Ch. 10 - FIRE AND ICE

LINDEN

(EARLIER BEFORE)

“Why did you do it, Father?”

The question left my mouth before I could stop it, though it was laced with the kind of fury that could snap necks in seconds.

Arthur didn't flinch. I didn't expect him to. He just sat behind his mahogany desk, a glass of scotch in his hand. He looked at me like I was nothing more than a curious secretary interrupting his lunch break.

“I had to test her,” he said, swirling the scotch like it held the answers to my questions.

My hands balled into fists at my sides. “By leaking a naked picture of her?”

He cocked a single brow. “Don't be so dramatic, boy. It was a calculated exposure.”

“Are you insane?” I nearly laughed. His answers were incredulous. It irked me too much to continue to talk. “She is not a stock option, father. She is not one of your pawns. She is my wife!”

Arthur stood, slowly he moved towards his arranged bookshelves. “Linden, if the woman you bring home can't withstand that little heat, she has no business wearing your ring or bearing our last name.”

My jaw clenched. I could practically hear my teeth grind and my jaw was clenched. “She is not a possession.”

“No,” he said, running his fingers slightly over the brown books. “She’s an escort.”

That stopped me cold. There was no need in asking him how he knew. This was Arthur Rawlings. The man who built his companies with blood and brick and then employed monsters to work for him.

He turned to his polished desk again, pouring himself another drink. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? You think you can just marry a stranger off the street, throw a fake smile on your face, and parade her in front of the world like she’s some prize? What did you expect, son? Applause?”

I swallowed the rage rising in my throat. “You still had no right to do that. I married her off the street! It's my choice.”

“I have every right,” he returned, turning to face me, his voice suddenly hard and harsh. “You may have fooled the press, but I know a performance when I see one. She’s not your wife!”

My fingers twitched. I wanted to hit him. I wouldn't be the first son to hit his father, it might be a curse, but Arthur deserved it. He stepped closer, his eyes locked onto mine. “You want your shares? You want the Rawlings Foundation to remain yours?” He smiled, in a sinister and tight way. “Then you must play by Arthur Rawlings rules.”

“I built this company,” I charged through gritted teeth. “Every merger, every number in each yearly, quarterly report—you know I did it. I built what is called the Rawlings Foundation while you sat in that chair sipping scotch and grieving Mum.”

His jaw tensed.

Good.

I wanted to hit him where it hurt. Talking about my mother was a forbidden topic, but I wouldn't hesitate to mention her if Arthur pushes me.

“I've run this company for twenty damn years without your help,” I continued with a small smile. “I cleaned up your mess. I fixed your lawsuits, I pulled your so-called company from bankruptcy while you wallowed in your misfortune. So, don't you dare stand there and talk to me about YOUR rules. Your rules died the day my mother died.”

He laughed and began to clap slowly. He was hurt, I knew, but I wouldn't stop. “Touching.” His eyes narrowed. “You're right, Linden. But for as long as I'm breathing, I own it. And you, my clever son, will follow the rules or walk away empty-handed.”

I stared at him, waiting for him to continue. “You have six months,” he said, walking back to his desk. “To stay married. Publicly, convincingly. But if you don’t…” He smiled wider. “Ah, but there’s an addition to that.”

I froze. “What addition?”

“You have to get her pregnant.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

He leaned back in his chair like he was announcing something mundane. “Another heir from you. A child that you wouldn't toss aside like you did with your first one. That child will then help you rethink your steps as a father to embrace Andrea. You want your inheritance? Fine. Produce another child.”

I stared at him, stunned into rage. What nonsense was he spitting? I should produce yet another child after Andrea? Andrea that didn't exist to any one?

He lifted his glass in mock toast. “I work with time, son.”

“You’re insane,” I muttered.

“No. I’m a businessman.”

I scoffed. “You want me to trap a woman I don't love into carrying my child? Are you for real? Don't you learn from your mistakes?”

“I learnt,” he said sadly, “and I don't want you to make the same mistake I made, Linden.”

I took a step forward, seething. “You don’t get to orchestrate my life like this, old man.”

“I am doing that already.”

“You don’t have that power.”

He smirked. “You think running a few mergers provide you muscle? Boy, I created Rawlings. Every dollar you touch still smells like me.”

“I’ve surpassed you in many ways.” I reinforced. “I am not like you and I would never be like you.”

“You're still my puppet.”

“Not for long,” I said. “Because after this, I will burn the entire foundation to the ground before I let you dangle it over me.”

He tilted his head. “And you think that woman will help you burn it down? Or will she sell you out to someone who will offer her enough zeros? Someone like me?”

I stepped back. “I don’t need your inheritance,” I said, turning toward the door.

“No, you want it, son. And that is what makes you weak.”

I stopped at the door, but I didn't turn. I couldn't turn. I was too pissed to do that. I just left the office, afraid I might do what I would later regret.

PRESENT

“You CAN'T punish me! I am not your daughter!” Jensyn charged back. Her voice ignited something raw inside me. The way she always had something to say, always pushed when I was one breath away from breaking. She had no idea how close she stood at the edge.

But then I grabbed her hand and pulled her along with me.

“Leave me alone!”

I didn’t answer.

Her palm was small. Her eyes widened in protest as I dragged her up the stairs. I could push her off if she vexed me further. She kind of didn't struggle and it was as if she felt that I could push her because she didn't move much. Although she twisted, her shoe slipped against the tiles. She was angry, confused, and breathless.

We reached her room door. I pushed it open, pulled her in, and slammed it shut behind us. The click of the lock echoed loud and I faced her head on. She spun toward me, jaw tense, chest heaving.

“Have you completely lost your mind? Are you mad…”

Two strides. That was all it took. I had her in my arms before the last word left her mouth. My lips crashed against hers. Not soft. Not sweet at all. This was possession. I kissed her like she was mine—well, in that moment she was. My hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer until there was nothing between us but heat and anger that coursed through my body.

My hand gripped her ass as I pulled her toward the wall. She gasped, her palms flat against my chest. I turned her so hee ass was facing my hardness and she arched her back as if begging for more. She moaned when I grabbed her ass, my finger dug into the curve. She liked the pain I inflicted on her and her voice was a growl in her ear.

“You feel that? That’s what happens when you disobey me.”

I pulled my hip into her, letting her know just how hard my cock was. My other hand fisted in her hair, yanking her head back so I could kiss her neck, slow and cruel. Her skin trembled under my mouth. “This body…” I whispered against her throat, biting just enough skin to make her gasp, “belongs to me now. And I will ruin you with it.”

I kissed her harder and deeper. I tasted her confusion and her need. The way she was bent, her neck drawn back, I devoured her, punished her. Her fingers clawed at my shirt, tugging it free from my wrist watch. She gasped into my mouth when I cupped her breast through the blouse.

Clothes began to loosen. I pulled off her blouse, allowing myself to relieve the sight of her breast still covered in her lace bra. I wanted to see more, I wanted to suck it, kiss it, and pinch it.

And then, I stopped and pulled back, breath ragged, eyes wide. “That is a warning.”

She looked up at me, lips bruised, shirt slipping down one shoulder, pupils blown wide with confusion. “What?”

Without a word, I turned and walked out of the room. But, I hated how much of myself I left in that room with her.