by Parker, Ali
His Many Demands
Ali Parker
BrixBaxter Publishing
Contents
Find Ali Parker
Description
Introduction
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Epilogue
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Copyright
Find Ali Parker
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Description
My Needs.
My Demands.
Your Pleasure.
You're Welcome.
She had one year left of college when our parents got married. And thanks to being raised in poverty, she needed help with her expenses.
My dad, being the benevolent billionaire, stepped up without question.
But there was a catch. She had to intern at the firm for a year. With me.
As her boss. Poor sweet little thing.
She has no clue what she’s up against, but she’ll figure it out soon.
I don’t play typical games, but the ones I do play, I always win.
And regardless of how taboo our relationship might become, I’m all in.
The reward is worth the risk.
I just hope she can keep up with my many demands.
Introduction
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Prologue
Bethany
Damn: 110. She needed a 70 to make the dean's list for her senior-level marketing class, but she'd pulled out a 110.
A smile touched Bethany's lips, her eyes darting around the room to see if she could make out the various grades on her classmates’ papers. From what she could see, she must have gotten the highest grade. She sat back in her chair and listened as the classroom filled with either groans or soft whispers of gratitude for passing grades. She hadn't worried much about passing, but simply passing was never enough. She had to be at the top—the best grade in the class.
The elderly professor moved to the front of the room, dropping a small handful of remaining tests on his desk and turning to face the class. A quick adjustment to his glasses and he scanned the room, his eyebrow raising at the noise.
"This was your final test for my class. I know some of you are graduating on Saturday, and I congratulate you. If you failed this test and subsequently this class and it's holding you back from graduating, that's your problem. You were given every opportunity to do well in here. If you failed, then you worked hard to do so."
He shrugged as a lanky guy in the back row spoke up, Bethany turning to look over her shoulder as his drug-induced voice resounded. "Is there a make-up quiz for this test?"
"No, Mr. Johnson. This is final, and you will be seeing me next semester, no doubt."
Bethany turned and raised her hand, her long chestnut locks tickling her shoulders as she moved. "What was the top grade in the class?"
"Yours." The professor smirked and moved from his reclined position. "Class is dismissed. Don't bother stopping by to talk with me. I have somewhere to be, so this is goodbye for this semester. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and don't have too much fun."
Bethany leaned over and grabbed her backpack, a smile pressing her cheeks toward her eyes as she got up and walked from the room, her head held high and smugness sitting on her like a well-worn cloak. She was the smartest, the fastest—the best.
A quick stop by the advisory office before heading to have lunch with her mother stole her thunder; her adviser’s news was depressing, a quick reminder of her financial reality.
"Congratulations, Bethany. It looks like you'll be graduating in the top 3 percent of your accounting class." The middle-aged man looked up, his portly belly almost touching the chair between his opened legs.
Bethany focused on the kindness in his gaze even though his appearance struck her with worry. She needed to get to the gym. The summer sessions were always so daunting and stole every waking moment she could find in order to simply keep up. It was over now, though.
She sighed with relief and nodded toward the adviser.
"That's great news. I've already been accepted into the MBA program, so I'll start in a month. I'm excited."
The man mumbled something, turning to his computer and hitting a few keys. Bethany sat back, her eyes moving across the various pictures that hung on the walls. The photos were filled with smiling kids and a woman as portly as the man before her, their happiness apparent or well-rehearsed.
A fami
ly had never been part of Bethany's thoughts. Racing up the corporate ladder and making a name for herself was her top priority. Making enough money never to have to worry where her next meal was coming from or if anyone would see her mother paying with food stamps was all she cared about. She would change her situation no matter what it took.
College was a luxury that her grades from high school alone had afforded her, but the master's program was still up in the air. The hope was that grants would cover most of the cost, and she could pick up a small job or paid internship at an accounting firm.
Time was the only restriction. She needed something flexible because her course load wouldn't allow for much more than studying and schoolwork. She reached up, tucking her hair behind her ears as she looked back at the adviser.
"So, am I good to go?"
"Hold on just a minute, kiddo. Looks like there’s an issue with your fees for next semester. I'm just trying to make sure you're all paid up." He glanced over at her before picking up his phone. He spoke for a few minutes to someone who she assumed was in the registrar's office. The conversation, from the parts she could hear, was only causing the knot in her stomach to grow. He thanked the lady on the phone and sighed, hanging up and looking over at Bethany.
"Good news and bad news. What do you want first?"
"The good news."
"The good news is that the first third of your upcoming semester was picked up by a grant."
"And the bad is that the last two-thirds weren't?"
"That's right." He shrugged, sympathy covering his round face. "Is there a possibility of getting a small part-time job or internship in the city?"
"I have no clue. Seems like more to do, but it is what it is." She sat back and sighed, the reality of her ever-present situation bleeding its way across her emotions. She was going to break down soon, and she'd rather it not be in front of him.
She stood up and reached over, her hand extended. "I appreciate your help. I have a month to figure it out, I guess."
"You have about six weeks before they require that second payment. Good luck. You’re smart; you'll figure this out."
She shook his hand and walked from the small building, the sun pressing down on her in the smoldering Texas heat. There was nothing to figure out. The MBA program at UT Dallas was way out of her league in terms of financial funding, and her mother was forever broke. Thanks to a drug-dealing father and a life left in shambles, there wasn't much hope.
She got in her car as the first tear fell. She'd have to ask her mom to do something that seemed far-fetched but was her only hope.
"Mom, will you marry Kent?" She looked up in the small rearview mirror, realizing how selfish she was being as she worked through how to ask something so demanding of her mother. But Kent was a billionaire. It would work in her favor, and she knew without a doubt that her mother would be much happier with the stability and love Kent would provide. It was good for everyone. No. She couldn't do it.
But what other choice did she have?
Chapter 1
Bethany
"Mom, will you marry Kent?" Bethany let the question hang in the air as her mom reached for a fluffy white roll sitting in the basket between them.
"What?" Her mom pulled her hand back like she'd been burned.
The older woman was a perfect replica of Bethany. Long, silky chestnut hair, full lips, and green eyes. She looked completely innocent and well-kept, and yet she’d been through more hell than anyone could possibly imagine. She and Bethany both.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but when you told me that he proposed a few weeks ago, you seemed really happy. I don’t know why you just didn’t say yes right then.”
“It’s complicated, Bethany.”
“I know, Mom. But I also know that you’re just holding back because you’re letting everything that happened with Dad scare you away from the one thing that could make you truly happy. You and Kent have been dating for six months, and he's crazy about you."
"Why do you care if Kent and I get married right now?"
"I had an appointment with my adviser today, and there isn't enough funding for me to get through the first year of my master’s program." She held up her hand as her mother started to protest. "I know you don't understand the need for a master’s, but I'm telling you that I need it. I want financial freedom, and ever since Daddy left all those years ago, we've had anything but that. I want a chance to be free from this, Mom."
Her mom visibly flinched, reaching and taking the bread and then picking at it, her gaze filled with concern. They had been through far too much together over Bethany's twenty-two years not to be straightforward with one another. Her mom loved Kent, and Bethany knew they would get married eventually, so the request wasn't too far-fetched, just perhaps a little selfish in its timing.
"And you think me marrying Kent will take care of your finances?"
"I'm praying that you'll mention my situation. I'm not asking for a handout but a loan. I'll pay it back once I'm working for an accounting firm downtown, Mom. There is no way I'm not going to get a great job next year. I just need some help now."
"I wish I could help you, but I don't have anything put away." Her mom's eyes diverted toward the table as the waiter walked up, a smile on his mouth.
"Hi, ladies. You ready to order?"
Bethany's mom sat up, pulling her menu up as she motioned for Bethany to place her order. Bethany picked up the menu and looked at the prices, not caring a bit what items were attached to them. They were broke and shouldn't even be at the small cafe. Money was the bane of her existence, and coveting it anytime soon seemed like a lofty goal.
"I'll take a cup of tomato soup and a water, please?"
"Not very hungry today?" He smiled and took her menu, winking at her as she smiled back.
"Nope. Big breakfast."
Her mother ordered as Bethany reached for a roll. Her stomach softly protested, the deep burn of hunger an old friend. She hadn't had a big breakfast or any breakfast at all. Every penny she had went to books and supplies for school. She ate once a day and sometimes not even that unless her roommate brought home leftovers. She'd have given anything to order a cheeseburger with fries and a Coke, but life wasn't that giving.
The waiter moved away, and Bethany shoved the rest of the roll in her mouth, the soft white bread melting in her mouth. Worry covered her mother's features as she pushed the basket toward her.
"Are you not eating again?"
Bethany finished chewing the roll, her thoughts far from the conversation at the table as she enjoyed the flavors rolling across her tongue. She ate out every once in a while, but it was usually on a date, and that always ended with some random horny guy demanding sex. Disgusting.
"I have to spend what little money I get from my grants on a place to live and books, Mom. Food is a luxury."
"Baby, you shouldn't starve yourself."
"What options do I have?" Bethany laughed, the sound falling flat.
"Take a semester off and come back home with me." Her mom crossed her arms over her chest, an eyebrow raising as Bethany reached for another roll and picked up the small cup of butter, dipping the bread in it without concern for her actions.
"I can't take off from school, Mom, and I don't have a car that runs very well. One more year of this, and I'll be able to finally take care of myself."
"I don't like that you're not eating."
"I don't like it either, but you're as broke as I am."
"I'll ask Kent to give me some money for you."
"No." Bethany leaned forward, her mouth pursed into a tight line. She didn't want handouts from someone who wasn't connected to her family intimately, and even though a loan was an option, it was the last option on her list. She needed Kent to move into the position of being her stepfather, and then it would make sense to get financial help from him.
"Yes."
"No, Mom. Just stop messing around and get married. You're going to get married anyway. He loves you, an
d you love him."
"What would being married to him change?"
"I would be his daughter, Mom. I would finally have a dad, and maybe, just maybe, he would see my struggle and offer to help me." Tears burned her eyes, and she picked up her napkin, wiping at them quickly. Being emotional or weak hadn't gotten her anywhere in life, and it certainly wouldn't do her any favors now.