One day ago…
Ashton Wright was not gay.
Don't get him wrong, he supported gay rights but he was strictly into women.
So obviously, if he was going to get married, it would be to a woman.
"It's decided, I'll marry her." Ashton Wright declared, his handsome features entirely serious.
Anyone who saw him would know immediately that he was the son of the most powerful man in the business industry, Damon Wright. From their blonde hair down to the Greek god cut of their jaws, the two men were alike enough to be photocopies of each other.
Except for his eyes. Green and determined, everyone said his eyes were from his mother. Sienna Wright was the only person in the business industry powerful enough to go up against his father and instead of being rivals, the two were happily married.
Those sharp green eyes of his were full of confidence as he announced his engagement.
"Sure," Sienna smiled at her son, her own emerald eyes perceptive enough to make entire boardrooms quake in fear, "What we want to know is, who is she?"
"Anyone," Ashton gritted his teeth, frustration colouring his voice, "You must have a list of eligible women, so just pick one and I'll marry her."
Silence.
Ashton looked at his father for help but all he got was the famous 'Damon Wright cold stare of indifference'. Yup, no help there.
He turned back to his mother, "I'm ready to inherit, you know I am. If the last thing I need to do to prove it is to get married, I'll do it."
"Wrong answer," Sienna rapped him gently on the forehead with her knuckles but it didn't hurt at all, no matter how stern she was with him, Ashton knew she loved him more than anything.
"Having a partner you love and trust will stabilize you, your leadership and ultimately, your company," Damon's tone was lecturing but the look he gave Sienna was full of fondness and adoration.
Blegh, his parents were so lovey dovey even so many years into their marriage. It was cute but also gross if you were their kid.
"That's why it has to be a love match," Sienna told Ashton sternly, "It doesn't matter where she's from or who she is as long as she's a good person and you love each other."
Ashton sighed.
Normally, all heirs or heiresses could inherit just by getting married to whomever their parents chose. He could have hired a bride and gotten the company!
Too bad his parents were disgustingly in love and thought that was the key to their success.
Ashton didn't want love, he wanted to work hard and take the family business to new heights.
Nobody had time for love.
Flings, maybe. One night stands, why not? A long term commitment with feelings? No, thank you!
But one look at his parents and Ashton knew that they weren't going to budge on this.
"I understand," Ashton put a contrite look on his face, "I'll look for a partner to get serious about."
His parents gave him approving looks and Ashton knew that they only wanted the best for him…
But there was no way he was going to waste time on things like emotions and relationships.
If he couldn't get the inheritance with a marriage contract, he was just going to have to do a love contract instead!
***
"I thought… You loved me!" The girl in front of the panel wailed, then broke off into heaving sobs.
Ashton wanted to pat himself on the back for his genius.
A marriage contract was easy, all you needed was to find someone to sign their name on the certificate, exchange rings, say a few vows and voila, it was done.
But a love contract… That needed more, that needed an actress.
The problem was that every girl who had auditioned for whatever show this was so far, was terrible.
As if to prove his point, the girl sobbing began making sounds like a chinchilla getting squashed.
He had used his connections to get into the audition room of one of the best acting academies in the city and yet, no one had been good enough so far.
When the girl started pretending to hyperventilate badly, Ashton gave up with a small groan of frustration and went out in search of a coffee.
With a latte in hand, he ducked into a small theater, hoping for some quiet and instead, found another set of auditions.
He was about to leave when the man onstage said, "Nothing in this world means as much to me as you."
Ashton stopped so suddenly that his coffee nearly spilled out of the cup.
Slowly, he turned back to face the stage.
This! This was it!
That was all he was asking for!
There was so much emotion in that single sentence that with just one line, this random guy had outdone every girl Ashton had seen so far.
The man continued with the audition, acting so well that for a moment, Ashton was pulled into the scene, forgetting he was here on a mission.
Then he remembered his mission and sighed. Too bad this actor was male.
If he had been a girl, he would be the perfect candidate for the love contract.
A devious grin crept onto his face.
It was a smile that had caused many panties to drop in the past. But this smirk wasn't for women any longer, Ashton had decided to set his sights on men.
Specifically, this man.
His parents had nagged him about finding a woman to marry, surely they would backpedal if he suggested marrying a man.
Either way it was a win-win situation.
His parents would believe that he was in love and he would push to inherit before actually tying the knot, or they would freak out about him wanting to marry a man and cancel the pre-requisite.
One way or another, he would finally inherit and show his family that he was worthy of the Wright name.
Ashton Wright was not gay.
But he was about to pretend to be!