"My father's will says I must marry… or lose everything to the woman who ruined him."
— Dylan Reed
Dylan's Point of View
"The shareholder meeting is in three weeks? What are you going to do?" Andre asked, sitting across my desk.
I was already frustrated; he didn't have to remind me of the obvious. I held back a groan and stared intently at the computer screen, using it as a shield to ignore him.
"Staring at the screen like that won't make your problems go away, you know," he continued, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Neither will your remarks," I retorted.
"At least try looking for a girlfriend. Go on blind dates. You're not even putting in any effort at all." He flailed his hands around for emphasis.
"Oh, but I am doing something."
"And what exactly might that be?" he questioned, raising a brow.
"I'm 'working.' Isn't that obvious? I don't see how getting married is supposed to help the empire. I can almost swear my father's will is forged."
"Well, tell that to your late father." Andre leaned back, smirking. "I can imagine him behind his desk, pipe in hand, telling your family lawyer, 'Make sure you add he isn't getting a thing until he gets married. I know that lad wouldn't otherwise, and I want my grandkids playing around me.'"
Andre burst into laughter, clearly amused at his own joke.
I laughed a little too. Without Andre, my life would have been mostly boring. But my smile faded quickly. "How can you laugh at such a serious situation?" I asked, my tone sharpening.
"Well, it's just a will, right? Not like it's a life-or-death situation," he said calmly, though the sarcasm was obvious.
"It's not just the will," I muttered. "It's Devina. If the empire falls into her hands, or her son's..... It's doomed."
"Shit," I groaned, rubbing my face.
Just then, there was a knock at the doo, urgent. Ian, my secretary, rushed in, eyes filled with terror.
"Ian, what's wrong?" I demanded.
"Mr. Reed… there's been an accident. Mr. Nate was involved. He's in a critical condition," he said shakily.
Mr. Nate. Ian's father. And my family lawyer.
"Shit."
I grabbed my coat, Andre already on his feet. We rushed out without another word.
Ian refused to let go of the wheel, even though his hands were trembling. I gave up arguing with him. I knew the feeling all too well, the panic when someone you love might not make it. My father's death was still fresh in my mind.
I glanced at Andre, sitting beside me in the back seat. His expression mirrored my concern. I turned back toward Ian, only to hear him shout as the car jolted violently.
"Oh shit!"
Too late. He slammed into a stranger.
Ian hit his head on the wheel, mumbling incoherently. Andre and I froze for a moment, then exchanged a look. Without words, we both moved.
Andre rushed to pull Ian out of his daze. I lifted the stranger from the street. She was bleeding from her forehead, her small frame frighteningly frail in my arms. My heart clenched unexpectedly.
I placed her in the passenger seat, resting her head gently on my lap, and covered her with my coat.
Somehow, we made it to the hospital in one piece. Nate was alive, though still in danger. And the stranger, she survived too. Relief loosened the knot in my chest.
I glanced at her one more time. There was something about her.
I dialed Andre. "Hey, I need a favor. Can you run a background search on her?"
Andre answered, confusion evident in his tone. "Who? The girl from the accident?"
"Yes. This one."
"Might be a little hard though. I don't remember seeing anything on her. But I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, man."
Several hours later, Andre walked into the room with a file in hand.
"Well, that was fast. How'd you manage it?" I asked.
"Trader's secret. Wouldn't be a secret if I told you, would it?" He grinned.
I skimmed the documents, piecing the information together. After a long silence, I looked up. "I think I've got it. I've found the solution to my problem."
Andre's eyes widened. "You're kidding. How do you go from this....." he gestured at the file...."to *that*? Dylan, are you serious?"
I only laughed quietly.
"Have Ian get everything ready and have her sign the contract when she wakes up.'' I said to Andre while I stared at her.
This couldn't possibly go wrong… right?