1

Yvonne's POV

The cab finally got pulled up in front of a fancy restaurant and I felt a rush of nerves, as I alighted the cab. Dragging in a deep breath, I reached into my bag for my powder mirror and opened it gently to study my reflection, making small adjustments to my makeup with practiced ease. I had dressed to kill for my meeting with Kylian Litt, the man who was going to save my company. His firm reaped struggling businesses like mine, either selling them off or boosting them.

Despite his assurance of no ulterior motives, my mind raced, hinting at other possibilities. Why dinner instead of a straightforward office meeting? Desperation clung to my agreement for dinner, clinging to my job. But I had limits; if he crossed them, I vowed to leave. No position justified compromising myself—right? Even if his appeal stirred something undeniable within me.

I closed the mirror with a soft click, feeling a renewed sense of confidence as with a deep breath, I strode into the restaurant, quickly exchanging pleasantries with the hostess before being led to Kylian's table.

"Hi," he greeted, rising as I approached.

"Hello," I replied tersely, feeling uneasy in his presence.

Taking my seat, I braced myself, sensing his charm radiating effortlessly.

"I ordered a bottle of red," he mentioned, nodding towards the wine in front of me.

"Thanks," I murmured, taking a sip, though it did little to ease my nerves.

I remained cautious. Something about him told be to tread lightly. I knew his type. He was a player and used to getting his way. If I wanted to come out of this unscathed, I needed to keep my wits about me and take nothing at face value.

"How's work?" he inquired, nearly triggering a laugh from me.

"Fantastic. You?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Same old. Kieran, my younger brother, dropped by the office for his usual annoyances."

I chuckled, imagining a mischievous younger Kylian bothering him. "Just the one brother then?"

He rolled his eyes. "Nope. Five brothers in total. I'm the eldest."

"Wow!" I exclaimed, picturing the chaos. "Your parents must be saints."

He laughed. "We definitely kept them on their toes."

"Are you close to your parents?" I probed, curious about his background.

"Dad passed recently. It's just Mom now. Our bond's alright. The youngest one's her favorite; he looks after her," he shared. "She's doing well, but we worried about her alone."

"Sorry about your dad," I offered sympathetically.

"Thanks. How about you?"

"What about me?" I replied, feigning innocence.

"Are you close to your parents?" he inquired further.

I wasn't about to divulge personal details. "Not really," I deflected.

He seemed to catch on that I wasn't interested in discussing family matters and shifted gears. "Where did you study?"

"I didn't," I stated plainly.

Surprise flickered in his eyes. "No business degree?"

I shook my head. "Not my thing. Why waste time in a classroom when I could dive into what I love?"

He raised an eyebrow in understanding. "I get that. Spending years learning business theory doesn't always translate to success."

I smiled, relieved by his acceptance. Maybe he wasn't as bad as I'd assumed. Yet, I had to stay vigilant; I was dealing with the competition, not a friend.

"Thank you," I acknowledged, maintaining my guard.

The waiter took our orders, and we each took a sip of wine before Kylian leaned in. "Are you in a relationship?" he inquired.

My heart raced; I should've anticipated this. "That's not your concern," I deflected.

He grinned playfully. "I'm here with a lovely woman. I just want to be respectful."

Considering my response carefully, I replied, "No, I'm not."

His grin widened. "Good to know."

"Are you involved with someone? A Mrs. Litt waiting at home?" I quizzed.

He made a face. "Nope. Love gives too much power. Can't risk it. My rule is staying true to myself, avoiding the marriage trap."

"That's sad. Sharing life with someone is beautiful," I countered.

I sensed a shift in his demeanor, signaling the real reason for our dinner was about to surface. I awaited his next words, realizing Kylian was far from predictable.

"Yvonne, listen, I need to explain," Kylian began urgently.

I nodded, signaling my willingness to hear him out.

"I'm the oldest of six boys, the only one besides Kieran who's worked for the company," he explained, frustration evident in his tone. "But inheritance isn't straightforward. One of us must have an heir to claim the Litt Group. If Kieran or even Kairi beats me to it, they'll take over."

His words hit me with unexpected weight. "I'm sorry," I murmured, still processing.

"I need a solution," he pressed on, getting to the point. "Would you consider being my wife in name only, bearing my child? In return, I'll help out with your company."

I stared at him, incredulous. "Did you just propose to me?" I demanded, needing clarification.

"Yes. Sort of," he admitted.

I shook my head, disbelief turning to anger. How could he be so audacious, assuming I'd agree to marry him on the spot? "You're delusional. Asking me to marry you just to fulfill your selfish ambitions? Do you have any morals?" I spat out, disgust evident in my tone.

"It's not about that," he protested.

"Oh, that makes it better," I retorted sarcastically. "You want to use me to secure an inheritance you didn't earn?"

"I deserve it," he insisted. "I've worked for it."

"You're insane. Absolutely insane,"

"This isn't about us personally, Yvonne. It's a business arrangement," Kylian clarified, his tone matter-of-fact. "You save your company, and I get to secure my position as CEO. It's not a lifelong marriage; I just need one child. And you'll be well compensated. You're not losing anything," he reasoned dryly.

I seethed with anger towards him, yet I couldn't deny the strange attraction his proposal ignited within me. It disturbed me to feel such conflicting emotions.

"Not personal? You want me to bear your child. How is that not personal?" I countered, struggling to comprehend his logic.

"Yvonne, it's a mutually beneficial deal. I hold the key to your company's fate. You can have what you want, just by saying yes," he emphasized.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. That explained why a guy as good looking as he was, was still single. "You're out of your mind. No amount of power or money is worth this insanity. You need professional help."

"I assure you, I'm not acting on impulse. I've considered this as a rational solution to our mutual problems. After all, desperation isn't unique to me," Kylian stated calmly, his demeanor unwavering.

His calmness surprised me; he seemed collected and calculated, not impulsive or erratic. It dawned on me that he had done thorough research beyond just the documents I had submitted earlier. He knew about the challenges my company was facing and my growing desperation.

His serious expression and composed demeanor left me speechless. "You're serious about this?" I asked, seeking confirmation.

He nodded affirmatively. "I am."

"I can't give you an answer now," I admitted. "I never planned on marriage, let alone using it as a bargaining chip for my job. I need time to process your offer."

Kylian's nonchalant attitude struck a nerve. "So you're putting me on a deadline like I'm some breeding animal? Have you lost your humanity?" I retorted, disgust evident in my voice.

He smirked, unfazed by my reaction. "It's business, not a romance novel. I'm being upfront about my expectations and what I can offer. No need for flowers and fancy dinners," he stated bluntly.

His callousness left me speechless once again. He reduced our conversation to a transaction, treating me like a commodity for his business goals.

"Fine," I snapped, unable to bear his presence any longer. "I need to leave. I can't stand to look at you."

He laughed. “I’m sure you could look at me just fine. If you’d like to sample the goods before we say the I dos and get down to the baby-making business, I’d be more than happy to give you a free spin.”

Kylian's crude remark hit me like a slap in the face. "You're despicable!" I exclaimed, pushing my chair back and storming out of the restaurant.

Outside, my mind raced with conflicting emotions. How could someone so reprehensible also be so tempting? It troubled me that I found his alpha-male demeanor enticing, a stark deviation from the men I usually dated.

Hailing a cab, I headed home, my appetite forgotten amidst the turmoil in my mind. I needed to sort through my thoughts. Why was I even entertaining his proposal? It was absurd, degrading even. I resolved to confront him and put an end to this madness. Asking a woman to bear a child for career advancement was archaic, and I refused to be a part of it, no matter how attractive he was.