Dirty Beginning (Dirty 0.50)

I notice Granddad smiling brightly behind him at our encounter .

“Please take a seat. We have lots to talk about,” Granddad says as he takes a seat behind the desk again .

I walk back to my seat, aware of Killian’s eyes taking in all of me from my high heels to my knee-length high-waist pencil skirt to my magenta top .

I sit down and glance at him sitting in the chair next to me .

Killian looks much the same as he did last night. He’s in a nicely fitted suit with a blue tie. His hair is gelled slightly to keep it spiked to the side. The only difference is his five o’clock shadow is gone .

I look back to myself. I look completely different from the last time he saw me. I’m no longer wearing casual attire. Makeup covers every flaw I showed him before. Even my long, curly hair is perfectly styled, compared to the mess I must have looked like earlier .

Does Killian know why he’s here—to marry me? Is that what he was referencing this morning when he talked of family obligations? Is he being forced to marry by his family? Did he know when he saw me at that table last night that I was whom he was going to marry ?

No, there’s no way. He would have said something. He wouldn’t have led me on like that .

“You both know why you’re here, so let’s get started on some of the details .”

I nod and see Killian nodding stoically next to me. So, he does know he’s here to marry me ?

“My son and I thought you two would make a perfect match. Kinsley is about to graduate from Yale. She’s an experienced model. She’s beautiful .”

Killian nods, but he doesn’t say anything as Granddad tries to sell me to him .

Granddad turns to face me now. “Killian has been working for the company for five years. He graduated from Harvard. He is our current VP of Casino Operations. He’s intelligent, ambitious, confident, focused, decisive, and professional .”

I nod at my grandfather, disappointed that he’s listed several positive personality traits of Killian’s, while I got beautiful. That’s all I am to these men .

I watch as he digs in the desk drawer before pulling out a stack of papers. He hands one stack to me and one to Killian .

“These are the terms of Robert’s will. It includes everything that the two of you need to do in order to inherit his shares of the company. There is also a copy of my will and what you will need to do to get my shares as well. It also includes what we expect before we’ll make you CEO, Killian,” he says, staring at Killian now .

He nods .

“Both of you need to read it over in the next couple of days, so you understand everything.” He focuses his attention on Killian, like he is the only one who gets a say in any of this. “You have one month to decide. That’s all I can give you. I’ll need an answer then .”

“Of course,” Killian says. He glances down at his watch. “I’m sorry to cut this meeting short, but I have another meeting I need to get to .”

Granddad stands, smiling. “Don’t worry, Killian. I’m having Tony cover the meeting today. Instead, I have a reservation for you two at the new restaurant downstairs .”

“Sir, I’m not sure Tony is the best man for the job. He’s not up-to-date yet on the new systems .”

“I agree, but this”—Granddad points to me and then back to Killian—“is a more pressing issue at the moment .”

Killian glares at my grandfather but doesn’t argue again .

He turns to me. “Would you like to have lunch with me ?”

“Yes.” My answer isn’t forced. I want to have lunch with Killian .

I have a lot of questions for him. Why the hell did he agree to marry a complete stranger? And did he know who I was when he stared at me from across the blackjack table? Did he know exactly what he was doing when he seduced me? Because the longer I know Killian, the more I have a strange feeling that he did .

I stare down at the menu. I haven’t said a word since we left my father’s office. Killian hasn’t either. I think he’s giving me time to process everything. I try to look at the menu to at least make up my mind on what I’m going to eat. Then, I can focus on what just happened .

“What can I get you to drink?” the bubbly waitress asks .

“Um…” I say. I take a deep breath, trying to decide what wine I want. I want wine—no, I need wine to get through this, but I have no idea about wines. I eye a delicious-looking cheeseburger as a waitress passes by with it before placing it on the table next to us .