Billionaire BWWM Romance 1: The Billionaire's Arranged Marriage by Cj Howard Page B

doesn’t like you. You figure it out. You have one week. Get a ring on her hand.”
     
    Reed sat back in his chair and felt chaos and disbelief flooding through him. He was going to lose his whole life. He was going to lose his home and his family. He was going to lose everything, because he had been too hot handed the night before and let his hormones get the better of him like they always did. There was no way she was going to even agree to see him, let alone allow him to try to talk her into marrying him.
     
    The idea of marriage terrified him. It was a lifelong commitment to one woman. He could not see the appeal of it at all, except for the fact that everything he had, everything that meant anything to him would be gone forever if he didn’t get engaged to a woman who hated him, and he had less than a week to do it. Hercules never faced a tougher task than the one that was looming over Reed.
     
    He stood up and left his breakfast on the table, shoving his hands down into the depths of his pockets. He looked at his father and let out a deep sigh. “No problem, Carter,” he said shortly, and turned and walked out of the dining room.
     
    Reed headed to his brother’s office which was near his father’s. He was grateful to see the young man sitting at his desk when he walked in and closed the door.
     
    “Hey, Anderson,” he said quietly and lowered himself into a chair in front of his brother’s desk.
     
    His brother turned to look at him. “Hi, Reed.” He looked at him carefully and leaned back in his chair. “Dad must have talked to you.”
     
    “Yeah, he did,” Reed said with a sigh. “Listen… Andy, if by some chance you wind up getting… everything…. Would you cut me out of it all? Would you leave me hanging out in the wind like Carter was saying? Or would you look after your big brother and maybe give me a job or something?”
    Anderson shook his head. “A job? You mean a handout. Listen, Reed, you’re my brother and I love you plenty, but you’ve done a lot of damage here and at the company, and I’ve had to clean up a lot of the messes you’ve left. You think dad goes in and takes care of it all? No way, Reed. He always dumps it in my lap and I get to deal with it.
     
    “I’m on a first name basis with most of the elite businesses around town because I’m constantly on the phone with them sending them checks to pay for the havoc you wreak.”
     
    Reed sank down in the chair.
     
    “Besides, the old man had the lawyers draw it up so that no one in the family or the business can lend you a hand, or a handout. You’re on your own for real if you don’t tie the knot with that girl. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, though, Reed. After all, you’re the ladies’ man. Didn’t she fall in love with you the minute she laid eyes on you? How did it go?” Anderson asked, tilting his head and raising his eyebrow.
     
    Reed leaned forward and covered his face with his hands. “She hates me.”
     
    Anderson leaned forward in his chair and stared at his brother in shock. “She hates you? How could she hate you? No women hate you!”
     
    Reed raised his head and rested his chin in his hand. “She is the exception to the rule, of course. Trust me when I tell you, you probably better plan on getting everything. Let’s have dinner before the end of the week. I’m going to miss you, little brother.”
     
    Anderson gaped. “No way…. No way!” He almost laughed just a little, but it turned into a frown. “How…?”
     
    “I’m asking myself the same question, Andy.” He stood up. “Well, I’ll see you soon for dinner, brother. Bye.” Reed walked out of his brother’s office and headed for his car, pulling out his cell phone as he closed the car door behind him.
     
    It rang once and she answered. “Hey, baby!” Excitement  poured through the phone and made him smile a little.
     
    “Hi, Daisy. Listen, are you busy? I’m going to spend the afternoon and probably the