Page 14 of Ruthless Financier
I learned as I grew up that power fed on fear. And since I could survive on nothing but my street smarts, the richest players in the world could do nothing to make me fold.
Every step I took was one step closer to pulling my father off of his corporate throne. I’d let him suffer and know what it was like to be hungry.
This was why I demanded that my wife, even a temporary one, had to be the model of a lady. Someone who wouldn’t cause anyone to note anything off center. and who would fit perfectly into my life.
Until the sex scandal I’d never considered marrying anyone until I succeeded in my plans.
If I had, I’d have approached Indigo very differently, as she had something that drew me to her like a magnet.
But enough dawdling in my room preparing for this wedding. I cracked open my door and called my right-hand man these days who was waiting there for me.
“Russ, did you get the file on Indigo Steel ready for me?”
“Yes, it’s on your desk, sir.”
I hated being called “sir.” That was my father. But Russ was excellent at his job and he said the name helped him remember his station.
I paid him enough to have whatever he wanted, but he always stood like the former Navy SEAL he was. I closed the door and picked up the white paper with her name on it. It was next to the dossier on Sun and Moon Trust I’d been reading earlier.
I quickly scanned the document.Indigo Steel, second oldest of six sisters …I chuckled and imagined six versions of Indigo. Damn. That would be almost too hot to be anywhere near. She was the sexiest lady I’d seen in the two months I’d been searching for a wife and checking out every woman who came near me. She was 100% sexier than any other woman I’d been with. No one made me forget myself in a kiss—until her. But I held in the desire and mumbled to myself, “She’s mine now and I can have my fill once we go through the formalities. Be patient.”
My cock lowered a little at the command, but I meant what I’d said.
She’d be mine.
For now, I settled back to read more.Her parents took in multiple cousins and at least twenty Steels consider themselves immediately family, including Jasmine, her right-hand worker…
I couldn’t imagine having a large family. I’d been alone, for as long as I could remember. I continued reading: mostly A’s for grades. I flipped the page.Worked at Benson PR for five years, promoted multiple times… I expected that, as her reputation was well known. But I tapped the page on the last tidbit:Ran two nonprofit women’s shelters.
Now that was interesting. And there might be more there on why she married me. I straightened my cufflinks that had my name engraved on them, and threw open the door to leave.
As I walked out, I said, “Russ, get me the financials on the nonprofits.”
“On it,” he said. He walked with me as my bodyguard through the hotel and ensured I entered the limo that waited for me.
Frank was checking on my bride and would follow her to the chapel.
A few minutes later I walked into the quaint, small chapel and looked around.
My mother had always wanted me to marry in a church, but this model room was the closest she’d get for now.
I remembered how, at night, she’d be on her knees in front of the cross on the wall, begging for help.
I’d been too young to do much, then.
On the drive, I read the text from Frank that told me Indigo was on her way to the chapel.
For a second I saw a fantasy in my mind of her in a white dress, her lips curled in a smile like she truly was my one and only. She’d take my hand and mean forever when we said our vows, like we were meant to be.
As the limo stopped, I shook that dream from my mind. There was no time for indulging in nonsense. But I said to myself, “You have more reasons than you’re letting on …”
I wasn’t stupid. Indigo wasn’t marrying me because she was fighting some secret attraction, like I was. She had probably been pretending with those kisses that made my body soar. Twenty-five million was a lot of money for someone in the middle class.
The number came out of her mouth so easily that I knew she had more than a business reason.
I headed into the chapel and the music started.
She must have arrived too. I took my place with the hotel minister and watched the aisle as photographers took my picture.
