The Counterfeit Betrothal

chapter one: the proposal

CHAPTER ONE: THE PROPOSAL

Adam Williams should have known that his little sister's childhood best friend was insane. If he had just been looking after his sister's welfare like he was supposed to, he would not have been in the position he was in today. He had no one to blame but himself for this mess.

Adam should have known but he hadn't.

The evening had begun like any typical Friday but that should have been his first clue. Never do things end the way they had started. After leaving the office, he stopped on his way home to get a pastrami sandwich from Katz Deli as had been his tradition since moving to New York.

Adam's housekeeper had already laid out his tuxedo and left for her weekend break by the time he finally came home. He quickly took a shower and changed before calling his chauffer to bring the car around.

"Would you like me to drive you there tonight, sir?" asked Adam's chauffer.

Adam shook his head. "No, I'll manage by myself tonight or else I'll forget how to drive."

Looking back, he should have said yes. At least then he would have someone who would be kidnapped with him if not save Adam.

The chauffer nodded and stepped away as Adam drove the Ferrari onto the street.

As always on Fridays, there was a charity event going on where every rich patron showed up to pretend that they were there because they actually cared. Adam had first discovered them four years ago when he had succeeded in expanding his father's modest company into a large international corporation. He despised the people at the events though he knew he couldn't miss them. All his clients attended them. He couldn't play the role of eccentric millionaire just yet, at least not until Williams Financial became more stable or else he would find all his hard work crumble and him back at square one.

And Adam hated square one.

Tonight's event was an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art exclusively for its patrons.

This was one charity event that Adam thought he could do without. It was obvious that none of the patrons, say for a select few actually cared about art. Adam himself wasn't interested in the art. But that was because he could never understand what the artist was trying to say behind the painting. To him, it was just another pretty picture.

Adam handed the keys to the Ferrari to the valet before straightening his tie and buttoning his tuxedo. He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to run away, knowing that he couldn't. These charity events were great for picking up new clients and Adam had the perfect client in mind: Harry Van Carlyle.

Harry Van Carlyle was the CEO of Fibonacci Motors, which had been in the news lately on account that it was rumored that they were going to merge with GM. The company was looking for a new investment company to manage their stocks and Adam wanted Williams Financial to be that company.

"Adam! There you are! I've been looking all over for you."

Adam turned around at the sound of his name and smiled at Harry Van Carlyle.

"Mr. Van Carlyle, how nice to see you." said Adam. He smiled at the lady on his future client's arm. "And Mrs. Van Carlyle. You look exceptionally beautiful today."

Cynthia Van Carlyle giggled like a sixteen year old. Adam tried not to wince. His client's wife's obvious taste in younger men than her husband -which she often indulged in was not his problem.

Van Carlyle beamed at Adam. Adam knew at that moment he was going to get the job.

"I remember you telling me that you had an interest in Salvador Dali's work."