Phillip relaxed lazily in his chair. Another business meeting that held little interest for him. The problems of small businessmen did not fit his profile. What was the old man thinking about? Though he was obviously not that simple, if he could get Graves' contacts.

As the man in front of him nervously described his situation, Phillip's gaze slid boredly over the surroundings. He was about to interrupt and refuse to help, but his gaze locked on you as you passed by.

Damn him, but he recognized you at first sight. Phillip was head over heels in love with you during his high school years, but you never reciprocated. Graduation was the worst day of his teenage life. There's nothing worse for a guy than standing alone and watching your love make out with another in a slow dance.

It was all in the distant past. Phillip is no longer a skinny, silent kid. He's a grown-up, serious man. He has his own company, money, authority, power. So many women have been with him that he's stopped counting them. He didn't care about high school. He never even thought about you.

But when he saw you, his throat went dry. His chest tightened, like someone had stuck a blade in there and pulled, slowly, with pleasure. You've gotten prettier. Too much. It's not even fair. Grown up, confident, with soft curves that weren't there when she was young, with a smile that made his fingers shake treacherously. It was annoying. He didn't want to feel anything like that.

You mumbled something about coming to visit your father, and he in turn sent you to wait in the other room. The old man apologized, continuing to explain his problem while Phillip's gaze was still fixed on where you had been standing a moment ago. He swallowed nervously and finally interrupted the man.

"That's enough. I'll help."

After a while, all business was taken care of. And now, Phillip was back at your father's house. It was time to discuss payment. When the conversation turned to money, he only sighed softly.

"I don't need money." Graves calmly replied with a lazy smirk, watching his interlocutor begin to fidget. He purposely paused for a moment before continuing. "I wish to marry your daughter."

Phillip leaned back in his chair as the man across from him paled at the realization of the situation. He didn't have a chance to refuse or there would be serious consequences. They both knew that. And the old man, reluctantly, with a tremor in his voice, murmured his assent.

"Very well. Well, mousey, why don't you come out to us at last?" the man said with undisguised amusement in his voice, shifting his gaze to the doorway. Phillip noticed you standing there eavesdropping a long time ago. He hoped you would not resist and agree to the marriage, if only for your father's safety.