Even as I ran out the door with clay still clinging to my hands, I screamed in terror.

I yanked the door open in frustration. "What?" My steps came to a halt. My mouth hung open in shock.

Nelson Green, both my biological and legal father, was waiting .

He said, "Joyce,"

He took a beating. I should have shot him in the head instead of trying to talk him out of it. Instead of opening fire on him as he pounded on my door, I calmly searched for my cell phone. I found it on top of a stack of books that had been overdue for a long time.

My father immediately began banging on the door with his fists. "Joyce? Joyce!"

Stop yelling and stop talking! When the phone rang, I yelled.

Because of the phone's value, I was unable to throw it at the wall.

"Joyce, I'd like to meet with you." The thin wood separating us meant that I could barely make out my father's voice.

"Leave!" After I yelled, I returned to my carvings... My workspace and the materials I'd gathered were quickly rearranged in a flurry. I was trying to forget about my jerk of a father standing outside my door. That was more than a decade ago now that I had last seen him. The few times I saw him as a child, he was a distant figure in my life. He once thought I was the housekeeper's granddaughter. It was just as fulfilling for him to take on the role of a father.

"Joyce..."

My jaw clenched tighter. "Go! This isn't something I want to discuss!

"Your mother!?"

Isn't she doing well? Just a few days ago, we spoke. Despite her age, she appeared to be in good physical condition.

I should not have opened the door and allowed myself to be accosted. I should have known better. Setting boundaries with my family was an important piece of advice that I could not ignore.

I exhaled deeply before pushing the door open. In the middle of his pounding, my father took a breather.

He was on the mend and back to his old self. "Let's have a chat," he said.

This is a good place to have a discussion,

To my horror, he screamed .

I was shocked. The last time my father had shed a tear was when I was a child.

My nerves were frayed as I stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do. He was a scumbag, in my opinion. After all, he wasn't all that enticing. His unkempt hair and wrinkled suit made him appear disheveled. It shocked me how much he'd slimmed down, he looked ridiculous in that dress. He was a big, grizzled ex-college star athlete by the name of Nelson Green. I'd never seen anything like his bony frame before.

"Joyce. We must speak up."

Consequently, my response was "fine."

'Okay,' I said as we took our seats at long tables in a cramped dining room.

As a result, I wasn't engrossed in his drink as much as he was. As soon as I saw his order, I knew something was wrong.

As to my dad, he always went for the most expensive option available.According to him,the cheap coffee cup in front of us surprised us both.

"I need your help. Joyce." He screamed. "You are the only one who can pull this off and save yourr mom. Joyce!"

"Why it was about her," I snapped.

"She's sick."

"What?" was the only response I could muster.

But I couldn't be sure if he had tears in his eyes or not.

He sobbed as he learned that she has cancer.

Cancer?

My mother called me two days ago. As soon as my father flew in to tell me that she was ill, I was a little bewildered.

After seeing his hands covered in liver spots, wrinkled and papery, I was disgusted to see them.

"I'm insolvent," he confessed.

He had to take a few deep breaths before he was able to accept the facts of the case.

I let out a sigh of suffocation.What? Unbelievable! My father had more money than Midas,the richest guy in this city.

"We don't know what happened to that money. Do you know how to pull this off?? "

It is reasonable to think that a company's assets and equity are sufficient to fund even the most absurd projects.

"The company's days are over. As a result, I'm in a tight spot financially."

I sat there in silence as I waited. The loud banter in the coffee shop was starting to irritate me.

He didn't even look at me as he lowered his hands. , "How much are you being held responsible for??" No matter how hard I tried, there was no way I could ever make up for the money he wasted.

I deduced that he was going to give me a headshake at the most.

" There is nothing wrong with going bankrupt. Unfortunately, I lack the resources to remedy the situation.  Your mother should have started chemotherapy last week. Insurance cancellation and on-time payment of bills were both necessities to treat her."

Seriously, I'm floored by the sheer naivete of these people.

"So your pride prevents you from saving your mom?"

I was enraged as I stared at him. I was fine with him ruining his life, but dragging my mother down with him, never.

"The answer is no, I'm prepared. I'm sorry to hear that."

"I have got a moneylender who is willing to invest on me on the basis of one premise."

He found a lengthy contract in his briefcase. When he saw my eyes on him, he put it between us.

I couldn't stop laughing. OMG! OMG. I assumed you were taking things seriously because you're so lacking in wit.

Several of his colleagues were in the office. I'd love to wed a wealthy businessman if the opportunity arose, but I'd rather break my kneecaps with a ball peen hammer than do so.

"Who is that?"

He took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. "Luke King."

When my brows were this close to touching my hair, I knew I was in trouble.

Luke's identity is a mystery to me.

I saw his name from magazine. The ruthless, powerful, and boringly attractive lord of Empire Capital. He rose from nothing , leaving competitors and colleagues in his wake. Anyone in his way was killed without ceremony or emotion.

A marriage contract stared at me. It's his.

How come? I asked. We needed a catch. No way Luke King needed an arranged marriage to get married. He made money and fucked girls.

Dad turned away.

"You don't have to do this. This is a condition of his support."

"He'll save your life, and all he wants is to marry a woman he's never met?"

I nudged the contract, wondering if it was rigged to explode.

The contract in front of me felt heavy, as if it had its own gravitational pull that could derail my entire life.

"How is Mom now?" Then I asked.

He looked at his hands. Using his fingers, he pulled and kneaded.

"She is awful. But she didn't tell you because she didn't want you to worry."

He hesitated for a moment.

"He wants to see you first," my dad said.

"He said to come by whenever. It's always open. He wants to make sure you meet his wife needs."

My stomach was pinched by a cold fist.

"This is nuts,"

"I'll see him," I said.

I wanted to punch my father when I saw his relief. He destroyed my mother's life without thought, and now he wanted to destroy mine by using me as a pawn.

Well. My mom loved me, but I wasn't her. I left the coffee shop without telling my dad goodbye.

Empire Capital stood on Financial , as did most of its sister companies, which all had interchangeable names with dominant connotations.

I walked up to the receptionist desk, sleek and alone in the dark gray slate floor. Behind it, a receptionist typed on a keyboard and viewed a thin white monitor.

A minute passed before she looked at me.  As I stood still, flecks fell to the spotless floor.

Good. I wasn't going to be the perfect wife Mr. King wanted, and I showed it.

Finally, she looked at me. The perfect nose wrinkled.

"May I help? "she asked.

"Yes, I said. I want to talk to Luke King. He's expecting me," I said .

She blinked and I felt bad.

"Joyce. "

"Oh!" She widened her eyes. "Sure, Ms. I'll tell them you're here."

That's... odd. In my experience, powerful rich men set their own schedules, and others had to follow.

"Thanks, I said. "

While she quickly punched numbers into her computer's numberpad, I looked for a seat.

She grins at me.

"Yes, top floor."

"Thanks," I said lamely. I skirted the desk and receptionist and headed to the elevators. When I pushed the button for the top doors, they opened immediately. I enter.

My stomach dropped as they closed behind me.

Now that I was in the elevator and headed to see Luke King, my nerves failed. I should have ripped up the contract, thrown it at my father, and not come

The elevator stopped and the doors opened.

The top story of the building was white marble and gilded, and the ground floor was corrosion resistant and granite. In a business setting, the chandelier illuminates, expensive mahogany desk, and white marble floor stand out.

I assumed Mr. King's assistant was standing behind the desk and bowed to me. Bowing. My dim memories of my father's offices are of stately grandeur, not spa-weekend gaudiness.

"Ms. Green"He pointed to a pair of twin double doors on the right.

I lifted my chin despite stomach butterflies. As I passed him and entered, I enjoyed seeing his startled face.

Behind the doors was another foyer. This space was sparsely decorated with a large aquarium and zen fountains. Two frosted glass doors stood opposite me.

I inhaled and opened the door.

Luke King stared out a window at the France skyline. He turned when I entered and watched as I entered his office.

I didn't look. Depressingly, he was as stunning in person as he was on magazine covers. His dark hair was perfectly coiffed, and his eyes were bright green. The light fell on them beautifully, as if the world were made to highlight his beauty. His full, sensual lips framed his high cheekbones and straight, powerful nose. His chin was diamond-cutting. He had the body to match his comfortable yet GQ attire.

Holy shit, he's hot.

Hormones! I hadn't gotten laid in six months since I broke up with Gino .

"We're getting married?" He just stared at me.

My words fell like silverware between us. As he stared, I realized he was no ordinary looking man. Even across the room, I could feel his magnetic pull. It was intense and terrifying. His personality far outweighed his beauty, even when he wasn't moving.

Finally he smiled. He greeted .

I wanted to sit down. He had a sinful voice.This was a voice you could turn up loud and sit on your speakers to. I'd never done that...

Shaking myself, I focused. "Yes, I said. Hello." I turned away and studied his office to avoid him.

Nothing was in it. One end of the room had his desk, chair, and computer, and the other had two sofas .

I had the wild idea that Luke King was like dumb old Gino, but with charisma.

He was still. Still smiling, he stared at me.

I said, "Looking is free, but touching costs money."

Slowly, he cocked his head. "Nothing's free, he said."

If he had been anyone else, the words would have been laughable, but the way he said it, screamed that he had given them serious thought and said them after a long struggle to find the truth.

I swallowed and kept calm. Despite my will, my heart raced. I wasn't sure why, but he broke his silence.

Slowly, he walked toward me around the desk.

When he approached, I reminded myself why I was there. I doubted it was sex.

This thought broke the strange spell he had cast on me, and for a moment I was free of his gravitational pull.

"You're rude," I said. "You want to marry me but haven't asked my advice. "

My words only made him tighten his eyes. At the spot where most people stop and respect personal space, he took two more steps.

I could smell him as he loomed over me. Cool and calm, like ice, but with the rich tang of his skin. A man's odor.

Already racing, my heart sped up. Blood pressure rose. It was inches away. If my tits were bigger, I could've inhaled and brushed them on his chest.

I vaguely thought, This is not going well. Slippery. Other ideas emerged, like kiss him!

A smile returned, and he lifted an arm. I thought he was going to crush me, so my heart leapt.

He pointed to my left, though.

"Sit."

I attempted to calm down. My heart was racing. I wasn't sure why he suddenly moved, but he did.

He walked slowly around the desk to me. He walked gracefully.

As he neared, I reminded myself why I was there.

This idea broke the peculiar spell he had cast over me, and for a moment I was free from his gravitational pull. His fragrance surrounded me. It was chilly and peaceful, like ice, but had his skin's deep flavor. Manscent.

My heartbeat doubled. My heartbeat quickened. We were inches apart. If my tits were bigger, I could have brushed them against his chest.

He smiled and raised his arm. My heart soared when I believed he'd crush me.

But he merely pointed left.

I whirled, smacked his shoulder and stomped to the couch. I had to conceal a gasp, his touch shot electric impulses through me.

I flopped down on his superbly equipped couch and rested one flip-flopped foot on the table. I liked my chipped toenail polish.

Luke King was still. He surveyed me coolly from his office's center.

He squinted at me. I sat awkwardly on his couch, horny. Finally, he walked over.

Instead of sitting on the opposite couch, he sat next to me and crossed his legs, revealing his suit pants' beautiful lines.

I didn't want to show him I was uncomfortable, so I fished the contract from my handbag.

"So...?" I threatened him with the contract. If he'd been sitting across from me like a normal person, it would have been more effective. Instead, I flapped it beneath his nose.

He smiled again, propped one arm on the couch, and inclined his head.

He answered, "It's a wedding contract."

"I thought your father would tell you"

His body heat spread between us. My shoulder almost touched his chest, and I wished I'd worn a light skirt because I was sure his knee touched mine, but my clay-stained pants were too thick to feel it. My tingling knee sent tremors up my leg. They curled around my thighs' heated apex.

I tried to ignore it. "Yes, but why?"

"And you'll take on my father's terrible debt?"

He pursed his lips, a delicious action. My eyes were pulled to them anyhow. I wanted to drag my tongue down his mouth's seam to open it and battle with his. I licked my lips while staring at his face. I squeezed my tongue behind my teeth and raised my eyes as I realized my mistake.

He looked at me coolly. "Your dad's debt isn't insurmountable," he said. His company has name and contacts. He grabbed the document from me almost absently, his fingers slipping over mine. Over my heartbeat, I heard myself gasp.

Exactly. He dropped the contract and turned to me. His attention landed on my hair, a birdsnest of dark chestnut curls I couldn't control and piled haphazardly on top of my head.

His fingers tangled the hair. It was like he was twisting me up, over, and under. My skin scorched and my lips ached for his kiss. I sought to understand my belly's need.

"You get my father's firm and me.!"

Luke King nuzzled my hair. Even I found this excessive.

I stumbled and grabbed the contract.

First, he seemed astonished. "See whether we're sexually compatible," he said.

"That's presumptuous." My legs shook, but I didn't want to appear weak.

When he grimaced, a line formed between his brows.

"Why would you marry if you didn't sexually desire me?" he asked.

"Getting such things out of the way early may prevent regrettable decisions." He raised his chin and surveyed me. His gaze was like a blowtorch, melting my skin and bones. "I think we'll match well."

I couldn't imagine this man wanting me. I must keep focused.

"I don't need love or affection. As per the contract, a wife would suit my demands."

"Why did you think I'd agree?"

He frowned. "You can analyze the benefits," he continued.

I raged. I said, "Fuck you."

"I know a lot about you," he answered coolly. "You like knitting but abandon projects often. You leave harsh anonymous remarks on other artists' websites. I know you feel horrible enough to anonymously criticize."

"Wh-what? You... stalked me?"

He seemed confused, as though he didn't understand why I asked. " Yes, " he replied.

" If we marry, I should know who I'm marrying."

OMG. OMG. OMG. He knew what?

Luke King pierced me. Everything was his.

"You'd have time to focus on your art, too. No more shoving your products down the stairs because you have to move."

I suffocated. It hurt. Ouch!

As he got closer, I retreated until I struck a floor-to-ceiling window and flattened myself against it.

He touched my cheek, throat, and breasts.

"I thought you would find a couple stipulations in the contract... distasteful," he replied. His voice was dreamy, but I couldn't hear him over the blood in my head.

" Given how much you desire me."

"No," I answered.

His eyelashes moved. When he discovered my nipple, he wrapped his thumb and forefinger around it.