CHAPTER TWO

Two days later, I was a sobbing mess, not only did Brandon take sixty percent of my fortune but he has fifty percent of the company shares.

Call after call, text after text, headline after headline I couldn't respond to any of them I found a motel outside of town and hid there.

My world, my marriage, my family's fortune—it was all gone. I had nothing left, not even my pride. The betrayal stung at me like a decayed wound. The memory of that evening replaying in my head on an endless loop. 

My phone buzzed on the table, shattering my almost comfortable quiet. I hadn't answered any calls since that day, so I decided to answer this one, enough of sulking around.

I reached for my phone but didn't recognize the number I still answered anyway. 

"It's Thalia speaking" I said, though my voice sounded distant and extremely croaky even to me. 

"Thalia Asplundh" The voice on the other end was calm, careful, and unsettlingly familiar. I sat up straighter recognizing the voice, and tension rippled through me.

 "What do you want, Alexander? If you want to make me feel more terrible than I did, call back later" 

I would expect nothing less from my company's biggest rival. 

"I'm flattered you recognized my voice, or have you had my number all along" 

I hissed at him about to say something but I didn't.

There was a small pause, and then his voice dipped lower and he cleared his throat and spoke 

"I heard about your... unfortunate situation" 

My heart raced, Alexander Croft—the man whose family was rumored to have destroyed mine. I had been raised to despise him, but I was never capable of doing so, it was all just a big competition to me 

"So?" I shot back, my voice sharp. "What does that have to do with you? Things like this happen!" 

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine

"At least haven't lost your feisty self Thalia," he said his voice smooth, so smooth 

"Alexander I implore you to say what you want otherwise I will end this call now!" 

"Easy tiger" he murmured in a husky tone "but I have a proposition for you, a business proposition" 

I chuckled bitterly like a mad woman 

"You must think me a fool Alexander, since I've lost almost everything you want to come finish me off right!!" I snapped 

"Not at all Thalia, it's a business deal that will benefit us both" 

"Alexander please stop I will be ending this call now" 

"Wait!" He said in a desperate tone 

"Okay there's a major catch in this Thalia" 

"Now you are talking of course I know there is" 

"But if you want your fortune back, if you want to rebuild what's been stolen from you, you'll need me, Whether you like it or not"

He was right. Aside from the Asplundh, the Crofts were second in power, they might even be first right now considering the disaster the Asplundh has fallen into 

I clenched my fists, battling the urge to hang up on him.

I know I said I didn't hate him, but I'm reconsidering now, taking advantage of my vulnerable condition?! I hated him, I hated the blood running in his veins, I hated the bones of him and his family, 

I hated everything his family represented.

But yes, deep down, I knew he was right, I needed him. I had no one else, I was alone. Vulnerable. Stranded. 

"I'll think about it" I whispered my throat tight, it's a miracle I'm able to speak at all.

"Do more than think about it" he said his voice all serious in a business tone now.

"Meet me tomorrow. Noon. You know where" 

The line went dead leaving me in the empty almost uncomfortable silence once more. I stared at the phone in my hand, feeling the weight of what he said, I didn't trust him. I couldn't. But what choice did I have? 

I glanced around the room, taking in the emptiness, the cold, the sense of dread, and realized one thing with terrifying unbearable clarity: I had nothing left to lose. 

The next day, I stood outside the restaurant the Crofts owned, my fingers fumbling with the strap of my purse I shouldn't be here. 

Every rational part of me screamed that this was a mistake, that I should turn around and walk away from whatever trap Alexander 

Croft was laying for me. 

But deep down I knew that my options were running thin. 

I walked inside, and as expected it was empty. The maître d' gave me a nod as if he'd been expecting me Of course, he had. Croft arranged the entire restaurant to accommodate this ridiculous meeting. 

"Right this way, Miss Asplundh"

I followed him, we reached a private dining room, and the doors swung open. There he was Alexander Croft. As if the world needed any more confirmation of how obscenely rich he was, everything about him screamed untouchable power: the face carefully sculpted by god himself, the custom-fitted suit, the effortless confidence in his posture, the glint of arrogance in his eyes 

"Thalia" He stood up with a smile "You look stunning but then again, you always do" 

"Let's skip the flattery, Alexander" I took a step towards him forcing myself to hold his gaze even though everything about him made me want to rip my hair out and scream and then run.

 "You said you had a proposal, So, let's hear it, the catch too?" 

"Ever so direct" He gestured toward the chair opposite him, but I didn't move. His smile grew wider, he was amused, like he enjoyed the fact that I wasn't going to make this easy for him.

 "Please, sit" 

"I didn't come here for lunch" 

He chuckled a low sound that felt like it was designed to put people at ease. Too bad it had the opposite effect on me

"Fine" he said, leaning back casually "Let's get down to the matter at hand, you want the truth? You need help to rebuild what's left of your family's fortune and I can easily help you with that In return, I want something simple" 

"Simple?" I arched a brow "Nothing with you is simple" 

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine.

"Marry me"