking voice thick with sleep, Ethan answered the call.

"Mr. Ethan," the voice on the other end urges, "You need to come to the office immediately," lacing with urgency as the voice speaks.

At the heart of Silicon Valley, where fortunes and innovation thrived, and were made overnight, Ethan Montgomery's empire, a software developing company stands as a beacon of success.

Ethan, the CEO of Montgomery Enterprises, prides himself on his empire's impeccable reputation and outstanding integrity. But everything is about to change on this fateful morning.

"What is happening now?" Demanded Ethan as his heart raced with possibilities.

"It is about Mr. Summers," says the voice gravely. "We have found... a discovery."

Ethan received the call when the sun had barely risen, a call that would shake the very foundation of his empire. His eyes bleary and still in his pajamas, he has to stumble to receive the phone as it rings, his heart beating with a sense of foreboding.

Ethan feels a sinking in the pit of his belly, he knows that he can't ignore the summons he has just received. He hurriedly throws on his suit as he races to his company's headquarters. His mind buzzed with many questions and fear of the unknown.

As Ethan reached his company, he met a swarm of activities, greeted by the buzzing employees like the worker bees, the air filled with their whisper of concern and speculations.

"What is happening around here?" Ethan asked the employees but none could answer him. "Can someone speak to me?" He yelled.

Ethan could feel his pulse quicken as he found his way to his office expecting an answer. The weight of the impending doom was heavy on his shoulders.

His CFO, Rebecca, poring over a stack of documents, was in his office. He finds her in a distressed mood, her brow furrowed with worries. She looks up at him as he enters the office, her expression grim.

"I am afraid, Ethan, it is worse than we thought," her voice low as she spoke. "It looks like Mr Summers has been... embezzling the company's fund," her voice strained as she says.

The words of his CFO made Ethan's blood run cold, "Embezzling? How can this be possible Rebecca?" Ethan ask.

Rebecca shrugged her shoulders in disbelief.

"Mr. Summers has been one of our most trusted employees for over a decade, a loyal friend to my father," says Ethan as the thought of the betrayal churns his stomach with disbelief and rage.

"Rebecca, are you sure about it?" Ethan asks as his voice is barely above a whisper.

The CFO nodded with grave eyes. "The evidence is clear and undeniable Mr. Ethan. Millions of the company's funds have gone missing, siphoned off into offshore accounts and they are under Mr. Summers's name."

Ethan, standing there speechless, felt as if the ground beneath him had dropped. He knows that this scandalous act will not only threaten the financial stability of his company but also, its very reputation and integrity. He thought about how possible it be to recover from such a devastating blow to his company.

The phone began to ring incessantly as if on cue. Each call was a harsh reminder of the storm that was about to descend upon Montgomery Enterprises.

The employees scrambled to contain the callers, there was a huge fallout. The frantic voices fill the air, making Ethan feel paralyze and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the crisis in front of him.

"Listen, dear esteemed customer," an emplospeakspeak over the phone. "It isn't true what you have heard. These are just rumors."

"How can this be a rumor?" The customer inquired. "We will make a protest..."

The employee hangs up the call, feeling the pressure running down his spine.

Ethan stood in his office, thinking of how he could salvage the reputation of his empire in the face of such adversity that was about to knock him down l. How can he overcome this damning allegation? The innocent employees whose livelihood hang in the balance worry him more.

The news of the embezzlement spreading like wildfire made Ethan begin sweating. He unties his time, removing his suit to get some fresh air.

"What do we do now Mr. Ethan?" Rebecca asked with a concerned voice.

Ethan knows he has to act fast, to quickly contain the damages already done. With a heavy heart, Ethan gazes out of the unfolding chaos before his eyes, he can not shake the already sinking feeling that this is just the beginning.

"I don't know. We need to find a way of containing the situation before it escalates," Ethan answers, looking confused and lost.

He is already envisioning what possible headline the media will write, the accusatory fingers that will be pointing towards him squarely, his leadership will be in question, his very character and judgment.

"Where is Mr. Summers?" Ethan inquired from his CFO, looking frustrated.

"He isn't here yet," answered Rebecca. "I assume he knows we have found out and doesn't want to face you."

"Call him, I want to see him right now," Ethan said furiously. "And also, call our lawyer immediately."

Rebecca hurriedly dialed Mr. Summers's number but there was no response. She kept trying but no response. Before she tries to call the lawyer.

The company's lawyer is the only salvage Ethan can think of now, to handle the specter of legal proceedings that look large over his company, which also, threatens to bring down his empire through a protracted battle that may put his company in a state of bankruptcy both financially and morally.

Mr. Summers, knowing the grievance of the crisis happening around him took shelter away from the company and the public. He reached out to Ethan's father to explain things to him but he wasn't listened to.

"Mr. Montgomery, I swear I have no hand in this embezzlement." Mr. Sommers swears, trying to convince Ethan's father who is a close friend to him.

"Mr. Summers, but all evidence points towards you," Mr. Montgomery says, his voice doesn't show concern. "There is nothing I can do."

Mr. Summers felt terrible, he looked at his daughter, Mia, with sorrowful eyes. He doesn't want her involved in this mess he is in. He can't afford to tarnish her image and dim the brightness of her future. How would she react when confronted with the truth of his actions?

Whispers of conspiracy and collusion began to circulate among high ranks of the company, casting doubt on the Integrity of people who worked with Mr. Summers.

Ethan wondered, if could there be others involved in this scandalous act, are people targeting his company, or if they people waiting in the shadows to strike when least expected.

"How could Mr. Summers possibly do this to me?" Ethan mutters under his breath. "He was like family to me," his voice thick with disbelief.

The CFO, Rebecca, sigh heavily, her expression mirroring Ethan's turmoil. I wish I had some answers right now, Mr Ethan. Right now, we need to focus on controlling the damages. The press media will soon be over this, and we have to be prepared to face them."

Ethan, barely listening to Rebecca, nodded grimly, his jaw clenching with determination. "We will go through this storm, Rebecca. First, we need to figure out how deep this has gone. We can't afford any more surprises."

Just then, Ethan's lawyer came in, the office door burst open, and he stumbles in on them. His face was focused and ready for any legal proceedings to minimize any damage to the company's image.

"Mr. Ethan, you call for me?" He says. "I heard what happened. Tneedsneed emergency attention."

"Of course, that's why I called for you," says Ethan. "What do you think is the possible way out."

The door to Ethan's office bangs open, and Mr. Summers rushes in with a pale face, all drawn with guilt.

"Ethan, please I... I need to talk to you," Mr. Summers stammered, his voice trembling with fear. "You need to listen to me."

At the sight of Mr. Summers, Ethan's blood ran cold making him more angry, his frustration bubbling to the surface like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

"What in this world can you possibly have to say, Mr. Summers? Do you know the damage you have already done to this company?"

Mr. Summers flinches at Ethan's hurtful words, his eyes dart around the office as if looking for an escape route. "I understand I have made a terrible mistake, Ethan. But please, you have to understand..."

Ethan cut him off with a wave of his hand, his patience wearing thin. "Can you just save your stupid excuses, Mr. Summers? You have betrayed me, our trust in you, you will have to face the consequences all alone now."

Mr. Summers slunk out of the office, his head hanging low with shame, Ethan could not help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the man who had once been his father's closest friend, the man who helped him build this company to its peak. But Ethan is a man of principles, business over emotion, and right now, sympathy will have to wait. Ethan has a company to save.

Ethan, with a heavy heart, turns to his lawyer, his resolve hardens with each passing moment. "What do we do now? We can't let this get to the public."

The lawyer assured Ethan of a way to subdue this mess internally before it gets out and spreads like fire.

The impending storm bore down upon them, and Ethan knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges and obstacles. So, he was determined and prepared to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side, no matter what it took.

But what possible solution will they use to escape the scandal hovering over them before things get out of hand? Ethan looked at his lawyer, his brow furrowing with frustration and anger, "Anyone with a solution?" He asks the lawyer and Rebecca.

Both of them sat thinking of possible ways, and that is when it was down on his lawyer, "Let us think through this properly," he said. "Whatever legal proceedings are required, I will handle it. But Ethan, I need you to call a meeting with the board of trustees.