Ties That Bind

PIPER'S POV

"We're going bankrupt." I can't act surprised, even if I tried. It was no surprise our family business had gone under. Unlike everyone else who turned a blind eye to Lucia's money laundering, I was all too aware of the money being pushed into her account daily. I tried telling my father, hell, I told my mother. But neither did they believe me. 

They were bent on staying on her side even though the woman was the very thing that destroyed our happy family. Lucia Herrera, my father's second wife. Beautiful with perfect olive skin, straight silky black hair, enchanting green eyes, and full lips. She had a slim, wild beauty, with fine hips and shapely thighs. 

She lived up to her Miss World title and embodied physical beauty like no other could. My mom, blessed with fiery auburn hair and freckles that dotted her cheeks, had dark brown eyes, thin rosy pink lips, and cute dimples.

We were the same person. But even with that type of striking beauty, she was no match for Lucia, and maybe she felt it was better to stay behind him while my father ravaged and brought home a woman almost 20 years younger than he was. 

So when it finally came to the point that the business could no longer stand on its two feet, and my father called me aside and suggested a proposal that may aid in our problem, I was both skeptical and willing. 

Not because he's my father, but because that business feeds my mother and my siblings; twins that are almost identical to my mother, minus the red hair and freckles, they were blonde like my father. 

He holds my hands, the dim light from his desk lamp illuminating his blurry frame. His study is dark and gloomy, and the rain lashing outside does nothing to help the atmosphere. The flame burns in the fireplace not too far away, warming the room but not the cold chill from his touch.  

"We reached out to Archer Corp." My dad says slowly. I lift an eyebrow at that. Archer Corp. is one of the biggest companies in America. A booming real estate company that owns land in almost every part of the country. "I talked to my old friend Ruben and he's willing to invest a large sum in our business, and become partners."

"Okay." I nod, cracking a small smile. "That's great. But why did you call me here then? If they've decided to help then we're good, right?"

"Not quite," He pulls his hands from mine and scratches at his forehead. "They say they'll only invest if we give them one of our daughters."

My smile faltered, and my heart stopped for a second before it began beating so loudly that it felt like it would pop out of my chest. "How? What do you mean?" My voice was soft and shallow, and I desperately prayed to hear laughter and the words "I'm joking"  right after. 

He pulls his lips into a thin line, his eyes glossy and I couldn’t help my laughter. He plans on selling me off...

"You've got to be joking. I'm not going to marry an old fart just because you want to earn some money. No way!" I push away from my chair, immediately flaring up. He couldn't be asking this of me. 

He stands as well, hands pushed towards me, his eyes pleading with me before his mouth does. "No, no. Piper, you won't be marrying him. It's his son, Rowan Archer." He blubbers quickly, and it's like water filling my ears. 

Rowan Archer. The beast, Rowan Archer. 

"No fucking way..." I breathe beneath my breath. Rowan was no ordinary man, he couldn't possibly be sending me off to someone like that. 

"Piper." He rounds his desk, calling out for me softly. My knees shake, and the room spins. He couldn't be serious. I feel sick, nausea eats at my inside and if he doesn't stop talking I fear I'll puke right onto his crimson rug. 

I hold a hand out for him to stop in his tracks as I fix him with a glare. He and Ruben Archer have been friends for decades, maybe before he met my mother. A couple of years back, when I was still in my teens, I met his first son Rowan for the first time. 

Long story short, it wasn't a pleasant meeting and I'd rather die than marry a man with such dead, dull eyes. 

"I can't do this. We'll find another way. All this money," I wave my hand across the room. "I forfeit it, Mom and the girls have lived wonderful lives when we didn't have all this. I'll get a job, I'll support us, and every other person can go to hell." I stand up straight and force myself to breathe properly. 

If Lucia couldn't live without riches then she could fuck off for all I care. 

His eyes hardened and he clenched his jaw. "Don't talk like that. You're still in school and haven't even completed your master's program. What good firm would hire you?"

"Many. I'll look for a job, but I'm not marrying Rowa-." A loud crash interrupts my sentence and I turn in the direction of the door to the office. Yells and curses ensue and when I hear my mother yell out for someone to stop, I rush out. 

My sisters both hold onto my mother, who looks as pale as a ghost. The girls seemed petrified as large men walked up and down our house, my belongings in hand. I rush towards one, his hands balancing several of my bags and shoes. "What do you think you’re doing?!" I yell, pulling my things away from him. 

He grunts, eyeing me up. "We're just following orders. If you want answers go talk to the man who hired us." He points behind him towards the stairs and I rush up. My heart is racing in my chest and a million questions dash through my head. 

This house is private property, and not just anyone can walk in here. We have no ties with bad people, hell, I doubt even Lucia had anything to do with this. She stood in the living room, visibly shaken as the rest.

I reach my room, and it's absolute mayhem. Right in the middle, a tall form stands staring at the pile of management textbooks I had been reviewing before Father called me down to talk. 

He turns to me. With green eyes, dark hair, and tan skin, and standing almost at 6'5", the beast of a man looks down at me with an identical glimmer in his eyes.

His pink lips pull up into a smirk, "Hello, Mrs Archer."