The Bosses Pretend Bride

While Rory Whitney slept in a room a few doors down the hall from his office. Jason Carrow sat there, contemplating what he was going to do next. He had no idea. It had all happened so fast. Never had he imagined that he would be in the situation he is in now.

Just then, his phone rang. He picked it up in a hurry, not carrying who was on the other end. Hoping whoever it was could break his circling thoughts. "What?" He barked.

"I am sorry, sir." Mitch, the man from earlier who had been with him at the confrontation with the two thugs, stated hurriedly on the phone. "I thought you would like to know that the two men we dropped off at the police station were just released a moment ago, and they did not look pleased."

Jason sighed, knowing that this was going to probably be a mess he would have to clean up later. For the moment, though, he didn't have the energy to expand on them, so he told Mitch to keep an eye on both of them and report back to him anything he might uncover.

"Will do, boss." He then hangs up the phone. Jason sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew this could not go un-taken care of. He just wasn't sure what to do about it currently. He was just about to stand up and leave his office when his phone rang again. He sat back down and picked up the phone. "Hello, mother," Jason said coldly.

"Jason, why have you not returned my calls? You know, I have been trying to get a hold of you for a few days now." Lisa Carrow said in an aggravated tone.

Jason felt his jaw clench in anger. He knew exactly what his mother was calling him about. "I don't have time to listen to this mother." Jason tried to remain polite, but it was hard when his mother constantly called him and asked when he was going to settle down and get married.

"Jason, you know the family is concerned that you need to take a bride and produce the next heir for the family."

"The family wants this, or do you want this?" He states bluntly that he does not feel it necessary to beat around the bush with her. He propped his head in his hands as he listened to her on the other end.

"It's not just me who wants you to find a bride anymore. The elders are starting to talk, and they feel that you are old enough to search for a potential life partner."

Jason bit back a groan of frustration. He knew his mother must have had a hand in their decision-making. The woman was a master manipulator.

"I don't have time for this, mother. I have a lot of work to take care of, and I don't have time to find a bride." Jason clutched the phone in a tight fist and briefly wondered if he broke his phone would this conversation finally come to an end, and he would get some peace.

"That's alright, I already have a few women picked out that I think would be a perfect match for you."

"No." He stated bluntly.

"But Jason."

"I said no." He barked before hanging up the phone on her, effectively ending the conversation for the time being. He knew he would pay for that later, but for the time being he didn't much care. As he sat at his desk, his mother's words replayed in his head.

"So they want me to take a wife, huh?"

Jason's thoughts drifted to the woman that lay in bed down the hall. She was in trouble and needed help, and he also needed help in a different regard. 'Maybe we can help one another.' His mind supplied helpfully.

Just then, there was a knock at his office door. "Enter." He called out impatiently. The door opened to admit one of the maids with a tray of food.

"I have brought your lunch, sir." She says it timidly as she sets the tray down on his desk. It was laid out with club sandwiches and a bowl of potato soup.

"Has Ms. Whitney woken up once more?" He asked casually. The young woman shook her head. "Alright, that will be all. Thank you."

Jason thanks her curtly before she rushes out of the room to finish the other chores she still had to attend to. Jason watched her shut the door behind her. Once she left, he just stared at the lunch tray, not feeling particularly hungry at the moment.

He sat at the desk for a while longer, staring at the paperwork that sat there. Suddenly, an idea began to form. He needed a bride, and Miss Whitney needed protection. Maybe they could help each other.

The more Jason thought of this plan, the better it sounded. Now he just needs to talk it over with Rory Whitney and let her decide if she will go along with this half-cocked scheme of his.

Now that he had a plan for how to outsmart his mother and the elders and get them to leave him alone so he could take care of the business, He felt his appetite return. Jason grabbed a sandwich from the plate and took a bite. His perfectly sculpted lips wrapped around the bread as he tore off a chuck.

The food was delicious as always, but his mind was not on the food anymore. His mind returned to the female guest occupying his home. Jason knew he should take her to the hospital to be checked over, but he was worried that those thugs would be able to track her down there.

'I can't let that happen. I would never forgive myself.' He sighed. Jason reached out and pressed the intercom button on his desk. His assistant, Paul, answered in his usual cheerful voice.

"Yes, Mr. Carrow, how can I be of service?"

Paul was a twenty-year-old college graduate whom he had hired fresh out of school. This had been his first real employment, but he had been doing an impeccable job so far.

"Paul, I wish for you to call the family doctor and have him meet me in the foyer."

Paul chirped happily. "Right away, boss. Do you have a time you want him to be here?"

Jason grinned, even though he knew Paul couldn't see it. It was just like the young man, who wanted to make sure he had all the information before doing anything.

"Yes, I would like him to be here within the hour."

Paul told him it would be done, then disconnected the link. Jason sat back after that, feeling far more relaxed than he had been in a while. He could only hope that Rory agreed with his plan because he knew it would benefit them both. Now he just had to wait for her to wake up so he could discuss it with her.

Just then, there was a commotion outside his door. Jason jumped up from his seat and walked briskly to the door, throwing it open.

"What is going on out here?" His voice boomed throughout the hall, stopping the guilty parties in their tracks.