3 The Condition

June, 2018. At Jimmy Hunter's apartment.

Jim paced around, his heart beating in his throat. Twenty-four hours. If he couldn't come up with a solution in twenty four hours, it was all going to be over faster than it had started. And Jimmy didn't like to lose.

Especially not to an idiot, who also happened to be his father.

His breaths became heavier by the minute as he grumbled to himself. He paced around in circles, his mood darkening as random thoughts flooded his brain. None of his ideas at the moment were useful though. He had already tried everything.

Nearby, two familiar figures sat stiffly, their expression stony as they watched the young master with hawk eyes. One was Jim's best friend, Hartley Greene. The other his butler, Byeong Park. They both glanced at each other every few seconds, and then returned to looking at Jim. The atmosphere of the room was turning grimmer with each of Jimmy's step.

Finally, Park sighed.

And that was a mistake.

Jimmy quickly stopped in his tracks and turned back to glare at the old man, as if the sigh had disrupted his thoughts. Hartley rolled his eyes at him, whereas Park looked back unimpressed. Finally, he coughed.

"If looks could kill, Jimmy Hunter," Park chided, "I'd be dead when you were five. Now that doesn't help solve the problem, Jim. Stop scowling and think harder."

Jimmy's face darkened, and he wanted to lash out. He couldn't though. Clenching his fists, he returned to pacing around again, this time with bigger, harder steps.

After a few minutes, Hartley spoke.

"Have you contacted Leah?"

Jim didn't stop, but nodded in response.

"I couldn't reach her mobile, but I left her a message. I doubt she'll return the call though."

"Hm."

There was silence again.

Jimmy loosened his tie, and finally pulled off his vest. He was the C.E.O. of the Hunter Corporation and lived and breathed mostly in three-piece suits. Right then though, the suit suffocated him. He couldn't breathe anymore. So he pulled off the coat, the vest, the tie and threw them all on the couch where his friends sat.

He walked briskly for a few more minutes. When he couldn't think of anything anymore, he finally groaned.

"Guys, I'm going to lose my inheritance, aren't I?" he said, and flopped beside Hartley and Park. He closed his eyes in distress and leaned into the couch. It was soft. He wanted to cry.

Park extended his hand to pat him lightly on the shoulder.

"Don't lose hope, Jim," he said, "You still have twenty four hours. I've seen you accomplish bigger and better things in half that time."

"I'd like to see myself get married in that time, old man."

The old man was about to retire, and he had therefore brazenly told his son that if he didn't see Jim married by the time he was thirty one, Jim would never own the Hunter Corporation. That had been a scary day at the Hunter estate. Both the parties had stood in the hall, glaring murderously at each other. Jimmy's face had distorted to the point that he had looked like some demon.

Park flinched from the sheer memory of it.

To any ordinary man, this command would have been easy to adhere to. But not to Jimmy Hunter. He had drop-dead gorgeous looks and money enough to buy the world, yes, but what he thoroughly lacked were skills when it came to women. He had dated only twice in his entire life, and both the relationships had ended within a week. He was popular with the ladies, but only from afar. Nobody knew about his personal life, mostly because it didn't exist.

It had now been a month since the marriage condition had been imposed.

Naturally, Jim had been unable to find a suitable bride. And he was turning thirty one the day after tomorrow.

Whether he would find a bride until then… well.

"Impossible," Park breathed.

They had been trying relentlessly day and night to come up with a plan and had done almost everything a man in dire need of a woman would do. From contacting ex-girlfriends to coaxing his secretary (who turned out to be already married, by the way), there was no scheme that they had not implemented. Jim had even made a profile on several match-making sites. It was just that… sometimes he didn't like the girl, and most times, they didn't like him.

Marriage was an impossible deal!

And he simply didn't want to marry a missus from a rich household, because no matter what, the marriage was going to be on contract. His father wanted his marriage to last at least one year, and that was exactly when Jimmy planned on terminating the nuptial. That was one reason he still hadn't found a girl. Nobody wanted a relation that determinedly would last a year alone.

As Jimmy breathed deeply, his eyes closed and back still leaning into the couch, Hartley stood up. He thought for a while, put his hands in his pockets and then, exhaled noisily.

"You know what I've realized, Hunter?" he frowned, "We've been playing fair till now. Nothing about this deal is fair though. Your father knows you don't date, but he wants you to get a woman in a month. I've had this idea before, but I still wanted you to try your hands at reasonable means. Now, you don't have a choice."

Jim opened his eyes.

"You mean you had a backup, all this while and you didn't tell me?" Jimmy sounded annoyed.

Hartley sighed.

"Yes, because as I said, it's foul play. Here's what I suggest. You offer money, get married."

Jimmy rolled his eyes, whereas Mr. Park flinched. What was up with the kids of this generation?!

Jim closed his eyes again, "You don't think I've done that? I've gotten more water splashed on my face for it than I drink in a month."

"Yes, I know. That's what I was coming to. Marry someone in need. The woman won't refuse the money if she desperately needs it."

Jimmy suddenly fell into thought.

"You mean, like a poor person?" he asked.

Hartley nodded.

"But isn't that stupid? Why would I willingly let a gold digger stay by my side? And that too for a year?"

"Who said you have to stay together? Arrange for something. Go abroad. Make her visit her parents. There are a thousand excuses for things like that!"

"My old man would see through it at once."

Hartley huffed.

"Well, do you have a better idea? Because it seems to me that all of this plotting is just to insult you."

"It is," Jimmy nodded in agreement.

Mr. Park wanted to smack them both. Why was it so hard for these kids to understand that old Mr. Hunter might just want to secure a future for his company, while he was still alive? Or just want a grandchild, like any other old man?

Well, he had tried explaining it to them before. He wasn't wasting his breath now.

Beside him, Jim and Hartley continued.

"Considering I do go ahead with this plan," Jimmy contemplated, "Where would I find a poor woman?"

"We could go to some cooperative societies and help organizations. They are formed to support poor people."

"And what would be the disadvantages of such a relation?"

"Well… you wouldn't be able to introduce her publicly, for one. It would be insulting."

"I don't intend to either way."

"Your old man would be furious though."

Hartley chuckled at the thought. Imagine, old Mr. Hunter's face as he saw his poor, bottom-of-the-barrel daughter-in-law. The man as such looked down on people lesser in status or money. He would simply blast off.

Jimmy's eyes suddenly gleamed. It was as if his and Hartley's thoughts had been in coherence right then. He opened his eyes, looked at Hartley and grinned.

"I'll do it!" he said.

His friend raised his brows.

Jimmy explained, "It's the easiest way to get back at Senior Hunter. Bring home an improper woman, make her live amongst us for a year, father will simply explode. I might not even have to stay married for a long time! The old man would definitely not tolerate it."

"Jimmy, there's still the point that you'd have to live with her."

"I'll arrange for something. Overwork. Stay at office. That'd be fine. Imagine, what an insult it would be to my father! And how easily I could get back at him! Hart, you're a genius."

Jimmy got up excitedly and was about to hug his friend when Park coughed.

The two men looked at him instantly.

"You're forgetting the woman, boys," he said, "You'll be doing this to get back at your father, but the one you'd really hurt is the girl. Can you live with that?"

Jimmy and Hartley shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'll pay," Jim announced and the two men embraced.

Park rolled his eyes. If he didn't know better, he would have thought the two were brothers. Well, for what it was worth, he hoped they would find their woman, and she would kick Jim's ass! This brat could really be selfish at times.

Meanwhile Jim congratulated himself, happy to have devised a plan. This poor, bottom-of-the-barrel woman was just perfect. He'd get married and get back at his father too.

Ah, his perfect bride.

He was coming soon!