He removed his dome, and then picked up his wine glass. “What’s your favorite color?” He took a long sip.
Arianna’s fist tightened on her lap. Favorite colors were the least of her concerns.
“It’s grey, isn’t it?” He arched an eyebrow. “That’s interesting. I called my designer earlier. He will be here in the morning with some selections for your wardrobe.”
Ivan pulled his lobster apart and even more steam floated up from the plate. “I apologize for the impromptu meeting, but I simply cannot let a good deal expire. I scheduled our ceremony for tomorrow, and I wanted to come together with you to clear the air.”
“A ceremony?” she asked, not able to hold her curiosity in any longer.
He smiled. “Yes. I will announce the union of our two families.”
“No. You will not.”
“Word gets around fast. We should announce soon, rather than receive backlash later. I think you owe it to your people to represent them in this transaction.”
“Transaction?” Hearing it referred to as a transaction repulsed her, but behind closed doors, that was exactly what it was—a transaction. “I don’t owe anyone anything. There will be nothing to announce, because I won’t be following through with this supposed deal.”
He chuckled. “This is precisely why we need to straighten a few things out.” He reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a rolled paper, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
“Your proof that the deal is done.”
She took it and opened it with shaky fingers. The first thing she noticed was the date on the top of the contract. It was the date of her birth. November 8th.
Arianna had dealt with and read many contracts in her days. Many times the legalese bored her. She used what knowledge she had to scan through the standard language to get to the parts that had gotten her into this mess.
…to seal the deal I give my first born daughter, Arianna…
She cringed when she reached this part, still not understanding how her father or any man for that matter could put a price tag on someone they truly loved.
…the sum of ten million dollars will be held in a private vault by a third party executor and transferred to Anthony Klein, Senior (or his successor) upon a successful union…
…the union shall take place no later than Arianna Klein’s thirtieth birthday…
Her 30th birthday was in less than three years. Why now?
She looked up to question Ivan, who studied her intently. “I’m not thirty yet.”
“The terms of the contract say no later than. At any time after your 18th birthday, I could have taken you.”
“Taken me?”
“When you turned 18, you left for college. Your father said it was something that you were adamant about. I decided not to intervene. I wasn’t ready to settle down either, and I got accepted into Harvard a year later,” Ivan said. “There was always something that happened, in my life or yours, that stalled the union ceremony.”
“But why now?”
“I have an investor lined up, waiting to sign on the dotted line. This type of deal only comes once in a lifetime.”
“Why do we need to live a lie in order for the deal to happen?” she asked.
“I don’t know if anyone has told you this, Arianna, but your father has accumulated debt with my family of over two million dollars. To even begin to pay us back, his only resource is our union. Another ten million dollars in liquid assets earns our investor’s approval. Currently those ten million dollars are in private vault as stated in the agreement.”
She shook her head. “Once the ten million dollars is released, why agree to start a partnership together. I don’t get it.”
Ivan grinned. “Ah...you’re very thorough in your examination of this transaction.” He took another long sip of his wine, and licked his lips before continuing. “Why not? I get the total package by doing it this way. A business conglomerate linked to one of the original Caedmon families. A female of noble blood. There can be great accomplishments and conquests with this type of union. Our fathers knew that when they made this agreement. And I know it.”
“What do you mean by conquests?”
“It is no mystery that I am no longer a follower of the current Caedmon leadership,” he said, matter-of-factly.
“Then it must upset you to know that I am,” she said.
“That can and will be changed…come tomorrow night.”
Arianna gripped at the end of the table. “Has it occurred to you that I don’t want this?”
He nodded, slowly. “I expected your resistance. There will be some getting used to this. And obviously you skipped the part in the contract about breaking the union.”
She snatched the contract up and scanned the paragraphs looking for the verbiage.
“Section eleven. Go back a page,” he instructed.
Arianna flipped the page over.
…if the union remains in effect for four years, Arianna Klein will be granted ten million dollars cash…
“And what if I want out of this sooner than that?”
“A couple paragraphs down states that you and your father would have to relinquish everything to me. This is not in the best interest of either party. After all, backing out of this means insulting us and our family. We won’t let that happen. It would make more logical sense to reap the long-term benefits of our agreement. Together, we will move to the top of the hierarchy.”
“I don’t agree to this,” she said firmly. “I want out now! There must be an out clause.”
“There is, but I did not accept it. I gain more by having you. Trust me, if I had doubts about you, I would have broken the contract long ago. I have more to offer you than just cash. You want freedom…you’ve got it. You want to further your education…granted. You want to work in the real world to feel like a real human…okay, I get that. I’m not demanding or overbearing as you would expect from a regular husband. This will be in name only, but with some benefits.”
“Will I have to stay in this house with you?” she asked.
“Yes.” He licked his lips. “I won’t rush you into sleeping with me. I’ll be patient when it comes to that.”
“Sleeping with you!” She almost chocked. “As if. You’re crazy.”
He chuckled. “This issue will come up again, especially since the agreement prohibitions sexual relationships with others.”
“This is insane!” Her outbursts seemed to surprise Ivan. “Do you honestly think you can buy me to do as you wish?”
“I wasn’t the only one who tried to buy you.”
She lifted an eyebrow. Did he know about Jayson’s attempt to pay her way out of the agreement? “What are you talking about?”
“When your father brought me a suitcase of money with the initials JT engraved inside, it became pretty clear where he got the source of funds?”
It still burned her gut just thinking about how both men had attempted to claim her with bank rolls. From Jayson, this was not something she would expect.
“It is no secret that Jayson Truman has been courting you,” he continued.
“Then why would you insist on this union between you and I?”
“By the laws of the Caedmon, courtship means nothing. If he really wanted you exclusively, you would have already been claimed.”
She swallowed, refusing to let those words bother her. “Did it ever occur to you that I prefer to have options?”
“You do have options. According the contract, you belong to me now. We will announce and make official tomorrow night. If you renege on the agreement—should you decide to take that risk—you’d be putting everything your father has ever owned on the line.”
“I will find some way out of this,” she warned, “but until I do, be prepared to live your life in utter hell.”
“This is what it is. Remember…I didn’t make this agreement. Our fathers did this when the both of us couldn’t even speak. This is our fate.
If I were you,” he said in a low raspy voice, “I’d make the best of this situation.”
Ivan turned his attention back to the lobster in the center of his platter. He rolled up his sleeves and began to eat.
Fate had a way of interrupting her plans and throwing everything totally off the course. One thing was certain. There was no way in hell that she could live in an arranged pairing to a man like Ivan Zeldano.
Arianna picked up her fork and shoveled some salad into her mouth.
Ivan stole a glance at her and a corner of his lip turned up into a quick smile. “My chef made chocolate cake for dessert. Your father tells me that it’s a favorite of yours.”
She wanted to stab him in the face with her fork.
Chapter Fourteen
All Arianna could hope for now was that her father got what he anticipated. Out of debt. Out of the Caedmon hall of shame for his money-drenching business decisions. And a name in their history books for being the father of the daughter who joined one of the most influential Caedmon families in a union that would push them to the top.
As she glanced at her father from her position in the chair at the head table, he appeared calm as though all of this was a normal thing. But then again, her father had never been one to give into his emotions. Old in traditions, even the guests among them regarded this as common. She wouldn’t be the first to go down in the Caedmon tales of arranged pairings.
Her father spoke with a male cousin that Arianna hadn’t seen in a long time. The number of relatives in attendance this evening surprised her, given the fact that all of this had been impromptu. For her, at least. The ceremony had been planned in advance for this day. Everyone had been told it would be an important event and that their presence was desired, but they had not been told why.
She almost wondered why her father wasn’t sitting at the head table with her, Ivan, and Luther. It was clear to her before and now, which family would come out ahead because of this agreement. Her father still couldn’t see it or refused to acknowledge it, but in the long run, he would suffer for it.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight, Arianna?” Ivan touched the back of her hand, taking her away from her thoughts.
“You have,” she said, putting her hands down into her lap.
“Gray really does suit you.”
She fingered the beaded stones covering the soft tulle fabric of the dress. The gown was long, elegant, and formed to fit her body. The see-through ensemble wasn’t something she would have chosen to wear for Ivan, but the Zeldano’s designers had brought limited selections.
Ivan’s non-stop flattery and attempts to make her happy had gotten old. It had been going on ever since their dinner last night. She often wondered when his dark side would emerge. The side that others rumored about in the business world. It was evident that he was controlling and good at bending others to suit his needs, but when he didn’t get what he wanted…
She had to keep reminding herself why she was doing this. It would take a little more time than she had anticipated to get herself out of this mess—but she would.
First round of drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres had already been served, and the servants were just beginning to bring out the second rounds into the courtyard area.
She picked at her food, taking bites here and there, just to appease the watchful eyes of guests that had come from near and far to witness the occasion.
The whole ceremony was being held in a private garden at a ranch house in the forest several miles from the Zeldano estate. Half of the attendees were human, and the other half wolf. There had to be some compromise in the middle. It didn’t matter what side of the fence one was on because with the wolves, they always commenced the night by running wild in the aftermath. What better way to do that than out in the wilderness?
“May I refill your wine glass?” A servant touched her shoulder lightly.
“Please.” Arianna nodded. The wine was the only thing keeping her relaxed at this point.
The maid moved on to refill Luther Zeldano’s glass next. Although his old age and arthritis is what ailed him the most, he still presented himself strongly to his guests. Every so often, relatives from both sides of the family would come up to greet him. She could tell that they still honored him and looked up to him despite his son taking over the reins.
Since she’d been whisked away to the Zeldano’s estate, Luther hadn’t said very much to her. In fact, she always caught him staring at her dubiously. What did he expect? For her to crumble at his son’s feet like many women had done in the hopes of getting their hands on the money?
She wasn’t like that. She would crumble at no man’s feet.
There was not an hour that went by that Arianna did not think of Jayson. She’d wished that she had listened to him and stayed by his side. How could she have known that her own father would have betrayed her? She didn’t blame Jayson for not coming after her. She’d willingly left him just as she’d done those other times. Only this time, she was certain that Jayson’s chasing after her would end. After this ceremony, he definitely wouldn’t want her.
One of Ivan’s advisors stepped up to the table and handed him a note. Arianna watched careful as he unfolded the paper and scanned it.
A smile spread across his face. “Announcement time.”
Her heart dropped in her belly.
Luther stood and tapped the side of his empty wine glass with the handle of a knife. Silence fell over the courtyard and people scrambled to take their seats.
“I would first like to thank each and every one of you for attending tonight. This occasion marks a significant milestone in our history,” Luther began speaking. “As a token of our appreciation, every one of you will go home with a set of gold plated wine glasses.”
That seemed to please many, and a round of applause followed.
Arianna bit back her indifference, and her eyes shifted to the moon. It was full tonight, and loomed high and overbearing in the sky. Unfortunately, this would be a night she would never forget.
“It is no surprise that we have a new addition at the head table.” Luther gestured toward her and offered her his palm.
She held her breath and allowed him to help her stand to her feet.
“To those of you who have yet to meet her, I present to you the lovely Arianna Klein, first and only daughter of Anthony Klein, Sr. Half of you know her as your blood kin, and the other half know her for the wolf spirit of Caedmon running through her soul.”
A light breeze ran across her skin and her body shuddered in response.
“Anthony Klein and I have had a long standing business relationship, one that began as me becoming his client. As any smart businessmen will do, we made plans for our future.” He paused before turning to glance at Ivan. “My son has since taken over the bulk of the family business and investments.”
Ivan pushed out his chair and stood beside her.
“I’ve grown tired and am not able to tackle our dealings with as much gusto as before,” Luther continued. “The agreement we are about to unveil has been kept a secret until we felt it was time. We are now in the height of the new millennia and many of our offspring are the face of our leadership tomorrow. We must lead them on the right track…”
“I am proud to announce a union between my son and the daughter of Klein that will take us to the next level.”
Luther paused as an uproar of clapping and joyous words resonated around them. Arianna’s gaze met with her father. He was smiling, of course, but when he saw that she wasn’t, his expression turned dismal.
Luther took his seat, and with shaky hands, he picked up his water glass and took a long sip.
Ivan took this as cue, and took over. “Over the next several months, I will be busy building this empire. We’ve been underdogs for far too long, coming only in second to the current Caedmon leaders who’ve ignored the visions of our great leaders in the past.” He curved his palm around her elbow and squeezed lightly. “One of the ma
in reasons that Arianna and I joined forces was to combine resources vast enough to earn a significant position in the world market today. This is something I believe the current Caedmon leadership will never accomplish.”
Arianna swallowed, shifting slightly to escape from Ivan’s touch and his vindictive words.
“Arianna’s family has had considerable reach in the human markets for quite some time. Likewise, I am proud to be a part of a family—all of you— that has gained shares, no matter how small, in many of the other markets. Together, with this union, we will do remarkable things.”
There was a commotion near the far end of the courtyard. The guards that stood on either corner of the space rushed toward the back. Attention turned from Ivan to the new situation, and their necks craned and most of them stood in an attempt to see what had commenced.
“Intruder,” a male yelled.
A series of gasps erupted.
Suddenly, Luther stood. He clutched the ends of the table and peered out over the rows of guests.
Arianna’s throat tightened as she sensed an air of danger elevating around them.
A high pitched scream rent the air and tables flipped over, sending the seated members scurrying for cover as glasses and fine china crashed onto the pavement.
Arianna heard the fierce growls before she saw what had transpired.
A pack of wolves surrounded them.
“What the fuck!” Ivan explained.
Two of them were fighting, tackling each other and rolling into tables. The guests were forced to vacate their seats as the two angry wolves became aggressive. They toppled over, aiming for each other’s throats.
Suddenly, a huge brown and black wolf lunged between the two sparring wolves. Spittle splattered from his mouth as he growled back and forth between the heated fighters. It was obvious that he was trying to stop the squeamish.
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