Chapter 4

~Natalie~

Exhaling sharply, I stepped on the rooftop clutching my bag tightly. My heart was thumping wildly in my chest and my instinct was screaming at me to leave and that it was a bad decision to come here.

‘What if this was a set-up?’ My subconscious asked.

I played with my fingers, thinking about what if I was just being paranoid about nothing. Straightening my shoulders, I scanned my surroundings, searching for the person I was meant to meet.

The Del Mar rooftop was nearly empty. It was exclusive, quiet, with an uninterrupted view of the skyline– the kind of place that whispered money. I wore a black sheath dress with minimal make-up.

A server came towards my side and directed me to a private section cordoned off with tall plants and flickering lanterns.

There, seated alone on a table was a man. His hair was dirty blonde and styled in a neat quiff. His eyes were marble gray and his aristocratic nose structured to perfection. My gaze wandered to the scar on his jaw, something that ought to have caused a dent in his beautiful physique that only made him hotter and irresistible.

I couldn't shake off the aura which screamed calm danger, like a dormant storm.

He stood up when I approached him.

“Natalie,” he said smoothly, and my lips twitched in confusion. His voice sounded familiar– like I'd heard it before.

I didn't sit, still wary of him. “Who are you?”

“I thought you would remember me. " We met yesterday,” he said, and my eyes bulged.

He was the one I met at the club yesterday… the cute guy who handed me the drink and also took me to a hotel.

“You!” I shrieked!

“Yes,” he smiled, but it got me startled.

“What do you want? How do you exactly think you can help my father's company? Who exactly are you?” I prattled, feeling confused.

If he knew much about the legacy, then meeting me yesterday wasn't a coincidence and the drink… Did he drug me?

But he didn’t touch me yesterday? He left me at the hotel? So what is his gain?

Why is he reaching out to me today?

“I am Lucien Voss!” he introduced him.

The name slammed into me like a wave. I staggered back!

Lucien Voss– my dad's rival!

The man who made my dad had a sleepless night. The one who keeps trying to steal all the projects we pitch.

I had pictured him as an old slug who only finds joy in torturing my dad and me… who would have thought this annoying brat would be this young and breathtaking.

His name caused terror in the whole of New York and beyond, and I have had my fair share of lectures from my dad about him.

“He doesn't lose, and he doesn't play fair!” Dad's words echoed in my head.

I didn't sit, couldn't even do it.

I tried to maintain my composure. It was freaking hard, but I needed to do it.

“Kindly have your seat, Natalie, while we talk like civilians,” he still had his freaking smile on. The tension in this space was wild, and I don't know how I am.able to stand still.

“What do you want?” I asked again, ignoring his words.

“Something simple and you would also benefit from it without being forced to get married to Sebastian's son,” he added, putting his hands into his side pocket.

My pulse quickened!

Lucien knows what's going on in our company. He's been watching and stalling time, waiting for this opportunity.

“Are you the one who leaked out the tip about the debt?” I blurted out.

Silence filled between us for a while, before he let out a sarcastic laughter. “What makes you think I am the one?”

“Once you are my rival, which makes you have multiple reasons to bring us down,” I retorted sharply.

“If I wanted to do that, the company would have been gone since the first time I heard about the debt,” he replied coldly, which had me balling my hands into a tight fist.

“Sit and let's talk,” he offered again, and I complied with his words.

“Why am I here?”

“Because you want to win and so do I. But you don't want the company, Natalie,” he muttered before leaning forward.

“I want you!” His voice was a whisper.

Silence!

My breath hitched.

“Marry me,” he added.

“Marry you!” I repeated, my blood boiling.

What’s with them and proposing marriage?

Running away from one problem and dipping my legs into another?

“And I will pay off your father's debt. I will give you the freedom to rule the Sterling group as you please. No board interference, no Sebastian taking over. " You will have full executive control!” he proposed.

“What makes you think I would agree with your proposal?” I fired sharply.

Lucien leaned back, picking up the glass cup filled with wine. He sipped and smiled, “because I know you will!”

The nerve of him…

I closed my eyes, this was no time to blame anyone. I have to pick my poison, either I choose Sebastian's son or marry Lucien.

Both of them want something from him, though differently. Somehow, I already know what my answer would be.

“Why? " What is your gain here?” I asked.

His eyes glistened. “What I'd, it's because I like you,” he teased while I snorted.

Lucien wouldn't propose something that wouldn't benefit him… he isn't here because he likes me and I wouldn't be a fool to believe he would actually do it.

“Fine. I want a union. Public, permanent and binding!” he replied while I clutched my bags tightly.

“You want my name?”

He smiled, “I want what it symbolizes.”

“And if I say no?”

Lucien's gaze didn't waver. “Then Sebastian won. You lose and your father's legacy dies in the man who was content to leech it off.”

My mind reeling, the offer was as dangerous as it was tempting. Lucien knew I wouldn’t want Sebastian as a greedy ass in my father's chair and take over his role.

One Yes from me and I would have everything back.

But Lucien was no savior. He was the devil in a custom suit.

“What's in it for you, really?” I asked softly.

His smile dropped a fraction. “Your father and I had some unfinished business. Marrying you… secures something he tried to keep from me.”

A frown appeared on my face, “and what is that?”