Clara Stones is a 23-year-old average lady who lived a normal life since childhood. However, she encountered a few tragic experiences such as her sister being murdered by someone, and her Father falling in and out of numerous sicknesses. Eventually, her life began to take a different turn when she encountered the sons of a billionaire, the Brutes. It was then she realized that the twists and turns of fate linked her up with someone she never imagined. Consequently, she would have to deal with bitterness and grief and work towards following her heart. Williams Brute, a 25-year-old businessman, the elder brother to Daniel Brute and the son of the billionaire business tycoon and Mafia boss; Albert Brute. As the son of a billionaire, he had a lot of leverage and saw it as a reason to follow his heart from the beginning. Unlike his brother, he never wanted to please his Father and tread in his path as he saw him as a crook. Submitting to the pressures of his parents to get married he went into a contracted marriage as the lady he wanted to marry was never approved by them. After a while of being married, he realizes he is gradually falling in love but discovers horribly that she is not in love with him. Rather, she was in love with his brother. Eventually, he would have to accept his fate and move on. After a strained relationship with his brother, he is reunited with him at his marriage, his contract marriage. Unfortunately, he falls in love and realizes that the lady is someone from his past who he had hurt deeply. He had to take the journey and pain of seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, and restitution to hold on to his newfound love.
Chapter 1 Clara's POV
"Make sure you pack up the files when you're done for the day" Madam Mina said to me at the office "I'll be leaving to pick up my son from school and I won't be back to the office. Take care"
"Alright ma" I replied "I will do all the necessary things and send in memo's and meetings that will be scheduled for Monday".
"It's alright. I trust you" she said and walked out of the office. I sat back on my chair and continued working on my laptop.
I worked at a mini firm, M and M. It dealt with goods packaging and shipment. The firm was established ten years ago so it was still considered a small firm though it has been moving quite well.
I was working on filling an invoice to a logistics company for the delivering of goods to customers made the previous week. Since I was Madam Mina's secretary, I was directly responsible for most duties in the office. The rest were customer service representatives, dispatch riders and many more.
A rap on my desk brought me out of work mode, I raised up my head and smiled. It was Nick, my best friend and colleague.
"Hey Nick" I beamed and pushed up my glasses. "How you doing?"
"Hey Clara. How you doing?" he responded and mimicked me, I chuckled. "Really C, you're going to keep doing this?" he raised a brow at me.
"What? I'm working" I shot back.
"Yeahhhh" he stressed on the word, suspicion written all over his face. He rested his upper body on my desk, peering intently at my face. "Come on, cut it out C, Mina is not here anymore and she won't be back today. Cut yourself some slacks".
"So it's now Mina to you right? Wonderful" I shook my head and continued working on my laptop, He blocked my view and continued.
"Clara take a break. You don't have to keep pretending all the time" I hissed.
"If that's what it is to you, fine. But I have to get the shit done, you know today is Friday"
"Shit" He looked away and mumbled. I looked into his face surprised.
"What?! You forgot?"
"Chill" he scratched his head "So where are we going this time around?" He asked to ease the tension.
Friday was I and Nick's hangout to chill from the stress of the week. Most times we hung out alone and other times, with other friends and family.
"Well, this time around you have to bring a plus one because" I paused and stared at him, "I have a date with my boyfriend" I smiled sweetly.
He groaned "why does it have to be on our night?"
"I don't know why you don't like Ted, he's really a nice guy when you get to know him better" I explained.
"I'm not gay C. I'm not meant to like him, can't you see he is putting a separation between us?" he rolled his eyes in exasperation. "You know what? Have fun with your boyfriend, I won't tag along"
"Stop being a pussy Nicky boy. And stop saying he's separating us, hold up, are you in love with me?".
"Of course darling, I love you to the moon and never coming back, you know that already" he dramatized, not the reaction I was expecting though but I felt at ease.
"Then stop saying that"
"Why won't I? Before Ted is, Nick was. They should not be any form of asunder....." he continued blabbing on and on.
"Nick please! Let me concentrate. Come on, to your desk now. You also have work to do" I stood up from my sit and made an effort to push him away.
"Oh darling. I'm done with my work for the day, and now, I want to keep my sweet beautiful best friend, company" He replied holding on to me.
"It's almost closing time, please, let me concentrate and round up" I begged.
"So I am now a distraction?" he asked feigning being offended. I pouted and walked back to my desk, ignoring him.
"Hey come back here! I'm the one meant to do that!" he ran after me.
Nick and I were childhood friends. Our families did everything together, we were so inseparable. Though Nick's parents were well to do than my parents, he still decided to work at my workplace to uphold our best friend's mantra.
'Wherever you go, that's where I'll be'.
******
William's POV
"Will baby, you would be turning thirty by next year and no woman in your life, not even a crush. You know your dad, I have tried to hold him down for so long and I can't do that anymore" My mom's voice boomed, filling the office immediately she walked in.
"And I appreciate your help mother. But is this the urgent discussion you talked about?" I looked at her amused.
"Isn't it urgent enough?" she spat "Besides I am definitely not getting any younger. I need tiny feet all over my big lonely home" she gave me puppy's eyes.
I breathed in and out, completely blown out by the pressure mounted on me by my parents to get married. What's the freaking point of it by the way?
"Mom I have a woman you know that"
She laughed sarcastically "which one, Porsha? Oh please, you know how your Father sees her. I don't even like her"
"Why does everything have to go in Father's direction? I'm getting tired of it, can't I leave my own life?"
"I'm really sorry baby. Your father has done a lot for you, and what do you do in return? You defy him every single time. This is the only chance you have at pleasing him"
My mind was taken back to the past. I was always the bad sheep and I still am. My younger brother is the family's sweetheart, he always obeys and does whatever my commands.
My father had asked me to go for football in my high school, I chose tennis. He requested I go to Cambridge, I chose Harvard. He wanted me to be a medical doctor, I chose to be a businessman. I even ran away from home to achieve it.
That's not even the crime. I always brought out my father's dirty secret outside to whoever cared to listen. I made sure I soiled his name wherever we went. Name it, I did a lot of nasty things one could never imagine. I showed them the William who was calm and kind on the outside but on the inside was an evil strict man who never cared about his family.
Till now, my dad and I are not in talking terms, whatever he had to say to me, he related it through my mom. Wondered what my mother saw in him.
I was jolted out of the reverie by my mom calling my name.
"What are you thinking about son?" I love my mom so much and even wanted to save her from my father, but she never gave me a reason for her saving even when he abused and maltreated her.
"Uh, nothing. You were saying?" I said scratching the nape of my neck.
"Your Father gave you an ultimatum. He is giving you six months to bring a bride home or you forfeit your business" her face creased, worry lines etched on her face.
"What the?!
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