Sneak Peek
Marrying the Grumpy Billionaire
Chapter 1
Nelly
O ur argument thunders through the air, intensifying the throbbing ache in my head. “This company is my life. It’s what our parents worked for,” I counter while staring at my brother, Tom Sinclair, with a heated gaze that doesn’t seem to faze him.
Tom is the only family I have left after our parents died in a car crash one year ago, and I know he’s here because he’s just as worried as I am about whether our parents’ aerospace company will survive.
“But there are other ways we can stay in the game besides merging with some other company, Tom. We could take out a loan and … What about …” I can’t think of any solution to resolve the problem, and Tom’s slightly arched brow proves he knows that I’m stuck.
I have been running the company for two years. Our parents groomed me to take over after Tom decided to pursue a career in law, and I assumed full duties as the CEO of the company after their death.
Tom has been working in Manhattan ever since he graduated from law school and married his sweetheart, Detective Robyn, and I began to work closely with Dad to gain work experience after graduating from Harvard Business School.
Tom has never been interested in business, but with the recent tide of events, we both have to work together to keep the company from crashing.
A few months ago, an airplane using Sunny Aerospace’s engines crashed because of an engine failure. The devastating accident has left the company on shaky grounds, and the impending settlements are crushing us.
I think Tom’s idea of merging is dangerous. We could lose all control of the company.
“What can we do, Nelly? When I first talked about a merger, you said we could stay afloat and handle our own business. That was two months ago. Now, we’re neck-deep in debt and lawsuits. We haven’t even compensated the victims’ families, and there’s very little funding left to keep the company running, even if we sell everything we own.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and rub the back of my neck to get rid of the kinks there before averting my eyes from my brother.
“I’m trying to do what works, Nelly,” my brother says to me as he runs his fingers through his black hair, then pins his auburn eyes on me again.
Tom has aged a lot, and he’s now a bit sterner than I recall. His jaw hardens as he looks at me with those brown eyes that remind me of our dad. There’s an aura of seriousness that clings to him now.
“Merging Sunny Aerospace with a company strong enough to hold the weight of our fallout is the only way we stay alive. We sell some shares and take on a new name. It's that simple.”
My hands flail in the air as I voice my disagreement. “It is not that simple, Tom. We can’t just cut our losses and sell out because things are rough. This is Dad and Mom’s company. It’s their legacy we’re talking about here, and we’ll be giving our control to someone else. Forgive me if I’m not eager to see that happen.”
“That’s the thing, Nelly. We’ve exhausted our options here.”
I know we have.
I resist the urge to sigh again, and I push my glossy blonde curls off my face. That is what makes this even more difficult. “Who would we merge with? The company is crumbling under the massive settlement that we have to pay out. Who would take on all of that?”
I sashay around the table to where he’s seated, my four—inch stilettos clicking on the ground with every step. “You said it yourself—we’re neck-deep in debt. Anyone merging with us should be willing to take on that burden. Our reputation plummeted when the plane crashed, and the investigation pinned the fault on our engine.”
I place my hands on the table, leaning forward. “We’ve lost other potential clients, and the ones who still work with us have taken serious actions to make sure our engines are foolproof. They don’t trust us, and neither will any company looking to merge.”
“Then we merge with someone who trusts us. Someone who believes we do due diligence on our engines and that this crash wasn’t a result of negligence on our part. We merge with a company strong enough to turn the tides.” Tom clears his throat before he rises to his feet. “Ethan,” he answers, and I whip my head up to meet his serious gaze. “Hart Holdings is our savior.”
My expression crumbles into a frown. “Ethan? Your best friend, Ethan?”
Even the mention of that name leaves a tight knot in the pit of my stomach. I haven’t let myself think about him in five years, and the mere mention of his name leaves an unsettling stir of nerves in me. I shove it down and shake my head.
“Why would Ethan Everhart want to merge with us?”
“He cares because he’s my friend. He is family, Nelly, and Hart Holdings is an entire business conglomerate with a vehicle manufacturer division that’s hundreds of millions of dollars richer than ours. His company can withstand the pressure, and he’s looking to expand his reach right now, so why not?”
My head spins as Tom explains his plan. Ethan Everhart is definitely not in the position to handle a business deal on this scale.
“That won’t work, Tom. Last I checked, Ethan is just the manager at Hart Holdings’ vehicle manufacturer division, and his grandfather is the chairman of the board and CEO of the conglomerate. He’s yet to take over that position from his grandfather, and any merger between us will need his grandfather’s approval.”
Tom smirks. “That is about to change.”
A soft knock rasps on my office door. “His grandfather is ready to announce his retirement. Ethan tells me he’ll be the new CEO of Hart Holdings in about a few weeks. His grandfather thinks he is ready.”
We both turn toward the door when the knock comes again, and my brother adjusts his suit jacket lapel before adding. “That’s Ethan. I told him to come at around this time.”
Ethan’s here?
I stiffen before the office door swings open, and I don’t get a second to steady myself before Ethan confidently strides in.
He brings the same aura of pride that has always clung to him. The first thing I notice is that smug smile that stays permanently on his lips.
“Miss me?” he announces in his usual full baritone that has always resonated through me. My world freezes for a second when the piercing depths of those brown eyes land on me.
The weight of it makes my breath hitch in my throat, and just like that, I’m reminded of the last time I saw him.
And how hurtful that night was.
My throat tightens as the memories come rushing back. Seeing Ethan dating another woman after months of flirting with him and thinking we had something had hurt worse than anything else.
I thought he liked me too … I thought we had something.
I was too young to understand it back then, but over the years, while Ethan’s playboy reputation gained traction in the media, I finally understood why he didn’t notice me back then.
It had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the fact that the man could never stick to one woman.
He flirted with anything in skirts, and I was lucky he never paid attention to me.
It’s been five years since the night he shattered my heart, and yet seeing him again brings those memories fresh into my mind.
The back of my neck heats up and leaves a tingle behind. My pulse races and adrenaline pumps through my veins.
“Ethan …” I murmur, then instantly cringe when I hear the trembling in my voice. I spent a lot of time trying to get rid of these feelings he ignites in me.
But just a second in his presence and they all come rushing back?
He takes a few steps closer to me, then thrusts his hands deep into his pants pocket. “The one and only,” he says with another smile. “Miss me?” he asks as he looks at Tom.
I don’t think that question is intended for my brother because Ethan whips his gaze over to me again and a quiver runs down my spine.
Five years and that hasn’t changed. How is that possible?
I wonder if Ethan recalls that night years ago when I thought to surprise him and show up for dinner with my brother. I let myself think he would be excited to see me because we had shared a wonderful summer.
Tom hadn’t been in L.A. for the holidays, so Ethan and I hung out most of the time. He had been so thoughtful and kind when I lost my golden retriever, Skylar, and on my 18th birthday, he had been there to celebrate with me too. Our time together made me hope there were more.
Especially when I recall the way he looked at me back then … I thought Ethan liked me, too.
Turns out he had some other woman in his life, and he brought her to dinner that night. Tom didn’t know about her either, so he didn’t mention it to me.
Turns my gaze drift over his full figure and take in the stunning looks of America’s number one playboy. His suit radiates sophistication and style. The delicate, shiny black wool sits stylishly on his frame and accentuates his lean build.
Even during his five years abroad, he frequently made it into the American gossip columns during his visits to the country for business. He probably visited L.A. a couple of times in those five years to visit his grandfather, but we never met up because I stopped communicating with him after that night.
One look at him, and I immediately notice what has changed. He is clean-shaven, and his jet-black hair falls down to his ears in wavy curtains. My heart thumps fast in my chest, and I swallow hard.
Why do I feel dizzy?
I put Ethan behind me already, and if he’s here for business now, then I need to get my head in the game.
“You’re going to merge with my company?” I ask, ignoring the light quiver in my voice before arching my brow. “Why?”
He lifts one shoulder in a shrug, and his eyes gleam with a twinkle that hints at his usual playfulness.
“This isn’t a joke, Ethan,” I continue, slightly irritated that he would make light of my question. He’s never been one to take any situation seriously.
I see none of that has changed.
“It’s not a joke,” he finally answers. “Hart Holdings will merge with Sunny Aerospace and take on all your burdens and lawsuits. We’ll make everything go away. It’s that easy.”
He uses the same line my brother used, and that makes me suspect there’s more to this proposal of his.
“You put this thought in Tom’s head, didn’t you?” I lift my chin to meet his gaze defiantly while he shrugs in response. “Well, what’s the catch?”
“Who says there’s a catch?” he answers almost immediately, reminding me that he never lets me or anyone get the upper hand in a deal. He’s a businessman, one with a reputation in our world as strong-willed and determined.
Part of his charm is his charisma, and it draws me to him like a magnet.
“There’s always a catch with you, isn’t there?” I reply in the same tempo. My pulse skips a beat when he shakes his head and smiles.
“I see you’ve not lost your knack for doubting me, Nelly.”
As we stare at each other, it’s like the world around us evaporates, and there’s a tightening in the knot at the base of my stomach. Heat creeps up the back of my neck when his eyes flicker over mine and settle on my lips. I know my flush will spread to my face soon, so I turn away from him and walk to my office’s window.
Standing with my back to him is easier, but the relief I gain from his presence doesn’t last long because the thud of his footsteps gets louder and I spin around to find him heading towards me.
“Tom and I talked about it, and we think it’s best for Sunny Aerospace to merge with someone who’ll be fair to you. I’m that guy, Nelly, because unlike the other hungry businesses out there planning a hostile takeover, I’m your friend. I'll make sure you're compensated fairly, and, as a bonus, I will still let you operate autonomously.”
“Really? You’re my friend? That’s all it takes to have you merge with a company that’s about to go under? And you’ll even let me remain in control?”
I chuckle sarcastically, and Tom finally breaks out of his prolonged silence. “Come on, Nelly, just hear us out,” he says, waving a hand towards me. “Ethan wants to help. Mom and Dad didn’t leave me the company, but it doesn’t mean I want to see all their hard work go down the drain either.”
I meet his pleading eyes, and he gently adds. “Just hear out his plan? There’s no catch.”
“Actually, there is,” Ethan cuts in.
“My thoughts exactly,” I retort, crossing my arms.
“Wait, what?” Tom blurts, a frown etching slowly into his features as he faces his friend. “What are you talking about? You didn’t mention wanting anything in return when we discussed this.”
“Well, I’m sorry buddy, but I really need this,” Ethan replies, then glances towards me.
I roll my eyes. Knowing Ethan had something up his sleeves isn’t shocking. I don’t trust him one bit and it’s safe to say I don’t like him either . “Let’s hear it then,” I say, arching one brow. “What do you get in exchange for merging with Sunny Aerospace?”
“You,” Ethan announces, and a thick blanket of silence covers the room before he adds. “You are going to be my wife, Nelly.”
“What are you talking about?”