The McCain Marriage Contract
Synopsis
He doesn't know she's marrying him for money. She doesn't know his closet is full of skeletons. For a young lady, Valerie Jensen has quite a lot on her plate. She's busy trying to deal with both physical and emotional scars when her father suffers a health problem that greatly increases their financial needs. Fortunately, she's able to reconnect with an old family friend who just so happens to be a billionaire. He is willing to help on one condition: she marry his son, Raymond. An eligible bachelor and the only heir to his father's wealth, Raymond McCain is a renowned player, much to his father's dismay. Using his inheritance as bait, his father blackmails him into marrying Valerie in order to produce an heir. But there are many issues with this arrangement, including the fact that Valerie and Raymond used to be lovers many years ago—until some messy secrets ended the relationship, secrets Raymond is unwilling to dig back up. In a marriage founded on lies, blackmail, and secrets, can these two find common ground and rediscover their love for each other?
The McCain Marriage Contract Free Chapters
Chapter 1 — Valerie | The McCain Marriage Contract
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"I'm getting married, dad. To Raymond McCain," I blurted.
I hoped for a gasp of surprise, a shriek, a cold stare even -- anything at all to indicate that he heard me, that he was still with me. All I got was the continuous beep from the monitor indicating ongoing cardiac activity. And while it was different from what I hoped for, it was reassuring. It reminded me that I was making the right decision for my family.
Raymond Thayer McCain was once the only boy I had eyes for. We grew up together in the heart of Jacksonville, Florida and our parents were great friends, even though his mother always threatened to leave his father because of his serial womanizing. Raymond and I attended the same schools up till sophomore year. Always walking hand-in-hand and slipping each other cute notes, we gave the other kids in school relationship goals to aspire to. But that was until the day of the Spring Dance when I had the accident that scarred me terribly; I found out that the McCains suddenly and discreetly relocated to Washington, DC and severed all contact with my family. Shortly after, rumor had it that Tony McCain, Raymond's father, gained recognition from Microsoft Corporation for some incredible apps he developed and he became filthy rich. I couldn't help but think that the vanishing act they pulled on us was not unconnected to their newfound wealth; maybe they didn't want to mingle with poor folk anymore.
Anyone would be thrilled to settle down with their first love, to live out the kind of romance that only existed in books. But I wasn't. I was getting married to Raymond purely for money. A whopping sum of $800,000 that I could never make from my job as an ordinary blogger, an amount that would afford my father the best health care possible. I was no different from a full-time prostitute, except that my arrangement would be legal and binding to one man only. It wasn't a decision I was proud of but I no longer had use for my pride. I just wanted my dad to live.
Sitting beside my dad's hospital bed, I cringed at the sight of the tubes that went in and out of different parts of his comatose body. I sighed and took his hand in mine. It felt sort-of cold. When I ran my finger over his hand the hair on my skin stood. His skin felt dry, almost scaly, like old leather. It looked even worse; it was pale, rumpled, and stripped of its elasticity. And it didn't help that I saw Tony's well-manicured hands four days ago, a strong reminder of how my dad's used to be. It did not matter that my dad had been in the hospital for nearly two weeks following the stroke and the coma that ensued, and that I held his hands every single day; this new look and feel would always be foreign and unwelcome to me.
My mom died in an automobile accident two years after the McCains moved. I had just turned seventeen then. A part of me hoped that Raymond would show up and apologize for his behavior and sweep me off my feet, but I was disappointed. Then after the funeral, dad had us move to San Fransisco to start over. But it was just one health condition after another and soon I had to ditch my desk job as a sales rep and work from home, on my beauty blog.
As the years passed, we forgot all about the McCains. Until four days ago when I went to get a sandwich from the hospital cafeteria and saw Tony on TV, talking about how technology was taking over the world. It turned out that his new company -- McCain and Partners -- had its headquarters in Potrero Hills, right there in San Francisco, just a few minutes away from me!
In my excitement, I forgot all about the sandwich and rushed out of the hospital to take the next bus. It didn't even occur to me to call his office and book an appointment. All I could think of was that the universe was working in my favor; that Tony would loan me the money I needed to give my dad the best quality of life possible. Maybe I would even get to see Raymond and milk the explanation I deserved from him.
When I got to the office Tony's rude secretary with the overly large behind wouldn't let me see him. I was so sure he was screwing her on the side, for her to possess so much effrontery. I was starting to yell at her when Tony walked out of his office, looking very important and shaking the hand of another important-looking man. Without thinking I screamed, "Mr. T! Mr. T! It's me, Valerie!" His heavy-assed secretary tried in vain to shush me.
Tony's eyes met mine and they shone with recognition. "Valerie Jensen? Come here, girl!"
I blew a raspberry at his secretary and left her scowling as I sauntered over to him. He enveloped me in a bear hug the second I got to him. "How are you, dear?" He asked, and without waiting for a response he invited me into his office. "Hold all my calls, Sylvia," he said to his secretary. "This is family business."
I didn't mind it that Tony referred to me as family even after eleven whole years of silence. I didn't feel upset like I used to that he never called or visited even when my mom died. All of that was in the past now, and I needed to let go of the past if I expected any help from him.
His office was bigger than my entire house, and it was even more tastefully furnished. Everything about it reeked of money, as was expected of a billionaire like him, and it was quite difficult for me to reconcile the financial state of the Tony I was seeing now to the one I used to know.
"My, Valerie. You have turned into such a goddess!" he said, waving me to a seat.
As I sat down I impulsively tugged at my dress, ensuring it was well below my knees. I wasn't sure why I did this, whether to ensure the disgusting scar at the back of my leg was not visible in the slightest thereby making a mockery of his compliments, or because I remembered how much of a womanizer he used to be and I didn't want him to have any ideas.
He beamed at me. "It's been such a while. How's old J. J.?" J. J. was his nickname for my dad, Jimmy Jensen. The question brought a sharp pain to my chest.
I shrugged. "He's seen better days."
Tony nodded, still smiling. "So how come you thought of me today? What's going on?"
I paused for a minute before I started. I had worked on my pitch on the bus and the lies just rolled out of my tongue: I was sick of being an employee and wanted to tow the entrepreneurial path. I wanted to launch my brand of female beauty products and I needed his help with the capital. As I spoke I hoped he was buying the lies, like he always did when I was younger. But even if he didn't, I was confident he'd help me; he had a lot more money than he knew what to do with.
There was silence when I finished talking and he appeared deep in thought. Then he clasped his hands together and sighed. "Honestly, I'm hurt you're here just because you need a favor; I thought you missed me or something. Anyway, I can't loan you any money."
I looked at him. The hot tears in my eyes were threatening to fall. He was my final hope, my last resort.
He continued. "I will give you the money; it's the very least I could do given our family relationship."
My mouth opened in pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure if to bow, kneel or prostrate in appreciation. I decided to do all three, but just as I got up from my seat I heard him say something I never saw coming. "But you have to do something for me in return: marry my son, Raymond."
I didn't hear much else of what he said, but I remembered him giving me his personal phone number and cab fare.
But what I remembered most of all was the stunningly handsome figure of Raymond McCain standing outside the door as I was leaving.
Chapter 2 — Raymond | The McCain Marriage Contract
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I grunted in utter pleasure as she pushed me over and straddled me in one quick movement, riding me until I was sure my brains would burst. The girl really knew her craft and she knew how to be in control. I knew instantly this would not be the last time we'd fuck.
But why was I fucking this sweet French girl and thinking about Valerie Jensen? Valerie -- my very first crush, my first kiss, my first love. After her, there had been so many other women, so much that I couldn't keep count. With each one it was business as usual -- we fucked and we parted ways. There was no commitment, no multiple encounters, except for this French girl I was sure I would hook up with again. But all I had done was see Valerie again after eleven long years and it was impossible to get her off my mind.
As if that wasn't bad enough, my dad was blackmailing me to get married to her. It was either that or kiss all of my inheritance goodbye.
"Faster," I groaned. "Ride me faster!"
The girl bit one side of her lip in a way that turned me on and increased her pace. She moved her hips in ways I had never seen or even thought possible and I felt myself grow harder. The inside of her was becoming increasingly warmer and moister and I knew my end was near. I gritted my teeth and moaned. "I'm gonna cum, Vee-Jay. I'm fucking gonna cum!"
She gave a devilish smile and rode me harder. And just before my juice made it out, she got off me and deftly took her lips to the tip of my penis. She only had to suck on it four times before I ejaculated in her mouth.
We lay on the bed breathless and spent. Then she rushed off to have a bath, came back, and started dressing up.
"Aren't you spending the night?" I asked.
She shook her head. "I have a date tonight."
"Can I have your number then?" I moved closer to her and traced a finger across her neck. "I would love to do this again sometime."
She smiled at me, a sort-of sympathetic smile. "Sorry, boo. I only fuck a person once." Then she kissed me gently and walked out of the room.
Damn! I had been beaten at my own game. I probably deserved it too, seeing as I called her "Vee-Jay." That was the raunchy moniker I coined for Valerie in middle school from her initials.
She had gotten under my skin!
I closed my eyes and wondered how my dad found her after all these years. I also wondered what he must have said to her, to convince her to marry me just like that. We loved ourselves back then, but I was sure she despised me for disappearing on her the way I did. Besides I knew how much of a romantic she was. She wanted the fairytale kind of love, the kind that swept one off their feet. She wanted the fancy dates, the quiet, meaningful strolls, and the sweetest engagement speech. It was hard to believe that the same person would play into my father's hands and agree to an arranged marriage -- with me of all people! Something was fishy and I was going to find out about it sooner or later.
I saw this new Valerie four days ago, when I stopped by my dad's office to update him on the progress we had made on the new golf course we were setting up in Manhattan. After graduating from college, I oversaw all of his numerous business and I did a great job; he said I was a businessman from the womb. Just as I was about walking into his office, Valerie was leaving. It took me a moment for me to recognize her, and to be sure I was not dreaming. But before I could say a word she hurried away, her cheeks flushed scarlet.
"Why... Why was she here, dad? What did you do? What did you say to her?" I thundered. I was visibly shaking. That man was definitely up to no good.
My dad was surprisingly calm. "Relax, boy. She's family and she decided to pay me a visit."
"What happened to us staying away from them? What happened to..." I cut myself short and lowered my voice. "That was all your plan, remember?"
"Well, plans change. Turns out we might be seeing the Jensens more often in the future."
I couldn't make any sense of that statement, but I didn't probe any further. I decided then that even if my dad continued with whatever shady business he was doing with the Jensens, I would steer clear of them. I wasn't interested in any fresh drama. I already had my fill of that.
The days passed and I felt relief that my dad had not made any further mention of Valerie. I was glad for that glimpse of her I caught and, if everything was ideal, I'd have loved to hang out with her. Hell, if everything was ideal we'd probably be married with kids already; we used to love each other that much. But then a lot had happened, a lot that time and distance had done nothing to heal. It was for the best that I stayed away from her.
Until that morning, around 5 a.m. when my dad called me and said in a tone of finality, "You're getting married to Valerie Jensen and providing this family with an heir. We'll all meet soon to discuss the details."