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The Billionaire's Pawn 13
STRIKER “Dad, thank you for meeting me.” Dad looked at me, confused. “Of course, anything for my boy. Are you okay?” I slumped my ass onto the chair before his desk. “No.” “What’s wrong?” He froze. Suddenly, he looked distraught and broken. The last time I saw the look on his face was when I told him I had enlisted in the Marine Corps. At first, he refused and cried, but before I left, he finally came along and respected my decision to join the service, and it felt like it was the first time I broke his heart. “Dad, I’m fine.” I rubbed my temple. “I’m sorry.” He came around across mine. “You said you’re not okay. And you wouldn’t be here if it’s not important.” “I swear I’m fine. Not in trouble. May I ask something?” “Of course.” The crease between his eyebrows was still there. “Wait. Am I holding you up? Do you have a meeting to go to?” “I’ll cancel in my schedule if you need me, Striker. What’s going on?” “I need your advice.” “What was your question?” “I was wondering
The Billionaire's Pawn 14
LONDON “I feel like I’ve been called to the principal’s office for misbehavior. It makes me nervous, Dad.” I kissed Dad on his cheek. I always loved his home office. I had plenty of good memories, and so as in those difficult times. “Have a seat, London.” “Thanks.” I sat on my favorite sofa. Dad couldn’t just throw it away. He re-upholstered it because he knew the recliner meant a lot to me. During my darkest day, I slept in here while he was working. “How was your date with Striker?” My brow arched. “Date? It wasn’t a date. We just met with his friends and had some fast food. The burger is good, though. And why did you have to fire him? What happened was out of our control, and we didn’t—” “Save your strength. I don’t wanna hear about it, London. What’s done is done. I have given you everything and anything you’ve asked because I wanted you to be strong and proud of yourself. One day, I will step down as Chairman and president, and you will take that position.” “I hope not too
The Billionaire's Pawn 15
STRIKER London had not said a word other than crying in my arms. What had gotten into Linus’ head to put his only daughter into this tough and ridiculous situation? I had no doubt he loved London—she was his life, but he went too far. I’d seen how much that horrible incident affected him. And why on the green fucking earth he chose me of all the capable men in the world? He could have chosen someone with financial stability, an excellent moral compass, a good pedigree, and a place in society. I knew myself. I was nothing special. In fact, I didn’t deserve to be her husband. London deserved a good man who could give her the world, the attention, and the love she deserved. When her breathing became even, I slowly placed her down on the couch and covered her with the throw. This house was the first property I bought when the sperm donor’s money made lucrative profits from my investment. Since high school, I never spent a penny from his child support. I never thought of returnin
The Billionaire's Pawn 16
LONDONAfter our yogurt dinner together, I couldn’t even look him in the eye anymore. I was ashamed. Striker was a good man, and my father handpicked him for me for some reason, and he was okay with it—it was too good to be true.“What’s wrong? You’ve been awfully silent.” He sent me to the guestroom, opening the door for me. “Is the room okay?”“I should check in at the suite if I want a 5-star treatment, Cade. You’ve been nothing but kind and hospitable to your unwanted guest.”He smiled at me. “You’re not my guest anymore, Vanderford. You know that.”I took a deep breath and looked up when my eyes stung again.“No more crying. We will figure it out together, okay?”“I came here to discuss my father’s ridiculous arrangement with you. You can’t do this. This marriage life is not the life that you want. Please, do something. Try to reconsider and change your mind.” I held his arms tight as I looked him in the eye, but nothing could persuade him since he had already made a deal with m
The Billionaire's Pawn 17
STRIKER How did I end up in her blanket, my arms wrapped around her, her hands slipped under my shirt, fingers clawing my back as we kissed like there was no tomorrow? I had no idea. My thumb brushed along the side of her jaw, and I tilted my head, slanting my mouth to hers as I claimed her mouth in deep-suck on her tongue. The taste of the sweet flavor in her mouth intoxicated me. Even if I wanted to stop, I couldn’t. She consumed my senses. I didn’t remember getting in her blanket or kissing her, but yeah, we were doing it. And having a hard-on never got this hard—it fucking hurt. She did another dig of her fingers into the back. Her moan surrounded us. Her breasts pressed against my chest, her leg tightly wrapped around my waist as she thrust her hips, her core against my aching cock. It felt so good. We were burning, and we still had our clothes on. Our heartbeats were strong and steady as we thrust and moved our conjoined hips. I had to be dreaming because things like th
The Billionaire's Pawn 18
LONDONI was furious at Dad. He was always one step ahead of me. He did not even ask my permission to announce my relationship to his millions of followers on Twitter. Why did he have to do that before I could?I mean, yeah, he was my father, the billionaire, investor, philanthropist, capitalist, the chairman of the Vanderford Group, compared to me, just the daughter. I wouldn’t even have a job and a clothing line in my name if it was not because of him and his influence.Then my day turned out to be great. I just got engaged. I still couldn’t believe it was happening. I should have been terrified by the drastic change in my life, but I was inwardly giggling. And my ring was gorgeous. If I were to choose my own engagement ring, without a doubt, I would choose this one—a four-carat radiant cut with blue diamond side stones which fit perfectly.Right now, I was starving, and we just got down to the lobby for the late lunch. Earlier, Striker patiently awaited me and did another design—a
The Billionaire's Pawn 19
STRIKER“I’ll ready the tub,” I said as I loaded the dishwasher.“I don’t need it. I just said to excuse myself.”My brows furrowed. “Why?”“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maybe I didn’t like your tone or how you told me to talk to Reed when you could just tell me.”“I’m sorry. I’m still adjusting to our situation and used to communicating with my fellow CPO in that tone.” I nodded in understanding.“It’s okay.” She dropped her gaze.I liked that she was honest. Maybe our unconventional arrangement would work out even though we seemed to have nothing in common.“I felt ashamed of how I handled it. I should be grateful for saving my butt many times, and this arrangement, you literally saved my life, my entire future, and I should be begging for it, but here you are, trying to be kind, and you are the one who made all the adjustments to fit into my life.” She breathed deeply as she looked up. “I don’t know how I can repay you. I don’t know what I can offer you. I mean, look at me. I have
The Billionaire's Pawn 20
LONDON “I’ll be right back.” I ran away toward the bathroom. Things happened so fast. Days ago, I survived life as Vanderford’s daughter and the CEO. No dramas—just work. I went home after work, put myself to sleep after dinner with my boyfriend, or a good movie with Neke. And here I was, opening my heart to a man, a stranger, who saved my life, and now, my fiance. Despite my past and who I was, Striker never judged me as a spoiled brat billionaire’s daughter. Yes, I was a spoiled brat because I could get what I wanted if I wanted to. But that was not the case right now. Dad switched the game. Everything had changed— it turned 360 in just a snap of his fingers. His fortune, my future, and my legacy depended upon the man a few feet away from me. I blew my nose clean, washed my face, and removed the smeared makeup on my face. I pulled a clean towel and patted my face dry. Then I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked different than days ago, more mature, in a good way. And I sa
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