Chapter 1 She's not worth it

"No way! There is no way in hell I'm getting married to her, grandfather."

Nathaniel Blackwood's furious and sharp voice sliced through the air like a blade as he spoke.

Maddie froze just outside the office door as she listened to him shout. Her hand which had been poised to knock on the door hung in the air as if it had been paralyzed.

She wasn't sure what she had expected when she walked into Blackwood Enterprises this morning but it certainly wasn't coming to see that her prospective husband was arguing-very loudly-about how much he didn't want her.

Inside the office, another voice, older, less loud but no less commanding, responded. "You need a wife, Nate. This is not up for discussion."

A sharp and bitter laugh followed in response. "Oh, it's very much up for discussion, Grandfather. I refuse to play the same twisted game my parents did. I refuse to play it with this stranger from God knows where that you were hooking me up with. "

Maddie's fingers curled tighter around the strap of her handbag.

The receptionist who had led her here gave her an uneasy glance as she clearly debated whether to announce her presence or quietly disappear. Maddie spared the woman a nod-she could handle this.

Or at least she hoped so.

So, steeling herself, she stepped forward and pushed the doors open.

Neither man noticed her as she walked in.

Nate's back was to her as he stood behind a massive oak desk. His broad shoulders were stiff and his hands were braced against the polished surface of the desk as he glared at the older man who was across from him. His grandfather, Bill Blackwood, sat in an imposing leather chair and his aged face was etched with frustration as he stared at the younger man.

Nate scoffed as he shook his head while he continued. "My parents' marriage was a disaster, grandfather. You know that so well. You forced them together and look what happened? My mother resented my father every single day of her life. He buried himself in work and she buried herself in her damn affairs and I-" He stopped abruptly and his jaw tightened before he let out a bitter breath. "I was just collateral damage in their perfect little business arrangement."

Bill exhaled slowly as he rubbed his graying temple. "That doesn't mean you shouldn't have a wife, Nate."

Maddie's pulse thrummed in her ears.

If she'd had any doubts about this marriage, they had just been multiplied one hundred fold.

One week ago, she had stood beside her grandfather's hospital bed while she gripped his frail hand and begged.

"Please, Grandfather. Don't do this. I don't need a husband to run Hayes Empires...I can do this on my own."

But his tired eyes had settled on her as he said firmly, "It's either this marriage, Madeline or you forfeit your position as CEO."

And so, she had agreed because the company and her grandfather were the most important to her.

Now, standing in this office and watching Nate Blackwood argue as if marrying her was the worst possible fate, she wasn't sure whether she should agreeing had been a good idea.

Bill slammed a hand on the desk. "This decision is final, Nate. You will marry-"

Maddie cleared her throat just then.

The room fell into silence and both men turned toward her.

For a second, Nate just stared at her and as he did so, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent an uninvited jolt through her.

What the hell, she thought.

She had researched him-of course, she had. She knew he was attractive because she had seen countless pictures of him online to know this. But those photos hadn't done him justice.

Up close, he was magnetic.

He had dark hair that was slightly tousled as if he had run his fingers through it in frustration. Sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. There was a raw edge to his features...something untamed beneath the crisp suit he was wearing and the polished businessman veneer that was to him that could not be hidden.

And for a split second-just one-she felt the unmistakable pull of attraction

Then his gaze hardened as it continued to be locked on her face. His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smirk...that wasn't quite a sneer.

"Well," he drawled in a hard voice laced with disdain, "how long have you been standing there eavesdropping like a fool?"

Maddie's spine straightened immediately at his insult. And just like that, whatever ridiculous moment of attraction she'd felt disintegrated.

She lifted a brow while she tilted her head slightly and said coolly. "Long enough to know that you have the emotional range of a teaspoon."

Bill let out a bark of laughter at that while Nate's glare darkened and his jaw clenched. Then with a slow and deliberate shake of his head, he scoffed out loud.

"So, tell me, Madeline," he drawled out her name like it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "What kind of woman willingly allows herself to be sold into a marriage like this?"

Maddie remained perfectly still and did not say anything.

What could she say?

Nate took a step forward while he continued in a voice that dripped with disdain. "Let me guess...my grandfather waved a fat enough check in your face and you just couldn't resist?"

Maddie's fingers curled into fists at her sides but she forced her expression to remain calm.

It was going to be the first time ever that someone had assumed she was after money.

If only he knew.

But her grandfather had made himself clear to her before he died. "Nathaniel Blackwood cannot know what you're worth, Madeline. That is part of the agreement."

So, instead of insulting him like she wanted to, she simply tilted her head and regarded him with cool detachment. "Actually, I was promised a private island and a yacht. The check was just a bonus."

Bill let out another laugh but Nate wasn't amused. His glare only deepened. "You think this is funny?"

"No." Maddie's lips pressed together. "I think it's ridiculous. But here we are."

He exhaled sharply and turned away as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Of course we are," he muttered under his breath.

Maddie ignored the anger that was simmering beneath her skin and clasped her hands in front of her. "Since this wedding is happening in a week, I assume we should discuss the details?"

Nate let out a harsh laugh. "You assume wrong." He turned back to her with blue eyes that were burning with resentment. "This farce of a wedding is not my problem. You and my grandfather can sort it out like the business transaction it is."

Then, without another word, he strode past her and slammed the office door behind him.

Maddie let out a slow breath after he left.

She turned to Bill who was still watching her with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

"I apologize for my grandson," he said as he shook his head. "He's... resistant."

Maddie lifted a brow. "Resistant?" She sighed as she glanced at the door Nate had just stormed through. "That was certainly not resistant. That was more like full-blown hostility."

Bill chuckled at that. "Give him time."

She wasn't so sure.

After a moment, she met his gaze again. "You planned this with my grandfather."

It wasn't a question.

Bill nodded while his expression grew serious. "Yes."

"Does the wedding have to happen?" she asked.

Bill sighed while his features softened with remorse. "I'm afraid so, my dear. It has to happen."

Maddie swallowed the lump in her throat.

She had agreed to this arrangement out of duty to her grandfather. But standing here now and recalling the pure fury on Nate's face, she knew one thing for certain:

She was in for a nightmare.