"My father must have not been in his right mind when he wrote those words. Maybe he wrote them after one of his wine parties," Aspen said, pacing his office.

"This is ridiculous!"

"I have huge respect for your father, Aspen. No one could have expected a betrothal," Liam said from the chair across the desk.

"How could he do this?" Aspen asked, still in shock.

"In his defense, you never told him about your decision not to marry."

"It was inferred! I swore I would never marry a woman after what Irene did to me. She tore my heart apart. I've shut the door to love," Aspen said, each word firm.

Liam leaned back, letting silence linger. He picked a candy from the saucer and offered one.

Aspen shook his head in disbelief that his friend would think about sweets now.

"Have you met her?" Liam asked.

Aspen scoffed. "I'm hoping she doesn't exist."

"You know your father wouldn’t have tied it to your inheritance if she didn’t," Liam replied.

Aspen pressed his fingers to his forehead. A knock came at the door.

"Come in," Aspen said.

Sebastian stepped in. "Mr. Goulding, Liam. Good afternoon."

Aspen gave no response, his face tight with discomfort. Sebastian always left him uneasy.

"Good afternoon, Sebastian," Liam replied.

"I have reports on the Johansson family," Sebastian said, taking a seat.

"Why didn’t you take it to my uncle?" Aspen asked.

"I did, but he left for Miami this morning."

Aspen frowned. "He didn’t tell me about that."

Sebastian handed him a file, but Aspen didn’t take it. "You can present it," he said flatly.

"Alright. The Johansson family currently has two daughters, distant cousins." Sebastian laid down two photos.

"They’re beautiful," Liam said, earning Aspen’s glare.

"One is a marketer overseas, the other a baker here in Los Angeles."

"This one looks familiar…" Liam squinted at one photo.

Aspen pushed up from his chair. "I don’t give a damn. Liam, deal with Sebastian. I have a more important meeting." He grabbed his jacket and left.

Liam watched him go, speechless.

"We must reach one of them today," Sebastian said. "Which lady will you select for Aspen?"

Liam touched his chest. "Me? He should choose."

"You and I know he won’t. But I must do my job."

Liam chuckled. "I have to choose a wife for my friend? This friendship never ceases to surprise me." He glanced at the photos. "Aspen has a sweet tooth. I’ll go with the baker."

Sebastian packed the papers. "That settles it. Aspen will marry Carla Johansson."

* * * * * *

The wind blew against the cream curtains in the room allowing the sunlight flood on the bed where Carla lay. She turned to where the sunlight couldn't reach her. Dark circles framed her eyes—three nights without sleep. Every time she closed them, dread kept her awake.

Her phone rang beside her and she picked it without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello." She said, her voice croaky and low.

"Hello. Miss Johansson. I'm Marvin Sebastian. I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Goulding."

Mr. Goulding?

The blur in her eyes rolled away like a blanket. She sat up and cleared her throat.

"Alright..."

"There's an important issue that requires your attention and presence. I'll like to set up a meeting with you at the Goulding's estate today."

"You- it- s-" She stammered, words refusing to form.”

"Is today not okay for you?"

"No, it is." She quickly said wondering why she was hesitating. This was the family of her sworn enemy requesting her presence.

She got off the phone call and matched in the bathroom immediately. As soon as she was done dressing, she looked outside and saw a black Audi parked downstairs. She grabbed her bag and stepped out of the house.

Arriving at the Goulding mansion, she was led to the balcony of a building where she sat waiting. She buried her nervous fingers in her palms and did her best to keep a smile on her face. Finally, someone walked into the balcony.

"Hello, Miss, Johansson, I'm Sebastian." He said walking towards the seat opposite her.

"Good evening, Sebastian." She paused for him to sit and continued, "I've been wondering what could have happened for my presence to be needed so urgently." She tucked a stray stand of hair behind her ear.

"It's no cause for alarm, just a life changing matter. Do you by change know of any bethrotal in you family?" He said going straight to business.

"Bethrotal? No."

"Well, whatever I want to say now is a hundred percent subject to your agreement."

"Alright." Her ears were itching. She stopped her eyes from scanning the environs for the possibility of finding Marcus.

"This document," he said handing a file over to her "states that you, Carla Johansson have been bethroted to the only Son of Luke Goulding, by name Aspen Goulding."

She tilted her head, waiting for a smile that would reveal it was a joke. When none came, she chuckled nervously, covering her mouth.

"Sorry, but you really got me with that joke. THAT was so funny. I give it to you, Sebastian. Can we head over to the real matter?" She said traces of laughter still in her voice.

"It's all in there, ma'am." He pointed to the file in his hands.

She had forgotten she was holding a file. As she read, the laughter drained from her face. Her eyes blurred, her hands suddenly heavy.

As she struggled to comprehend what she had just read, she sensed a figure standing at the corridor. She moved her eyes to see who it was and her breath caught in her throat.

Aspen Goulding.

She swallowed.

Aspen froze. The lady from the dinner. Warmth rose in his chest, his heartbeat quickening. Their eyes locked, tension holding them for what felt like eternity.

"Mr. Aspen. You're welcome. We were just starting." Sebastian said.

Aspen walked in and took a seat adjacent from her, his eyes still on her. Sebastian began to speak but he heard nothing.

She buried her nervous fingers in her palms. She was lost between the feeling in her tummy that Aspen's presence had cause and the realization that she had just been offered a marriage into the home of her enemy.

What could be more crazy than that? How was she getting a golden ticket into the territory of the one man she desired to bring down? She couldn't be emotional now, she took a deep breath in and with all of her strength carved a smile on her face.

"Please tell me more about this bethrotal." She said, raising her slumped shoulder up.

"Alright. The marriage is to happen between now 2025, and 2027. And you'll be required to move into the estate a month to the wedding in order to ensure communication and interaction between you and Mr. Aspen."

Two years.

Enough time to gain access to the empire and carry out her mission. She clenched her fist.

"Miss. Johansson, if these term are too strenuous for you, you don't have to-"

"-I agree." She cut in.

"You agree to this marriage arrangement?"

"Yes, I will marry Aspen Goulding." She stated without mincing her words and looked at Aspen. His lips curved the slightest bit, like a man holding back a secret. His eyes, however, carried something far heavier—an intensity that pinned her in place.

"Mr. Aspen, do you have anything to add?" Sebastian said still in subtle shock of Carla's swift response.

"Yes" he replied turning to Sebastian. "Can we get married in two days?"

Carla's jaw dropped, disbelief etched across her face.