Chapter 1–He Wants You

Natasha’s POV 

Two months passed, and I hadn’t set foot out of this house. I’d lost my boyfriend. 

I’d already burned through tears until there was none left to shed. 

Today, I finally decided to return to my father’s company. I’d been away since I came back from New York.

My phone lit up on the nightstand. There were twelve missed calls from my father. He rarely called that many times in a row. 

I dialed him back. He picked up on the third ring. 

“Hello, Da—”

“I need you to get back to work as soon as possible,” he said, his voice cutting through like a knife. “And we need to talk.”

“Dad—”

“Now!”

The line went dead. 

Without wasting another second, I went into the bathroom to get ready. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and the person staring back didn’t look like me. She looked lifeless, hollow even. Dark circles and everything else that screamed a girl was going through shit. 

“Whatever.”

I stepped into the shower and turned it on. The cold water hit my body, sending a chill down my spine. 

Walking out of the shower, I went into my closet and dressed quickly, throwing on a silk blouse, pencil skirt and black heels. 

The drive to the office wasn’t long. 

The lobby of Whitmore Industries felt heavier than usual as I stepped inside the sleek glass building. 

A few employees moved through the corridor. Others spoke in low voices near the reception desk. The conversations stopped the moment they noticed me. 

I didn’t care. I walked toward the elevator without stopping. 

Minutes later, I stepped out of the elevator. Then I ran into my sister, Victoria in the hallway leading to our father’s office.

“Look who finally showed up.”

I rolled my eyes. 

“You’re aware that the company is facing serious problems right now.” She paused. “Stocks are plummeting, investors are backing out… and you would know that if you weren’t too busy grieving your boyfriend.”

“Damn you, Victoria.”

I walked out on her and headed to my father’s office. 

The moment I got in, his back was turned to me as he looked over the city. 

“Natasha.” His voice was calm. 

“Yes,” I replied, surprised he knew it was me. 

Had my perfume given me away? 

The silence was loud. 

He finally faced me. The exhaustion on his face surprised me. I’d never seen him like that since I was… seven? Since my mother—

“How are you, Natasha?” he asked. “You’ve been away for… two months.”

“Wow, Dad.” I folded my arms. “I might start to think you actually care about me. You never call me unless it has something to do with your company.”

“I do—”

“Dad, out with it now.”

He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. “Sit.”

I didn’t.

“Fine.” He rubbed his temple. “The company is in trouble.” 

I said nothing, waiting for him to continue. 

“It’s the kind of trouble that doesn’t disappear with a few adjustments,” he continued. “It could take months, years even.”

There was a brief pause. 

“We’re drowning in debt, Natasha.”

I frowned. “How’s that possible? How did it get to this?” 

I knew the company had been struggling, but I didn’t realize it had gotten to this point. 

“It is possible,” he said, moving toward his desk and picking up a folder. “The investors have been pulling out one by one for months. Creditors are already pressuring us harder every day.”

This couldn’t be happening. The company had been in existence for years. My grandfather had started the company, it hurt to think of it going down this way.

My father handed the folder to me.

I skimmed through it, barely paying attention. “So you’re saying the company is—”

“Close to bankruptcy.”

“This is a lot to process. It just doesn’t make any sense.” I paced the room. “You would have said something. Besides, what was the point of all my business trips? I haven’t even been away from the company that long.”

“I was trying to fix it.”

“But you didn’t.”

A quiet breath escaped me as I forced my voice to stay steady. 

“There has to be something we can do. Loans, new investors. Another trip maybe?”

“Someone offered a solution,” he cut in. “Someone with the capital to clear the debts and stabilize the company. Enough to make it stronger.”

Something cold settled in my chest. An offer like this didn’t come often.

I squinted. “What’s the catch?”

My father hesitated for a moment.

This wasn’t good. I could tell.

“He… he wants you, Natasha. The man is willing to save Whitmore industries… The man is willing to save Whitmore Industries… on the condition that you become his wife.”

My eyes widened. 

The words landed like he had hit me, because he just did.

“Marry him?” I asked in disbelief, my voice rising. “You’re joking, right? Who is this man, and why the fuck would he want to marry me?”

“Language, Natasha!” My father snapped. 

A dry laugh left me. “You can’t possibly be worried about my language. Are you kidding me? You just said a stranger I don’t even know asked me to marry him just to save the company, and you expect me to just take that on the chin?”

I dropped the folder on the table. “Now I’m curious, Dad… what did you say to him?”

My father said nothing.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered. “You agreed to this, didn’t you?”

“Natasha, that’s all he’s asking for. A marriage to save the company your grandfather spent years building,” he said. 

“Oh, so that’s what we’re doing?” I huffed softly. “Emotional blackmail?”

“It’s not—”

“Who is he?” I interrupted.

“It’s Tristan Castillo.”

“Hell no!” I scoffed. “You really want me to marry Tristan? That Tristan Castillo? The same man everyone seems to have a story about?”

I laughed because the whole thing sounded like a bad joke. 

My father just stood there, watching me. 

“Besides, why would he want me? Tristan Castillo could marry anyone he wants.”

“To save the company, Natasha.” He sat in his chair. “Men like Tristan Castillo don’t do things without thinking it through. If he wants something, there’s a reason.”

I dragged a hand down my face. “That didn’t answer my question.”

“I don’t know, Natasha. He wants you. That’s it.”

“What could he possibly want from me?” I frowned. “I haven’t even seen that man.”

“You tell me, Natasha. What does he want from you?” he asked. “You’re a notorious rebel, so what did you do?”

“I haven’t even been out there lately.” My expression shifted. “Why not Victoria?”

“He didn’t say one of my daughters,” he replied, already frustrated. “He said he wants my youngest daughter.”

“He said or you gave me out?” I narrowed my eyes. 

Father didn’t answer. 

“Victoria would have been a better choice in my opinion. She’s older. She’s the perfect daughter, right? She’s never been rebellious. She’s always been more involved in the company. If he wants a wife for whatever twisted reason, why drag me into this?” 

“That’s enough, Natasha!” My father’s voice rose.  

“No, it’s not enough!” I didn’t back down. “You didn’t even think twice, did you? The moment he said he’d save the company, you agreed to hand me over like I’m some sort of business deal.”

“I’m trying to save this family!”

“And I’m your daughter!” I shouted. 

The room fell into silence for a moment, both of us staring at each other. 

I looked away first. My thoughts drifted to the one person whose absence still aches in moments like these. “I guess I see why Mom left.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I’d gone too far. But that was what happened when you were still grieving one man while your father was selling you to another.

My father’s face twisted in rage. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand.”

“I understand enough,” I replied. “If she were here, she probably never would have given her daughter away.”

“You wouldn’t know that,” he shot back. “She left you when you were young.”

“And she left you too!”

“I SAID THAT’S ENOUGH!” My father’s voice thundered through the office as he slammed his hand on the table. 

I didn’t flinch. I just looked at him, my expression cold. 

“Do you think I want this?” he said, his tone sharp. “You think I enjoy asking my daughter to sacrifice herself? I tried, Natasha. I did. But nothing worked out. This is the only option. I’m doing what I have to do to keep this family and company from collapsing.”

“Well, congratulations, Dad.” I clapped my hands. “You didn’t enjoy it. You actually did sell her. Did you ever stop to think about what I want? I’m still grieving Lucas’ death, and now you want me to smile and accept a man I’ve never even met.”

“Lucas is gone. Dead. And he’s not coming back. You have to accept that and move on with your life,” my father said, his voice like a blade. “I’m not asking you to smile. I’m asking you to help save what’s left.”

“You know what? Fuck this.”

I left his office and headed home, wondering why I even came in the first place.