THE FIRE

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ

I stared out of the window, my hands gripping the polished desk behind me. Outside, Paris twinkled beneath the gray sky. The silent streets somehow whispering and reminded me of the mistakes I had made. My grandfather sharp voice cut through my thoughts. "You're losing deals, lucas."

I was aware of that shit. The rumours were everywhere. The Playboy CEO. The reckless business man. The dating scandals. I didn't turn to face him. I was aware of what was coming for me. The weight of the legacy - the whole damn company was pressing me down. "I have been patient with you." Grandfather muttered, letting me feel the coldness of his words. "But the rumours are everywhere. The clients are starting to question your judgement. You know what they are saying about you."

I clenched my fist and stared out at the skyline, trying to focus on something else rather than the company's downfall. We both were aware that the rumours about me weren't true.

"You have to prove to them that you have that stability to run the company and you know how, you're a smart man, lucas." Grandfather continued. He stood up and moved towards me, the sound of his shoes colliding with the marble floor too heavy in the heating silence. Stability and Reputation were out of my concern. I had always focused on the business - on making it stronger, evolving it but Grandfather was the opposite, discipline and reputation were important according to him and maybe that had been the reason why he had a clean reputation ever since he started the company. The blood in my veins was turning colder, if I continue to lose deals over rumours, the board of directors might actually remove me from the CEO position but screw that, I had wasted half of my life trying to earn that position, I couldn't lose it for hell's sake and absolutely not over a rumour surrounding how many girls I fucked. (That was out of my concern as well)

"I have talked to the Huang family," Grandfather said, his presence too cold for me to avoid his gaze. I turned to him, facing his eyes. He didn't have the glint he'd usually have, his brows were shot up and he looked almost tired. "Their daughter, Livia Huang, is an excellent match. Her family has the reputation we need and her father's company is thriving." He fixed his tie and gazed sharply at me.

"What?" I snapped, scanning his face. Livia Huang, I knew of her - No scandals connected to her name, always in the public eye as the perfect daughter of a powerful family. Her family was a direct competitor to ours, which made sense marrying Livia...business wise. But not me. I didn't want to marry, especially not when the company was about to fall apart. (it was far from falling apart tho).

"You can't be serious," I muttered, "I'm not marrying someone just to save your reputation."

"It's just not my reputation, it's the Walker legacy and I won't watch you destroy it. Marry Livia if you want to keep up your position otherwise I might remove you as the CEO before the Board of directors does."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. He was giving me the ultimate contract that I'd be signing my life away to. I couldn't believe this was happening and I absolutely hated how he always made me feel small as if I'm not capable of anything, everything. He had raised me ever since my parents left me. I never understood why, on an ordinary Monday, they dropped me off at my grandparents' house and never returned. Years have passed since I last saw them. They vanished from my life completely—no mentions on social media, no news, and not a single word about them from either my grandmother or grandfather.

"C'mon, you can't do that." I couldn't argue, I knew that, even if I would, grandfather would win, he always had a way of making me listen to him. (most of it was blackmail).

"Yes, I can." His voice was calm, but no less firm. I knew I had no choice, no leverage.

I turned away, looking out of the city again. It wasn't as beautiful as before. I wasn't sure how long I stood there before I said, "Fine I'll marry her."

He let out a low chuckle, almost mocking me. "Of course - but remember, there are no choices if you want to keep up your position."

I didn't respond. I knew I had no profit responding to him.

The decision was made. I was going to marry Livia Huang. For the company, the family and for the reputation. And the worst part? I didn't know how I was going to go through it. It was a lifetime arrangement not a love match.

"The marriage is in a week." Grandfather said before he turned away and walked out of my office, shutting the door, leaving the cold in his wake.

I stood there long after he’d left. The words “no choices” hung in the air like a curse. My grandfather had made sure I understood the stakes—there would be no escape from this arrangement. Marrying Livia Huang. A woman I barely knew, from a family that didn’t care about me, just as I didn’t care about them.

But the company...it was everything. My blood, my sweat. I had strengthened it, turned it into something I could be proud of.(Although grandfather built it) And yet, in a single, cold conversation, all of it—the work, the long hours, the reputation—had been reduced to nothing more than my marital status. I don't even get the fact why my reputation matters untill I'm running the company right?

I gripped the edge of the desk harder, the polished wood biting into my palms. Paris glittered below, oblivious. A marriage, a lifetime of being tied to someone for the sake of a legacy. The idea was burning in my stomach, leaving a bitter taste.

This wasn’t a choice; it was a trap. And I’d just agreed to walk right into the fire.