A Daring Proposal.
"Alexander's point of view"
" You can't be serious" I roared pounding the table in frustration, my day was not going well, and it was only freaking nine am. I had a headache in my right eye, the sensitivity to light meant it was probably a migraine but I didn't have time for that. I needed to work but my work was being hindered by a Maloney of all people.
Donahue's construction was my life's work, I'd devoted most of my life to building it to where it is today, an opportunity that my uncle had granted. After Jared had abandoned the family company Uncle Trent had handed off many responsibilities to me.
Ian was always sick and couldn't get in with the fast pace of the company. Most people were certain that I would inherit the company, but most people didn't know what I knew.
This was the reason why I could never be civil with the Maloney's and having them steal even this from me was unacceptable.
" Oh calm down and don't frighten the poor girl " my uncle tutted referring to the acquisition manager who'd brought me that bad news.
"Besides they might be a new development," he said softly and I scoffed
" If you're referring to the marriage between Ian and that girl I'll have to remind you that she's rumored to be going out with a fucking Maloney" I spat, foolish chit if you asked me, she could have done way better.
" And I've been assured that is not the case" he replied.
I said nothing else, I didn't want to ruin his hope, he was right an alliance with a noble house would be beneficial. The country had long abandoned the idea of monarchy and nobles but those families still existed and were revered and any business they proposed or backed, where a shoo even in government. It was a BS but reality.
" Get ready for the ball tonight," my uncle said and I sighed, the Sablo annual business ball was tonight, it was a night for networking, one thing I hated doing but tried for anyway.
" Will you be bringing Tammy?" my uncle asked and I shrugged. Tammy Ford was my stress relief, sometimes I took her out but she was not a special woman as my uncle would like to believe
" We'll see" I huffed. Right now I wanted this bid and I needed a plan to get it.
The Sablo annual charity ball was a place to network which was something I needed to do a lot of today but as I stood on the balcony instead of the hall I tried not to let my anger get the best of me as I argued
" what if he doesn't have all the pull" someone asked walking to the balcony, I stiffened and turned slowly to face her.
She was a beautiful woman, her blond hair was packed artfully and although her dress was extremely seductive, she still managed to look elegant.
" What if who doesn't have the pull" I asked blandly, she grinned
" You know exactly who I'm talking about" I laughed
" Are you always this brazen or is this just being plain stupid" I
She sipped her drink and walked fully onto the balcony. The moonlight was bright enough that I could see her better, her face was small, almost like a doll, she had gray eyes that glimmered in the moonlight, and her lips were pink and cute all in all Leila Castor was a knockout
" I like to take initiative" she replied
" And just who are you " I asked as if I didn't already know who she was
" I'm someone who hates the Maloney's almost as much as you do"
I arched a brow suddenly intrigued
"And just why would I need your help" I asked stalking her and towering over her, she shifted back and swallowed rapidly until her back touched the wall.
" You need the construction bid, you can refuse my help but I'm sure it will sting when Ben Maloney gets it" she muttered her voice filled with derision, I smiled leaning into her
" And just how can you help me with this? Who are you" I asked as if I didn't know I had the Castor princess in front of me.
" I'm the Castor girl" I frowned and pulled away from her with a suspicious glare willing to play along.
" I am Leila Castor, it a pleasure to meet you" I remained quiet for a long time just watched her then I sighed
" I'm Alexsander Cross," she stiffened
" I see you know who I am, which means two things" she muttered
" You are aware of your father's arrangements with my family, and since you're not actively rejecting it the rumors about your relationship with the Maloney brat are false" I replied, she sighed
"Yes, and no" she replied
" Yes I am aware of my family's plans, and yes I had a brief and regrettable relationship with Ben, but no I'm not with him and I don't plan on it any time soon" he laughed
" Women" I muttered under my breath and she froze
" What do you mean by that" she asked
" Well I can't believe you just left your sworn lover for no reason, so which one is it, he wasn't proposing fast enough or he was sleeping with someone on the side"
" You don't have to be crude" she gritted
" If my language is a problem I don't think we'll work well together princess" I replied mockingly.
She barely stopped herself from reacting
" Marry me" she muttered instead, and I froze surprised
" And why would I do that princess" I asked,
" Because you need the construction bid because my family's name can afford you that bid." I huffed
" We all know the government likes to say there's equality but we both know that if the project had the stamp of someone from a noble house it's approved," she said snapping her fingers.
I laughed after a long bout of silence
" I can admit that this is a nice offer princess but I'll have to decline"
" Why" she asked, I paused and cornered her into the wall again, I took my fingers and ran them over her face
" You're pretty and all but I don't take leftovers. And not the leftovers of the Maloney brat" Her palm landed on my face in a loud slap that echoed in the quiet space.
I pulled back laughing, then shrugged
" And besides if you know about the arrangements you should know that my uncle has his son in mind as your husband"
She swallowed
" And I know that your uncle's son is a sickler, it's funny your uncle thinks he can pawn off his inferior son for my family name" she muttered and I growled
" Don't fucking talk about my cousin that way"
" Then don't call me leftovers ever again. I'm no one's leftovers as you so eloquently put it"
" How did you know about Ian's illness" I asked and she sighed
" You think you're the only one with access to news. You're wrong"
" Why me" I asked
" I need someone who wants revenge as much as I do and I doubt that's a trait Ian has " she offered, I frowned –
" Then Ian will do just as well" I replied
" Not if I don't say he won't. We both know your father is offering a knockoff. I don't mean to be rude but practically I bring more value than Ian ever will, if he dies I'll be his widow, you get to keep my name but I may not have my revenge"
My brows were furrowed– she was surprising me
" Why do you need me to marry you so bad" I asked, she grinned
" Because that will be taking away the one thing that Ben wants"
" You see you were right about why I was leaving him. He screwed another woman on the side, that I could have forgiven but what I can't forgive, is his ploy to use my name to get what he wants" I replied and Alex huffed a laugh
" Remind me not to screw you over "
" I will" she replied saucily,
" Will your father accept this "
" He'll be glad I'm not marrying a Maloney" she replied
" While I like this idea I'm not sure if I want to be married to screw the Maloney over"
" It's going to be a marriage in name only, you can do what you want and I can do what I want. We'll both get our needs met elsewhere." I frowned at that leaning into her
" I'll say this only once. If we're doing this, there'll be no others"
" Fine I get it stop crowding me"
I just grinned looking over her shoulder, Ben had arrived and he was hurrying towards the balcony, I smiled
" Let's see how much he wants you, princess" I muttered, she looked up at me confused, I ben
t my head in and kissed her hard, my eyes locked with Ben Maloney.