DREAM (3 page)

“Soon, the doors of JE will close and then the lawsuits will begin to pour in. Will you be able to afford Mr. Nickerson? His fee is five hundred dollars an hour. Then there’s your home. Well, I mean, the bank’s home. I’m sure they will let you stay in there for a couple days, but then they’ll lock you out. Where will you go then? You don’t have any family and I’m sure you don’t have any close friends. So, what’s your plan?”

My mouth is dry. I can’t breathe, as each word out of Gable’s mouth speaks nothing but the truth. I don’t have any other plan. I don’t have anyone to help me. I don’t have family. I have nothing.

I’m alone.

“What’s your plan?” Gable repeats.

I stand, pick up the contract, and walk out of the restaurant.

Chapter 3

I had told Leo to wait for me because I knew I wasn’t going to be staying long. I had been right. He opens the door for me and I jump in.

“Take me to the park,” I order.

Leo rushed me to the city park. I don’t wait for Leo when he pulls up to the curb. I leap from the Lexus and jog, in my Prada heels, to the center of the park. Panting, I collapse onto the first unoccupied bench I find. I put my head in my hands and try to regulate my breathing. It seems to take longer than I thought it would, and the problem is I can’t stop crying. I’m lucky there are not many people on the trail today to watch me having a nervous breakdown.

“Dream.”

I look up and Leo is sitting next to me. I didn’t even hear him come up and sit down. “He left me with a shit pile to clean up and you know how much I like to clean.”

Leo chuckles. “I know he did.”

“Did you know about Gable and that stupid contract?”

“I did.”

“And?” I push him to tell me more.

“Your father believed it could save JE and that you could be happy with Mr. Butler.”

“Please.” I huff in frustration. “Dad really believed that nonsense?”

“He thought Mr. Butler and you have the same business sense and could carry JE and Butler Corp to a whole new level.” Leos speaks frankly with me, as he always has.

“When did all this start? Why the hell didn’t he tell me?” I raise my voice to hide the pain.

“Ulrich planned on telling you right after you came back from your last trip, but he…”

“Died.” I finish the sentence for him. “What do you know about Gable?”

“Smart. Rich. Not really a ladies’ man. Has one brother who works with him. He’s recently been buying up a lot of real estate in the city and the surrounding areas. Your dad did an extensive search on him.” Leo hand me the folder that I didn’t notice in his hands. “Everything you need to know is in there.”

I flip through the pages and do a quick scan. Leo had been correct; Dad did do thorough research on Gable.

“What am I going to do, Leo? People depend on JE to put food on their table, send their kids to school, and keep a roof over their heads. Jobs are hard to come by. On top of that, what am I going to do? I have no one and no where to go.”

“Dream, you’re a strong girl. You’ve been doing stuff on your own since you could walk. You’re a hard-worker and I know you’ll figure this out. Plus, I’m still here.” Leo gives me one of his rare sly smirks.

I harshly wipe the tears from my cheek.

Family and Jackson Enterprise are all that you need in your life.

“Dream, I know you have no real friends or any family to speak of, but you have me and Mrs. Stones. We will stand by your side. However, I know you’re smart enough to read the contract and make a clear cut decision.” His brown eyes look at me and I can see he has faith in me and is speaking the truth.

Shit. He’s right. I need to read this damn thing and figure this out.

Now.

“Take me home.”

~~~

I pour myself a glass of wine and sit on my bed. I pull the contract from my purse and begin to read.

It simply states the contract is between Gable and me. It further goes on, in detail, of how JE is in financial trouble and Gable will bail it out. He will give thirty million dollars in exchange for my hand in marriage. Once the contract is signed we have twenty-four hours to officially become married.

There will also be a pre-nuptial agreement in place. Of course, it’s mainly to protect Gable because at this time I have nothing to give or have taken from me. In the section marked
children
Gable will handle the financial security of any children we have together. I have to live in one of Gable’s numerous homes with the kids. I’m not allowed to be far away from him with them.

I chug the wine.

Children?

Could he really think he and I would have sex?

As I continue on, I see that there’s a cheating clause. If I cheat on Gable then I have to pay him back all the money he gave to me. On top of that, I have to relinquish my parental rights to the child or children. He also takes overall control of JE. The bottom line is: I lose it all. If Gable cheats on me then I can leave the marriage with fifty million dollars. I would also have custody of the children.

I pour another glass of wine as I continue.

According to the contract, JE stays with me. Gable would be nothing more than a silent partner. I would have a monthly allowance and I need to attend all events with Gable unless I’m instructed otherwise. I guess we are meant to act madly in love at those.

I push the papers away from me and finish my wine. I make myself one more glass and then go into Dad’s office. The albums I had been looking at the other day are still scattered around the desk.

I flip open the one closest to me and it happens to be several years of company picnics. All the employees and their families, with their happy, smiling faces shine through the pictures. My father knew every one of them. JE didn’t have problem employees. They were like family to Dad and to me.

I slam the book shut and let the tears fall.

~~~

I couldn’t sleep all night. Hell, I’ve barely slept since Dad died. I’m sitting in the back of the Lexus reading the file Leo gave me.

Gable grew up in the city with his parents and a younger brother, Gideon. He went to a local state college and majored in business. He started his company when he was twenty-five. He’s never married nor had children. The file states he had one long-term relationship several years ago, but it ended. By all accounts, from this file, Gable seems to be a driven workaholic.

So, why me?

Why the marriage?

“Leo.”

“Yes, Dream.”

“Take me to Gable.” I still have questions and he’s going to answer them.

Leo turns and heads to Gable’s building.

Butler Corp owns the second largest building downtown. It’s equipped with massive solar panels on the roof and is the
greenest
building in the state.

Leo opens the door and I blow past him, storming into the building. I don’t check in with security; I follow the sign to the elevators and push the button for the top floor. I’d never been in this building, but the boss is always on the highest floor.

I listen to the boring music as I travel up the fifty floors. When I step off, there’s a pretty blonde sitting at a white desk.

“Good morning. May I help you?”

“I need to speak with Gable Butler right now.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No. I need to speak with him right away.”

The blonde gazes over my shoulder, and I turn to see where she’s looking. There’s a man standing there. He’s in his mid-thirties, darker blond hair, and brown eyes. He looks like Gable in a way.

“Mr. Butler only sees visitors by appointment only.” The man’s tone tries to be firm.

“I’m sure he’ll make an exception when he knows Dream Jackson is here.” I cross my arms. If this guy thinks he intimidates me then he’s wrong.

“You’re Dream Jackson?” he questions.

I nod.

“I’m Gideon Butler, Gable’s brother.” He sticks out his hand.

I firmly shake, but I had already guessed who he was.

“I want to see Gable.”

Gideon holds up his finger letting me know that he’ll be right back and walks through a large door on the right.

I turn to the blonde, but she quickly looks away from me and at her computer screen. After a moment, Gideon comes back through the door.

“Miss Jackson,” he calls for me.

I confidently walk over to the door and he motions for me to come in.

“Dream.” Gable stands from behind his large white desk and walks over to me. “How can I help you?”

“We need to talk. Now,” I command.

Gable looks over my head and nods. I catch a glimpse of Gideon leaving the room and shutting the door.

“I can make time for you, Wife.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes. “Let’s sit here.” He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me over to a round white table on the other side of the room.

I glance around the room and see that the entire office has white walls, white furniture, white chairs, and even a white carpet. Gable pulls my chair out, and I sit.

“What shall we talk about today, Dream?” he takes the seat next to me.

I reach for my purse and pull out his contract and the one I wrote up last night.

“What do we have here?” he eyes the new contract.

“A compromise.”

“Come again.” He seems perplexed.

“I have some questions first.” I keep the papers by me as so he doesn’t become distracted.

“Okay,” he nods.

“It’s not a joke, but I want to know why me? You don’t know me. Now, all of the sudden, you want to marry me.” My tone came out more stern than I had intended, but it doesn’t seem to faze Gable.

“You’re correct, I don’t know much about you, except what your father told me and the research I have been able to dig up.”

“Then why? I’m sure you’re able to find some other female who will marry you in a heartbeat. Is it because you feel like I’m a charity case?”

“The reason is not only to help JE out of the hole that your father put the company in, but it’s because you have a brilliant business mind and I think that we’ll make a great team. I told you before, I have seen your work.” He leans back in the chair and eyes me. I know he’s waiting for me to have some sort of outburst and now I’m not sure.

“My school work? You think I’m good with my homework?”

Gable chuckles. “No. However, some of it was impressive, but your father showed me some of the business plans you had helped him with. Don’t you remember when you worked with him late in the evening in his office?”

My mouth drops a bit. How did he know that? I worked with Dad all the time. He would come home and tell me about his day, his clients, and his struggles. I would listen to him and draw a
battle
plan of sorts for him. I didn’t think anything of it. I thought he was trying to keep me busy so I would stay home instead of shopping or traveling. Until this past summer, when he’d sent me all over the world.

“I remember.”

“They are good. You have a keen sense for business and that’s one reason why I want you.”

“Then offer me a job instead of marriage,” I counter.

“No.” He shakes his head. “We need to be a team. An official team. People will take us more seriously if they know we’re married.”

“So, I can’t run a business because I’m not married. I need my big, strong husband to be the face and I’ll do all the work. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sexist at all.”

“Say what you want, but my money keeps your company alive. In return, with our marriage, it will gain more clients.”

I will not say he’s right, but I had thought of same scenario in my head last night. His name associated with JE will bring clients. That’s crystal clear.

“What with the new contract?” he nods to the papers in front of me.

“I made up one that has some of my rules too.” I push it over to him.

Gable picks it up and begins to look at it. He nods his head a few times and smirks at other pages.

“No sex?” he tilts his head.

“No sex.”

“How about no sex until you’re ready? I’ll concede to that, but not the ‘no sex at all’.” His dark eyes stare me down.

Shit, if I’m going to keep going with this as plan, I need to be willing to compromise.

“Not until I’m ready and the first time you try any shit, I’ll break your leg, divorce you, and take your money.”

“Deal,” Gable’s grin deepens, showing off a cute dimple behind his groomed beard. No, not cute. It’s not cute at all. “I’m getting the hint you’re going to go through with this.”

“Is there anything else that you have concerns with?” I ignore his other comment and the dimple.

“You didn’t make any notation about children.”

“Figured we covered it with the sex issues.”

He looks up at me and leans back again, crossing his arms this time. “I’m very adamant about you not cheating. I’m not joking about this.” His mouth is a thin line and I can see the seriousness on his face.

“Okay. Now, if you agree with my contract, then I will agree to yours. But,” I point at him. “I will not marry you until I have both contracts back and signed by you.”

He nods and gets up from his chair. He pushes a button on his desk, and a second later Gideon walks into the office.

“Take these to Mr. Nickerson and tell him I want them back before the close of business today.” Gable hand him both of the contracts. “Also, tell him the notes in the margin are the changes that need to be completed.”