Alexis's POV

"That dumbass Tobias! You have to be kidding!" I laughed bitterly. "He still pees in his bed at this age. He will sink the company as soon as he takes over it. And the next day, we will be homeless without any penny." I stated in frustration and shook my head, pacing back and forth in the office.

It was unbelievable. How could my grandpa think that Tobias could replace me?!

Fuck!

"You choose. What do you want for our family, company and our employees as well as their families?" He said firmly and gave me a sly look.

"Do you think you are giving me a choice?" I mocked and shook my head in disbelief.

He breathed deeply and entwined his hands on his desk.

"I don't think you will marry willingly after what happened with that girl." He said sadly. I averted my gaze without saying anything. "I told you she wasn't the right girl for you, but you didn't listen to me because you were in a love bubble. Fortunately, she has shown us her true colors before everything got late." I gritted my teeth, looking away. He sighed and continued. "I will not let you destroy your life again nor let her keep ruining your life even if she isn't in your life anymore."

"Grandpa!" I warned him as I couldn't hold it anymore. I hated when they reminded me about my ex-fiancée, Thalia.

Thalia and I met at university and fell in love. More correctly, I fell in love with her while she pretended she loved me because my family was rich. Then when she thought she found a wealthier man than me, she cheated on me with him. I caught them in our penthouse two months before our wedding. And the man was no one else, but my best friend, Dion.

After a few months later, when Thalia found out that Dion wasn't the son of my father's friend, but our driver's son, and he lied to her about everything, she dumped him and begged me to forgive her, telling me she did it because she got cold feel as the wedding was getting closer. As much as I told her I didn't believe her and asked her to leave me alone, she didn't stop chasing me.

As my state got worse, my parents sent me abroad for a holiday with my friend, Markos. Once I was back, there were no traces of Thalia, Dion and his family. When I asked my father about them, he told me they wouldn't bother me again because they left Greece.

A few months later, I heard my father and grandfather's conversation in the office; they gave Thalia a hundred thousand euros. So she left me alone and never tried to see or contact me again.

Hearing it made me feel worse; if all the things she did to me weren't enough for her, she kept breaking my heart again and again. That day, I promised myself that I wouldn't fall in love again and marry anyone.

"Fine, I will not talk about that girl again." My grandpa frowned. "You have a year. So if you care about our family and company, you know what to do." He stated firmly. "Now you may leave."

***

Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

I cursed with my inner voice, walking towards my car in quick steps as soon as I left the mansion.

I felt frustrated. How could my grandpa force me to choose between the company and my happiness? He knew very well what I was thinking about marriage, but he still insisted that I got married. If it wasn't enough, now he started blackmailing me; my grandfather knew our company was important for my family and me. My father and I worked hard to flourish it.

After my father's death, I took over the company and worked hard to keep my promise to my father. I promised him that I would take care of my mother, our company and legacy.

I didn't know what to do; I didn't want to marry, but I couldn't betray my father.  I wouldn't let my idiot cousin ruin everything we built.

I breathed deeply, frustrated and got in my car. I sent a message to Markos, asking him to meet up with me tonight after ordering Chris to take me to the mansion. My mother was waiting for me.

"Mom, hi. How are you?" I gave my mother a bright smile as I approached her.

"My boy! I missed you." She hugged me happily.

"I missed you too, Mom." I said and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. I held her hand and looked at her, whistling. "Anastasia Stavrou, you are stunning as always." I winked at her playfully.

"Thank you." She gave me a shy smile. "What did your grandfather tell you?" She asked in curiosity. I informed her that I was going to visit my grandfather before coming home when the jet landed in Athens.

I frowned, running my hand through my hair. "I will tell you inside." I sighed, wrapping my arm around her shoulder, and led her inside.

I was pacing back and forth in the living room while telling my mother about my grandpa's blackmail.

"Just bring your girl." My mother said warmly and shrugged her shoulders. "She looks like a lovely girl."

I raised my eyebrow, confused. "My girl?"

Who was she talking about? I was sure she wasn't referring to Rebecca. One time she saw us together when Rebecca visited me in the mansion without my knowledge, and she disliked her instantly. My mother even asked me to stay away from her, but I assured her there was nothing serious between Rebecca and me. She wasn't so convinced, but after seeing that I wasn't in love with Rebecca, she got reassured.

"Yes, I hope you will not try to hide it from me." She gave me a skeptical look. "I saw your photo together with that girl at an event. Charlotte. She is such a beautiful girl." She added softly.

I cleared my throat and rubbed my neck, mumbling. "She isn't my girl."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "She isn't your girlfriend?!"

"Yes, she isn't. Charlotte is my co-partner. She has a half share of the agency I bought." I informed, placing my hand into my pocket.

"But you like her. And she isn't indifferent to you." She gave me a knowing smile.

I looked at her, surprised. I cleared my throat and said nonchalantly. "I don't like her, and she doesn't have romantic feelings towards me either."

Moreover she has a boyfriend.

My mother smiled warmly. "You are my son, Alex. I can understand from your gaze how you feel when you look at a woman."

I gulped and shook my head. "No, Mom. I don't love her." I said, trying to control my voice, and chuckled nervously.

She smiled, amused. "So we are still in denial." She commented, giving me a knowing grin.

I frowned. "No, Mom. I don't deny anything. I don't love her. We don't love each other." I reassured her.

"I saw your photo, Alex. How you two looked at each other. You can't deny the attraction between you two, and your gaze..." She said, determined and winked at me playfully.

"Mom, I am leaving. See you later." I scowled, annoyed and walked towards the door.

She chuckled. "And you always run away when you hide something." She shouted behind me in amusement.

***

Chris parked the car in front of the nightclub where I was meeting up with Markos. I got out of the car and walked into the nightclub after sending a message to my assistant asking about the contract I needed for tomorrow.

After greeting Markos, I ordered a glass of whiskey for myself and told him about my grandpa's ridiculous idea.

"Oh, man! You are in deep shit." Markos commented without managing to hold himself from smirking, and sipped his drink. "What are you going to do now?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

I rubbed my forehead, thinking, and breathed deeply. "You know how important the company is for me. I can't let Tobias ruin everything we built in a snap of his finger." I replied honestly.

"So you are going to marry?" He asked with wide eyes, surprised.

"No, of course not." I frowned, shaking my head. "I have something else in my mind. I am sure he will change his mind as soon as he understands it is ridiculous. So I have to buy time."

"What are you planning?" He asked in curiosity.

"I will find someone to pretend to be my girlfriend and introduce her to my grandfather." I replied, giving him a devilish look.

"You are a genius!" He exclaimed and burst out laughing. "And your mother?"

I sighed and rubbed my chin, thinking. "I think it will be better if she doesn't know about my plan. I am sure deep down in her heart, she is happy about my grandpa's plan. Almost every time she sees me she asks me when I marry and have children." I commented, running my hand through my hair. Markos nodded, smirking. "I just have to find a woman who will accept to pretend to be my girlfriend." I added and sipped my drink.

***

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