Pretend Married (A Billionaire Love Story) by Nikki Wild

were you when daddy was run over?”
    “Only four.”
    “Well see that’s why. I was already in school and I would bring home my perfect report cards and daddy would always beam with pride. And he would call me his little chickadee and he’d say, “Chickadee one day you are gonna be somebody big and important. And you’re gonna change people’s lives and help them with your big fat smart brain.”
    “And you don’t think being a lawyer is helping people and making a difference in the world?”
    I thought going into law would allow me to do that but I was mistaken. I don’t want to spend my life legally defending low-life criminals or big business crooks. That whole thing just left me feeling empty inside.”
    “Well how the fuck are you planning on helping people by being the Italian Stallion’s baby mama?”
    “Besides the fact that I’d be given sizeable trust fund which I could use to benefit causes dear to me, I’d also still be in a position to influence and steer Edward on a course toward his grandfather’s charitable work. That’s really an important part of the old man’s legacy that I’ve been working very hard on with Edward. I have been making some progress.”
    “You really think you can make that rich jackass care about anyone besides himself?”
    “Yes I do. And I think it might be even easier if I were carrying his child; his heir; his posterity. I believe that would have to inspire him to make the world a better place. Who doesn’t have that dream for their own child?”
    As we waded through the tall unmown grass of our apartment complex, Michael put his arm around me and sighed.
    “It sounds to me like you’ve already made up your mind about this…..”
    His words caught me off-guard. I instantly halted and looked up at my “little” brother.
    “I guess it does kinda sound that way doesn’t it?”
    “Well have you already decided Julia?”
    “If I’m being honest with myself………the answer to that is no. I haven’t made a decision either way. Sure, whenever I think of the high-minded noble humanitarian cause I say ‘I need to do this for the greater good.’ Theoretically it sounds perfect: Me and my billionaire husband working side by side to help others, pushing our little baby Armani in some incredibly expensive stroller…..”
    “But the reality?” Michael was staring intently into my eyes now.
    “The reality is we’re talking about Edward! He’s a jerk and the marriage would be fake! And oh my God a baby too! I’d have to be pregnant and endure childbirth! What sacrifice would HE be making? Sperm donation?”
    “Now you’re talking fucking sense!”
    “And the bottom line is I am NOT a martyr!”
    Michael high-fived me as we entered our apartment.

10

Edward
    N igel greeted me at the door when I got home at 9PM. Usually he was in his room by that time of night. I had stopped at a neighborhood bar near my office on the way home from work and although I was feeling no pain, I also didn’t exactly feel like singing the Hallelujah Chorus either.
    “Hey Nigel. What’s goin’ on? What are you doing still roaming about the house at this hour?”
    “Good-evening Edward. What do you mean by ‘roaming about the house’? What am I a buffalo?”
    “No of course not Nigel. I didn’t mean anything really. You’re just usually in your room watching TV by now that’s all.”
    “So how did the meeting go this morning? Was it everything you had hoped for?”
    “Pretty much. Nonno bequeathed everything to me……..”
    “You don’t sound even remotely like a man who just inherited a fortune? Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that I never understood that old fart when he was alive and I guess I never will.”
    “What’s there to understand Edward?”
    I loosened my necktie and plopped down onto the large suede sectional sofa. I stared blankly at the wall of windows that framed my magnificent view. The lights of my fabulous “City