Chapter 1 The Proposal

SAMANTHA POV

My eyes scans the high-rise office, the mahogany desk separating my father from me.

The walls of the office are lined with screens, displaying real-time data on the stock market, and everything is read with only one answer.

My father is broke now, he had broken into the stock market a few years back and never left despite the family's warning. My mother had died from shock when they lost all their wealth the last time, and with the help of her family, they had gotten back on their feet due to me still being a little girl.

But this time, they had withdrawn their wealth long ago and again my father has lost everything to the stock market again.

"What are we going to do Daddy?" My eyes fills with tears, my mind racing with different thoughts, there is no way we can recover from this, "We can lose our house and everything we own Daddy" I shake my head confused about the plan of action.

My eyes met with my father's sunken ones, filled with stress and his shoulders sunken. My father used to be the chief titan in the financial world, but now he looked defeated, sick, and desperate to make it again.

The air smells like fresh coffee and stale papers, but it was something I was used to.

"I...I might have a solution Sam" he says, his gaze diverting from mine slightly.

I didn't know he was that desperate till the double doors behind me opens, my eyes meeting with a tall menacing figure.

His presence seemed to suck all the air out of the room, which made me feel suffocated immediately, a frown takes over my features, turning my eyes back to my father nervously.

"Who..who is this?" My voice falters, a lump in my throat forming as I stand up.

"Samantha.." he stutters, standing up as well, "Sam this is Liam Vasquez.. he says, his voice weak and trembling, "He is willing to help us out" he gulps his guilty eyes meeting with mine.

Liam's eyes locks with mine, his gaze cold and calculating, his tall and imposing figure seemed to take over the room's entire atmosphere, but he is handsome I admit, his hair dark and cut neatly, his shoulders wide and stout, the elegant black suit wrapped around his body seemed to cover his lean and muscular body.

I feel shivers down my spine, as he throws a smile at me, a smile that seemed cold and calculating.

"Samantha," he said my name like honey dripping from a jar, sweet and calm, "It's nice to finally meet you" he stretches his hand out for a handshake

I look from my father and back to his long delicate fingers, I reach my hand out to shake him, and instead of a handshake, he leaves a kiss at the back of my palm, his soft lips meeting with my skin sending shivers around my entire body.

My instincts scream at me to be cautious of him, to do anything but accept his smile, but I force a smile on my lips, "It's nice to meet you as well Liam"

My father gestures to the desk in front of us to sit, "Liam here has a proposal for us" he says with a bit of confidence in his voice.

Did our interaction cause him to be more confident?

"Liam will be investing in our hedge fund, Samantha," he says, his voice cracking, "And he is also willing to pay off all our debts" he licks his bottom lips, turning his eyes to me slowly.

"He will provide the capital we need to keep the business afloat, he will pay off the loan sharks to keep us safe", and in return, his eyes turn to me nervously, you will marry him" his gaze meets with mine finally unwavering and confident in his decision

I felt the air leave my lungs, "you can't be serious Daddy?" I say my voice filled with unbelief.

My Father knew how much I wanted to be with a man who loved me truly, I always spoke to him about a fairy tale wedding and meeting my prince charming, he wouldn't do this to me.

But as I turn to look at my father's guilty face, I know it is the truth.

Liam's expression doesn't change, his eyes looking me over, a smirk playing on his lips

"I am perfectly serious Samantha, I am not a man that jokes, I don't look like a comedian do I?" he raises a brow at me.

I feel a wave of disdain wash over my features, nausea building in my throat, "You can't be serious?" I repeat my voice filled with venom

Liam shrugs his shoulder with barely a care in the world, "Do you want to save your family's business or not? I need a wife who will abide by my rules, and do whatever I ask, whenever I ask" his eyes move over my frame making me move back in annoyance.

My eyes flash with anger turning back to my father, "Dad you can't be serious? Do you want to sell me off to the highest bidder? Who can save your business more?" I raise a brow at him, my voice rising as I speak.

My father's face morphs into one of sadness, his eyes filling with tears cracking my angry facade.

"Samantha please," he begs his voice filled with emotion, "if we don't accept Liam's proposal, we will lose everything, our business, our home, everything your mother sacrificed her life for" He shakes his head crying into his palms

I feel a pang of guilt as my eyes meet with my father, I knew he was desperate and he knew I couldn't bear to see him go through this again.

But marrying Liam? A man I didn't know? A man who looked at me like a piece on his chess board?

My eyes turns back to Liam, ruthless and cunning, a man I am sure, who would be incapable of loving no one else but himself. Being tied to him forever was a deal I couldn't accept.

But as I turn to my father, a somber expression on his face, I have to do this for him, no matter how much it would hurt me, no matter how much I didn't want to.

I sigh, my voice heavy, "I will do it" I turn my eyes away from Liam, a smirk taking over his lips.

His face lit up in triumph, as he leaned forward, "Good decision Sam" he said my name like he has known me for ages, "I will have my lawyers draw up the contract" he sends a short smile to my father turning around with even sparing a glance at me.

A knot formed in my throat as I look at his retreating back, it felt like I had just made a deal with the devil himself.

He pauses, slowly turning his head to me sending a shiver down my spine, "I will see you soon Samantha, very soon" he smirks walking out the door with the answer to my proposal in his hands.