chapter Two

Jaxon's POV

"This can't be real. This is a prank."

I repeated those words over and over again as I read through the content of the letter that was currently in my hand. 

I had always known my family despised the Langston's, I grew up listening to what a terrible family they were but this? This was a new level of insanity.

I sat in my office chair, gripping the edge of my desk so hard that my knuckles turned white, a clear sign that blood had stopped flowing to my knuckles.

The letter from the family lawyer laid in front of him, the words staring back at me in a mocking manner. 

I had to marry Edward Langston's granddaughter, one woman who calls herself Ava Rivers and as if that was not enough, there was another clause attached to the letter.

I had to marry this Ava girl in the next thirty days or I would lose my inheritance. 

My inheritance.

It was absolutely insane, I didn't know what was going on and I didn't like it one bit. 

I shoved the papers away, reaching out to lose the tie around my neck and undoing the first button on my shirt, breathing heavily while I did that. 

This was ridiculous and not only was it ridiculous, it was impossible too, it had to be some kind of sick joke.

For years, my family and the Langston's had been engaging in a silent war, a bitter rivalry that had ruined business deals and turned social events into battlegrounds.

It was one of the first histories I was told as a child, even before I knew anything else, I had known about the Langston's and what a terrible family they were. 

And now I was supposed to marry one of them? Marry a flesh and blood of that family? 

"Not happening."

I muttered and stood up so fast, pushing my chair behind me to the point it almost chair almost fell over.

The sound made Liam, my assistant, peek into the office cautiously.

"Sir?"

"Call Barry Anderson right now and tell him I need to meet with him." I ordered and Liam jumped into action, I waited while he was on the call. 

"Mr Anderson is currently at his office but he said he can't meet with you right now, he's in a meeting with someone, Ava Rivers is what he called the person." 

I instantly recognised the name. 

"Ava Rivers?? Get the car, I'm going to his office right now." I ordered and by the tone of my voice, he knew there was no room for any argument whatsoever.

The entire drive to Anderson's office I was struggling with containing my anger and stopping myself from exploding. 

The moment I stepped into the his office, I could feel the shift in the air. I saw the way people turned to look at me, their whispers filling the room.

I ignored them of course and made my way to the receptionist desk.

I met a petit lady who was looking like she was about to bite someone's head off standing in front of the receptionist.

"Tell Mr Anderson Ava Rivers is here for him." The lady announced and I quickly turned my head, looking at the lady. 

So this was her? This was the Ava Rivers that was going to be my wife. 

I looked at her from head to toe, I had to admit, she was pretty, then I quickly remembered why I was here.

Her being pretty wasn't going to change anything, I was still not going to marry her. 

"You have some nerve, you know?" I said and although my voice was low, it was filled with rage.

Ava turned around and looked at me, arching an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

I walker closer to her and the difference in our height became more prominent, as my presence towered over her smaller frame, "This is a setup." I said.

"This is your family's way of trying to take what's mine."

I saw recognition flash in her eyes, it was like she had connected the dots in her head. 

Ava let out a short laugh, shaking her head, "You are definitely Jaxon King. And do you seriously think I planned this? I had no part in this, my hands are just as tied as yours are." She explained. 

She was obviously lying, so I took another step closer to her, "Then why are you here?"

"Same reason as you, to put an end to this and make sure it doesn't happen." She answered, staring at me with a certain fire in her eyes. 

My eyes narrowed, "If we do this, don't expect me to play nice, I'll make your life hell."

I expected her to cower away in fear, but she didn't, she didn't even flinch.

Instead she tilted her head, a slow smirk forming as she looked up at me, "You can't make my life hell because I was already living in one." She answered. 

I felt something dark and dangerous flicker between us, I strongly felt it and by the way her eyes slightly widened, I knew she felt it too.

This was going to be interesting. 

"Mr King, Miss Rivers," we heard our names being called and we both turned our heads to see Barry Anderson, gesturing to the elevator that was opened, "Perhaps we should take this discussion somewhere more private, like my office."

I tore my eyes away from Ava and exhaled sharply, "Fine, lead the way." I muttered, leaving Ava behind, not caring if she was following or not. 

The office was a large and well decorated one, with a heavy wooden desk in the center. 

I entered and shut the door behind me, my body still vibrating with anger. On the opposite side of the desk, Ava leaned against the desk as well, watching me with an unreadable expression that was messing with my head. 

I wondered what was going through her head. 

"Let's get one thing straight," I started, breaking the silence, my voice was controlled but firm, "I don't want this and I definitely don't want you." I said, directing the last part of my sentence to Ava. 

Ava wouldn't let me have the last say, she spoke up immediately, "Trust me, the feeling is mutual."

"Then back out, walk away right now." I challenged her. 

Her lips pressed into a thin line, "I can't walk away from this, we both can't back out."

My jaw tightened, she was absolutely right, neither of us could walk away, if either one of us refused, we would both lose everything.

"So what do you suggest?" I asked bitterly.

"I don't know as well, I was thinking we could work together to stop this."

I let out a dry laugh, "You really are naive. Where have you been all these years? I have never heard that Edward Langston had a granddaughter, are you sure you're not some imposter hoping to get rich by marrying me?" 

I spat at her but she was unfazed and her calmness irritated me and fustration bubbled inside me.

"You don't get what's happening here, do you?" I started, stepping forward until I was inches from her, "Our families hate each other and there's no way my father would let me marry a Langston, he would rather see me dead than that."

I explained to her, hoping she would understand the seriousness of the situation,"Your father shouldn't have put this condition in his will then." 

I clenched my fists, "Do you always have an answer for everything? Do you think this is funny?" I asked.

"No." She answered simply.

"I think it's stupid. My life has been thrown into complete chaos ever since I found out I'm the granddaughter of a billionaire business mogul and now I have to marry a stranger I don't love, all because of money. What part of this could possibly be funny to me?"

I wanted to say something but she wasn't done talking apparently, "I am angry but being angry won't change anything and I need this money, I'm assuming you're here because you need it too, we might as well figure out how to survive this."

I hated that she was making sense, I hated her so much but for some crazy reason, I found all of this a little bit exciting.

We had some discussions with Mr Anderson and he told us he would let us know if anything could be done about the marriage thing, I doubted it anyways. 

When the meeting ended, we left. 

Ava was the first to leave the office, her steps were quick and determined. I followed after, my thoughts racing, this wasn't over, this was only the beginning. 

Something incredibly suspicious was going on. 

I watched as Ava stepped into the street and something changed, I saw it before she did.

A black SUV was speeding towards her at an alarming rate.

"Ava!!!" I shouted.

She turned around, confusion evident in her eyes.

Everything happened at once.

I lunged out, grabbing Ava's arm and yanking her back just as the car flew past. It missed her by inches, the wind from it slamming into us as we fell onto the pavement.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then Ava gasped, struggling against me and I released her, but not before noticing the way her hands trembled.

She looked up at me, her breath uneven, "Did you see that?"

"Yeah, I did." I answered, my voice tight, I was still trying to process it myself.

That car had been aimed at her.

Someone had just tried to kill Ava Rivers.

And I had a very, very bad feeling that this was only the beginning.