Marrying her Ex-husband's Uncle

Chapter 5

Barbara didn't have to wait long.

Barely ten minutes after ending the call, a luxurious black sedan pulled up in front of her. The driver stepped out. She immediately recognized him as the man who had delivered her clothes that morning.

He greeted her with a polite smile. "Good afternoon, Miss Barbara. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Ryan, Master Nate's personal assistant."

He opened the passenger door for her.

Barbara returned his smile. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you too."

Once she was seated, Ryan gently closed the door before taking his place behind the wheel. Moments later, the car pulled away from Oceana Shipping Lines.

The ride was quiet.

Barbara had no idea where Nathaniel had sent Ryan to take her. At the moment, she only had one goal.

Revenge.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice when the car came to a stop.

Ryan opened the door for her. "We're here, Miss Barbara."

"Thank you."

Stepping out, Barbara looked up at the towering skyscraper before her. Oceana has always been an impressive company. But compared to the Stavros Group...

It looked insignificant.

"This way, Miss Barbara." Ryan led her inside.

They entered a private elevator that took them directly to the executive floor. After passing the reception desk, he opened the door to an expansive corner office.

"Master Nate is still in a meeting," Ryan explained. "Please make yourself comfortable. If you need anything, I'll be right outside."

"I'm fine. Thank you."

As soon as Ryan left, Barbara took the opportunity to observe the office. The décor was elegant yet understated. White marble blended seamlessly with rich walnut wood, giving the room a timeless sophistication.

There were very few decorations.

Everything reflected efficiency.

Behind the executive desk hung an oversized portrait of Nathaniel himself. His hazel eyes stared straight into the camera with such intensity that it almost felt as though they could see through anyone who looked at him.

About twenty minutes later, the office door opened.

Heavy footsteps echoed across the room.

Barbara immediately rose to her feet.

"Good afternoon."

Nathaniel nodded. "Good afternoon. My apologies for keeping you waiting."

She smiled politely. "There's no need to apologize. It was only twenty minutes."

The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

"Please." He gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "Have a seat, Miss Ferrer."

Barbara sat down without hesitation.

Nathaniel folded his hands on the desk. "So… What made you change your mind?"

"The reason no longer matters, Mr. Stavros. You needed a wife. I'm here to become one."

A faint smile appeared on Nathaniel's face. "Straight to the point."

"I believe your time is valuable. I have no intention of wasting it."

"I like that."

For the first time, Barbara noticed genuine interest in his eyes.

Good.

That could work in her favor.

"So," she said, meeting his gaze, "what do I receive in return for agreeing to this marriage?"

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair. "Twenty million dollars. If that isn't enough… You may name your price. We can negotiate."

Barbara remained silent for several seconds.

Twenty million dollars was more than enough to rebuild her life.

But money alone wasn't what she needed.

She needed power.

"You said I could name my price."

"I did."

"Then here's my offer. I'll accept half of the money."

Nathaniel's brows lifted slightly. "And?"

"I want your help taking revenge on my ex-husband."

Silence settled between them.

Nathaniel watched her carefully. "And what," he finally asked, "do I gain from helping you?"

Barbara answered without hesitation.

"I intend to reclaim Oceana Shipping Lines. Once I do… I want to merge it with Stavros Logistics. You'll own half of the company."

Nathaniel said nothing. His silence suggested he was carefully calculating every possibility.

Finally, he spoke.

"Luke is my nephew. What makes you believe I'd betray him?"

Barbara wasn't intimidated. “Because you're a businessman. You've already calculated what my proposal is worth. You could settle for a simple business partnership with Oceana… But owning half the company is an entirely different matter. Oceana perfectly complements Stavros Logistics. Together, they'd dominate the shipping industry."

"So… What do you think?"

Nathaniel leaned back, studying her for a long moment.

Barbara remained calm. Whatever his answer was, she had nothing left to lose. She had already lost everything.

Finally...

Nathaniel smiled. "I'm impressed, Miss Ferrer."

Barbara silently released the breath she'd been holding. She still had a chance.

"But I'm curious. You're clearly intelligent. So how did your ex-husband manage to outplay you?"

Barbara swallowed. "I have my reasons."

"Care to share them?"

A faint smile touched her lips. "I don't think revealing all my cards this early would be fair, Mr. Stavros."

Nathaniel chuckled softly. Then he extended his hand across the desk.

"Deal. The marriage documents are already being prepared. Within the hour… You'll officially become my wife."

Barbara looked at his outstretched hand. Most newlyweds sealed their marriage with a kiss. Theirs began with a handshake.

She had walked into this office as Barbara Ferrer. She would leave it as Mrs. Barbara Stavros. For the second time in her life, she was marrying into the Stavros family.

Only this time...

She wasn't marrying Luke.

She was marrying Nathaniel Stavros—her ex-husband's uncle!