Ethan stood by the floor to ceiling glass window of his luxury penthouse that overlooked the busy and bustling city.
Ever since he was a child, he was always fascinated with the lights that come on in the dark. The tiny dots of moving and stationary lights came on to form a most beautiful mosaic. Ethan could stare at it for hours.
He had just returned from the restaurant where he had dinner with the school teacher, Leia Sanders. He changed out of his suit into comfortable clothing and waited for Lawrence.
With a cold glass of brandy in his hand, he watched the lights tonight in satisfaction.
His plans were going in order. The woman had agreed to marry him, as she should. Even though she had responded quicker than he had calculated. The right amount of pressure could make steel bend. His mother had always said that and he took those words to heart.
Whatever has been his Grandfather's reason for adding that stupid clause to his will, he would never know. And he didn't care to know. The company was his to care for and his grandfather knew it.
The woman he had found, Leia Sanders was not perfect. She was just right. Her background and personality was what he needed. Yes she might be emotional at times, but even that wasn't a total flaw. It was a tool he could use for his benefit.
He was going to marry the woman for just a year. He didn't have the patience to stretch it for a moment longer. As soon as the year elapsed, they would go their separate ways, Happy and satisfied.
Now he just waited for his secretary to get here. Lawrence was never tardy, so what was taking him so long? Well he would enjoy this moment of solitude.
Then he heard the sound of his pass code beeping and the front door opened. In came his lean secretary with his bangs that slightly covered his eyes wearing flannel pants and an
'I love to rock!' t-shirt. He must have been getting ready for bed.
"I came as soon as I got your message sir." Lawrence said as he walked in.
"Yes. I want you to type out a contract containing the terms I had written down. Send it to Leia Sanders. She had agreed to the offer so make sure she gets it before..."
"What? She agreed?" Lawrence asked.
Ethan's lips drew into a smile. Lawrence still didn't have much idea of what he was capable of.
"Of course she did. It would be a surprise if she didn't."
Ethan heard Lawrence mumble something along the lines of 'overconfident much?'
"What was that?" He asked like he hadn't heard.
Lawrence shook his head immediately.
"Nothing. I just can't believe she would agree so fast. You're really going to go through with this?"
"Yes." His tone was decisive and Lawrence had worked with him for long enough to know that when his boss had decided on something, he would go through with it.
But at the same time, Lawrence was worried for the pretty school teacher. If there was any word to describe his boss, it was ruthless.
"Are you sure she knows what she's getting into?"
"She's not stupid, Lawrence." Ethan replied immediately.
Lawrence frowned at the defensiveness in Ethan's voice.
"I didn't say she was. I just mean... She's a school teacher. She's not from your world. She'll have to get used to your family, the press also."
"Why are you so worried about her anyway. It looks as if I'm marrying your sister."
"I wouldn't let you marry my sister." Lawrence shot back.
"I wouldn't want to marry your sister." Ethan replied.
"That's only because I don't have one."
Ethan huffed in annoyance. "Would you just do what I asked you to already?" He wondered where is timid secretary sometimes got his courage from.
"And also, you shouldn't think I'm heartless enough to marry her and not shield her from my family."
Lawrence sighed and brushed back his bangs. "I'm sorry. It's just that I'm worried. I know why you're doing this. But she might get hurt in the long run. Your family is very powerful and she has no one by her side."
Ethan could see the basis of Lawrence's fears. Beneath his cold exterior, sometimes he got worried about what his uncles could get up to.
Lawrence found a piece of paper containing the terms of the agreement in his boss's scrawly handwriting. He had always wondered how his perfect boss ended up with such bad writing.
But Ethan would always defend himself saying bad writing is a sign of high intelligence and his brain worked faster than his hands. Even his excuse for his bad writing was perfect.
Lawrence knew he was going to have a hard time deciphering what Ethan had written down.
"Get it to her first thing tomorrow morning and tell her to hand it back within a week."
Lawrence took the piece of paper, folded it neatly and put it in his pocket.
"If that's all, then I'll just be on my way."
Ethan nonchalantly waved him off without turning around. When Ethan was done with his drink, he returned to his bar to refill.
He wondered if Leia had gotten home safely. It was common courtesy that he should have called to check up on her. He picked up his phone but then decided against calling her. He wasn't even married to her, so why was he getting so worked up?
The woman kept surprising him each time.
Just as he was about to turn off his phone and get back to his drink, his phone chimed with a notification. It was a text from his father.
Dinner at 7:00pm at the family villa. Your grandmother insists you must come. If you wanna keep your head, don't be late.
Ethan turned off his phone and tossed it into the counter. Way to ruin his good mood.