Chaper 1. A Wife?!

Kenny

He slammed his drink on the table. "The only woman I'm interested in is whoever my master chooses for me! Whether it be his sister, aunt, or even his grandmother! But it has to be a relative."

Everyone around the table laughed, annoying him even more than he was annoyed before.

"Kenny, don't be silly. How could you, at 21, marry an old woman?" His mother snickered, waving him off. In the room's bright lighting her emerald earrings sparkled. "All of Master Harmony's remaining relatives are well above your age. Pick one of the beautiful women we've chosen for you. They all have suitable backgrounds and immaculate manners. Just give them a chance, you won't be disappointed."

Kenny pinched his nose. Why did he even bother with these people when he knew they'd just be saying the same thing over and over again?

"It would be easier to find you someone if you just told us what type of girl you like," Mr. Greenland added in. His current wife clung to his arm, glaring at Kenny's birth mother from across the table. "But you have been so uncooperative that it's become hard."

He flung his arms into the air. "That's the point, Dad. I don't have a type." The young man leaned back with a sigh, his hand covering his face. "I want to be left alone. I don't want to date. Heck, I don't even care about who I marry as long as they're someone I can agree with."

"Then why--"

"Because, everyone is fake!" He cut off his father. As Mr. Greenland shook his head, Kenny continued. "They're always so sickeningly nice! Like, those girls are always sooo concerned about me and so touchy, touchy! Every minute they latch on to me like flies! 'Oh, you're so handsome, Ken!' 'You would make a wonderful husband~' 'Did you know that my mother plans to pass down her company to me? I'm going to be a CEO!' And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!" He rolled his eyes. "The one Mom kept telling me is such an angel offered to take me up to her bedroom and make her a woman."

His Mom, Georgina, froze. "Wait, which one?"

Kenny gestured with his finger, as if telling her to come closer. Other people started to mutter, stirring up unnecessary noise in what used to be a joyous environment.

Hunter Greenland couldn't take it anymore. He picked up his spoon and knocked on his glass several times. Effectively, everyone calmed down.

"Kenny Greenland, have some respect! Talking about such things, do you not your master right in front of you?"

The guest focused on Master Harmony, awaiting his reaction. He was an old man whom sat at the end of the table, with his best student, Sher, to his right and an empty seat to his left, to represent the family that he had lost. His crew cut was littered with salt and pepper hair. Sharp black eyes scanned the room before stopping at the cold, golden whiskey in his glass. A large wrinkled hand reached out and grasped it, bringing it to his lips.

"It's fine," Master Harmony said after a sip. "Don't mind me. But you stated you would marry someone from my lineage, correct, Young Ken?"

Kenny gulped but regained his composure. It was too late to go back now. "Your direct lineage, yes. I figure anyone that you've brought up would be more worthy of being my wife. However..." He tapped on his ear, a cheeky smile spread across his face. "As my dear, darling mother has said, it wouldn't be great for it to be someone years ahead of me. Instead, I would only marry your grandchild."

Some folks gasped and Hunter rolled his eyes, his wife had both her hands covering his mouth. Georgina absorbed her son with interest. "Darling, don't be silly. You know that he has no children, much less grandchildren."

"Is that a promise?" Master Harmony responded calmly.

Kenny smirked. "You have my word."

He watched as his master, who was like an uncle to him, chuckled. "Well, let's see how much your word is worth. Sher!"

Sher sat up immediately, hands folded on her silk maroon dress. "Yes, Master?"

"Go into my office and write up a contract. I have a feeling you and I both know what should be on it."

Sher bowed her head before leaving the room.

As she departed, Master's guests chatted and enjoyed each bit of entertainment performed at the front of the large room. The hula dancers took their exit with a round of applause following behind them. Then, the lights turned off.

It became quiet for a while before their surroundings lit up in a dim, purple hue.

In walked several men in white shorts and no shoes on their feet. There was a pair of sticks in one of their hands, a mysterious bottle filled with liquid in the other. After seven men settled in, another man carrying a drum strode inside, choosing to sit in a corner nearby. At the ringing of the first beat, the entertainers began their routine.

The crowd hollered and cheered as fire blew into the air, less than half the distance away from the roof. Georgina clapped heartily, then tugged on Kenny's black dress shirt. "Be careful while you're with your father," she warned. "That woman is from a disgraced family that moved to the slumps, what, seven, eight years ago? Anyway, watch her."

Her son nodded. His eyes drifted to his stepmother clapping in excitement. Caroline Greenland was how Hunter Greenland Introduced her half a year ago. She seemed to talk nonstop to her husband, who only nodded. Kenny took a drink from his brandy, watching her every move. Georgina scoffed. It seemed like she wanted to say something else but stopped as both of them became distracted by Sher re-entering the room through a separate door.

Sher walked up to Master Harmony and handed him the contract. He read through it pretty quickly for a man going up in age.

He took the fountain pen she offered and signed all three papers. At his command, Sher went to Kenny's side. Kenny retrieved the items and thanked her.

The liquor must have finally taken hold. His surroundings became blurry. He had to blink a few times to see in front of him. When he could, he got right down to reading the terms.

1. Party A, Kenny Greenland, will legally marry Party B's, Sylvester Harmony's, biological female grandchild until the day both parties agree to a divorce.

2. The bride Party B provides must be polite, intelligent, brave, and quiet according to Party A's requirements (this can be changed at any time).

3. The wedding must take place, at most, one month after the signing of this contract.

4. Both parties are aware that if either party does not comply with the terms of the contract, or to conspire against the contract in any way, that party must pay a compensation of 1.6 billion dollars or/and control of the businesses under their name.

5. Both parties agree that they have read and understood the above terms.

Party A

Full name: _________________

Signature: _________________

Date: _______________

Party B

Full name: Sylvester Harmony

Signature: S. Harmony

Date: January 8, 2021

Kenny heard the old man clear his throat. "Are the terms agreeable to you, young man?"

He thought for a minute. His intuition was telling him to be aware, that once he signed it he would be caught in the old man's trap. However he thought through it clearly and there was no way his master could pull one over him. After years of studying under that man's wing, and the bit of research he did before tonight, he knew there was next to impossible for that man to have some long lost grandchild no one knew about. Whatever Master Harmony and his parents had planned, it didn't matter. He would never fall for it. Plus, distracting his parents with this would give him more time to convince them that he didn't need to settle down in order to know what it means to be a good employer. A family with three kids and a picket fence? He hated kids! And picket fences! What kind of life were they trying to subject him to?

Kenny flicked his wrist and signed his name, making sure extra malice showed in every stroke.

He handed the papers to Sher who promised to keep them safe until he was ready to depart. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

The night went on as planned. Hunter made jokes to amuse his friends. He allowed Kenny to interrupt their conversation every once in a while to make a point.

Finally, right on 11:00 PM, Kenny cheered as his master's servants rolled out the trolley carrying the three layer birthday cake.

The guest pushed back their chairs and stood up, some with glasses in hand.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy 62th birthday Sylvester Harmony! Happy birthday to you."

With a smile, Sylvester blow out the candles. "Thank you, everyone," he said.