Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19668 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19668 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“Sure thing, Sir. I’ll send you the photos directly to your office.”
“Good. I want them yesterday.”
“Understood.” I ended the call and tapped on the one he sent to my phone. There she was; the bastard was trying to marry her off. That wouldn’t happen unless she married me.
I contacted my lawyer, Charles Shaw. “Les, get me a contract for marriage drawn up.”
“Marriage? You’re getting married?”
“Yes.” There was no doubt in my mind that it would happen. Only a matter of time.
“Like a prenup? Or are we talking about an arranged marriage, under-the-table type shit?”
“The arranged marriage because there will be no divorce.”
“Buying out your bride’s father isn’t technically legal if she’s forced into it, but if she isn’t forced, it looks like a gift. Let me know the parameters. I can draft it like a peculiar prenup.”
I read off my requirements. “It will need to be tweaked after I speak to her piece-of-shit father.”
“Just let me know. I don’t mind billing you for extra time. You can certainly afford it.”
“As long as you understand that it might be a quick turnaround.”
“You’re my best client.”
“I’m also your cousin.”
“True. Talk to you later.”
Another month later…
“Mr. Harrison, I…” My assistant, Margo Bell, stopped hard and fast right in front of my desk. I had my runaway’s image laid out from a dozen different times.
“Did you forget to knock?” I barked out.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but your three o’clock is here.” It was a quarter to three now.
“Let him wait the fifteen minutes, then you can send him in.” It wasn’t my concern that he arrived early. The greedy fuck couldn’t wait to see what I’d offer for his daughter.
“Should I offer him a drink?” Normally she did unless they were clients I wanted to sweat.
“No.” She blanched and then stepped back.
“Okay, Sir.” She left my office with her head bowed. I actually felt bad about being such a dick. I had to find a way to make it up to her without her getting the wrong impression.
At exactly three o’clock, I looked up to see him standing at my door. “Ah, Mr. Topov, please come in.” The older man with his hair slicked back in a well-tailored suit stared at me with dollar signs in his eyes. My stomach turned as I thought of buying his daughter.
“Thank you for seeing me.”
“Please take a seat.” I waved my hand to him to take a seat in front of my desk.
“So, what do I owe the honor, Mr. Harrison?”
“This doesn’t leave the room, but I’m in search of a wife. My mother has been harassing me for grandkids, so I have slowly been looking through my connections for a suitable bride.”
“Well, my daughter is the most suitable you could find.” I cocked my brow with his bold statement.
“I believe I encountered her for a moment at the gala five months ago.”
“We were there briefly, until she fell ill. I’m surprised you didn’t contact me sooner. Yelena is considered a prize. I’ve had several offers for her in the past month.” I knew all about it. I also sent the bastards packing while I dug into his life.
“If she’s such a prize, why isn’t she married to one of them already?”
“We had some negotiation issues.” That was a lie. I made it clear that if they enjoyed living, they’d run, far and fast, from her.
“I see.”
“Look, I’m not being unreasonable, but there is only so much some will pay for a hand.”
“What’s the cost?” Goosebumps ran across my skin under the expensive suit; revulsion sat deep in my gut at the idea of discussing her in such an unflattering way.
“A million.” That was nothing to me—a drop in an oil barrel.
“That doesn’t seem like an unreasonable amount. Is there something wrong with her?”
“Nothing.”
I raised my brow.
“Well, she can be opinionated.”
“Fair. I believe you have business to attend to, and I’ll be traveling for the next two weeks. How about dinner when I return, so I can meet the reported beauty?”
“I can agree to that, but I can’t promise there won’t be others interested by the time you return.”
“Understood. As long as no one puts their hands on her, I’ll still be interested. I don’t want damaged goods.”
“Completely understood. No one is getting their hands on her until we have a deal. I heard you have a new property near the docks.”
“Yes. Maybe we can discuss that at a later time.”
“Sure thing. We need something to discuss at dinner.”
I nodded and pressed the intercom. “Please escort my guest out.”
“Yes, Sir.”
I shook his filthy hand as my assistant opened the door. I entered my private bathroom and washed my hands. After dealing with that scum, I needed a shower. How could he treat his daughter like a piece of property?
Although in our world, connections were made with marriage. Loyalty was greater when there was a solid front. Then when kids came in, the bond was tighter. Not for me, though. I wasn’t a mobster, but my hands weren’t entirely clean. I never let my enemies best me, even if I had to do some underhanded shit. Yelena was mine, even though I had to play games with a crooked bastard.