The Billionaire’s Blind Wife

Matias One of the problems with being a billionaire at the age of thirty-five isn’t the workload; it’s the fact that everyone assumes your life is a chess match you actually want to play. I stood by the floor to ceiling windows of my office on the sixty-fourth floor, staring down at the gridlock of New York City. The glass was cool against my forehead, a sharp contrast to the irritation burning a hole through my sternum. On my desk lay a notarized contract a relic of an ancient era disguised as a modern corporate merger.An arranged marriage. "She’s a Kensington, Matias," my father’s voice echoed through the speakerphone, smooth and completely devoid of any empathy. "The merger between Stone Industries and Kensington Global isn’t just profitable; it’s necessary to secure the Pacific shipping corridors. Arthur Kensington’s only condition is that his daughter is taken care of. He’s aging. He wants her secure." "Secure?" I scoffed, turning around and picking up the file on my soon to be future wife. "You make her sound like a liability. I’m a CEO, Dad, not a glorified babysitter. If Kensington wants her secure, he can buy her an island and a private security detail." "She’s blind, Matias ." "I can read a medical report, thank you," I snapped, tossing the folder back onto the mahogany desk. "And frankly, I don't care if she flies by echolocation. I don’t have time for a wife, let alone one forced upon me by a boardroom agreement." "The gala is tonight," my father said, ignoring my hostility with the practiced ease of a man who always got his way. "You will meet her. You will be charming. And you will sign the papers by the end of the week. Don't disappoint me." The line went dead. I stared at the phone, tempted to throw it through the heavily reinforced glass. Instead, I adjusted my cuffs, checked my watch, and prepared myself to meet the woman who was about to ruin my perfectly organized , beautifully predictable life Juniper If one more f*****g person touches my elbow tonight without asking, I am going to use my cane to sweep them off their stupid feet. Literally."Oh, Juniper, darling, you look like a literal angel," some woman gushed, her perfume hitting me like a chemical weapon. It smelled like expensive lilies and desperation. "That gold gown is simply divine on you." "Thank you," I said, flashing my most blinding, perfectly manufactured pageant smile. "I chose the color myself. It really complements the absolute darkness of my vision." The woman gasped, a sharp, choked intake of air, before muttering an excuse and scurrying away. I smirked, taking a sip of my champagne. Score one for the blind girl."Juno, behave yourself," my father murmured, leaning down to whisper in my ear. He placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "The Stones are here. Matias is looking for us." "Can’t wait," I sighed, swirling the liquid in my glass. "I love meeting arrogant men who think they’re doing charity work by marrying me. Will he pat me on the head? Should I fetch a stick?" "He’s the CEO of a multi billion dollar conglomerate, sweet pea . He doesn’t do charity. Which is exactly why you need to be on your best behavior. He’s... intense." "I’m terrifying, Dad. There's a difference."Before my father could lecture me on the intricacies of high society decorum, the air in our immediate vicinity immediately shifted. It’s hard to explain, but when you can't see, you become hyper aware of the space and everything around you. The ambient noise of the gala seemed to dip, replaced by a heavy, commanding presence."Arthur," a deep, baritone voice smooth as expensive scotch cut through the noise. "A pleasure to see you." Matias! Excellent. Come, I want you to meet my daughter." I didn't turn around immediately. I took my sweet time, keeping my posture perfectly rigid, my chin tilted just high enough to look elegant but entirely unapproachable."June," my father said, his hand gently nudging me. "This is Matias Stone." I turned, my unseeing eyes tracking toward the sound of his voice. "Ah, the fiancé. The man bought and paid for by fifty one percent of Kensington Global's shipping shares." I extended my hand, my voice dripping with mock sweetness. "It is so lovely to finally meet the man who will be occupying the other wing of my future mansion." There was a pregnant pause. I could feel my father’s blood pressure spiking next to me.Then, a large, warm, calloused hand wrapped around mine. His grip on my arm wasn’t tentative or gentle, the way people usually held my hand, treating me like glass. It was firm. Assertive."The pleasure is entirely yours, Miss Kensington," Matias replied, his voice dropping a fraction of an octave. It was laced with a dry, unexpected bite. "And for the record, it was fifty-two percent. I don't negotiate for anything less than a controlling interest." I blinked, my smirk widening. Well, well. The robot had a pulse. "Fifty-two?" I mused, pulling my hand back and tapping my chin thoughtfully. "My goodness, I didn’t realize I was so expensive. Tell me, Mr. Stone, does that include dental, or do I have to pay for my own teeth whitening out of pocket?" "I think we can negotiate a dental rider," he murmured. I could hear the faint rustle of his suit jacket as he shifted his weight. "Though given how much you bite, I might have to insure them as lethal weapons." My father let out a nervous, strained laugh. "Right, well! Why don't you two go take a walk in the conservatory? Get to know each other. I'll go find Matias's father." "Don't worry, Arthur," Matias said, his tone shifting back to that cold, professional mask. "I’ll ensure your daughter doesn't wander into any fountains." "Oh, please do," I chimed in, slipping my arm through his before he could offer it, entirely to throw him off balance. I felt his bicep instantly tense like granite under the fabric of his suit. "I’ve always wanted to drown in a public space, but tonight just isn't the night for a wet T shirt contest." I heard a sharp, sudden intake of breath from him and a stifled laugh? A choke? Whatever it was, I counted it as a win.