A/N: Here is the first chapter as promised.

I hope for those who will read this would enjoy the story. This is a really fun plot to write, especially the situation the main character is in. 

P.S. A picture of Michelle Newman on the right.

So, Enjoy and Happy reading!

Have an awesome day!

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One

The car beside me slowly down as I turned to an intersection where the heart of the city is located. It's just an ordinary day when I meet heavy traffic with bumper-to-bumper scenarios. While I drive my way to a meeting, I can't help but think what it was about. We usual take business meeting at the main office conference room. But, today, I'm driving myself to a hotel.

As I stopped on the driveway, the valet guy quickly runs towards the driver side as I got out. For a moment, the valet watched me with an awestruck expression as I got out of the car. I raised my eyebrow at him as I closed the door behind me and handed him the key to my silver, Boxster S Porsche.

“Don’t go crazy.” I said teasingly.

“Ah… Ms. Newman. Good Morning, Ma’am.” He greeted shyly as he regain back his ability to speak.

“Good morning too.” I gave him a small encouraging smile and patted his shoulder as I walked around the car. “I’ll be back in a few, so don’t park the car far.” I instructed when I was a few paced from the entree way.

“Yes, Ma’am.” He nodded his head slightly before jumping in to my car.

I entered the hotel in a confident stride, feeling familiar with the place. Well, how can I not be? My family owned it and most of the hotel in the country and a few overseas. When I reached the middle of the lobby, I saw the general manager walking towards me with a beaming smile.

“Ms. Newman. They are at the dining hall.” He stated urgently, though he didn’t looked fazed by this.

I was late, slightly late – about fifteen minutes late. The traffic from the main office to the hotel was really bad. It wasn’t my fault the old man suddenly called a meeting on a Friday rush hour morning. I was half at fault with my tardiness.

In quick strides, the general manager guided me towards the meeting room. When I reached the small, conference looking room, which was huge enough to fit at least twenty five people instead of five old board members and, Benedict Newman, my father, plus me. He was wearing his usual clean-cut gray suit and black tie. I think I haven't seen my father in much color further than the shade of black and white.

I didn’t make any grand announcement or greeting as I entered the room since my father was already talking about something. So, I quietly said good morning and sat down on the empty chair on the right side of my father, who was seating at the head of the oval table placed in the middle of the room.

After I sat down, my father cut his talk and faced me skeptically. “Traffic?” He asked softly.

“Yes.” I whispered in reply as a waiter poured me a glass of water. “I’ll have some coffee please.” I stated to the waiter after I replied my father.

“Okay, gentlemen, since she is here and we all have some work to finish at the office, let’s get straight to the point.” He started his voice stern and business-like. It was though he was going to make a major decision.

“What is this about?” I asked, a little confused by my father’s tone. “I thought we are here to talk about some business deals.”

“It’s something of that nature, but this is not about the company. This is about you… taking over the company.” He replied and paused for a second as he told me the point of the meeting.

“Taking over… Wait, what? You are handing everything over to me?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes. I think it’s time and your mother had been really difficult with me these days, telling me to retire already…” He stated and chuckled lightly at his words.

“Wait. Are you sure about this?” I asked, a little suspicious about the whole thing. My father doesn’t easily get sucked up with my mother’s whines.

“I’m sure about this. We’ve already talked about it while we waited for you. And, they approved.” He glanced around the table, eyeing each board member with a secret look. But, then, he covered it as he looked back at me with an encouraging smile.

“Wait… Okay… So, I’m taking your place as President?” I asked stupidly, though I knew what he meant already, but I wanted to be sure.

“Yes. You take my entire job.” He said pointedly.

“That’s a lot to take in and so sudden…” I stated mostly to myself, still in shock. “Do you have any say to this?” I asked, turning towards my father’s business colleagues.

“We think you are capable of the job, and if you needed some advice, we are always here.” Mr. Cole answered, who sat across from me. He is one of the board members who had some say to most of my father’s decision. And, I trusted the old man more than the rest of them.

“Thank you for the assurance, Mr. Cole. I appreciate the optimism.” I gave him a tilted my head into a small nod.

“You don’t have to be too nervous about it. I need to sign a few papers. You won’t be in total control yet for at least, three months or so. But, I’m giving some of the work load to you starting next week, for practice.” Dad interjected, grabbing back my attention.

“Okay. Well, at least I have some time to be mentally prepared for this…” I mumbled in relief.

After a short talk about the business and contracts that we’ll be having in the next month, my father dismissed the meeting before lunch. I was about to bolt and called my friends about the news when my father stopped me, telling me to seat down. I eyed him with curiosity, but didn’t question him until the room cleared out.

“Is there something you want to talk about?” I asked as the last board member exited the room.

“No much really. You are having lunch with your mother, dad and me. We have some things to talk about...” He replied briefly and trailed off as he turned towards the door.

I was about to ask him why we were having this family lunch but my mother suddenly arrived, entering the room with her usual cunning greeting. She struts towards me in a beige summer dress and nude Louise Vuitton heels with her white Hermes purse by her wrist. Her blond hair all fixed up in a soft crown.

“Michelle. You look too thin, what have you been eating?” She scolded as she walked towards me to give me a closer look.

“I’m not too thin, mom. I eat healthy. You can even ask Maria about it.” I replied monotonously and refer my in-house help. She cooks my meal, cleans my apartment and does my laundry. She had been with me since I started working in my father’s company, which is almost four years.

“Well, I need to talk to her on what to feed you next time I’ll come over.” She said with conviction.

After she sat down, my father told her about the news on my job promotion, which is weird since he was the one who promoted me. My mother didn’t hide nor lessen the volume of her enthusiasm. She stood up again from her seat and walk towards me to give me a hug. I couldn’t really do much but reciprocate.

After less than half an hour with my mother chatters, the door opened revealing my grandfather saving me from insanity. He walked in the room casually wearing a loose cotton shirt and gray khaki pants. I stood up from my chair and meet him half way for a hug. When he saw me approached him, his face light up as his eyes wrinkled up when he smiled.

“What? You guys haven’t started yet?” He asked after I greeted him. He looked at my father knowingly.

My father returned his stare with a blank expression before he gestured for us to seat down. “If you both could settle down, we can start talking.” He stated sternly.

I escorted my grandfather to seat beside me, on my right. Then, I faced my father when he didn’t start talking.

“Okay. It seems that everyone you’ve called is here, dad. What is this about?” I asked in finality.

“Well...” Dad started but trailed off as he made a quick scan in the room all eyes were on him.

“Chicken as always.” Grandfather mumbled softly to himself when my father didn’t continue after a few seconds.

“How about you start the damn thing, dad?” He asked and turned towards grandfather in annoyance.

“Okay.” Grandfather smirked at his son’s little outburst and turned towards me with a smirk. “You’re parents decided to arrange you to marry someone.” He stated with confidence and not a hit of embarrassment.

“What do you mean arranged?” I asked in confusion, and then the second word sunk in.

“Wait! Marry?”

“Neat trick on breaking down things, dad.” Dad stated with dry humor. “It’s not what you think, Mitch.” He paused and addressed me in a lighter tone.

“Well, since I’m at loss of words right now, please do explain it to me.” I asked with thick sarcasm.

“Michelle, you’re twenty six… And, you’re father is going to hand over his position to you…” Mom took this time to jump in.

“And, the point is…?” I asked in annoyance.

“The board members think that you’re young enough, but they know you are capable of the position. But, you aren’t settling down yet…” Dad started but trailed off as understanding cross my expression.

“Oh, those old f*cking man…” I hissed in annoyance. “You think I’ll give their grandsons, or their sons some sort of chance? You know some of those god forsaking children of them are slimy, perverted a**holes, right?” I asked angrily.

“Michelle, language!” Mom yelled in warning.

“I get what you mean…” Dad ignored my mother’s words and nodded in agreement with me.

“I’ll agree with you on that…” Grandfather chuckled beside me.

“Thank goodness.” I mumbled in relief. “So, those idiots want me married?” I asked, getting back on the topic.

“Yes, some of them, but he decided it.” Dad replied softly and pointed at grandfather.

“Oh, now you’re chewing me out after I broke things down on you first.” Grandfather stated in challenge as he looked at his son with disappointment.

“You started it, old man.” Dad countered in defense.

Grandfather sighed in defeat and slowly turned towards me. “Michelle, dear, you must understand this clearly. You weren’t the first one who got into this mess. You’re dad went through with it with your mother, as I did with Leila.” He started with a serious tone, but then softly paused as he mentioned my deceased grandmother. “It’s been in the family since the company has been founded, with my grandfather. He saw what the business world could do to someone who is single, since he married old. So, he made a family rule that all heirs of the company should be married before taking over the family business.”

“What kind of family tradition is that?” I asked in shock. “Is this for real?”

“It is for real. You’re mother and I was just lucky that we met at an earlier stage in my life before I get to take over. It was easier for me, and less of a hustle.” Dad replied with a small smile.

“And, I’m the not-so-lucky only daughter who has to go through with this crap because I choose to be single now…” I mumbled softly to myself in defeat. I turned to my grandfather and try to negotiate. But, I stop dead when I saw the expression on his face.

“You’ll thank us after a couple of years when you’re married and running the company, Honey.” He stated to me with a small encouraging smile.

“I’m not getting out of this aren’t I?” I asked in defeat.

“No. I don’t think so…” My grandfather gives me a small pat at the back before standing up. “So, I’ve done my part. I’ve got places to be… You’re mom have some guys on file for you to choose…” He gestures towards my mother, who I just notice have an envelope in front of her placed in the middle of the table.

“How long have you been hiding this from me?” I asked as I eyed the envelope in fear.

“Since I decided to give you the company.” He replied in time my grandfather had left the room.

“Okay.” I took a deep breath and exhale loudly. I turned beside me as I try to ask my grandfather to reconsider, but he was already gone.

I turned back around and looked at my father, and then my mother, and towards the envelope. “Do I have some sort of deadline for this?” I asked, fearing what I think is the reason we are having this conversation after I got the promotion.

“Yes, you do.” He replied in a whisper.

“How long do I have?” I glance up towards him, my voice coming out louder that I intended.

I saw my father flinch a little yet he kept his demeanor cool. “It depends how long I get the papers done and hand everything to you.”

I calculated the time that he has to get to HR and Legal to change everything under my name. “Three months?” I asked with uncertain. And, in my head, I was begging that he would say a little longer.

“More of less, a hundred days or so...” He confirmed vaguely.

I couldn’t help hide my surprise at how little time I have left. How am I supposed to find someone to marry who isn’t a stranger, or worse, a perverted psycho killer? I don’t want to look and get back on the dating scene. Hell! I’ve recently ended a relationship a month ago. And, there is no way I’m going to ask one of my ex to marry me. There is a reason why those guys are history.

I remain silent as I try to process the situation. Then, from my lack of response, I can see my parents fidgeting and looking all guilty at what they just told me. I stare the brown envelope, fearing the contents inside.

“I think I need to go. I need some fresh air right now.” I finally spoke as I glance back at my parents.

“Oh, okay. I think we need to get back to our works now.” Dad added as he glanced down on his watch.

“But, take this with you.” Mom interjected as she slides the envelope closer to me.

I wanted to out right refuse her offer; but then, I just realize the time limit I have. I need all the help I can get. So, with slight hesitation, I got the envelope from the table as I got up from my chair. Then, I said my farewell to my parents with a quick kiss in the cheek before running out of the hotel. When I got to the entrance, I quickly asked for my car and waited impatiently for them to get it. I didn't hesitant as I jumped in to the driver seat as it parked in front of me, startling the valet boy. I handed him his tip before speeding away to the busy city streets.

A hundred days. How am I supposed to find a man and marry him in a hundred days? Is that even possible? My parent's aren't really serious about this, are they? As thoughts rage inside my head, I tried very hard to concentrate on the road as I drive back to the office. But, I don't want to go to work now. Not after my family just drop that bomb on me. I need to let off steam, and I know whom I should call.