Chapter 5

Alexander Voss POV

The moment the jet touched down in Miami, back home, exactly at 7.40 P.M., my phone rang, my father's name flashing on the screen. "Come to my place now," my father said without even a greeting. "It's urgent," he added and hung up without giving me a chance to respond.

My father never called unless it was about one thing...the Voss Empire. I stared at the screen for a moment, my jaw tight, then turned toward Alani. She was gathering her things quietly across the cabin, her whole body tense. I had stolen a few glances at her during the flight, and each time she would be either wiping a tear or two or staring into space, deep in thought. I had not brought up the sudden kiss after the meeting or her behaviour the previous night. Even though, for some reason, I could still feel the softness of her lips on mine and the feeling of her boobs against my body.

"You're off for the remaining days of the week," I told her, stopping my thoughts about her from wandering.

She looked up, raising her brows. "Really?" she asked in a low voice.

"After securing the partnership agreement, you've earned it," I responded. "I know weddings are not easy to prepare for," I added, observing as her shoulders slumped forward and her brows furrowed at my words. I expected her to be relieved, but what I was witnessing was the exact opposite.

"Thank you," she spoke under her breath.

"One of my drivers will take you home," I said, sending a quick message to him.

"That won't be necessary, sir," she countered. "I will take a—"

"I'm offering the ride because it's late; don't read into it," I cut her off, ignoring the way she briefly closed her eyes, as if the words had pierced her insides. "I wish you a wonderful wedding day," I added quickly, even though I had a lot to say about marriages. To me, love did not exist, and two people claiming to want to live happily ever after based on love was purely lies. Marriage was only for convenience, business and kids.

When I arrived at my father's waterfront mansion, dusk had settled thick. He was sitting in the pool lounge, a cigarette burning between his fingers and a glass of whisky balanced on his knee. A half-full open bottle of Yamazaki 12-year-old whisky sat open on the table, with a packet of cigars beside it and an ashtray.

A young lady, probably in her mid-twenties, was enjoying herself in the swimming pool. It was typical of him to have escorts or call girls over, a life he had adopted since mom passed on four years ago.

"Is this what you call urgent?" I asked flatly, my gaze flicking to the whisky, the cigar box and the girl.

He didn't look at me right away; he took a slow puff of the cigarette, exhaled, and then spoke. "Relax and enjoy yourself; I'm sure you are jet-lagged." He knew I was out of the state for business.

"I didn't come here to enjoy anything," I responded coolly, pocketing my hands.

"Always serious with life," he shrugged, then looked at the girl. "Out," he ordered, waving two fingers.

She climbed out of the pool, stark naked, water streaming down her body. Her boobs, though firm, looked nothing like Alani's creamy ones, which were slightly larger. I had to shake my head subtly to stop comparing them to a woman who was almost getting married. The woman walked to us, gave a kiss to my father, who spanked her, and walked towards the villa, unbothered by my presence.

The moment the door shut, my father straightened his posture. "Sit," he said firmly, placing the glass on the table.

"What's this about?" I asked, sitting down on the opposite lounge chair. "You don't summon me across the city to watch you get entertained by escorts."

"You are thirty-one, Alexander, turning thirty-two in two weeks," he began.

I tilted my head, observing him as he lifted his glass. "I fail to see how my age constitutes an emergency," I pointed out.

He took a slow sip of whisky. "That is the age stipulated for you to officially inherit and legally control the vast Voss Empire."

"I am aware of that," I acknowledged, shifting on the chair. "You have mentioned it once or twice in the past."

He set the glass down carefully, looking straight into my eyes. "Age is not the only requirement, Alexander."

I sat up straight, blinking at his words. "What do you mean? I have done everything to prove that I can run the Empire successfully and profitably."

He chuckled, a low sound that sent a cold chill slithering down my spine. "There is a marital succession clause," he said, making my pulse kick. "The firstborn son must be legally married by his or on his thirty-second birthday to assume full control of the Empire," he dropped the bombshell, making my eyes widen.

"What the actual hell, Father?" I exploded, shaking my head. "This is insane," I snapped. "How can you just throw this on me two weeks before my birthday? Where am I supposed to get a wife in two weeks? You of all people know that I do not believe in love or in marriage!"

"Well, your grandfather believed marriage brought stability, that one had to be married and produce an heir within the wedlock to preserve the Voss Empire and its legacy," he spoke casually, as if what he had just dropped on me was not a big deal.

I shook my head. "No, there is no way Mother would approve of this if she were alive."

His eyes darkened. "Your mother signed the same contract, Alexander."

I stilled, my mind refusing to let the words sink. "What?"

"Yes, the contract does not require a forever; you can divorce once a child is born, preferably a son," he explained further. "But your mother and I renewed it until we made it a forever thing, until death did us part." His voice softened just a fraction, a crease forming on his forehead. I looked away, something sharp twisting in my chest at the thought of my late mother. She truly cared for me, put me first even when my father sidelined me and invested his time and energy in the company.

"So you expect me to marry a stranger to keep the company?" I broke the brief silence.

"So you'd rather lose it?" he countered. "Control passes to the next eligible heir," he said.

"I am the only child, or are you forgetting that? Which means there is no next eligible heir besides me." I pointed at myself.

"Your grandfather thought of that, and that is why he had the clause extended to the bloodline," he revealed, taking another sip of his liquor.

I stared at him, swallowing. "You are joking."

"In the absence of a second-born child," he continued evenly. "The company transfers to the firstborn cousin on the paternal side."

I stood, a burning feeling simmering beneath my skin. "You would gladly hand it over if I don't get a wife, wouldn't you?" I asked, pressing my teeth together.

Instead of answering immediately, he stood, with the glass in his hand, fixing his gaze at me. "Yes, I would." He paused, flashing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Because to me, the Voss Empire comes first, not your petty emotions."

His words felt like a solid punch had been delivered straight to my heart, even though his actions had always shown he treasured the family business more than me.

He sidestepped the table and spoke, walking away from me as if he hadn't crushed me. "Two weeks, Alexander; you have two weeks to protect and secure your inheritance."