His Inheritance
1251 Words
Feigning an excuse that his infuriatingly handsome face was the only thing stopping her from snapping at him and violating her own rule of professional conduct, Lisa exhaled sharply.
“I only accept contracts that last no more than a day.”
But even as she said it, her brain couldn’t help drifting to the figure she had scribbled in her mind.
The amount of money this man had paid for a thirty-minute meeting was enough to cover half her debts… and maybe keep her out of this humiliating business for a good three months or more.
He wasn’t just rich; he was filthy rich. Possibly spoiled too.
“How many days are we talking about?” she asked quietly.
Instead of giving her a straight answer, Arthur leaned in, and Lisa instinctively stiffened.
She didn’t move away though, even when he brushed slightly past her cheek, his breath warm and maddeningly close to her skin.
“A month,” he whispered slowly.
Lisa immediately drew back, as if scorched. Her hands flew to her mouth in a weak attempt to hide the heat rushing up her cheeks.
“I can’t,” she said firmly. “That’s too long. It’s against my rule. A month with someone like you…” She trailed off, not trusting herself to say more.
Because deep down, she knew the problem wasn’t the duration. It was him. He was young, effortlessly confident, and unfortunately… her type.
Arthur leaned back, visibly displeased by her answer. His mouth tightened, and he reached for his phone with a calmness that made her uneasy.
“Then I’ll let him know,” he said, almost casually.
Lisa frowned. “Let who know?”
He didn’t look up. “Jeremy Stone.”
Her stomach dropped. She should’ve known. Of course Jeremy would hang her job over her head like a guillotine.
Lisa bit her lower lip. This was more worrisome than the thought. Though her pride was in the line, she couldn’t afford to lose her job at all.
Her fingers tightened slightly against her thigh.
“Why should I do this?” she croaked. “Convince me. Right now. Because if I do this, I’ll be giving up more than time. I’ll be giving up my sanity.”
Arthur paused, as though in deep thoughts. His fingers drummed lightly against the glass before him.
“It’s just for one purpose,” he said at last. “To show my parents I’m stable, and I’ve finally settled down. It’s a harmless lie. Look, no one gets hurt. We are just going to act like we’re engaged for one month. That’s all.”
Lisa stared at him, her lips parted slightly in disbelief. He said it like it was easy. Like pretending to be someone’s fake fiancée didn’t come with its own hurricane of complications.
“Don’t you think you’re asking too much of me?” she whispered.
Arthur shrugged. “Then tell me what you want in return.”
Lisa hesitated, choosing her next words carefully. “I should think this through. Because once we sign this contract, there’s no going back. No grey areas and exceptions.”
“I’m game,” Arthur replied instantly.
“Good.” Lisa said, sliding a folder across the table toward him. Her expression was unreadable, but inside she was a whirlwind of nerves. She didn’t like how eager he looked as he opened the folder.
There was something reckless in his confidence that unsettled her more than anything else. She crossed her arms and watched carefully as his eyes scanned the lines.
His brows began to furrow the deeper he read.
“We’re entering into some serious, legally-binding s**t here,” he muttered, flipping to the second page. “A lot of zeroes… And wait—what’s this part here? You can’t expect me to pay this much and not get what I’m paying for.”
Lisa tilted her head. “You requested me. That means you play by my rules. And my rules include no s*x, no public embarrassment, and absolutely nothing that puts my name or reputation at risk.”
She didn’t add that she had written that clause as a lifeline for moments exactly like this. It was the only thing keeping her calm.
That line in ink was her protection from reckless men and bad decisions. And Arthur Brook was the kind of man who made you forget you had rules at all.
She inhaled, gathering her nerve again.
“There are other conditions too. So I suggest you sign the damn papers and let me get to work. I’ll need real details about your life if I’m going to do this convincingly.”
Arthur’s expression shifted, but he nodded as if he understood. In reality, his mind was already racing toward another idea. Something more… manipulative.
He gave a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“My real name isn’t Andrew,” he said suddenly. “It’s Arthur Brook. The Arthur Brook.”
Lisa’s world tilted a little. She felt cornered, because she’d heard of Arthur Brook. Everyone had. He was the heir to Brook Holdings…
The papers said he was controlling, possessive, and dangerous.
But she was stuck in a contract with him.
“What’s your real name?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Lisa didn’t answer. Instead, she handed him a pen with a quiet insistence. He took it, and without any further argument, scribbled his name on the line.
Beneath the table, Lisa’s fingers curled around the edge of her chair. What the f**k did she just agree to?
Then, Arthur leaned forward again. “Do you want to stop by my suite for dinner?”
Lisa blinked. The audacity of that question. But she glanced around. It was too late to go home anyway, and the idea of being alone suddenly didn’t seem appealing.
Still, she hesitated.
Her only comfort was that Sebastian was likely nearby, waiting, and watching.
“Yes,” she said finally, surprising even herself.
Arthur raised a brow. “Why did I even ask such a silly question?” he muttered to himself.
“Are you sure?”
Lisa blinked, really considering his words. Of course, she was being careless. “You know what?” She stood abruptly. “I should go home now.”
Arthur’s head shot up. “No, I didn’t mean it like that…” he started, but Lisa cut him off.
“What are you planning to do?” she demanded, eyeing him warily. “Don’t forget, you signed the contract. That means you’re bound to follow every damn word in it.”
Arthur smirked slightly. “But I know what you want. And unfortunately, with that attitude, you won’t get it.”
Lisa clenched her jaw. “What I want is to not regret this.”
Arthur simply stared at her. “I have something that might motivate you,” he said coolly.
Lisa looked away, willing herself to stay composed.
Yet, against better judgment, she found herself following him up to his suite.
_______________
They stepped inside a luxurious space filled with golden lamplight and rich scents of polished wood. Plush chairs surrounded a glass table where crystal glasses already waited.
Arthur reached for the whiskey, casually pouring two glasses. "You're hard to convince," he murmured. Then he looked up.
“Fine. I’ll give you a quarter of my inheritance.”
Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up slowly, unsure if she’d heard him right.
- Writer
