Sven smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Sebastian will figure out something with the leftovers. Won’t you, Sebastian?”
“Certainly, sir.” The butler uncorked a bottle of vintage champagne and filled the crystal flutes.
“I’m…uhm…not old enough to drink alcohol,” Annalise said.
“Didn’t you ever sneak a beer when you were in high school?”
“My dad actually gave me a taste one time. I didn’t like it, so I’ve never tried it again.”
“Not even when your friends were partying? Don’t worry, I won’t judge you. We were all teenagers at one point.”
She turned sheepish. “I wasn’t a popular girl, so I never hung out with a party crowd. Besides, I’m always busy with my part-time job.”
“To help pay your brother’s medical bills?”
“Yeah. Before Robby got sick, we had a mountain of Dad’s medical debts. He passed away from cancer, and we didn’t have good insurance.”
“Oh, dear.” Sven hadn’t guessed she’d lived such a hard life. Robbed of her youth to help shoulder the family financial burden. “Did you mother ever contact your uncle for assistance?”
“Uncle Seymour?” Annalise shook her head. Her long brown hair waved. “Mom wasn’t on speaking terms with Uncle Seymour.. Everything about Uncle Seymour was an off-limits discussion. That’s why I was so surprised to learn he’d passed away and left everything to me.”
“Your uncle was fond of you. You were his favorite niece.”
“I was?”
Sven nodded. “He always said you’re a special girl.”
“I only met him a few times when I was little. Mom said Dad didn’t like it when Uncle Seymour came to visit.”
“Why is that?”
“Dad thought Uncle Seymour was kind of kooky. But again, Dad disliked everybody. He was Mr. Grouchy.”
“I take it he was strict? He was in the military if I’m not mistaken.”
“Marine. He was a drill sergeant.”
Sven couldn’t help but cringe. “I bet you had an interesting time growing up.”
“Despite his grumpiness, he was the best dad in the world.”
Annalise looked dreamy. She had a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones and eyes that could melt anyone’s heart. Her lips were naturally rouge, and curved upward into a perpetual smile. Her teeth were like pearls, white and shiny. Her pale skin was smooth and glowing. She didn’t wear makeup, but she was more beautiful than any women Sven had dated.
“I bet he was.” Sven gestured at her champagne. “Try it. It’s very special champagne. 1928 Vintage Krug. I keep several bottles for special occasions.”
Annalise contemplated her glass.
“It’s all right. I gave you permission to drink. After all, it’s our wedding dinner. A little champagne is appropriate for such an occasion.”
She stared with child-like excitement at the bubbles in the flute. “You’re really taking this marriage thing seriously.”
“Naturally. I’ve never been married before.”
Annalise cut her gaze to him. Her big, doe-like brown eyes watched him with wonder. “You haven’t? Aren’t you going to regret this later?”
“Marrying you? No. I won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I just know.” Sven sipped his champagne. “Are you regretting marrying me?”
“Me?” She startled for a second and quickly shook her head. “I don’t know. I won’t—I think. It doesn’t matter to me as long as I can help Robby.”
“It seems you always put your little brother’s needs before your own.”
“Of course. Robby is the only family I have left. I promised Mom I’d take care of him. I’d hate to break that promise.” She paused. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.”
Sven wondered just how much she had suffered beneath that bright smile and cheery façade. He covered her hand with his and squeezed it. “Don’t worry. I will do everything in my power to get your brother the best care. He’s a fighter, isn’t he? He won’t give up, and neither should you.”
The smile returned. “Mr. Torvik, I mean, Sven, can we stay friends even after we get divorced? This marriage is supposed to last a year, right? I won’t bother you with stupid things or anything. I know you’re a busy man. I’d just like to have someone to talk to once in a while.”
Suddenly, an invisible lump rose in his throat. A year. Twelve months. Fifty-two weeks. How unfairly short. He had started enjoying her presence, and the thought of not seeing her pretty smile every day in his life appalled him. No. He couldn’t let that happen.
“Sven?”
“Let’s not talk about divorce. We just got married today.” Sven lifted his champagne flute. “How about a toast? To our happy marriage.”
Annalise raised hers. The flutes clicked. She took a curious, tentative sip.
Sven schooled a happy face while he brooded about how short the term of their union would be. As Annalise hiccupped from the champagne bubbles, Sven vowed to make her fall in love with him before the year was over.
You’re mine, Annalise.
Whatever it takes.
Annalise no longer believed in fairy tales after her dad passed away, but when she walked down the hallway between the dining hall and the living room, she couldn’t help feeling like Cinderella. She—a dirt-poor orphan suddenly became a princess, marrying a handsome and wealthy Prince Charming. Robby wouldn’t believe it if she told him what had happened today.
She wished she could tell him, but it wouldn’t be much use anyway. About four weeks ago, her little brother had slipped into a coma. Robby had complications with his cancer treatment. One morning, the doctor told her Robby had pneumonia. Later that day, he was declared brain damaged when his breathing was severely disrupted, depriving oxygen delivery to his brain. Yesterday, the doctor told her that her brother was classified as being in a permanent vegetative state. He likely would never regain consciousness. Then the hospital dropped the bomb: they would move him to a facility that took care of patients with his condition, a county hospice. It would cost too much money for the hospital to continue caring for Robby. And since his prognosis wasn’t good, a hospice was the best long-term alternative.
She had been too distraught, too emotionally wrecked to think straight. Juggling between long hours and piles of bills to be paid, she began to crumble, losing her fighting spirit. The doctors had given up on Robby months ago. By moving Robby to a hospice, Annalise felt that she would be giving up on him too, and she didn’t want that. So she struggled to keep him in the hospital.
Annalise stood before a bouquet of red roses. She had never seen roses that size. They were huge with dark green stems and leaves, supporting half-open crimson red petals. The smell was heavenly too. She lowered her head and breathed in the seductive aroma. Her worries and woes melted away. She was happy that she could keep Robby where he was and not have to send him to that death camp. Annalise had seen enough of county hospices to last a lifetime, and didn’t wish to step into one ever again. When her father was in the final stage of his illness, he spent eight months in there. The place was depressing. All of those sick people waiting for death to come and grant them mercy.
But now, she didn’t have to worry anymore. Robby would be well taken care of. She hadn’t given up hope of seeing Robby wake up and get better. She missed him. She missed chatting with her little brother. A real conversation, not the one-sided chat she always did when she visited him in the hospital.
“You like roses?” Sven’s voice reeled her back to reality.
“They’re pretty.”
“Not as pretty as you.”
Her heart skipped a beat from his compliment. She wondered if he was sincere.
Sven looked relaxed. He had ditched his tie and jacket. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up. A couple of upper buttons were undone, revealing his light tan skin. He looked so damn good-looking in his formal suit and even more handsome in casual a
ttire.
Is he for real? Am I dreaming?
She felt self-conscious standing next to him. Compared to him, she was shabby. She regretted not wearing her best outfit. The pink cotton dress she wore was her mother’s. Annalise liked the cut and fit. Very retro. Besides, vintage style had made a comeback lately.
Sven tugged her arm gently. “Follow me to the study. I have a few things to discuss with you.”
Like an obedient pup, she shadowed his heels. It became apparent that the apartment was bigger than she originally thought. No. It was ginormous. Like a mansion squeezed into a luxurious high-rise. She wondered if Sven had the whole story of the building to himself. They breezed past a French door that led them into an inner sanctum. Sven told her that this area was off limits to his staff, except for Sebastian. Housekeeping duties were performed at certain times of the day under his butler’s supervision. There were bedrooms, bathrooms, cozy nooks with plush sofas and a fireplace for lounging around, a private dining room, a full library, and his study. Annalise felt disoriented already. She would never find her way out if she were lost in this paneled labyrinth.
Sven walked to a door by the end of the hall and stopped to enter his passcode on the wall-mounted keypad. A soft electronic noise chirped, and the door clicked open. With a slight push, Sven entered his study. Again, Annalise was awed by the sight. She only saw rooms like this on TV shows. The walls were covered with exquisite mahogany paneling. The sconces looked authentically antique. There was a credenza built from exotic teakwood that was two shades darker than the tone of the room. Floor to ceiling bookshelves housed thousands of gold-gilded, leather-bound tomes. An expansive grand desk was the centerpiece of the study, paired with high-backed plush chairs. Annalise sat in one.
Sven settled behind his desk.
“Is this your mancave?” she asked. “Very nice.”
He smiled. “I guess it is.”
“I don’t see your TV though.”
“I don’t watch TV. Too much distraction. I prefer quiet reading.”
“Seriously? That’s a first.” Annalise tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “The guys at the diner always had their eyes glued on the screen. Football. Baseball. Golf. I thought men couldn’t live without TV. I guess rich people are different.”
“That’s not true. Each person has his or her own interests to pursue, and mine just happen to be slightly different from the mainstream taste.”
“What do you do for fun?”
“Read medical publications. My main interest is in genetics and molecular biology. I like to test my hypotheses in the lab and write essays. Of course, I always welcome constructive discussion with fellow scientists. I was particularly fond of your uncle. He was a brilliant man.”
Annalise rounded her eyes. Sven was a brainiac. Suddenly she realized the gaping chasm between them was becoming wider and wider. It made her uneasy and self-conscious.
“What do you do for fun, Anna?” Sven asked.
“I…uhm.” She tried to think of something, but couldn’t come up with anything. She did nothing but work, work, and work. “Counting my tips in the bathtub, I guess?”
His smile widened. “You’re humoring me.”
“Not really. I don’t have an interesting hobby like yours. I’m a boring girl.”
“Let me be the judge of that, shall I? I look forward to getting to know you better.” He leaned forward and dazzled her with his pearly white smile. “More personal and intimate.”
Her face burned hot. The rhythm of her beating heart quickened. This man affected her in a way that no one ever had done before. What’s wrong with me? She tried to change the subject. “What is it you’d like to talk to me about?”
He straightened his posture, quickly slipping into a businesslike mode. “It’s about your brother. I’ve just finished talking to Emma Viehl.”
“The hospital administrator?” Annalise wasn’t fond of that woman. Viehl was scary. Her obsession was to throw Robby out to the curb and be done with him. Viehl was the one who instructed the doctors to let her brother go and focus their attention on more deserving, paying patients.
“I notified Ms. Viehl that I’ll be taking care of the debt and discussed my plan to remove your brother to another medical facility. I feel that your brother won’t get the superior medical care he needs where he’s at now. I have a couple choices for you to consider. My first pick is Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.”
“Texas?”
“I personally know a few pediatric oncologists in there who are extremely qualified to care for your brother. As you know, even though Robert’s cancer is in remission, his prognosis is highly affected by his vegetative state, making care for him especially challenging.”
Annalise dropped her shoulders. She knew that all too well. Robby used to be an energetic boy and loved sports. He was now reduced to a husk of his former self. He needed a ventilator in order to breathe. His food was delivered via a feeding tube. His skin was moisturized frequently to prevent breakouts and bed sores. His limbs were massaged to prevent blood clots and atrophy. He’d contracted pneumonia and was prone to bladder infections.
Watching her little brother in that condition was slowly killing her inside. But the thought of losing him entirely scared her even more. She wouldn’t give up on him. Robby wasn’t brain dead. Somewhere inside, the Robby she knew was hiding under his deteriorated body. She hoped for a miracle that Robby would open his eyes and became her little brother once again.
She cleared her throat. “Texas, huh? I wouldn’t be able to see him often.”
“You can visit him every week.”
“The traveling cost would be really expensive.”
Sven waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about that. We have a private jet.”
“You own an airplane?”
“Yes. I travel quite often due to my business.”
Annalise mouthed a silent ‘wow.’ She thought about relocating Robby to Texas for a second. “What is the second option?”
“Memorial Sloan-Kettering. They’re located in New York. However, I don’t have any connection to them, unlike Anderson. But I can make a few phone calls and introduce myself.”
“Will you be able to move Robby there?”
“Certainly.”
“Do you mind if I choose this one?”
“Of course not. I had a feeling you’d say that. You want to stay close to your brother?”
She nodded.
“Then Sloan-Kettering it is.”
The heavy burden in her heart suddenly lifted. Robby would get the best care, and she hoped this would give him a fighting chance. She still hadn’t give up on him yet.
Sven tidied up the papers. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, we shall discuss your schedule for the next few weeks. I have liberated some of mine so I can start tutoring you. Let’s see…” He pulled out a neatly typed chart from a folder. “Tomorrow we’ll take care of your brother’s move, and in the afternoon you’ll have an appointment with Jenna Smith. She’s my personal shopper, and she’ll work with you to build your new wardrobe. Jenna will help you procure everything you’ll need.”
“Wardrobe?”
“I must assume you don’t have any business suits, or formal attire for that matter?”
Annalise shook her head.
“Part of being a chairman in a mega-company is how to put on an appearance. You’d be spending your time in meetings and power lunches. As such, I want you to be prepared. Your appearance reflects the company image.”
Her heart slowly sank into her gut. She started wondering if she could pull her end of the bargain fulfilling her uncle’s wish.
“When those basic necessities are taken care of, we must start tackling the inner working of Dune Industry. Naturally, I’ll be the one who makes decisions until you’re comfortable enough to take over. There’ll be board of directors meetings, then inter-departments, shareholders meetings and such. Quite mundane I’d say.”
Mu
ndane? Meeting with smart, powerful people? She wouldn’t know what to talk about in the first place. She’d be making a fool of herself. And she had a feeling she’d be doing that quite often.
Sven noticed her discomfort. “Don’t be nervous. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I won’t leave you alone with those wolves.”
Annalise cringed.
Sven continued. “On a personal side, I’ll be making an official announcement about our marriage to the press by the end of this month. My publicist will handle most of it. We have a meeting with them on Thursday. I think one interview and a session of photo shoots should suffice; only I haven’t decided which magazine should get the exclusive. I’ll let Laurent, the head of PR, fill us in with suggestions.”
“Wait, wait, what interview?”
“You want to make this marriage convincing, don’t you?”
Annalise slumped in her seat. “I guess so.”
He scanned the schedule. “I think that’s about it. Once we get through the initial hurdles, the rest should be smooth sailing.”
Somehow, she didn’t share his excitement. “What if I totally screw up and drive the company to the ground? I’m not cut out for this kind of job.”
Sven steepled his fingers and looked amused. “Dune Industry would probably force you out and compensate you with a ridiculous amount of money, and then another giant company would probably want to hire you as their CEO with even more ridiculous amounts of money and benefits. I can name five people who ruined the companies they worked for, and they still get hired after they left. The whole system is shady. Sad thing is, this practice is not only happening in the private sectors, but in the government circuit as well.”
“Why do people still hire those CEOs?”
“Nepotism, mostly. Those people usually know a member of the board of directors in another company, so they vote for each other for their own benefits. These days you rarely see a person at management level who devoted himself to the good of the company or his subordinates.”
“So, are you a good guy, or a bad guy?”
Her Tiger Billionaire Page 2
