The Billionaires Convenient Bride

by Laura Gray

  “I’m Niles, I’ll be your personal help during your stay with Mr. Bradford,” he said, tipping his hat to her. He seemed even more impressively dressed now that Ellie was looking at him up-close.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Niles,” Ellie said. “I’m afraid I’ll make a terrible first impression at the moment. I’m terribly jet-lagged.”

  “That’s quite alright, Miss. I’ve got your private town car ready, which has every remedy you need for a long journey in a plane. I’m afraid Master Bradford doesn't take very well to long flights either.”

  “Excellent,” Ellie said with a polite smile, waving Connie and Arjun towards her. Connie spotted her instruction and quickly came over, tugging Arjun along.

  “Guys, this is Niles,’ Ellie said once they joined her side. “Niles, this is Arjun and this is Constance. Niles is our...um, what did you call it?”

  “Private helper,” Niles replied with a good-natured grin. “Anything you need on this trip, day or night, you can simply give me a call. Master Brandon would have sent you my number already.”

  “Cool!” Arjun said, pushing his luggage forward. “Which way do we go to get some water?”

  “Right this way, Master Arjun,” Niles said, picking up Arjun’s suitcase and walking towards a black sedan with tinted windows parked nearby.

  “No one’s ever called me Master before,” Arjun whispered. “I mean, outside the bedroom.” Connie burst into a giggle.

  Niles opened the trunk of the sedan and placed Arjun’s suitcase inside. Ellie and Connie picked up their luggage to take near the car so he wouldn’t have to drag them all the way. Niles, however, wouldn’t stand for it—he hastened towards them and asked them to drop the suitcases.

  “That’s my task,” Niles said. “The greatest help you could give me is to have a wonderful time during your stay and to enjoy my services.”

  “I love this guy!” Arjun exclaimed, shaking his head in wonder.

  “Please, get seated in the car and enjoy your refreshments. I shall take you to the chateau soon, where you can get some rest,” Niles said as he arranged their luggage in the trunk.

  “Cool, there’s skittles in here!” Arjun crowed, poking his head inside the car. Ellie chuckled; Arjun really was getting a kick out of all this luxury.

  The inside of their sedan screamed luxury. It was more stocked than Ellie’s kitchen. There was an actual mini-fridge in the car, stocked with expensive bottles of champagne, chocolates, water, and even tiny, single-serving-sized jars of Nutella. Connie shrieked when she saw those, reaching forward with both hands to grab a handful of tiny jars.

  “Can we keep some of these to take?” Connie asked Niles through the divider in the car.

  “They're all already yours, Miss Constance,” Niles said with another tip of his hat. “Are you ready to be off?”

  “Yes!” the three of them cried together, excitement filling the car. They were actually there, in Barcelona, and they’d just received the most awesome welcome one could imagine getting after an eight-hour flight. The trip had suddenly become real, in a way it couldn’t have before their feet touched Barcelona’s ground.

  There was a sudden popping sound—Ellie turned to see Arjun with three chilled glasses in one hand and an open, bubbling bottle of champagne in the other.

  “A toast, guys,” he began as he poured some champagne into each of the glasses and passed them around. “To the most amazing vacation one could imagine, hosted by a freaking billionaire.”

  “I gotta say, El,” Connie started with a grin. “I’ve been glad you’re my friend a lot of times, but this one’s got to be my favorite.”

  Ellie laughed. “To the most amazing vacation, ever!” she said, raising her glass. Arjun and Connie touched their glasses with hers and took a sip.

  “Wow!” Arjun said, staring at the liquid in the glass. “This is incredible.”

  “It’s definitely a world away from the $40 vanilla-flavored champagne we get back home,” Ellie said, inhaling the scent of her drink.

  They spent the entirety of their ride to the chateau devouring the food in the sedan and admiring the passing beauty of Barcelona’s streets. It was quite crowded in the main city. It was peak travel season there, after all. However, after a few hours, once they’d crossed the main city, they were graced by visions of stunning rolling hills on one side and a vast, endless ocean on the other. Ellie’s thick, dark hair whipped about her as she stuck her head out of the car’s window to fully enjoy the experience.

  “It’s so beautiful,” Connie cooed beside her. Arjun was busy checking out the music loaded up to the player in the car.

  The first shadow of dusk began to creep towards the horizon before they reached their destination. At first, it wasn’t apparent to Ellie where they were going—all she could tell was that they'd slowed down near a large gate of some kind.

  They waited there for only a moment before the car rolled in through the gate. As the open gates passed Ellie’s window, she saw a sign that read Bradford Chateau.

  “I think we’re here,” she said to Arjun and Connie, who straightened up, looking almost as nervous as she felt. Ellie wondered what these ultra-wealthy people would think of her and her friends. She began to straighten her shirt and comb back her messy hair as they rolled into the chateau’s driveway.

  This driveway was enormous—they seemed to be driving forever through endless gardens and large patches of thick vegetation before reaching a large, glittering fountain. Behind the fountain lay the most beautiful house Ellie had ever laid eyes on. With a slanting red roof, and high, cream-colored brick walls and turrets, the chateau looked like something pulled right out of a fairytale. Flowering vines covered large chunks of the building, blooming purple and white flowers all around the house.

  “This...is just…” Arjun trailed off, his jaw hanging loose. He finally seemed to be out of words.

  “I feel underdressed just looking at that house,” Connie said in a low voice.

  “Are we ready to go?” Niles asked from behind them.

  “Uh, sure,” Ellie said, approaching him. “Do you need help with the luggage?”

  “Not at all, Miss.” Niles raised a palm. “We’ve got people to get your luggage to your respective rooms. I’ll take you where Master Bradley will meet you.”

  “Okay,” Ellie said with a huff. Stop getting nervous. Archer wouldn’t have asked you to do this if he wasn’t sure you could handle this. It’s his problem, after all.

  Niles led them towards the house then, his gait strong and even, as though he hadn’t just spent hours driving. Ellie, Arjun, and Connie followed him in silence, busy observing the sheer excess of money demonstrated in every fibre of this place. It was too dark to see beyond the thicket of trees that surrounded the mansion, but Ellie was very curious to see how far the Bradford property stretched out.

  When they crossed the fountain, Ellie expected Niles to turn towards the stairs. Instead, he turned the other way, walking towards the other side of the house.

  “Wait,” he said to them, glancing at his watch. From the darkness behind the house, a tall figure emerged. Ellie knew it was Archer before the light hit him—she couldn’t forget that body. His figure was all the more clear because he worse a simple t-shirt and jeans instead of a suit.

  When the light hit his face, his vivid green eyes drew Ellie’s gaze like a powerful magnet. She couldn’t look away, no matter how hard she tried. She hadn’t realized it, but she’d missed the sight of his swirling green eyes . It was a rare vision.

  “You made it,” Archer said as he appeared before them. “I thought you might chicken out at the last moment.”

  “Funny, I was wondering the same thing,” Ellie said with a knowing smile. “But, here I am.”

  “I’m Connie,” Connie said, extending her hand towards Archer. “Ellie’s roommate.”

  “Archer Bradley,” Archer said as he shook her hand with a bemused expression.

  “Arjun,” Arjun said sim
ply when Archer moved to shake his hand.

  “Are you guys ready to go inside?” Archer asked them.

  “Why are you meeting us outside, in the dark?” Ellie asked him suspiciously.

  “Oh, I told my mom I went to pick you up,” Archer said. “So pretend as though I came to the airport, okay?”

  “Sure,” Ellie agreed with a shrug.

  “Alright, that’s all we’ll need Niles,” Archer said to the man who was ready and waiting to hear further instructions. “Make sure their stuff is taken care of.”

  “Yes, Master Bradley,” Niles said with a nod, turning to walk away quickly.

  “Hell of a butler, that one,” Archer said. His gaze met Ellie’s and he cleared his throat.

  “Let’s go inside, shall we?” he asked. “My mother’s simply dying to meet you.”

  “Excellent,” Ellie mumbled as they turned towards the staircase and the large, intricately carved wooden door that lay at the end.

  “Wait,” she said, pulling at Archer’s arm. “Do I look okay? To meet your mother, I mean.”

  “You look beautiful,” he said lightly. “I mean, you look good. My mom won’t care, either way.”

  “Yeah, I guess she’s just happy you’re getting married,” Ellie noted.

  “Actually, I haven’t told them we’re engaged yet,” Archer clarified, raising his finger. “I was planning on properly announcing it at this dinner my cousin and his wife are hosting. My uncle will be impressed if I do a proper announcement, and I’d like to take a little bit of Bennet’s thunder during his big dinner, to be frank.”

  “Let’s take him down,” Ellie said in a conspiratorial tone. Archer gave her a slow grin.

  “Let’s do it.”

  Warm air greeted them the moment the massive doors to the chateau swung open. Ellie’s jaw dropped at the gorgeous interior of the mansion they stepped into. Plush, cream-colored carpet greeted their tired feet and large, soothing paintings of open oceans and clear skies greeted their eyes. The lighting was pleasant but bright, shining down on them from the chateau’s impossibly high ceilings. A large, glittering chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, throwing spots of light in the room around them.

  A woman waited for them on the other side of the door. The instant Ellie saw her face, she knew this had to be Archer’s mother. He'd inherited his mother’s luscious, dark brown hair, the high, sharp cheekbones and those stunningly bright, green eyes. When the woman laid eyes on Ellie, her face split open into the warmest, kindest smile she'd ever seen anyone give her.

  The woman raised her arms as Ellie neared her. “You’re Elizabeth aren’t you?” she asked Ellie sincerely.

  “Yes, I am,” Ellie said nervously.

  “I’m Mrs. Bradford, Archer’s mother,” the woman said happily. “Oh, you’re far more beautiful than Archer described!”

  Ellie didn’t know how to respond, so she turned to Archer. “You haven’t been describing my beauty well, honey.”

  Archer chuckled. “I tried my best, sweetheart, but your beauty is indescribable.”

  “Yeah, right,” Ellie snorted.

  “And who are you?” Mrs. Bradford asked, glancing between Connie and Arjun.

  “These are very good friends of Ellie’s, Ma,” Archer said as they came closer, looking slightly dazed. “That’s Arjun and that’s Constance.”

  “You can call me Connie,” Connie said cheerily to Mrs. Bradford as she shook hands with her.

  “Well, it’s just lovely to meet you all!” Mrs. Bradford said. And she meant it—Ellie could see how happy she was to meet someone she thought her son cared about. Mrs. Bradford delicately adjusted the pearls that encircled her graceful neck. “Have you kids eaten anything since the plane?”

  “Yeah, we had loads of food Mrs. Bradford,” Arjun replied politely. “Skittles, chocolates, champagne—”

  “I’d hardly call that dinner!” Mrs. Bradford injected. “Why don't you kids go to your rooms and I’ll have dinner set for you?”

  “Cool!” Arjun said with a wide grin. Mrs. Bradford chuckled at him, her eyes crinkling by the corners the same way her son’s did.

  “Follow me;sir, madam,” Niles said to Connie and Arjun. “I’ll take you to your rooms.”

  “Come on, El, I’ll take you to yours,” Archer said, placing a hand on Ellie’s waist. Niles guided Arjun and Connie towards the stairs and they followed, throwing fervent glances over at Ellie.

  “Their rooms are on the first floor,” Mrs. Bradford explained.

  “Right,” Ellie said, turning to her. “Thank you so much for the warm welcome. Your home is stunning.”

  “Why, thank you, dear,” she replied. “I’d love to give you a tour after dinner if you’d like.”

  “Yeah, I can take care of that, Ma,” Archer said, pulling Ellie away from his mother. “See you in a bit.”

  “See you, Mrs. Bradley,” Ellie said, waving politely.

  “See you, honey,” Mrs. Bradley waved back cheerily.

  “She’s sweet,” Ellie said to Archer as they began to walk towards two elevator doors hidden behind the shining, wooden staircase. The doors were gold and they opened to an elevator with mirrors on all sides and black carpet on the floor. Gold handrails ran along the mirrored walls for grip.

  “Yeah, about that,” Archer said as the elevator door slid shut. “You can’t bond with my mother too much.”

  “Isn’t...that the whole reason why I’m here?” Ellie asked him, confused.

  “Look, eventually we’re going to pretend break up and I don't want…” Archer sighed, pursing his lips. “I don't want her to get upset. She loves too easily.” He cleared his throat, his eyes trained on the door. “So impress her, answer her questions directly, but don't bond too much. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Ellie said with a small smile. Archer continued to look away from her—he clearly didn’t enjoy discussing his feelings about his family.

  “Hey, Archer,” Ellie said.

  “Yes?”

  “You didn’t press the button. The elevator hasn’t moved.”

  Archer sighed, and then chuckled, his green eyes turning to glance at Ellie as he pressed the button for the third floor. Ellie smiled back at him. The lighting of the elevator was warm and bright—the color of his eyes had never seemed so arresting.

  “Your eyes…” Ellie trailed off, unsure about what she wanted to say. “They’re the same as your mother’s.”

  “Well, I’m hearing that for the first time,” Archer mocked her, turning back towards the elevator doors. Ellie rolled her eyes.

  She turned to face the mirror walls of the elevator. This was the first time she was really taking a look at herself since she took off from New York. Her deep, brown skin had dulled a bit from the travel, and she had sleep bags under her vibrant blue eyes. She adjusted her thick knots of wavy black hair that had tangled amongst themselves during the flight and the car ride.

  I can’t believe I’m actually meeting billionaires looking like this, Ellie thought to herself.

  The elevator doors opened to reveal a long corridor. It had the same carpet a the ostentatious hall, but with muted lilac walls that gave the hall and airy vibe. Ellie stepped out of the elevator slowly, admiring the paintings and beautiful plants that adorned the hallway.

  “This house is amazing,” Ellie said. “It must have cost a fucking fortune.”

  “I prefer the house we have in Amsterdam, actually,” Archer said casually. “This one’s too..prissy.”

  “Pfft,” Ellie snorted. “I’d kill to get a house like this with a beach close by. How far is the ocean from here? Can we walk there?”

  Archer gave her a crooked grin, inserting a key into a shiny wooden door. “See for yourself.”

  Raising a brow, Ellie stepped into the room. The cream carpeting continued into the interior of the enormous bedroom. A large, white, poster-bed was set by one wall, with fake green vines and gauzy, white chiffon twisting and looping through its wooden bars. It
looked like a bed fit for a princess.

  What caught and kept Ellie’s attention was the enormous glass wall that stood behind the bed. Beyond the glass lay a stone balcony that looked over at the ocean.

  “What?” Ellie shrieked in delight, dropping her bags. Archer chuckled as Ellie raced over to the glass door to grab hold of the lock on one side.

  “It’s a push, then slide,” Archer instructed from behind her. Ellie pushed a black handle inward and the door unlocked. She pulled it to her left and the door slid open soundlessly. The cool ocean air rolled into the room, making the curtains and bed cover flap in the wind.

  Ellie stepped onto the balcony eagerly. The flowering vines covered one half of the balcony and she hurried over to the other side to peer beyond the edge.

  Ellie gasped. The ocean wasn't even a hundred meters away from them. They'd come to the room that faced the back of the chateau. Green, wavy grass stretched from the ground beneath them towards the ocean, ending in sharp black rocks that fell into the sea. Water rolled into the shore with the high tide, slapping against the rocks and producing large sprays of water that shone in the moonlight. Hills rolled behind the water, beyond which the ocean continued, stretching on forever.

  “Holy fuck,” Ellie exhaled. “This definitely trumps New Orleans.”

  “Obviously,” Archer said from behind her. Ellie turned to face him. He leaned against the doorway of the sliding glass door, his hands wedged into his pockets with boyish grace.

  “My room there didn’t even have a balcony!” Ellie cried, turning back to the vista before her. “I can’t wait to see this during daylight.”

  “It is pretty stunning.”

  “Are you kidding?” Ellie shook her head. “This is a better view than any I could have bought for myself. This room is perfect!”

  “Yeah, it’s my favorite one in this house,” Archer replied.

  Ellie turned towards him. “You gave me your favorite room?”

  Archer raised an eyebrow, staring at her silently, as though he was waiting for her to arrive at the answer to the question herself. Through the glass doors, Ellie saw a brown suitcase that definitely didn’t belong to her lying beside the bed. Suddenly, it clicked.