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My phone buzzes in my hand, alerting me that my driver is waiting for me. I head down the hall, weaving through my house, my heels clicking on the marble floors.
I can feel butterflies building in my stomach when I slide into the car, and it isn't because I’m excited. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
I spend the trip over to the restaurant moving my phone back and forth between my hands, using it like a fidget toy to keep me from screaming. I know what I’m doing is to serve a greater purpose. But the path being laid before me isn’t exactly paved in gold.
My father has been set on acquiring Thomas Industries for one purpose:power.
It’s no secret that the Thomas family is rolling in riches. Their corporation has sway over thousands of brands on the market. As an umbrella corporation, Thomas Industries not only has the money to back them, but the initiative to keep their competition starved.
With so much power and influence over a market that never runs itself dry, my father has been practically gleaning at the opportunity to get in big with them. It seemed like the perfect solution to put our family on the map forever, while making sure the rest of the families in Chicago keep licking his boots.
There was only one problem: my father didn’t have a single thing to bargain with.
Well, until Ben Thomas had expressed interest in me, that is.
The rest is history.
I’ve never wanted to disappoint my father. He’s someone I’ve looked up to all my life and have spent my entire adulthood trying to emulate. I wanted him towantme by his side, to take me under his wing. Just like he did with Enzo, my brother.
Funny thing about that—to him, all I have to offer is what’s between my legs.
As soon as the car stops in front of the restaurant, I hop out without bothering to wait for my driver to come around and open the door. I have no idea if Ben is already here, but I know that the reservation was booked a while ago, so I head up to the hostess’ stand and give her his last name.
“Right this way, miss,” she says and leads me back to one of the tables where a man is already seated.
I’m irked when he doesn’t even bother getting up to greet me or to push in my chair for me as I sit down. He waits for the hostess to leave before addressing me.
“Antonella, it’s nice to meet you.”
I give him a fake smile. “You too.”
I reach for the menu in the middle of the table, only to be thwarted as he snatches it away from me.
“So, I want to get this out of the way before we order anything.”
I frown. What the hell was this?
“Let’s get this straight. We’re both being forced to do this—and frankly, you’re not my type. But I am willing to work on this marriage for my father’s sake.”
I have no idea what to say other than, “Um… sure.”
“Great.” He leans back in his chair. “Let’s start by being honest about what we expect from one another. I’ve already seen pictures of you. Looking at you know, I can see that your weight is going to be an issue. So, I’m going to really need you to step up and start taking care of yourself. If you want this to work, we’re going to get you a waist trainer, at the bare minimum.”
I feel my mouth drop open. “Ex…cuseme?”
“Also,” he waves a hand, continuing on like I haven’t spoken, “since we will be copulating, I expect you to… you know.”
He clears his throat, his cheeks becoming rosy all of a sudden.
“Take care of yourself downstairs.”
I stare at him. This guy is seriously nuts. Who does he think he is demanding these things from me within the first five minutes of our date?
“Great,” he says when I don’t say anything back, clearly taking that as my consent. “Moving on. Weekends are reserved for the boys. My father, brother and I all go deer hunting. So, you can do whatever you want on those days, but I expect you to be available throughout the week. Also, you’re going to need to know how to skin a deer, so I’m going to teach you how to do that step-by-step.”
What?
At this point, the waitress comes over and pulls out her notepad to take our order. I look down at the menus still under Ben’s hands. I didn’t even get a chance to look at it—
