Chapter 1 One Million Dollar Appointment

Rechner Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology, situated at the center of the progressive City of Belmont has been the household talk among elite and famous personalities of the upper class. 

Established and managed by the very meticulous and brilliant Dermatologist Dr. Amara Rechner, a twenty-eight-year-old daughter of the well-known Neuro-Surgeon Dr. Rene Rechner. 

A fruitful seven years since she started the clinic right after passing the licensure examination.  

The company has been paving its way as the top aesthetic and dermatology clinic frequented by well-known personalities, including the infamous Steel family of Steel Corporation. 

And today is one of the days the clinic has been in an uproar from the impending arrival of a very important client, CEO Luther Steel. 

Watching the convoy of several black vehicles entering the vicinity of Rechner Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology, waves of hushed and discreet giddiness erupted. It becomes louder after the door of one of the vehicles opens. Revealing a ruggedly handsome man in an expensive black Armani business suit. 

The CEO's striking physique could not be mistaken for anyone, even his brother Timothy Steel. Both are equally handsome but with different degrees of temperament.

Females swoon at his presence while males are immediately intimidated. 

Despite wearing expensive sunglasses, everyone around could feel the piercing gaze of a pair of deep-seated eyes as he looked around. A small crowd had gathered upon getting wind of his visit to the clinic. 

"Welcome, CEO Steel" Dr. Rechner greeted as she walked towards him amid the dreamy faces of staff and clients. 

His piercing gaze turns to the beauty approaching him. Without a trace of what he was thinking, he faces the young doctor.

Dr. Amara Rechner's elegance and calculated demeanor stand out despite the intimidation coming from the CEO's entourage. 

She is considered one of the people who is never intimidated by his presence. 

"Thank you, doctor" casually, he responded. His two hands were inside his pockets, unconcerned about the attention around him. 

"At my office" she announces before turning away, not waiting for his response. 

"Take a seat" she gestures to the seat before occupying her doctor's chair. 

They are inside the privacy of her office blocking all the curious eyes of his fans and even her staff. 

"Thank you" he mumbles while taking off his sunglasses and placing them in front of him. 

"You always have a dramatic entrance" she mumbles while she watches him get settled. 

"Not my fault, though. I'm just here for a casual visit" he shrugs, unbothered by the commotion he had created outside. 

"I don't see any problem with your skin to visit me today, CEO Steel. I'm praying it's not trouble you brought me" though she looks serious, she was being playful. 

A slight chuckle came from the man across from her. 

"A little pampering on my skin could be one. Only a top-notched dermatologist is allowed to touch my skin, you know that Dr. Rechner" he counters with the same playfulness. 

Arching a brow, she remains gauging. CEO Luther Steel's presence is not new to her. Aside from being family friends, he is the older brother of her best friend, Timothy Steel. 

"Spit it out..." she mutters as she slowly leans on her elegant doctor's chair, gauging him from across. 

She could be everything but dumb. And by the look of the man, she could sense trouble. 

"I'm bombarded with mom's rants. You know how she is" frustratedly, he mumbles while stretching his long limbs on the chair. Making himself comfortable. Unbothered by his expensive black Armani business suit being crumpled. 

"Yeah, Tim had mentioned them. So, what would you do about it? You're old enough to marry and with your looks not to mention the thick bank account any woman would jump at any hint of an offer" she smirked as she spoke. Her earnest gaze never left him. 

She was used to the two brothers' predicament and their frequent intrusion into her daily routine. But as Timothy Steel's best friend, she had accepted long ago that she had to extend her service as best friend to his brother, Luther Steel. 

She has five VIP appointments today but the CEO's visit is far more important than any VIP in the country. 

"That's the problem, Arah. Everyone wants that thick bank account" he snickers. 

"And...the least I wanted now is a complication. I'm not in the mood to deal with any woman's whim at the moment. I'm just thirty-three and I don't want to be tied with anything aside from the responsibilities I already have at Steel Corporation" he seriously announces. 

Thoughtful, she continues to watch the frustration on Luther's face. She has nothing to counter his words. They share the same predicament but she has no mother to bombard her with such trivialities. And her father is too busy with his new wife to mind her. Though at the age of twenty-eight, she doesn't need any guidance from anyone but herself. 

"Yeah, that's a problem. Does mom also want grandchildren?" she shrugged as she played with her chair, turning herself left and right. 

"Maybe... She wants me to get married so basically she wants grandchildren. Isn't that supposed to be? Husband and wife don't just look at each other the whole night, they have to do something" unconcernedly, he spoke with closed eyes. 

"They could just sleep...dummy" she snickers after scoffing at his last statement. 

"You are worse than me. At least I'm thinking of getting dirty with my supposed wife" he teasingly counters. 

"Eww... Men... You are all bunches of testosterone-controlled freaks" she disgustingly whispered while rolling her eyeballs. 

"You should be the one mom is bombarding with these kinds of issues. You are colder than ice. You should get a life and a man to ignite the fire inside you" getting interested in the discussion, Luther straightens from his seat and openly stares at Amara. 

With an arched brow and a snide smile, she met his gaze. 

"I don't need a man... I can ignite my own fire. No thanks" she mockingly counters before closing her eyes and continuing to play with the chair. 

"You can't be satisfied with just masturbating. A man can do better" he whispers but enough for Amara to hear. 

"Luther Steel!" she was aghast and at the same time embarrassed. With her wide glaring eyes, she confronted him. 

Unbothered by her anger, he sheepishly grins at her. 

"I don't mean it like that" she continues after he just grins at her. 

"I understood it like that" he counters playfully. 

"You're impossible. Leave. I have five VIP clients waiting, Mr. Steel. So if you don't mind, you can leave now" she dismissed, standing up to get her doctor's robe. 

"No VIP is more important than the CEO of Steel Corporation, Dr. Amara Rechner" he seriously mutters but Arah ignores him.

"You are not paying me for the time I have wasted on you, Mr. CEO. I have to make a living" she snickers while wearing her robe. 

"I will pay you, now sit" he glares at her for real, which Arah recognized to be a command. No matter how close they were, he is still CEO Luther Steel, the ruthless beast behind the success of the Steel conglomerate. 

Sitting back in her chair, she becomes quiet. She continues to stare at him while he is doing something on his phone. 

"There, I transferred one million dollars for this appointment" he announces afterward. 

Hearing what he said, she incredulously glares at him. And indeed the phone beside her received a confirmation of the transfer. 

"Funny" she scoffs sarcastically. 

"It's my consultation fee" he shrugs, unaffected by her dark mood. 

"I won't return the money" she mutters with a smirk. 

"I don't expect you to" he retorted defiantly. 

Gritting her teeth, she took several deep breaths. She never won against the man. But then, what's another loss if she earned one million dollars this time? 

"Well, thanks then. So where were we with our discussion? Let's make use of your one-million-dollar appointment" she smiles as she always does to her patients. 

"About your frequent masturbation issue," he readily replies. 

"Luther!" she was aghast by his boldness. 

"What? That's what we were discussing" playing innocent, he reminded. 

"You're impossible" surrendering, she raises her hand. 

"I'm the most charming man in town, Dr. Rechner" he counters with a wink.

"Yeah, right, screwing every cunt you will have a grasp" she sneers.

"Not just any cunt, Dr. Rechner. I'm picky. My charm is undeniable but only a few are chosen" he incredulously retorted. His arrogance did not fail to show.

"Shameless" she scoffs as she settles down on her chair again, relaxing her triggered nerves. 

"So, are you in a relationship?" his next question surprised her. He even ignores her sarcasm. 

Staring at him, she narrows her eyes while he remains to wait for her response. She can't believe he will ask her. 

"Mr. Steel, I'm too busy to deal with some egotistical being in my life. I have enough with you and Tim around me. So, no. Thank you" she mocks her sweet smile as she meets his intense gaze. 

"You made us sound like a burden to you" he mumbles though unaffected. 

Chuckling was the least she expected she would do with the situation but she did it anyway. She was amused by the man. They've been bothering her for no apparent reason but to kill time and blow some steam out of a stressful day. And he doesn't call himself a burden. 

"Why are you concerned about my relationship status, perchance?" she casually asks instead. 

"Well, aside from your constant masturbation issues. I don't see other flaws" he mumbles but his words made her roll her eyes in annoyance. The nerve of the man. 

"Mom loves you. You can also tolerate her despite her overly doting on you" he added, raising her suspicion of where he is leading. 

"I doubt you could find a man who could tolerate you, so I'm your only chance, well aside from Tim" he continues but his insult did not escape her ears. 

"What are you trying to say, Mr. Steel? I don't care if you paid one million dollars for this useless conversation but if you continue to talk nonsense, I will throw you out of my clinic" seriously, she warned though he remains unbothered. 

"You really need some humor in your life. You are so grumpy. Improve your sex life, doctor. I told you, a man can do better than masturbating alone" he mutters under his breath. 

"My sex life has nothing to do with this conversation, Mr. Steel" she snickers. 

"Yeah, right" he rolls his eyes but becomes serious before he exhausts his welcome. 

Staring at him, she waited for him to continue. 

"I don't have plans to be with someone I cannot tolerate at this time. Mom has been filling my ears with marriage and settling down" he casually explains while Amara listens. 

"I'm enjoying my life as a bachelor. Marriage and children were not on my list for another five years, maybe" he added. 

"You, too. You are so focused on your career. I don't think you will take a burden at this time. What I mean is, an annoying husband and a possible baby. You are not cut to be a loving wife and mother" he added with casualness like they are discussing the weather and the upcoming blooming of flowers. 

Unamused, she raised her brows. She seems tired to counter so she chooses to just clench her jaw. 

"Thank you for the insult" she sweetly smiles despite wanting to poke the man's eyes. 

"This is a discussion of two mature individuals, you don't need to be sarcastic" he sneers. 

"Is it? Well, sorry I didn't get it to be so" she sneers back before she becomes serious. 

"Cut the crap, what do you want?" she coldly asks. 

"Let us get married" he casually announces. 

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