Weekend Wife (Sassy in the City 1)

“I don’t know. Use your judgement.”

“I’m on it.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to you later.” I ended the call and almost immediately my screen lit up. My father. I sighed. If I didn’t answer he would keep calling.

“Hey, Dad, how are you?”

“Your mother says you haven’t RSVP’d to the anniversary party.”

That made me roll my eyes. “I will be there. I told Mom I’ll be there.” My mother just liked to stir up my father. When it came to me, it was easy for her to do. Nothing I ever did was good enough for him, which was ironic given that he’d spent most of his life doing nothing but pursuing pleasure.

The car was heading downtown, and as usual, I felt impatient. Impatient to get back to work. Impatient with my family. The fact that my parents, given each of their multiple affairs, many fights, and even one restraining order back in the nineties, were determined to celebrate their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary seemed both bizarre and pointless.

But I would go because I had no desire to waste valuable time arguing.

“This is really important to her. Just like it’s important to both of us that you settle down, too. You’re too damn old to be having sex with random women.”

Was I? Clearly not given I had just left Leah’s apartment. His condescending tone irritated me. “My personal life is just that—personal.”

“Not when there is several billion dollars plus at stake. I sent you something from my attorney. Did you review it?”

That gave me pause. “No. I’ve been out of the office this morning. What did you send me?”

“Just read it. And just so you know, I’m not changing my mind on this, so don’t even try. It’s legal and binding and I refuse to back down.”

What the hell? All my feelings of contentment disappeared. My father was a shitty businessman and impulsive. I had no clue what he had just dropped on me and it pissed me off. “Then let me off the phone so I can read it.”

“Fine. Talk to you soon.”

I didn’t say a word, just ended the call and opened up my work email. There it was, from my father’s personal attorney. I opened the attached document, enlarged it, and started reading.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yelled at my phone, outraged and pissed off.

I used voice command to order my phone, “Call my lawyer, Sam Rothstein.”

“Calling Sam Rothstein.”

This was complete and total bullshit and I was not going to let my father dictate my life.

Required to be in a committed relationship to retain position as CEO of real estate division my fucking ass.

There was no way that was legally binding.

Chapter 4

“It’s legally binding,” Sam said an hour later.

“What the fuck?” I said. “That’s not possible. My father can’t use the company to force me to have a girlfriend.” It was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard in my entire life.

It was stupid, pointless, idiotic, controlling, insane. Dickheaded, dumb, and not going to happen.

I had Sam on speaker since I was fresh out of the shower and dressing for my meeting with Zhang. Sam had called me after reviewing the document I had forwarded to him.

“Technically, he can. He and your grandfather own the company. You don’t inherit your half until your grandfather passes. So your father can fire you if you don’t comply with his standards. Your grandfather is retired, so he doesn’t have a say in it at this point.”

I paced in my boxer briefs in my bathroom, agitated as hell. “I’ve spent the last ten years of my life working my ass off for this company! I served my country in the navy. Neither of those things matter? My father only gives a shit that I have a girlfriend?” It was preposterous. Truly fucking insane.

“It would appear that way, yes.” Sam cleared his throat. “Look, just trot out a woman. It’s very vague as to committed relationship so just pretend to be dating someone. Ask a female friend.”