THEN

Marcus

My fingers drum against the dark pine desk as I stare over at the balding, sour-faced lawyer who is humming as he reads over my grandfather’s will. A will I’ve been called in to hear out. The old bastard hated me, but clearly he decided I’m good enough to be included in his precious will, a will that has the family in tithers. Everyone wants a piece.

“Mr. Tandem, thank you for coming today.”

Nothing in my expression changes as the lawyer speaks, his voice low and professional. He looks up at me when I don’t answer, his lips pursing as he lets his gaze run over me.

“Can we get on with this?” I ask, shifting. “I’ve got things to do.”

He clears his throat. “Of course. I imagine you’ve figured out why you’re here.”

“Actually,” I say coolly, crossing my arms, “I have no idea.”

“Well, as you’re fully aware, your grandfather recently passed. I understand you’ve been helping run his business for the past ten years.”

“Alone,” I point out. “That old piece of shit did nothing but sit on his sorry ass and let everyone else do the work for him. Now he’s dead and the only thing they all care about is gettin’ a piece of what he may, or may not have left behind.”

“Either way, he’s left strict instructions for his business in the event of his passing. It’s why I’ve called you here.”

“Get on with it,” I snap, giving him a narrow-eyed glare.

“Very well. Your grandfather has stated that he’d like his business to be handed down to you. You’re the only one left in his direct family line since the passing of your father, and therefore the one he wishes to take on his business.”

Well, the old man was good for something after all. Not that I thought he wouldn’t push something onto me, I’ve been involved in it for a long time. My stepbrothers are meaningless to the old man, I’m it.

“Fine. I’m already running it as it is.”

“There’s something else,” he says, pulling at the tie around his throat as if it’s suddenly too tight. “He’s stated very clearly that there is one term that comes with his request. You won’t become the head of the business, with everything being signed under your name that is, until you’re . . .”

“I’m what?” I bark.

“Married, sir.”

Say what?

I stare at him, waiting for him to laugh and tell me he’s joking, but his expression remains impassive.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I scoff. “You’ve got it wrong.”

“It clearly states that until you’re married, the business will remain in the hands of his closest friend, Walter Johnson. You will keep your position, however you won’t take over all the finances and management of the company.”

Fucking Walter, the scheming prick. He’ll run it into the ground before I get the chance to do anything. He’s already in the head chair, making me work my ass off, and the fucker will make sure he stays there if I don’t do something. He’s rolling in money now, after all. I’m the only one who holds any passion for this business. The only fucking one. It’s my lifeline; I’ve been in it since I was twenty, and I’ve got a solid lifestyle based around it.

In a scratchy tone, I mutter, “You’re sure it says I’ve got to be married?”

“I’m sure, sir. You have a period of twelve months to do this, before it’s signed over to Walter.”

Fuck.

I love women. All women. But I don’t like ’em hanging around. If you’re looking for commitment, you won’t find it here. I’ve done only one woman in my life more than once, and it was simply for convenience. Love isn’t for men like me. I don’t have the time or the interest. Love is for the weak. Women are too difficult and I’m too much of an asshole. I don’t hide this fact and I certainly don’t pretend to be anything else. I’ve seen where relationships go wrong, and I want no part in them.

“Anything else you want to stab me with?” I grate out.

His eyes flicker, and he swallows. “There are conditions. You can’t just marry and then divorce. . You have to be married for a period of two years. If in that time you divorce, the company automatically goes to Walter.”

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

That sick son-of-a-bitch.

He knew — he fuckin’ knew it was one thing that would challenge me. He had a sick mind when he was alive and it would appear that has continued, even after death. He’s testing me, pushing me to the limit like he always did. I walk away, losing everything I’ve worked for in the last ten years, or I fight and I own what’s been mine all along. The business is my life, and the fuckin’ bastard knows it.

“Anything else?” I growl through clenched teeth.

“One more thing, sir. If it’s found out you, ah—” He swallows, “—paid for a wife, that will also be enough to sign the business over to Walter. The woman must be there willingly, and live with you during that time.”

That piece of shit. He knew me better than I thought. He knew the first thing I would do was go and snap up a stupid woman who I could pay off. My jaw tightens and my chest expands with rage. I can already see the look on Walter’s face if the company is signed over to him. He’s always hated me. He won’t fuckin’ win this.

Damn the old man. He’s wanted me to settle down for years, always hating my bachelor lifestyle. He often told me that even if I didn’t want it, to run a business and hold a respected name in society, then I had to grin and bear it. He was married from the age of twenty to a raging bitch that died two years ago. Even after that, he went ahead and acted it up for the sake of the papers. It doesn’t surprise me he would go to these kinds of lengths to make sure I’m stuck with a woman.

“Very well,” I say, standing. “I’ll be sure to get right on it.”

The lawyer gives me a disgusted look. “And how do you suppose you’ll do that?”

I smirk at him. “Simple. I’ll find a wife.”