Two hours earlier
“When will she arrive?” I twist the watch on my wrist, the Prada shoes on my feet clipping against the shined hardwood floors of Silver Lake Estate. My home.
“The moving vans have collected her belongings; they are making their way here now. Dennis is collecting Miss Lauder as we speak.”
I dip my chin with a nod, the drawing room which doubles as a second office for me, warmed by the fire burning in the hearth. “Have the guest room made up next to mine,” I advise Miranda, “Tell the staff to have all her items put away in my bedroom, any items that do not belong in the bedroom, leave in the boxes,and put them in the closet. When Miss Lauder arrives, please show her through. I’ll be here for the next few hours.”
“Yes, sir,” Miranda nods obediently, not another word spoken as she turns on her heel and exits, going to follow the orders I have given her.
After the sound of her footsteps disappear down the hall, silence settles around me, the only noise coming from the crackle of the logs as they burn in the pit. I press open my laptop, an image of my future wife staring back at me.
I had everything on her at my fingertips, there isn’t a secret she can keep or a skeleton she can hide. There is no denying that Olivia Lauder is a stunning creature. With her fathomless eyes, so dark they can pass as black and pair them with her raven black hair, she has the type of alluring beauty men would go to war for. Did I manipulate, scheme and plot to force her hand into agreeing to this marriage? Of course I did, and it was fucking easy too.
All I had to use was the family she cared so deeply for.
In her defense, I would have killed them all if she hadn’t agreed, and she knew it too.
And I’d do it again to make her mine.
I flick through the images of her, ranging from photos taken at galas where she’s dressed to the nines in designer dresses that appear to be made for her body, others when she’s been captured unaware, dressed in tight as fuck leggings and cropped tees, that mane of dark hair pulled into a dead straight ponytail that hangs at the back of her head.
My hand itches with the urge to wrap those thick strands around it, to tug her head back, stretch out her neck for my teeth to sink into while my hands and cock punish her.
With time, I tell myself. I may be a man with very little morals, butthatI will not take from my future wife until she comes crawling to me herself.
Andcrawlshe will.
I have her now, it’s only a matter of time.
Leaning back in my chair, I reach for the decanter of whiskey I keep at the edge of my desk, but the sound of heels on my floors reaches my ears and my eyes narrow at the door, waiting for them to show themselves.
There’s a tap but they don’t wait for my invitation to come in, instead they push it open and step inside.
I stifle the groan at the woman who now stands in my space, a scowl on her face and her painted red lips turned down in a frown.
“You’re joking, right?” She snaps, glaring at me.
Good fucking lord, I can’t be dealing with her shit today.
Ever since her uncle died and I got an out from the wedding withher, she’s been on my ass. Granted, it wasn’t easy to dismiss her, not when her father sits on the panel with me. I may sit on the throne, but my reign will only last as long as I have the loyalty of my men.
Regina Ware and I were supposed to wed, a deal I struck up with her uncle. I needed a wife, and she wasavailable, she comes from a high family, understands the life, and would have been a good wife if she didn’t get on every last nerve I have. But now her uncle is dead, and I have no bargain to fulfil, so Regina was left high and dry when I decided to end the engagement and choose Olivia instead.
Her father understood and accepted my decision, but little Regina here can’t come to grasp the fact that all that power she would have had as my wife, has slipped through her fingers.
I would tell her it’s because she’s a money seeking bitch who is never happy with anything. Not the thousand-dollar dresses or the designer shoes and purses. Not with the estate or the horses or the cars. She wants more. Always more.
And quite frankly, she can go take a walk off a high cliff if she thinks she can control a man like me. I took the quickest route out of there. I mean I could have put her up, gave her everything she wanted, sent her away overseas and just had the marriage certificate to satisfy the centuries old rule that told us we must be married to secure our lead over the organization, but that would have meant I wouldn’t have pretty little Olivia moving into the manor this afternoon.
“I hadn’t realized I’d told a joke, Miss Ware.” I glance at my laptop, those stunning black eyes staring back at me.
I’d told her when we agreed to this marriage that I liked pretty broken things, but I have a feeling the woman coming into my home in just a few short hours is not going to be the demure little bride I amexpecting.
I suppose it could backfire on me; I could have another Regina on my hands, but I guess we will find out. There are always other means to end a marriage.
“You know what I am talking about Malakai,” She huffs, annoyed.
“Have you come to try and renegotiate?” I ask, bored.
