It's Only Make Believe Read Free Page B

plan. In order to inherit the vast fortunes each family had amassed, Brad and Michele had to marry. “To keep the money in the family, so to speak,” Brad’s grandfather said.
    Brad’s grandfather usually intimidated Michele, but not this time. This time she couldn’t help it. She laughed at him. Loud and hard. At least, she laughed until she realized her grandparents and parents agreed with him and seriously expected the union. A little over a year ago, Brad approached her with a proposition of his own.
    “I’m getting a lot of pressure about this marriage thing,” he said. “So, what I’m proposing,” he raised his hand to silence her protest, “is we marry for one year to satisfy them and to save the family business. After the year we can get a divorce. We’ll say we gave it our best shot and it didn’t work out.”
    Was he crazy? “A sham marriage, somehow that’s too dishonest.” Besides, Michele didn’t care about the money. She had her career and with time she’d make it a success.
    “Just give it some thought.”
    “The idea’s insane, what’s to think about?” But something in his eyes made her agree to at least think about it. In a few days she’d tell him to take a hike. The whole idea of marriage appalled her.
    Her parents and grandparents continued to pressure her. She hadn’t realized how important it was to them. They seemed to think she and Brad made the perfect couple and a union between them benefited the company. Always the company.
    “We built this business up from scratch. I’d sure hate to lose it to a stranger.” Grandpa told her
    “But it won’t go to a stranger, Grandpa – it’ll go to Brad.”
    “No, it’ll all be lost. Your father and I worked too hard to let that happen. And you have no interest in working there so it’ll dissolve. If you marry Brad, you’ll be part owner.”
    “But won’t I still be part owner even if I don’t marry him. I mean won’t I hold fifty percent of the stock?” Michele argued with him.
    “No, the agreement was to remain part owner you either had to work at the company or marry into it. There’s a clause that in order to keep the company going both families have to own it jointly. Otherwise we dissolve it. Jacobson will see to it.”
    “What does Mr. Jacobson have to do with it?”
    “More than you know. He’ll take over the business if you and Brad don’t work in it or marry.”
    “Change it. Surely it isn’t ironclad.”
    Grandpa shook his head. “I’m afraid it is.”
    That absolutely made no sense to her. Granted, she wasn’t a lawyer, but surely if the owners could change anything they wanted. Something seemed awfully fishy about this whole deal.
    “Okay, then I’ll work there. I’m just not ready to get married. Especially to a man I don’t love. Who doesn’t love me.”
    He shook his head. “You wouldn’t like it. Besides, you have your own business.” Grandpa wasn’t someone who took no for an answer. Besides he’d always been her confidante, even when she was very young, she went to him with her problems, and he always helped solve them. He’d always been there for her when everyone else was too busy. How could she refuse him now? The very look in his blue-green eyes pleaded with her. Somehow this meant the world to him. But marriage, Michele thought, that was a bit much to ask.
    “But, Grandpa, marriage is supposed to be special. I’m not ready. And I want to marry someone I love.”  Michele tried one last argument.
    “Love is highly over-rated, my dear. Friendship – that’s what counts. And you and Brad grew up together, you’ve been friends forever.”
    Yeah right, friends. She didn’t even know Brad anymore. It had been ages since they hung out together. Sure he seemed attentive on their dates and treated her well, but his reputation as a lady’s man – wasn’t that enough to make her refuse?
    “You’ll see, Michele. Look at your grandmother and me. And your parents. Do you think we