I raise my brow. “Please tell me, Arthur. What do you mean a man like me?”
He comes to a sudden halt, and his eyes grow as large as saucers, revealing his disbelief at accidentally letting his true thoughts about me slip. I’m just fucking with him. I know what he means, but I like to see him sweat.
Everyone knows who I am. I don’t hide it. I’m ruthless, merciless, and cruel when I need to be, which is most, if not all, of the time. I don’t claim to be anything other than who I am. I’ve earned the nameBeastand fully embrace it. But Arthur has only scratched the surface of the person I can be, and he has no other option but to give me Arabelle or his company. Whether I have her, I still end up winning.
“You can’t be serious, Florian.” He runs his hand over his thinning salt-and-pepper hair while he paces again. “What if I give you my eldest daughter’s hand instead?” He’s nodding like that’s the best idea he’s had in a long time. “She’s not innocent and is more suitable for your world. She would love a man like you.”
From the information I’ve gathered on Angela Williamson, Arabelle’s older sister, she’s a woman who loves any man with money. Regardless of his age, morals, or how he made hisfortune, as long as he can keep her living in luxury, she doesn’t care.
I must admit Arthur is right. She is more suitable for someone like me. She’s perfect for the criminal underworld. A morally bankrupt beauty can be useful, but she’s also untrustworthy. She’ll never have any loyalty as long as money is involved. Either way, it doesn’t matter. She’s not who I want.
Arabelle isn’t ready for a man like me. However, I’ve grown tired of staying away. We’re made for each other, and this way, she’ll have no other choice but to accept me as hers.
I want my beauty.
“No.”
He merely stares, tongue-tied. He was so sure I’d accept his offer.
“Well…well, what about Raven then?” he asks with a little more hope in his eyes than he should have. “She’ll also make a wonderful wife.”
“Ah yes, the alcoholic.”
I lean back in my chair, steepling my hands.
“She’s sober now.”
He’s lying through his teeth. The bitch can’t stay sober if her life depends on it, and he knows it.
While Raven Williamson is also beautiful, she can’t stay sober long enough to make anything of her life. Just like the eldest sister, she’ll cause more problems than I’m willing to deal with.
Arabelle is the one I want. Nobody else.
“It’s Arabelle or no deal, Arthur. In exchange for her hand in marriage, I’ll tear up our initial contract.” I dangle the small stack of papers in the air in front of him, giving him even more of an incentive to give me what I want. “Your debt to me will be paid in full, Williamson Holdings will remain in your possession,and any other debt you have incurred with other creditors will also be paid. But there is one stipulation.”
“Stipulation?” His brows draw together.
“Yes.”
“Okay, what’s your stipulation?”
“Arabelle will not be deceived. You will be upfront with her and tell her about our deal. If I find out you have not, your company will revert to me, and you’ll also owe me all the money I used to pay off your debts.”
He runs his hand down his face. “Florian, I can’t tell my daughter I’m giving her to you so I can keep my company. She’ll never forgive me.”
“Then there’s no deal, Arthur. Give me my money now, or your company is mine.”
“Florian…”
“I will not start our marriage off based on a lie,” I say, interrupting whatever excuse he wants to give me for lying to her. “She’ll agree to our arrangement knowing the truth, or there’s no deal, and Williamson Holdings is mine as of today. This is not negotiable.”
The room is filled with tension as silence surrounds us. I allow him some time to process my offer. I’ll forgive his debt if he gives me Arabelle. Finally having her will be worth more than the millions I’ll pay his creditors and the loss in revenue from obtaining Williamson Holdings.
“Florian…I,” he stammers.
For a moment, I believe he may do the right thing for his daughter and keep her far away from me. I’ll ruin my beauty, and Arthur knows it. Deep down, he knows Arabelle being with me will destroy her.
“On one condition.”
