~ Managing Director

"Father, I don't want to destroy this shopping mall, it was left to me by my mother, wasn't it? And this shopping center is very profitable. Also, Henry is an extraordinary man. He is so rich and so outstanding, I'm afraid he will not see me as a good partner if I have nothing to my name.

What if he annuls the marriage? After I marry Henry, I believe that he will help me run this shopping center. This is a great opportunity for the Smith family,” Roxanne reasoned with Kenneth and tried to persuade him.

She was not going to give up without a fight!

The area fell into silence as Roxanne waited with bated breath. Her future lay in what her father’s decision would be that day and he did not disappoint.

When Kenneth sighed again, Miriam’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile and asked him, “Honey, you’re not thinking of putting her in charge of the mall, are you?”

“I am… she’s right. The Fords won’t accept a wife with no proper qualities. Roxanne, you will be the managing director from now on-”

“What? She’s not qualified!” Miriam squeaked, dropping her façade.

Managing director? Roxanne didn't deserve such a high position. Only her daughter did!

When Kenneth glanced at Miriam with a questioning gaze, she quickly changed her demeanour and spoke gently, “I mean… don’t make such a rash decision, honey. This is a shopping complex we are talking about. We might lose clients and revenue if not managed well-”

“Don’t worry. Henry is a great businessman. I’m sure he will be able to help Roxanne run the shopping mall. He might even pump in more money and help us expand,” Kenneth said in a tone that hinted that the discussion was over.

Hatred flashed through Miriam’s eyes. She was pissed but she couldn’t do anything. There was a limit to what extent she could control Kenneth. Besides, she didn’t want him to suspect her if she continued to persist.

She would just look for a way to oust Roxanne in the future.

At the same time, Roxanne released a sigh of relief. Finally, she got the mall that was rightfully hers. Now she just had to make sure she took full control so that it didn’t end up in her stepmother’s hands.

…

A few days later…

Roxanne had settled into her new job as the shopping mall’s managing director.

One section of the mall had an RG department store which was divided into several stores selling products such as clothing, electronics, furnishings, footwear, toys, cosmetics and groceries.

The other section was for partnerships. Some stores were put on rent for the purpose of selling goods, others were for fancy restaurants. Others rented the stores for office space. This meant they would get revenue from the rentals and from the department store too.

Roxanne was patrolling the mall, inspecting it to make sure everything was running smoothly. She also wanted to see what she could work on and how she would increase the profits of the mall. After all, she wasn’t here to play.

Making large profits would make the board members favour her in the future.

She frowned as she looked around the place, “How come no one thought of adding a kid’s section in this mall? If we have restaurants or cafes with a kid’s area, we would attract a lot of families. Families spend a lot of money… what do you think, Sarah?”

“That’s a good idea, Miss Smith,” Sarah Stevens replied, pushing her glasses up her nose.

She was Roxanne’s assistant and so far, they were getting to know each other.

As they were patrolling the department clothing store, Roxanne happened to see Maya and Victor walk into the clothing store.

She cussed and muttered under her breath, “Great. Just the two people I wanted to see while at work.”

Roxanne didn’t have anything against the couple but she would rather not bump into them at all.

She was about to walk out and avoid them but Maya’s words stopped her.

“Hey, you!” Maya pointed at a sales lady and ordered, “Pack this for me. And this… and this lingerie…”

She picked about twenty branded clothes and wanted to get them for free.

Roxanne furrowed her eyebrows when she witnessed this. She thought Maya had no shame at all. Didn’t she know such actions were bad for business?

Approaching the couple, she folded her arms across her chest. She glanced at them and said, “You have to pay for those clothes. We don’t offer freebies in my mall.”

Maya frowned when she was embarrassed in front of so many people. She glowered at Roxanne and screamed, “What right do you have to stop me? I’ve always gotten free things from this mall!”

“That was then, dear sis. Under my management, no one gets anything for free. Do you want the mall to go bankrupt?” Roxanne glanced at Victor and sneered, “Brother-in-law, if you want anything in my mall, you gotta pay for it. However, since you’re about to become family, I’ll give you a discount.”

After being addressed by his “useless” ex-fiancée, Victor’s eyes narrowed. ‘I never thought she could be this fierce. How dare she embarrass me like this?’

He looked around and saw that many people were staring at them. If news got out that he failed to pay for clothes, his reputation would be ruined. In the world of business, reputation is very important.

Victor Morgan was the CEO of the Morgan transport and logistics Company. He was arranged to marry Roxanne but after learning how she wasn’t favored at home, he decided to choose the woman who would bring value to him and that was her sister, Maya Smith.

He glared at Roxanne and scoffed, "When did you take over the mall? How can you be so rude to your sister? Or are you jealous of her? Stop dreaming, I would still not marry you even without Maya's presence."

Roxanne tried not to roll her eyes. What a couple they were. She ignored his words and stretched out her hand, “Pay up, please. Or do you want me to call the police?"

~ Henry Ford

Victor Morgan raised an eyebrow. The confident manner in which Roxanne confronted them caught him off-guard.

Wasn't she a pushover? Where did she get the courage to stand up to them and humiliate them this way?

"You want to call the police?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

"I will if you don't pay. We have a word for people who get stuff without paying," Roxanne paused for a dramatic effect. "They are called THIEVES."

The temperature around them reduced to a negative. Victor narrowed his eyes at Roxanne dangerously but she wasn't intimidated by him.

Although he was handsome, tall with sandy brown hair and a rough beard, Roxanne looked down on him for having a poor sense of judgement.

Who in their right mind would love Maya? She had a rotten personality. Her fakeness was evident in the way she carried herself.

Was he blind?

Regardless, his choice was none of Roxanne’s concern. She was there to make money.

“Mr Morgan… if you and your fiancée are not buying anything, please leave my department store,” Roxanne said firmly.

She looked serious and professional in a white loose suit. The pants were high-waisted and wide while she wore a black tight top underneath the loose white statement-making jacket. Her hair was curled and left to cascade down her shoulders like a flowing waterfall.

“You bitch! This mall will belong to me, you have no right to stop me-”

Victor wrapped a hand around Maya's waist and soothingly said, “Baby, don’t worry. I’ll pay for your dresses. Let her have her fun. We all know you’re the heiress to Starlight Inc., so this mall will automatically belong to you.”

It was as if he was trying to show how affectionate he was with Maya but Roxanne’s attitude was indifferent. She rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah yeah… the money, please. Stop wasting my time. If it’s too expensive for you, the door is open. There's a thrift store down the hallway.”

Victor hissed. He had never been insulted like this. 'How dare this woman think I can’t pay for mere clothes?! I’m a CEO!'

He angrily took out his card and paid for the branded clothes that Maya had gotten while she batted her eyes at him and gave him a sweet smile. “You spoil me too much, baby.”

Maya was trying her best to show Roxanne that she had gotten the better guy. Alas, Roxanne appeared bored and disinterested.

She didn't like Victor. If anything, she was glad she didn't have to marry someone like him.

Roxanne smiled and handed over the receipt after the sales lady processed the payment. She glanced at the couple and taunted, “Thank you for shopping with us. Please call again.”

…

A little while later, Roxanne was about to head out of the store when a man in a wheelchair blocked her way.

When she glanced at him, her heart involuntarily missed several beats and her breath hitched.

"So, you're my bride..." Henry's deep velvety voice reached her ears and snapped her back to reality.

Her eyes rounded as she took him in and it dawned on her. So, this was Henry Ford! The rumours about him didn’t do him any justice. The man was smouldering.

Damn!

Despite being bound in a wheelchair, the man was oozing a powerful domineering aura. He was sprawled out on the chair, his arms resting on the armrests and his back resting against the chair.

Roxanne swore she had never seen a man as handsome as him before. Although he had a frown on his face and looked grumpy, she thought he was the hottest man she had ever laid her eyes on.

‘Wow! He looks like a Greek god!’ She exclaimed inwardly.

He was in a slim-fit black suit and although he was seated, Roxanne could tell that he was quite tall. His long legs were positioned awkwardly on one side, looking like he was having a hard time being restricted to the wheelchair, yet, he still looked imposing. The type to be the center of attention in a crowd.

It was like he came out of nowhere. Her heart was pounding violently but she maintained a poker face while looking at him.

For a few seconds, the duo stared at each other, neither dropping their gaze. Henry’s electric blue eyes bored into Roxanne’s dazzling green eyes.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, his husky voice finally reached her ears.

“I’m your hubby-to-be. That is if you don’t mind marrying a cripple.”

As Henry said those words, there was a mocking smirk on the side of his lips.

Roxanne’s heart clenched for some reason. This man was at the top of the world but he still had insecurities about his body.

Most times, life never goes the way we planned. Being disabled wasn’t the end of the world and she didn’t like the way he was talking down about himself.

She smiled politely and introduced herself, “Hi, Mr. Ford. My name is Roxanne Smith and yes, I’m your new bride. That is if you don’t mind marrying the useless sister.”

She emulated his words and saw him furrow his eyebrows.

“From what I just witnessed, you don’t look useless to me,” Henry said, appraising her with his eyes.

Silence befell them as they continued to stare at each other. Roxanne's heart was pounding loudly in her chest but her face did nothing to betray her emotions.

“Can we talk? I heard my bride is in charge of this mall so I came to take a look,” Henry suggested as he looked around the area, breaking the silence between them.

Although Roxanne was nervous, she agreed, “Sure. Let’s go to my office.”

Roxanne began to lead Henry to her office on the second floor while secretly wondering what he wanted to talk about. Perhaps he was here to ask her about the bride switch. Would he reject the new arrangement?

~ An invitation

Henry Ford's assistant, Diego Montero, pushed Henry's wheelchair. Diego used to work for Henry while he was abroad and when Henry came back to the Country, he was transferred back to continue working for him. He was an outspoken but kind man with curly dark brown hair and wore gold-rimmed glasses.

When Roxanne got into the elevator with Henry Ford and his assistant, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

The place felt so small.

Her heart was racing the entire time. Henry Ford’s powerful aura surged around them and she felt so small in his presence. How could a man still look so powerful despite his physical condition? Henry carried himself with an air of confidence that no one would dare look down on him.

The moment the elevator doors opened, Roxanne let go of the breath she didn't realise she was holding.

"Follow me," she told Diego and strode down the hallway confidently with her head and chin raised.

When they arrived in her office, Roxanne pushed away the chair in front of her desk to accommodate Henry’s wheelchair. Without realising, she was being considerate of his condition.

“Would you like some tea? Juice?” She offered but Henry politely declined as he observed her quietly.

She was a strange one this one.

Why was she being nice to him? Was it because of his status? Or perhaps she was pitying him for being disabled? The thought of being pitied caused a sliver of irritation to rush through him.

Henry was in the clothing store earlier and happened to witness Roxanne’s exchange with her stepsister.

From what he saw, Roxanne wasn’t the weak and meek woman everyone said she was. She faced her enemies with confidence and fearlessness.

She didn't look like someone who would easily get bullied and would do nothing about it. What he saw was a strong woman who could hold her own.

The sparkle in her eyes as she stood up to her sister shone brighter than a diamond. He could sense the relief that Roxanne got from that. It was as if she had been waiting for a long time to put her sister in her place.

Henry had done a background check and found out that Roxanne wasn’t favoured at home. She was rumoured to be weak and someone who never went up against her sister.

However, the woman he saw was totally different. She was smart, business-minded and knew how to deal with her enemies.

Who was the real Roxanne Smith?

Henry actually preferred the feisty Queen he had seen earlier.

What shocked him was how she didn’t discriminate against him because of his disability. Instead, she was very kind and considerate.

In the past months, although several women tried to get closer to him because of his money, he could see the disgust that they hid in their eyes. They didn’t want to be with him because they genuinely liked him. His status was what they were attracted to.

He came especially that day to observe Roxanne’s reaction to him. Her kindness surprised him but he kept a poker face as he continued to observe her.

On the other hand, the way Henry kept looking at Roxanne made her feel like he wasn’t pleased with the bride exchange.

‘Does he also prefer Maya?’ Her heart lurched at that thought. Everyone preferred Maya anyway. It wouldn't be the first time.

She cleared her throat and said, “I know you were supposed to marry Maya according to the earlier arrangement. However, I had no choice but to accept the new arrangement because she’s in love with someone else and doesn't want to marry you. If switching the brides annoys you, please feel free to reject it.”

Glancing at Henry, she added, “Whatever you choose to do is fine by me.”

Due to Henry Ford’s accident, his grandfather had become anxious and wished for him to quickly get married and have children. The old man kept urging him to fulfil the marriage agreement that his father had made with Kenneth Smith.

To ease his grandfather’s worries, Henry agreed to get married. At first, he was ok with marrying anyone but seeing Roxanne who was seated opposite him, his curiosity about her increased.

She was an interesting woman. One who had piqued his interest. He wanted to know more about her.

Nevertheless, he didn’t respond to her statement. He didn’t agree or reject the arrangement. All he did was stare at her for a few minutes before a small smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

"Looking forward to our next meeting, Miss Smith." After Henry said this in his deep baritone voice, he let his assistant push him away, leaving Roxanne standing in confusion.

Did he agree to the bride switch or not?

…

Roxanne was in her office when she received a golden envelope which was sealed with the Ford family crest.

When she opened it, she discovered it was an invitation to a banquet to celebrate the inauguration of Henry Ford as CEO of Ford Corporation.

She was invited as Henry Ford's plus one. Looking at the card, Roxanne's eyes squinted.

'What does this mean?' She thought.

The last time she talked to Henry, he didn't give her his stance on the marriage issue so she had no idea whether he was ok with the switch or not.

Did he still want to go through with the marriage? He never said anything.

A week had passed when he suddenly sent her an invitation to his private banquet. Roxanne didn't know what to make of his actions.

Regardless, she decided to go since she was invited by Henry himself.

When it was time, she dressed up in an ivory gown and styled her blonde hair into an elegant updo.

She quickly found her way to the Ford's mansion after following the address on the invitation card. The backyard was decorated elegantly and many businessmen and women could be seen chatting and making new business connections.

Roxanne was about to look for Henry when an irritating voice reached her ears.

"Oh, look who's here. If it isn't my dear sister, Roxanne."