Chapter 7

What was wrong with the world?

The more she tried to avoid him, the more fate seemed to cross their paths.

Was that a cosmic joke, as the universe played a sick game on her?

She had tried to catch this man's attention for years, but he had never given her the time of day. Now that she did not want to see him, he seemed everywhere.

"What the fuck!" She could not help but curse once she came face to face with him. "Lucas, what are you doing here?" Sounding suspicious.

He was the last person she expected to see at her workplace. Now, it turned out that he was her Boss. How crazy was that?

"Watch your language, young lady," he dismissively replied. "You are at my office, and I'm your Boss." His eyes pointed to his name on the desk.

Again, she hated it when he called her young lady. He made it sound like she was a spoiled child who could not do anything right.

She remembered how he criticized her when he thought she was acting stupid, just like his younger brother. But in her defense, it was usually Tristan's fault, not hers.

"I can see that, but how?" She remembered choosing this place since it was not on the list of Preston's properties. "Your family doesn't own this company?"

"No! I built this company," he informed, leaning on his chair while staring at her.

Suddenly, it made sense.

She realized the company's name, LP Architectural Designs, where LP meant Lucas Preston, meaning he started this place.

"Did you have anything to do with me getting hired?" It was the logical explanation for why it was so easy for her to get the job.

No wonder everyone in the office treated her like she was special. She thought it was real, but it turned out her new Boss might have something to do with it.

"First, I'm not in charge of the hiring staff. I just thought I saw you earlier. It turned out that Adriana Young started working for me today." He widened his eyes at her, seemingly curious about his discovery.

"Ok. So, what do you want?" She wanted to know, seeing that she had no choice but to resign and find another job. She could not continue working in this company, especially after learning who her Boss was.

"What is the deal? Why are you hiding under your mother's name?" He asked.

"Nothing. I don't want my co-workers to think I got my job because of my association with your family." She explained.

Although he might not be responsible for hiring her, she could lose everything she had worked hard for once everyone discovered her relationship with him.

The last thing she wanted was to be the topic of the office gossip. It would destroy her reputation even before it barely started.

"Is this another game with you? Another one of your social experiments. My company is not something you could play with, Andy." He looked annoyed as his eyes narrowed at her.

He had this look when he thought she had done something foolish again.

"No! What made you think that?" Again, she hated it when he treated her like she was a brainless child. "I just want to earn my merit through hard work like everybody else."

That was all she ever wanted. She needed to prove to everyone that she could do it. She did not need anyone holding her hand, carrying her burden, and protecting her from the harsh world.

"Noble, your intentions might sound, but that would not work. We will be announcing our engagement soon. Eventually, everyone will know who you are," he told her, seemingly indifferent to her plans.

She was dumbfounded by his audacity to decide for her, leaving her speechless and immobile.

Then, he pushed a file before her, asking her to read its content. "I reserved a restaurant for dinner. I want you to get ready..."

Whoa!

He was moving too fast.

"Wait! Did you not hear me last night? I did not agree to any of this." She did not need to read the document, knowing it was an agreement. "I am not signing that."

Then, her phone beeped, alerting her of an incoming message. She debated for a brief second whether to ignore it or check it, but the latter part won.

WE NEED TO TALK. MEET ME LATER.

It was a message from Jeremy, asking her to meet him at a bar. She guessed it was time they discussed their situation.

Since her birthday, she had avoided talking to him or answering any of his calls. But she guessed she could not avoid the inevitable forever.

"What do you want, Andy? Name your price." He stood from his chair and moved before his desk, looming over her.

Suddenly, she could feel his presence as he looked down at her. She had always found him intimidating, perhaps because he was older than her and very successful. Still, she was not about to cower to his will.

"I'm not for sale." What did he think of her? Of course, he thought she was a gold digger who only milked their family for their money. "You can't buy me."

The nerve of this man!

How she had even fallen in love with him when they were young was a mystery to her. Luckily, she had realized he was not the one for her.

But apparently, Jeremy was not either.

"Everybody has a price, Andy. Whether you like it or not, we are getting married. If you don't want to do it for money, do it for my father. You owe him that much."

Of course, he would use the guilt card on her. She thought there were many ways to repay the Preston family for their help.

But to him, there was only one way.

"Not me." She was not going to let him bully her into marrying him. "I'm sorry. I'm not marrying you." She was deadset on that.

"As for dinner, I can't make it since I already have a date." She stood and walked out of his office.

She loved Daddy Frankie, but she could not give up her freedom.

I will have to find another way to pay him back.

But she would not be trapped in a loveless marriage with this man.

No! Never!