Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Switching brides

The loud disturbing sound of a phone ringing suddenly woke Roxanne out of her deep slumber. “Roxy, how can you still sleep when your sister has snatched your fiancé? I saw them flaunting their love at your mother’s shopping mall!” Heather Jacobs screamed at her best friend on the phone with anger laced in her voice. "Aren’t you going to teach them a lesson?" The previous night, Roxanne Smith’s stepsister announced that she was pregnant and would be getting married to Victor Morgan who was also the father of her child. She claimed the two were in love and couldn’t stay away from each other. Victor Morgan was Roxanne’s fiancé and yet, he was easily snatched by Maya Smith, her stepsister. He even got her pregnant! Nevertheless, Roxanne seemed to be unbothered by this matter. After receiving the news that night, she even slept like a baby until 10:00 a.m. “Babe, I don’t care whether Maya and Victor are an item or not-”“Are you crazy?! Why wouldn’t you care? Don’t you get it? Maya wants everything that you have. You shouldn’t let her get what belongs to you this time,” Heather responded, cutting off Roxanne’s words. Roxanne Smith was once the only daughter of Kenneth and Grace Smith. However, things changed when her mother died and then Kenneth later married Miriam Hopper and had a daughter. Although, on the surface, Miriam pretended to be good to Roxanne, she secretly mistreated her. Her father, on the other hand, believed in what he saw rather than what his daughter said. In the end, Roxanne gave up and went with the flow. For the past twenty-five years, she always yielded to Maya Smith without a fight. This time wasn’t any different. Maya had expressed interest in her fiancé like always and since Roxanne didn't love him, she happily let him go. Rubbing her eyes to wake herself up, Roxanne said, “I don’t love Victor anyway. It’s good riddance. I’m a free woman now.”“I would celebrate with you if that was the case, Roxy! I’ve called you because there’s some big news! You’re still getting married but your fiance is now Henry Ford! You and your sister have switched places! The news says you’re marrying her fiancé!”“What?!” Roxanne jolted up from bed, unable to feel sleepy anymore. Her stomach sank as she asked, “Are you being for real? Why would I marry Henry Ford?”“It’s all over the news, Roxy. Maybe someone leaked the news but everyone knows now,” Heather replied sympathetically. Feeling her heart go wild in her chest, Roxanne cut the call and immediately went online. She wanted to check for herself. Her eyes widened when she saw the article that had gone viral all over social media and when she read the headline, her heart sank to the pits of her stomach. [Henry Ford, the new CEO of the Ford corporation, is engaged to marry Roxanne Smith, the eldest daughter of Kenneth Smith, CEO of Starlight Inc.] Roxanne couldn’t believe what she was reading! When did she get engaged to Henry Ford? This piece of news was ludicrous! She quickly rushed downstairs and found everyone seated in the living room. “Father, why am I being announced as Henry Ford’s fiancée? Wasn’t he arranged to marry Maya?” Roxanne questioned, her heart thundering in her chest. Were they making her marry Henry Ford because Maya refused to marry him? Kenneth cleared his throat and averted her gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He was about to reply when Miriam beat him to it. “Roxanne, dear, you finally woke up? I was going to tell you the good news when you woke up. Victor fell in love with your sister and got her pregnant. As your mother, I cannot stand by and watch you be aggrieved. Henry is so handsome and rich. You are our lovely daughter, and you and Henry couldn't be more compatible. It was the best arrangement and I'm really happy for you. As a mother, I am so glad to see my two favorite daughters finally grow up and will soon get married.” Miriam said fakely, trying to wipe away the tears that didn't exist. Roxanne clenched her hands into fists. Here it was again. Miriam was once again exercising her hypocrisy, just as she had always done since she was a child. Roxanne’s eyes fell on Maya and she saw the smug smile on her lips. Roxanne knew it was all part of their plan. Maya switched sides so quickly because her fiancé had an accident six months earlier and lost feeling in both legs. After seducing Roxanne's fiancé, she also wanted to let her marry her disabled fiancé in her place. “Did you discuss it with Mr. Ford?” Roxanne asked, “Does he agree to switch the brides?” As the top CEO who lived abroad with his grandfather for years, Henry decided to return to the Country and take over as CEO of the Ford Corporation. However, he was involved in a terrible accident and was bedridden for months. Despite the many months of physiotherapy, it was confirmed that the heir to the Ford Corporation would be bound to a wheelchair forever. This information was all over the news. Henry Ford was disabled and bound to a wheelchair for life! Roxanne knew Maya didn’t want to marry a crippled man so she came up with such a scheme to have her take her place. “Even though Dad was friends with Henry's late father, and even though Henry's parents died in an accident when he was ten and he and his grandfather went abroad, I don't think Henry forgot who his bride is. If we suddenly switched brides after his car accident, I'm sure Henry and his grandfather would misunderstand,” Roxanne reasoned. She saw her father's thoughtful expression after hearing her words and a sigh of relief escaped her lips. That’s it, she knew her father's weaknesses. However, Miriam wasn't going to let Roxanne convince her father. She quickly cleared her throat and intervened in a gentle voice that didn't match her demeanour. "Roxanne, dear, why do you think so? We are doing all this for you. The original agreement did not specify who was Henry's bride. As our favorite eldest daughter, you should have been Henry's bride. It turns out that you are more patient and caring. You are a better match for Henry than Maya."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Her mother's legacy

Miriam seemed to have a warm smile on her face, but Roxanne could see through her façade that Miriam just didn't want her daughter to marry a disabled man. What an excuse. Internally rolling her eyes, Roxanne was about to say something but Miriam continued, "My dear daughter, since your mother passed away, your father and I have worked hard to raise you and your sister. We all hope that you can marry the best man, and now, Henry is a good choice. Moreover, if we break the agreement, the reputation of the Smith family will be ruined. Likewise, the friendship between your father and the Ford family will cease to exist. As the best-behaved daughter of the Smith family, this must not be what you want, right? Kenneth?" Miriam threw the ball into Kenneth's hands. Indirectly urging him to convince Roxanne. Having mentioned the Smith family's reputation, Miriam knew Kenneth would not change his mind. Kenneth cleared his throat and looked at his daughter, saying, “I think there’s no problem. Both of you are engaged to rich and powerful men. You’ve merely just exchanged grooms. Roxanne, Henry is a good man and I believe he will make you happy.” Roxanne sighed. Her father always cared about the reputation of the Smith family and her stepmother also knew what her father cared about most. This was why Miriam used the family's reputation as a weapon to thrust her into another arranged marriage. To be honest, Roxanne didn’t really care who she would marry knowing she had no choice in that matter. Marrying for love was a luxury and this was a fact she had accepted a long time ago. Maya suddenly approached her and placed her hand on Roxanne’s shoulder, saying, “Congratulations, sis. I’m sorry I fell in love with Victor and he chose me too. Henry is not so bad… he might be a cripple but he’s rich.” Roxanne could feel how fake Maya’s words were and they made her stomach churn. How dare she pretend to congratulate her when she deliberately changed grooms to avoid marrying Henry?! She created all this mess just because she didn't want to get married to a disabled man. Just thinking about it made Roxanne's blood boil. The mother and daughter always did this. Acting kind and sweet in front of Kenneth and when he wasn't looking, they showed their true colours. Despite knowing what her stepsister and stepmother were doing, Roxanne couldn’t reject the marriage. She would still end up in another arranged marriage with someone else so there was no point in fighting it. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Maya’s gloating smile and anger flared through her. She didn’t want to give her the satisfaction. Roxanne smiled brightly and replied, “Although Henry Ford is a “cripple”, he’s the richest man in Brentwood City. And so much better than my Ex-fiancé.” She glanced at Maya and then at her stepmother before adding as a smirk curved the side of her lips, “Thank you for making me the most powerful woman in the City.” Maya and Miriam’s smiles instantly dropped at those words. “I’ll marry Henry Ford but only on one condition,” Roxanne declared after taking in a sharp breath. There was no point in refusing the marriage as it was inevitable. However, that didn’t mean she would accept it blindly without fighting for something else. She had to benefit from this arrangement and her eyes were only on one thing. The legacy that her mother left for her. Looking at her father, she proposed, “I’ll marry Henry in place of Maya if you put me in charge of the shopping mall. The one my mother left for me.” Anger surged within Miriam when she heard Roxanne’s condition. A vicious look flashed through her eyes but she quickly hid it before saying, “My dear, why are you mentioning the shopping mall? You don't even know how to run a shopping mall. Don’t be childish, it has nothing to do with your agreement to get married." She glanced at Kenneth and said sweetly, "Honey, Roxanne is too young. She's still acting like when she was a child, every time she encounters something she is not satisfied with, she becomes vexatious." Miriam didn't miss the opportunity to discredit Roxanne. There was a smile on her face but her blood was boiling with hatred. How dare this little bitch try to steal the most profitable shopping mall? Miriam had other plans. Only her daughter deserved to inherit the shopping mall and all the businesses that Kenneth owned. She had no intentions of giving anything to Roxanne, never! She didn’t marry a rich man for her and her daughter to end up empty-handed. Kenneth sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose and remarked, “Your mother’s right, Roxanne. With no skills or the right qualifications, how would you run a shopping mall? Besides, unlike your sister, you’re an introvert and have no connections. How will you improve the shopping mall if you can’t bring in big clients?” Roxanne scoffed internally at his words. Whose fault was it that she wasn’t known among the socialites? Whose fault was it that she didn’t have a proper degree? When Kenneth married Miriam, it was at a time when Roxanne had poor health. Miriam took advantage of that fact and made her stay home while her daughter got the best education and nurtured her talent. If Roxanne didn’t have an online business course secretly, she would still have no qualifications to her name to that day. ‘I have to get my mother’s shopping mall back at all costs! I’ll never let Maya and her mother have it, ever!’ Roxanne promised herself. For years, she had watched Miriam take over almost everything that her mother had contributed to until all traces of her disappeared. The RG shopping mall was different since it belonged to Roxanne as per her mother's will. She would never forgive herself if it landed in the wrong hands.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Managing Director

"Father, I don't want to destroy this shopping mall, it was left to me by my mother, wasn't it? And this shopping center is very profitable. Also, Henry is an extraordinary man. He is so rich and so outstanding, I'm afraid he will not see me as a good partner if I have nothing to my name. What if he annuls the marriage? After I marry Henry, I believe that he will help me run this shopping center. This is a great opportunity for the Smith family,” Roxanne reasoned with Kenneth and tried to persuade him. She was not going to give up without a fight! The area fell into silence as Roxanne waited with bated breath. Her future lay in what her father’s decision would be that day and he did not disappoint. When Kenneth sighed again, Miriam’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile and asked him, “Honey, you’re not thinking of putting her in charge of the mall, are you?” “I am… she’s right. The Fords won’t accept a wife with no proper qualities. Roxanne, you will be the managing director from now on-” “What? She’s not qualified!” Miriam squeaked, dropping her façade. Managing director? Roxanne didn't deserve such a high position. Only her daughter did! When Kenneth glanced at Miriam with a questioning gaze, she quickly changed her demeanour and spoke gently, “I mean… don’t make such a rash decision, honey. This is a shopping complex we are talking about. We might lose clients and revenue if not managed well-” “Don’t worry. Henry is a great businessman. I’m sure he will be able to help Roxanne run the shopping mall. He might even pump in more money and help us expand,” Kenneth said in a tone that hinted that the discussion was over. Hatred flashed through Miriam’s eyes. She was pissed but she couldn’t do anything. There was a limit to what extent she could control Kenneth. Besides, she didn’t want him to suspect her if she continued to persist. She would just look for a way to oust Roxanne in the future. At the same time, Roxanne released a sigh of relief. Finally, she got the mall that was rightfully hers. Now she just had to make sure she took full control so that it didn’t end up in her stepmother’s hands. … A few days later… Roxanne had settled into her new job as the shopping mall’s managing director. One section of the mall had an RG department store which was divided into several stores selling products such as clothing, electronics, furnishings, footwear, toys, cosmetics and groceries. The other section was for partnerships. Some stores were put on rent for the purpose of selling goods, others were for fancy restaurants. Others rented the stores for office space. This meant they would get revenue from the rentals and from the department store too. Roxanne was patrolling the mall, inspecting it to make sure everything was running smoothly. She also wanted to see what she could work on and how she would increase the profits of the mall. After all, she wasn’t here to play. Making large profits would make the board members favour her in the future. She frowned as she looked around the place, “How come no one thought of adding a kid’s section in this mall? If we have restaurants or cafes with a kid’s area, we would attract a lot of families. Families spend a lot of money… what do you think, Sarah?” “That’s a good idea, Miss Smith,” Sarah Stevens replied, pushing her glasses up her nose. She was Roxanne’s assistant and so far, they were getting to know each other. As they were patrolling the department clothing store, Roxanne happened to see Maya and Victor walk into the clothing store. She cussed and muttered under her breath, “Great. Just the two people I wanted to see while at work.” Roxanne didn’t have anything against the couple but she would rather not bump into them at all. She was about to walk out and avoid them but Maya’s words stopped her. “Hey, you!” Maya pointed at a sales lady and ordered, “Pack this for me. And this… and this lingerie…” She picked about twenty branded clothes and wanted to get them for free. Roxanne furrowed her eyebrows when she witnessed this. She thought Maya had no shame at all. Didn’t she know such actions were bad for business? Approaching the couple, she folded her arms across her chest. She glanced at them and said, “You have to pay for those clothes. We don’t offer freebies in my mall.” Maya frowned when she was embarrassed in front of so many people. She glowered at Roxanne and screamed, “What right do you have to stop me? I’ve always gotten free things from this mall!” “That was then, dear sis. Under my management, no one gets anything for free. Do you want the mall to go bankrupt?” Roxanne glanced at Victor and sneered, “Brother-in-law, if you want anything in my mall, you gotta pay for it. However, since you’re about to become family, I’ll give you a discount.” After being addressed by his “useless” ex-fiancée, Victor’s eyes narrowed. ‘I never thought she could be this fierce. How dare she embarrass me like this?’ He looked around and saw that many people were staring at them. If news got out that he failed to pay for clothes, his reputation would be ruined. In the world of business, reputation is very important. Victor Morgan was the CEO of the Morgan transport and logistics Company. He was arranged to marry Roxanne but after learning how she wasn’t favored at home, he decided to choose the woman who would bring value to him and that was her sister, Maya Smith. He glared at Roxanne and scoffed,  "When did you take over the mall? How can you be so rude to your sister? Or are you jealous of her? Stop dreaming, I would still not marry you even without Maya's presence." Roxanne tried not to roll her eyes. What a couple they were. She ignored his words and stretched out her hand, “Pay up, please. Or do you want me to call the police?"

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Henry Ford

Victor Morgan raised an eyebrow. The confident manner in which Roxanne confronted them caught him off-guard. Wasn't she a pushover? Where did she get the courage to stand up to them and humiliate them this way? "You want to call the police?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing. "I will if you don't pay. We have a word for people who get stuff without paying," Roxanne paused for a dramatic effect. "They are called THIEVES." The temperature around them reduced to a negative. Victor narrowed his eyes at Roxanne dangerously but she wasn't intimidated by him. Although he was handsome, tall with sandy brown hair and a rough beard, Roxanne looked down on him for having a poor sense of judgement. Who in their right mind would love Maya? She had a rotten personality. Her fakeness was evident in the way she carried herself. Was he blind? Regardless, his choice was none of Roxanne’s concern. She was there to make money. “Mr Morgan… if you and your fiancée are not buying anything, please leave my department store,” Roxanne said firmly. She looked serious and professional in a white loose suit. The pants were high-waisted and wide while she wore a black tight top underneath the loose white statement-making jacket. Her hair was curled and left to cascade down her shoulders like a flowing waterfall. “You bitch! This mall will belong to me, you have no right to stop me-” Victor wrapped a hand around Maya's waist and soothingly said, “Baby, don’t worry. I’ll pay for your dresses. Let her have her fun. We all know you’re the heiress to Starlight Inc., so this mall will automatically belong to you.” It was as if he was trying to show how affectionate he was with Maya but Roxanne’s attitude was indifferent. She rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah yeah… the money, please. Stop wasting my time. If it’s too expensive for you, the door is open. There's a thrift store down the hallway.” Victor hissed. He had never been insulted like this. 'How dare this woman think I can’t pay for mere clothes?! I’m a CEO!' He angrily took out his card and paid for the branded clothes that Maya had gotten while she batted her eyes at him and gave him a sweet smile. “You spoil me too much, baby.” Maya was trying her best to show Roxanne that she had gotten the better guy. Alas, Roxanne appeared bored and disinterested. She didn't like Victor. If anything, she was glad she didn't have to marry someone like him. Roxanne smiled and handed over the receipt after the sales lady processed the payment. She glanced at the couple and taunted, “Thank you for shopping with us. Please call again.” … A little while later, Roxanne was about to head out of the store when a man in a wheelchair blocked her way. When she glanced at him, her heart involuntarily missed several beats and her breath hitched. "So, you're my bride..." Henry's deep velvety voice reached her ears and snapped her back to reality. Her eyes rounded as she took him in and it dawned on her. So, this was Henry Ford! The rumours about him didn’t do him any justice. The man was smouldering. Damn! Despite being bound in a wheelchair, the man was oozing a powerful domineering aura. He was sprawled out on the chair, his arms resting on the armrests and his back resting against the chair. Roxanne swore she had never seen a man as handsome as him before. Although he had a frown on his face and looked grumpy, she thought he was the hottest man she had ever laid her eyes on. ‘Wow! He looks like a Greek god!’ She exclaimed inwardly. He was in a slim-fit black suit and although he was seated, Roxanne could tell that he was quite tall. His long legs were positioned awkwardly on one side, looking like he was having a hard time being restricted to the wheelchair, yet, he still looked imposing. The type to be the center of attention in a crowd. It was like he came out of nowhere. Her heart was pounding violently but she maintained a poker face while looking at him. For a few seconds, the duo stared at each other, neither dropping their gaze. Henry’s electric blue eyes bored into Roxanne’s dazzling green eyes. After a few seconds of awkward silence, his husky voice finally reached her ears. “I’m your hubby-to-be. That is if you don’t mind marrying a cripple.” As Henry said those words, there was a mocking smirk on the side of his lips. Roxanne’s heart clenched for some reason. This man was at the top of the world but he still had insecurities about his body. Most times, life never goes the way we planned. Being disabled wasn’t the end of the world and she didn’t like the way he was talking down about himself. She smiled politely and introduced herself, “Hi, Mr. Ford. My name is Roxanne Smith and yes, I’m your new bride. That is if you don’t mind marrying the useless sister.” She emulated his words and saw him furrow his eyebrows. “From what I just witnessed, you don’t look useless to me,” Henry said, appraising her with his eyes. Silence befell them as they continued to stare at each other. Roxanne's heart was pounding loudly in her chest but her face did nothing to betray her emotions. “Can we talk? I heard my bride is in charge of this mall so I came to take a look,” Henry suggested as he looked around the area, breaking the silence between them. Although Roxanne was nervous, she agreed, “Sure. Let’s go to my office.” Roxanne began to lead Henry to her office on the second floor while secretly wondering what he wanted to talk about. Perhaps he was here to ask her about the bride switch. Would he reject the new arrangement?

Chapter 5 Chapter 5 An invitation

Henry Ford's assistant, Diego Montero, pushed Henry's wheelchair. Diego used to work for Henry while he was abroad and when Henry came back to the Country, he was transferred back to continue working for him. He was an outspoken but kind man with curly dark brown hair and wore gold-rimmed glasses. When Roxanne got into the elevator with Henry Ford and his assistant, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. The place felt so small. Her heart was racing the entire time. Henry Ford’s powerful aura surged around them and she felt so small in his presence. How could a man still look so powerful despite his physical condition? Henry carried himself with an air of confidence that no one would dare look down on him. The moment the elevator doors opened, Roxanne let go of the breath she didn't realise she was holding. "Follow me," she told Diego and strode down the hallway confidently with her head and chin raised. When they arrived in her office, Roxanne pushed away the chair in front of her desk to accommodate Henry’s wheelchair. Without realising, she was being considerate of his condition. “Would you like some tea? Juice?” She offered but Henry politely declined as he observed her quietly. She was a strange one this one. Why was she being nice to him? Was it because of his status? Or perhaps she was pitying him for being disabled? The thought of being pitied caused a sliver of irritation to rush through him. Henry was in the clothing store earlier and happened to witness Roxanne’s exchange with her stepsister. From what he saw, Roxanne wasn’t the weak and meek woman everyone said she was. She faced her enemies with confidence and fearlessness. She didn't look like someone who would easily get bullied and would do nothing about it. What he saw was a strong woman who could hold her own. The sparkle in her eyes as she stood up to her sister shone brighter than a diamond. He could sense the relief that Roxanne got from that. It was as if she had been waiting for a long time to put her sister in her place. Henry had done a background check and found out that Roxanne wasn’t favoured at home. She was rumoured to be weak and someone who never went up against her sister. However, the woman he saw was totally different. She was smart, business-minded and knew how to deal with her enemies. Who was the real Roxanne Smith? Henry actually preferred the feisty Queen he had seen earlier. What shocked him was how she didn’t discriminate against him because of his disability. Instead, she was very kind and considerate. In the past months, although several women tried to get closer to him because of his money, he could see the disgust that they hid in their eyes. They didn’t want to be with him because they genuinely liked him. His status was what they were attracted to. He came especially that day to observe Roxanne’s reaction to him. Her kindness surprised him but he kept a poker face as he continued to observe her. On the other hand, the way Henry kept looking at Roxanne made her feel like he wasn’t pleased with the bride exchange. ‘Does he also prefer Maya?’ Her heart lurched at that thought. Everyone preferred Maya anyway. It wouldn't be the first time. She cleared her throat and said, “I know you were supposed to marry Maya according to the earlier arrangement. However, I had no choice but to accept the new arrangement because she’s in love with someone else and doesn't want to marry you. If switching the brides annoys you, please feel free to reject it.” Glancing at Henry, she added, “Whatever you choose to do is fine by me.” Due to Henry Ford’s accident, his grandfather had become anxious and wished for him to quickly get married and have children. The old man kept urging him to fulfil the marriage agreement that his father had made with Kenneth Smith. To ease his grandfather’s worries, Henry agreed to get married. At first, he was ok with marrying anyone but seeing Roxanne who was seated opposite him, his curiosity about her increased. She was an interesting woman. One who had piqued his interest. He wanted to know more about her. Nevertheless, he didn’t respond to her statement. He didn’t agree or reject the arrangement. All he did was stare at her for a few minutes before a small smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "Looking forward to our next meeting, Miss Smith." After Henry said this in his deep baritone voice, he let his assistant push him away, leaving Roxanne standing in confusion. Did he agree to the bride switch or not? … Roxanne was in her office when she received a golden envelope which was sealed with the Ford family crest. When she opened it, she discovered it was an invitation to a banquet to celebrate the inauguration of Henry Ford as CEO of Ford Corporation. She was invited as Henry Ford's plus one. Looking at the card, Roxanne's eyes squinted. 'What does this mean?' She thought. The last time she talked to Henry, he didn't give her his stance on the marriage issue so she had no idea whether he was ok with the switch or not. Did he still want to go through with the marriage? He never said anything. A week had passed when he suddenly sent her an invitation to his private banquet. Roxanne didn't know what to make of his actions. Regardless, she decided to go since she was invited by Henry himself. When it was time, she dressed up in an ivory gown and styled her blonde hair into an elegant updo. She quickly found her way to the Ford's mansion after following the address on the invitation card. The backyard was decorated elegantly and many businessmen and women could be seen chatting and making new business connections. Roxanne was about to look for Henry when an irritating voice reached her ears. "Oh, look who's here. If it isn't my dear sister, Roxanne."

Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Skills

Roxanne rolled her eyes and turned to face her sister who was standing next to Victor and her obnoxious friend, Alisha. A scoff escaped her lips. Indeed, they were birds of the same feather. Maya hooked her arm around Victor’s and sneered, “I didn't expect to see you here, Roxanne. Did you sneak in?” Of course, Maya thought Roxanne wouldn't have an invitation to such an upper-class event. It wasn't open to any Jim and Jack and only a few invitations were sent out. Maya was only able to go because Kenneth was invited and she begged him to give her his invitation card. Seeing Roxanne at the banquet came as a shock to her. "Henry hasn't seen you since news of your engagement was released and neither did he admit it to the media. It seems he doesn’t care about you. How do you still have the courage to attend a banquet?” Maya said sarcastically. “Mind your own business, Maya. I didn't come here for you,” Roxanne responded flatly. Meanwhile, Victor furrowed his eyebrows as a sliver of irritation flared through him. He thought Roxanne wasn't willing to break the marriage arrangement between them, hence, she was following him around. "Are you stalking us? How did you get in?” Victor questioned with contempt. “Quickly leave this place before anyone sees you. Only those with invitations can attend this banquet. Stop embarrassing yourself by trying to get close to me. I already chose your sister." Roxanne rolled her eyes and shook her head before she whipped around sharply and walked away. Narcissistic much? She couldn't believe she would have married such a dumb ass. On the other hand, hatred was brewing within Maya after being ignored by Roxanne. 'How dare she? Who does she think she is?' “Baby, can you get me a drink?” Maya asked Victor through gritted teeth and when he left, a vicious look plastered her face as she glared in the direction that Roxanne went. “I hate her so much! What gives her the right to attend such a prestigious event?!” She hissed, clenching her fists. “She's engaged to Henry Ford. So maybe that’s how she was able to come here...” Alisha responded. “She's so smug. Did you see that? She's becoming more bold after taking charge of the RG shopping mall. We need to teach her a lesson. I want her to humiliate herself that she would never want to attend an upper-class event ever again,” Maya declared while Alisha agreed with her. “You're right. She thinks she’s the Ford's matriarch already. Let’s put her in her place.” Meanwhile, Roxanne who was unaware of the brewing scheme got tired of looking for Henry so she found a chair next to the buffet and after grabbing a few sweet treats, she sat down and began to happily munch them. She regretted coming to such an event, knowing very well she wasn't cut out for such kinds of things. While Maya loved to attend social events, Roxanne stayed home and read a book or watched a movie. After a few minutes, she began to feel awkward and out of place. 'Where's Henry?' She looked around again but he was nowhere to be seen. He invited her and didn't even show up, making her look lost. As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard Maya's voice speaking through a microphone at the setup stage in front. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My sister, Roxanne Smith, admires Mr. Henry Ford very much. She told me she wanted to play the piano for him as a gift to welcome him back to the Country. My sister is very good at playing the piano. She will blow your minds...” With a cheery voice, Maya's eyes found Roxanne's frame. She smiled and said while gesturing with her hand, “Put your hands together for Roxanne as she comes up to play the piano for the CEO!” The guests followed Maya's eyes and looked at Roxanne expectantly while applauding for her. Maya smirked as she looked at Roxanne who looked like a deer caught in headlights. ‘You’re done for, bitch! Who’s smug now?’ Roxanne had never had piano lessons before. Maya was confident she would make a fool out of herself in front of so many important people. 'Serves you right!' Her mind was filled with evil thoughts but she maintained a sweet smile on her face as she cheered for her sister to come on stage. At the same time, Roxanne had a poker face as the crowd cheered for her. She knew Maya was trying to make a fool out of her. Since everyone was looking at her, she had no choice but to walk to the stage. “Show them your skills, sis!” Maya squeaked with a fake smile on her face. 'Let's see if you will be able to show your face after this, bitch,' she sneered inwardly. Roxanne shrugged and said, “I'll try. I'm not so good at playing the piano.” Maya secretly laughed. 'Are you justifying your inevitable failure?' She was ecstatic knowing Roxanne would fail and Henry would hate her. There was nothing worse than having a husband who hated you. ‘Just wait, Roxanne. I’m going to make your life a living hell.’ “Come on. Don't be so humble. We both know you're an expert. How can someone from the Smith family have no piano skills?” Maya said, making sure her voice was amplified by the microphone. "You even earned so many rewards. I'm sure they will all love your piano skills." She sounded like she was praising her but there was a taunting tone in her voice. How could Roxanne have earned many rewards when she never participated in a competition? Maya mentioned this to set a certain expectation in the audience so that they would be more disappointed when they witnessed Roxanne's horrible skills. Roxanne mentally rolled her eyes and went towards the piano, ignoring Maya altogether. Since Maya wanted a show, she was going to give her a show. She sat down on the stool next to the piano and after a few seconds, she began to play the piano, stunning the crowd altogether. Her fingers gracefully moved along the keys as she played a ballad. Not only did she play beautifully, but she sang along too. The crowd fell silent as they listened to the beautiful music and angelic voice of Roxanne. “Wow. I heard the eldest daughter has no proper skills but it seems the rumours are false. She's so good.”“She has such a lovely voice and her piano skills are top-notch. I feel like I'm at a concert.” Those comments came from the audience as they watched Roxanne's performance. Roxanne looked elegant as she played the piano and she was exuding a noble aura that made her look like a queen. She captured everyone’s attention including the man seated in his wheelchair on the balcony, watching the scene in the backyard. He narrowed his falcon-like eyes at the beautiful figure on the stage and a complex emotion stirred within him. “Interesting,” he muttered to himself. His substitute bride was getting more and more mysterious. There was more to her than meets the eye and the more he watched her, the more he wanted to know more about her. Turning to his assistant, he instructed, “Bring her to me.”“Yes, sir.”

Chapter 7 Chapter 7 A contract

After Roxanne played the last notes, she stood up and curtsied while the audience erupted in applause. She whipped around to face the shell-shocked Maya. Smirking, she remarked, “Thank you, sis. I was wondering how I would introduce myself as Henry's future wife. Look around,” Roxanne said as cheers and praise echoed around them. “They love me.” Maya clenched her hands into fists and gritted her teeth. She didn't expect Roxanne to know how to play the piano. She was even better than her! How did she know? Roxanne never went for piano lessons. She was useless! Her mother made sure of that! Maya couldn't fathom how her plan to humiliate Roxanne changed into an opportunity for her to look good in front of figures from wealthy families. This was not supposed to happen! A malicious glint flashed through Maya's eyes as she glared at Roxanne. 'I can't wait to get rid of her.' On the other hand, Victor frowned but he didn't say anything. Deep down, he was impressed. He initially thought Roxanne behaved like a country bumpkin. He thought she was useless. But she proved him wrong that night. She looked so sophisticated and classy. Her pearl-white skin glowed under the night sky as she smiled at the crowd after melting their hearts with her lovely song. As Roxanne returned to her seat, Diego approached her and presented, “Miss Smith, Mr. Ford wants to see you.” She followed him into the mansion and all the way to Henry’s study. “Mr. Ford,” she greeted Henry and he just stared at her with his face devoid of any emotions. “You keep surprising me, Miss Smith,” Henry said after a few seconds of silence. “I've thought about your proposition.” He picked up a file and slid it across the table to her. Roxanne took out the document and gasped when she realised it was a contract. “Be my wife, Miss Smith," Henry proposed, his voice calm and husky. Henry Ford was on the balcony the whole time. As he sat there, he saw everything that was going on in the backyard. Normally, he wouldn't be bothered but he couldn't seem to keep his eyes off Roxanne. She looked so elegant and sophisticated in her ivory gown. The high slit on her right leg would expose her milky long leg each time she moved. Her figure was accentuated perfectly in the mermaid gown she wore. It was a mix of elegance and sexiness. 'She's so beautiful...' Henry observed, a small smirk curling on his lips. He had yet to give her a response about their marriage and he invited her to the banquet so that they could discuss their future. His eyes narrowed when Maya suddenly went on the stage and called for Roxanne to play the piano. From his background check, Henry knew Roxanne wouldn't know how to play the piano, so he knew what Maya was up to. He wanted to show up at that moment but Roxanne surprised him yet again. It turned out that she didn't need him to save her like she was some damsel in distress. She walked to the stage with open confidence and awed the audience with her excellent piano skills. Henry felt something stir in his heart when he watched her play the piano on stage. She looked every bit the epitome of perfection. Without wasting time, he instructed Diego to bring Roxanne to his study. From there, he made a shocking request. "Be my wife, Miss Smith." When Roxanne's eyes rounded, he took in a breath and added, “Of course, it will be in public only. I won't pressure you to be my real wife at home.” As Henry said this, there was a fiery glint in his eyes but Roxanne didn't notice this. She read the contents of the contract carefully. There was nothing complex about it. His conditions were what she wanted too. It stated that they would only be married for a year. After which they would divorce and she would get an alimony of ten million dollars. Roxanne gulped as she read the last condition. [The wife will not interfere with the husband’s private life and likewise. Since there’s no love between the involved parties, this marriage will be in name only.] A year was enough for Roxanne to establish a strong footing in the management of the shopping mall. By then, she would have gotten full control of it and no one would ever steal it from her again. In fact, marrying Henry was not a bad idea. There was no love between them but they both needed to fulfil the family's marriage arrangement. “I don’t need the alimony, Mr. Ford. I’ll be able to make that ten million dollars in a year from my shopping mall,” she said haughtily and Henry arched one of his eyebrows at her. This woman was feisty and had a fighting spirit. He liked it. After a few seconds, Henry nodded and said, “Ok. I’ll look forward to seeing that. I’ll do whatever you want when the time comes.” Smirking, Roxanne took the pen and signed the contract without hesitation. Stretching her hand towards Henry, she declared, “It's a deal, Mr. Ford.”

Chapter 8 Chapter 8 A meeting

“Tell us how you plan to increase the shopping mall’s sales, Miss Smith. What’s your strategy?” One of the board members, Sean Anderson, questioned during a meeting on a Monday morning. The news that Roxanne who had no experience in marketing was appointed as the marketing director of the shopping mall spread like wildfire. A lot were against the appointment, especially those who were on Miriam Hopper’s side. They quickly called for a board member’s meeting to find a way to get rid of Roxanne. Since she was appointed by Kenneth Smith, they couldn’t just send her away but if the majority of board members agreed, it would be easier. Knowing she was going to be put under the microscope, Roxanne had prepared adequately for the meeting. With open confidence, she answered, “To increase sales, I suggest we implement strategies such as offering discounts, promotional codes and coupons. As much as we want to make money, we need to think about the customer too. If our goods and services are too expensive, we won’t have many people coming to our mall. However, when the majority of goods and services are being offered at a fair price, many customers will want to come to our mall to save money.” Richard Johnson, a man in his fifties who was on Miriam’s side suddenly interrupted Roxanne. With a harsh tone, he said, “Wait! All this means nothing if customers don’t actually visit the mall. Do you know how many malls have discounts and promotional codes? What makes RG special? We will just end up with a few customers and less revenue. The Ford’s shopping mall is still at number one as we speak. Give us something concrete that will convince us that you are cut out for the job, Miss Smith.” Roxanne narrowed her eyes at the man but her face didn’t betray her emotions. Instead, she smiled and said, “I was just getting to that.”“We can set ourselves apart by turning our shopping mall into an entertainment hub. If we put things like a children’s section, a movie theatre, a pub and grill for the...-”“The Fords are already doing that. Have you been to a place called Black? Every weekend, it’s packed with VIPs who spend millions of dollars on beers and women. Tell us something new, Miss Smith. Or stop wasting our time,” Richard countered. Roxanne pursed her lips into a thin line as she narrowed her eyes at Richard. He was trying to intimidate her but Roxanne was undeterred. Just because she had been laying low doesn’t mean she can be bullied. She looked at him and changed the page on the screen. “We are different because we will focus on family. Bringing a family together strengthens the love and bond they share. We can create events that would prompt customers to visit our mall. The image you’re seeing right now is of the famous artist, Yolanda Nicholson. She’s so good at influencing that whatever brand she endorses doubles in its income and customers. I’m going to make her RG shopping mall’s brand ambassador.” A few of the board members nodded in approval seemingly liking her idea. “Yolanda is difficult to contact. I heard she demands a hefty amount and is very difficult to convince. What’s your alternative plan if you fail to make her our brand ambassador?” Roxanne hissed internally. She knew Richard was deliberately going against her but she wasn’t afraid. She glanced at him and forced a smile, saying, “Mr Johnson, don’t worry. I will hire Yolanda Nicholson to be our brand ambassador.” She was confident in her negotiation skills. If it meant she had to travel overseas to personally bring the artist, she would. “The presentation might be ok but Roxanne doesn’t have the proper qualifications to run a mall-”“I’m sorry for interrupting, Sir. Here are my credentials. I have a degree in business and finance, also, I recently got a master's in marketing and sales. So, I am qualified for this job. I’ll show you through my achievements,” she declared while passing her certificates around. As the board members looked at each other, Richard remarked, “You were not hired through the proper procedures but since you have shares in the mall, we shall vote to see whether you’re fit to be the managing director. Being Kenneth Smith's daughter doesn’t mean the position should be handed over to you on a silver platter. Besides, Kenneth has two daughters and he might decide to hand over the shopping mall to your sister. Anything can happen.” Roxanne knew what he was implying. Her father could choose Maya as the sole heir of all his businesses. However, Richard's words didn't affect her. Her plan was to work hard and gain full control of her mother's shopping mall. She didn't care about anything else. “We can give her a month and see how she performs. Then we can have another meeting to decide whether she will remain as the managing director or not,” Bridget suggested. Kenneth who had been silent all this time cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. To be honest, he didn’t expect Roxanne to be so skilled. She often locked herself in her room, little did he know she was busy studying. He glanced at everyone and added, “It’s settled then.” Looking at Roxanne, he said, “Roxanne, the board is putting you in charge of the mall for a month. Prove to them that you are qualified for the job. We shall meet in a month to make a final decision.”“That’s fine by me,” Roxanne responded confidently with her head and chin raised high. She wasn’t afraid of being challenged. All she wanted was a chance to prove that she could do it. When the meeting was over and Roxanne had returned to her office, she received an order from Richard. He was the vice president of Starlight Inc. so he also oversaw the RG shopping mall. “We need to have a partnership with an electronics company. They are supplying our electronics department stores with the latest smart TVs. Go and negotiate with Mr. David Miller. We need him to supply the goods to us at a cheaper price. You will find him at Black in one of the VIP rooms,” Richard instructed. Roxanne was confused, “Shouldn’t a business negotiation be done at his company? Why should I go to Black?” Black was a high-end pub and grill. It was a low-key strip club at night while it served as a restaurant during the day. Most people who went there went for pleasure and fun. It wasn’t ideal for business discussions. Frowning, she declined, “Kindly change the location and appointment. I’ll meet him at his office.” Richard’s eyes flashed with malice. Looking at her coldly, he said through gritted teeth, “Are you serious about keeping your position? Mr Miller never leaves Black. He does all his business deals there. I’m ordering you to go and meet him as your superior.” Roxanne sighed. In the end, she had no choice but to go. She didn't want to upset Richard lest he persuaded the other board members not to vote for her. After gathering the necessary documents, she proceeded to the Ford’s Paradise shopping plaza. She went straight to Black and a waiter showed her to Mr. Miller’s private room. Meanwhile, a man in a wheelchair on the second floor narrowed his eyes when he saw the petite figure entering David Miller’s room. “Sir, isn’t that…” his assistant trailed after noticing that the air around them suddenly turned colder than ice. The man clenched his jaws as he glared at the door, thinking, ‘What is she doing in David’s room? Doesn’t she know he’s a pervert?’