The Slaved Boss

Chapter 1

MIKARLOS DEVIEL AUXTRIVA POV

"Marry my daughter."

I took a sip of wine, keeping a stern expression. "I don't do marriage, old man."

I knew he wasn't really after the marriage. I just wanted him to get straight to the point. I hate people who beat around the bush-I always get straight to business as directly as possible.

"You can have my company," he added, making me frown. "You can even have all my properties if you just take good care of my daughter."

"Let's say we merge companies, but I won't interfere with how you run them," he continued. "It's all yours, young man. But only if you marry my daughter and take really good care of her."

Well, that's new. Marry his daughter and, in return, gain control over their business and properties?

What's in it for him? Isn't this too good to be true?

I don't really care who I marry, and I'm not the type to marry for love. But if it's for business, who am I to refuse?

Thinking about it now, his offer is entirely in my favor. But I can't be too hasty-I know for a fact that he's a businessman and a competitor. There's no way this comes without strings attached.

"Just marrying and taking care of your daughter is all it takes for me to have all your properties?" I repeated, making sure I heard him right.

"Yes," he confirmed. "I'll draft a contract to ensure that all conditions are met. If not, the offer will be terminated, and my daughter will inherit everything I originally intended to give you."

If that's the case, why doesn't he just take care of his own daughter himself? Or hire someone else? Why does it have to be me?

Do I look like a fucking caregiver? I don't even give a sht.

His offer seems risk-free, which makes it even more suspicious.

I glanced at my wristwatch-7:51 PM. I stood up, ready to head upstairs to my penthouse.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Ferrer," I said. "But I'm not interested in whatever it is you're proposing."

He stood up as well. We shook hands, and he handed me his business card, which I accepted just to be polite. I just wanted this conversation to end-I had a long day and needed rest.

"Feel free to contact me if you ever change your mind, Mr. Auxtriva," he said. "I look forward to setting an appointment with you and finalizing everything."

"Alright," I replied, though I had no intention of doing so.

Still, something about his offer made me want to figure out the real catch.

"Klarion," I called my personal assistant through the intercom. "Escort Mr. Ferrer."

Aside from investigating his business, I also hired private investigators to gather information about his daughter-Leurheine Angela Ferrer.

"Is that my future sister-in-law?"

I quickly hid the pictures scattered across my office table and straightened up.

"Shut up, Klarion!"

Klarion isn't just an employee-he's my younger brother. He's here so I can personally teach him the ins and outs of running a business.

"Mom should've named you after a door so you'd at least know how to knock instead of sneaking around like a f*cking creep."

He just chuckled. "She's gorgeous. Let me see again."

I swiftly shoved the photos inside my desk drawer before he could grab them. I don't know why, but I absolutely hate it when people touch my things.

"Pfft, just leave her to me then," he teased. "You don't seem interested anyway."

"That's not why you're here," I reminded him. He was getting sidetracked. "How did it go?"

"Changing the topic, huh?" he smirked. "Nice."

"Speak, Miklarion Ethan," I demanded, turning my swivel chair to face the city skyline outside my window.

He knew I was serious whenever I called him by his full name.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "Contrary to your suspicion, Mr. Ferrer's business is far from bankruptcy. So that's definitely not the reason for his proposal."

"Hmm," so it's not bankruptcy after all. "Then what else could it be?"

"Maybe he just wants his business to expand even more."

"I highly doubt that," I disagreed. "If it were purely for business, he wouldn't be putting his only daughter on the line."

"Mergers don't require marriage. Marriage is only for allies. And we're each other's biggest competitors," I explained further.

"Good point," he admitted.

"But why are you so caught up in this?" he asked curiously. "You could just forget about it. What's with all the investigators?"

I fell silent.

He was right. I was ready to drop it, but the moment I saw her face-that angelic face that invaded every corner of my mind-I suddenly became curious. I wanted to know more.

She was the only woman who had ever captured my attention like this, piquing my interest even before I had met her. All I had were pictures, yet they somehow awakened a part of me I never knew existed.

I shouldn't be lusting after her. Not when she's the daughter of my biggest competitor.

Leurheine Angela Ferrer, what have you done to me?

"We'll be switching positions from now on," I announced with finality.

I stood at the boardroom, facing the board of directors, declaring that my younger brother, Klarion, would temporarily take over the company for as long as I needed him to.

"Huh?" he asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Yeah, he's clueless, but I've already thought it over, and my decision is final.

"I have some business to take care of, and I need your position as my personal assistant," I informed him.

Even though everyone looked perplexed by what I had just said, I continued.

"This means you'll be handling everything here while I'm away since you'll be the acting CEO in the meantime."

"What?" he exclaimed.

"You'll do just fine," I reassured him.

"I'll leave Summer Perez to assist you," I added, referring to my executive secretary.

"I know... but you won't be around?" He frowned. "So that means I won't be able to boss you around?"

"Psh! Useless."

Oh, how I wanted to beat the sh*t out of him right then and there.

"I'll drop by from time to time-to kick your *ss."

The board laughed, though I wasn't joking. I momentarily forgot we were in a formal meeting.

"Mr. Auxtriva, it seems the two of you didn't discuss this matter beforehand," one of the board members pointed out.

"And honestly, I don't think appointing a tyro to take over the company is a good idea," he objected.

"Why?" I turned to him. "Do you think declaring you instead of my brother would be a better choice?"

He tensed up, unable to respond.

"Now, don't get me wrong, Mr. Garcia," I said calmly. "I chose Klarion as the acting CEO not because he's my brother but because I know he's capable of handling the role."

The others nodded in agreement.

"I know what I'm doing. I've been personally training him for months now. So if you underestimate him, that would also mean you're underestimating me. You're not underestimating me, are you?"

"No, sir," he quickly answered, avoiding my gaze. "I would never underestimate you, Mr. Auxtriva."

"Of course. That's what I thought," I said, gritting my teeth.

---

As soon as the meeting adjourned, Klarion followed me out of the boardroom.

"How long will you be gone?" he asked.

"It depends."

It depends on how long I can keep up this disguise as her personal assistant-long enough to see if I should reconsider her father's proposal.

Long enough to finally make her mine.

But is it really up to me?

Because if I'm being honest, I think I had already decided the moment she started haunting my dreams.

With that thought, I pulled out Mr. Ferrer's business card-the one I've been carrying around these past few days, hesitating whether to call or not.

But now, my decision is final.

I dialed the number, and after a few rings, his secretary picked up.

"Hello. This is Mr. Ferrer's secretary from Ferrer Corporation. How may I help you?"

"This is Mikarlos Deviel Auxtriva. Tell Mr. Ferrer-I'm coming over."

To Be Continued...