The ruthless heir's contract wife

Manhattan was the site of the Tan Corporation, which was an enormous steel and glass structure intimidating with its sheer presence and continuously emitting power, ambition, and human perseverance. The edifice did not only signify the power and supremacy of the corporation that built it but also represented New York city skyline's sharpness where it was merely one of the various skyscrapers. The power, strategy, and even the controversy of the past century vied for supremacy in this city. It was not merely a structure; It was an inheritance. And Adam Tan was the chosen one. Adam was leaning against the wall of the executive boardroom on the sixty-eighth floor, a floor-to-ceiling window in front of him, and his hands resting comfortably inside the pockets of his tailor-made charcoal suit. Below him, the New York City was pulsating with highly active and colorful life: yellow cabs were constantly weaving through the streets, people were absolutely hurried with their different purposes, and lives were developing in a nonstop manner. Nevertheless, everything up here appeared small and trivial. This was just the way he preferred it. “Adam!” His mother’s voice suddenly disrupted the quiet atmosphere in the room and came from behind him. He did not turn around at once. He was already aware of the topic of the meeting. When both his parents opted for a “family discussion” in the boardroom rather than in the private lounge, it signals business. Moreover, in the Tan family, blood and business were tightly intertwined. “Sure, Mom,” he calmly replied, and at last turned around. Mr. and Mrs. Tan were at the long shiny table where some of the most powerful deals in the country had gone through. His father, Richard Tan, was still looking very much a powerful mogul even though he was close to retirement; he had sharp eyes, silver hair neatly combed back, and a straight posture with authority practically carved into his bones. His mother, Eleanor Tan, who was an elegant and composed lady, folded her hands carefully on the table, and her face was expressionless. Adam took the seat opposite to them and his presence was already dominating them even in his silent stature. At the age of twenty-eight, he was already regarded as the most merciless executive that Tan Corporation had ever produced. Investors were scared of him. His competitors held him in awe. The staff held him in snob and he was the most admired of them all. “Your father and I have made a choice,” Eleanor started. Adam lit a tiny smile on his face, “You always do.” Richard Tan sounded a bit hoarse as he cleared his throat. “We are going to resign.” That statement completely drew Adam’s attention. “Going to retire,” his father went on. “Starting from six months’ time.” The announcements dropped down heavily in the atmosphere. Adam had never doubted that the day would come, however, knowing it and feeling it were two complete different things. He had spent years getting ready for this, long nights, strategic takeovers, personal sacrifices. Tan Corporation was not merely his legacy. It was war to him, a test of strength. “And so?” Adam said, still in an even tone. Eleanor pulled a thick brown folder from the back of her hand and slid it across the table to him. Adam had a quick look at it and then turned to his parents again. “What is this?” “The last clause of the inheritance,” Richard answered. Adam started looking through the folder. His eyes went the whole length of the document and his jaw almost imperceptibly tightened. He read it once. Then, again. Then, he laughed. A short, soundless laugh. “Are you really kidding me?” Eleanor’s demeanor softened a bit as she said the name, "Adam." He replied with a simple "no," however, it was accompanied by the action of shutting the folder and pushing it as far away from him as possible. "This is ridiculous," he added. Richard, on the other hand, was already very sure of himself and even slightly enjoying the discussions, hence leaned forward and with a firm tone less inviting than before stated: "It is final." Adam couldn't take it anymore and said in a loud voice as he was getting up, "I can't believe you are practically forcing me to tell you that what I've done for this company, all the buying of companies, and taking risks etc. have been in vain just because..." His hand move was like a lightning strike. "Marriage?" “There are many layers to it and the most important one is stability,” was Eleanor's composed answer. “Then comes the image and the legacy.” “It’s about power,” Adam retorted. The air was thick with silence. Richard then, in accordance with his calm and steady character, said, “The clause states clearly: you have to get married within the time frame stipulated in order to take over as president of Tan Corporation.” Adam couldn't help it as the question "And what if I don’t?" escaped his lips despite his awareness of the answer. “Then your cousin will be the one to inherit the position,” Richard replied calmly like a dealer going for the next round. In a way, it was a mixture of disbelief and disgust that showed in Adam's face. “Daniel?” he confirmed. “Yes,” Eleanor responded, “Daniel Tan...” noticed by married, compliant and utterly uninterested in the company. A man who was present at the board meetings because he had to come and left as soon as he could. A man who never even tried to conquer the empire but would be content to just sit on the throne of it. "You'd give him all the power?" Adam's tone was icily questioning. "He satisfies the condition,” was Richard's matter-of-fact reply. Adam sensed a treacherous feeling curling in his chest. “This is a matter of blackmail," he stated softly. "No, this is about keeping the family history alive," was Eleanor's retort. “Your grandfather thought that a king can lead only if he is a master of his own home.” Adam turned from the window to the window, only to see in the glass the stranger that was his reflection. Marriage. That word really upset him, it was like an unpleasant taste in his mouth. Over the course of years, he had been slowly and painstakingly building walls around his heart, emotions, and life. Women only made things more complex. Bringing along their own ideas. Requiring sometimes even to be weak. And no, weakness could not be allowed in his world as the strongest . “There’s a deadline,” Eleanor added. Adam took a deep breath and then let it out very slowly. “Naturally there is one.” “Three months,” he was told.Richard said. Adam laughed again, sharper this time. "You're asking the impossible." "No," Eleanor said softly. "We're asking you to choose." Adam did not say anything. His brain was working out the problem, making plans. He needed a loophole, a way out, something. Then... Lily. Her face came to his mind suddenly. Lily Chen. The only woman who had ever been with him without trying to change him. Their families had been connected for a long time, business meetings becoming family vacations, unspoken expectations developing quietly long before either of them realized it. If anyone could meet this absurd demand, it would be her. "I'll deal with it," Adam said at last. Richard gave a nod. "Good." A few moments later, when Adam left the meeting room, his face showed no emotions, it was very composed, but a change had occurred inside him. Marriage was a game he had no intention of playing. However, if it was the price to pay to defend what was his He would pay it. Even if it meant sacrificing everything else.