Page 12 of Tyrant

For the first time he smiled. Really smiled and it was the most beautiful thing about him. It changed his entire appearance from the handsome but impassive person he was before. The man smiling before me was warm and caring. This surprised me.

“It’s not what you think, although I can have that done as well. However, that man would be out of your life for good.”

“How do you know so much about me?”

“I told you already, I will know everything about a business I am about to acquire.”

“I’m not a business you can acquire. I am a woman,” I stated emphatically. “Moreover, you might need someone else. I am late thirties and might not be able to bear your heir. I did try to get pregnant when I was married.”

“Are you certain you ex wanted the same as you?”

I was sitting across from one of the most powerful men in Dubai and certainly the most powerful man I ever met and was still wondering who he was. I didn’t know if it was just curiosity or genuine interest, but I needed to know him. However, not wanting to waste both of our time I lay my card on the table.

The thought that I was the problem when it came to getting pregnant at the time distraught me and sent me into a deep hole. It took my friend a lot of care for me to climb out of it. It took much more effort to come to terms with the fact that I’d be childless, and now this man was giving me hope. What if I wasn’t the problem then? Gary was such a liar and cheat that I was ready to believe that he was the actual problem. When we’d gotten tested, I was told that I might not ever get pregnant. I just gave up at that point while Gary went on to greener pastures.

I started to reread the document because I needed to know exactly how much he knew and what he would do to protect me. I closed my eyes and shook my head. No Tabby, don’t be tempted. This is too good to be true, moreover this is a man who will never love you. All he wants is an heir for his family and then he’ll divorce you. You’ll get ten million dollars, and he gets to keep the child.

Oh, the inner conflict and the temptation was real. It wasn’t about the money, it was having the influence of being the wife of a man like this. I wasn’t wealthy, but I was financially secure. It was the idea that I would be free from Gary as well as having my own child that tempted me the most. A child that wouldn’t want for anything. A child with a man who could take him places and make him into something great.

“What’s not written here is that I never force a woman to be with me. After the wedding I’ll give you three months to change your mind.”

Was this man real?

“You’ll wait for three months for sex, and if I don’t want to have sex with you, I can just walk away?”

“Yes, no strings,” he leaned forward, his elbows on the table, and his chin resting on his fist in palm. “But you will want to be with me.”

“You are so sure of yourself.”

“What is there to be unsure of? Aren’t you confident enough that I would desire you?”

“You are one cocky man,” I smirked. “So, I just walk away without explanation if there’s no desire. And you are willing to let me go even if you are the one falling for me?”

“I will let you go.”

I should turn down this offer, but the shield I would have with this marriage especially in light of the situation with Gary was appealing. I closed the folder slowly and took a deep breath.

“I’ll have to think this through. I never close a business deal without assessing all the pros and cons of a partnership.”

“Touche,” he nodded, pleased that I used a business term as well. “And that’s one of the reasons I chose you.”

Chapter 6

Zakhar

Thursday…

Calen Newell. My newest target will get what he deserved.

I picked up my private line and made a call to my stockbroker and confidant, Roman McBride. He answered within a few seconds, and we spoke about new stock options before moving on to Vortex Edge Software.

“Offer thrice the selling price and acquire all that’s available on the market.”

“Zak, this company hasn’t had any significant progress in the three years since it’s listed. Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure it’s shareholders will be happy about selling out for three times the price.”

Roman sniggered. “You want to crush this guy, don’t you?”

---