Scandalous Games (Arranged Games Book 1)

“So you married my daughter today.”

Hardly many people catch me off guard or surprise me, yet this man has managed to do it twice in one hour. My mistake for underestimating him because I didn’t expect him to find out so soon. Though I keep my shock concealed by schooling my features in a blank mask. His ties go far wider than I predicted, which he confirms as he continues.

“Nothing happens in this city without my knowledge, especially when it concerns my daughters,” he explains, sitting in his high-back chair in his office while I sit with my legs crossed across his wooden desk. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”

“I was counting on it.” My pleased voice makes a muscle tic in his jaw. “I had already told you my intention that day.”

“A very bold move on your part, son.”

I hold his scathing stare with one of my own and shrug. “Once I know what I want, wasting time isn’t in my nature. Bianca was always meant to be mine.”

“You’re smart.” He gives a non-sarcastic laugh, pointing his finger at me. “You knew I would ask you to end it with her, so you beat me to it by wedding her, well aware I’ll have to accept it in front of the world unless I want to be humiliated.”

He’s looking for a malicious reaction that he won’t find from me. It’s astonishing he’s more concerned about his own reputation than Bianca’s happiness or wishes. Had she truly fallen in love with someone else and brought him home, she would have been in for a rude awakening.

“Do you not trust your daughter’s choice?” I counter.

“A murderer is hardly a suitable choice now.”

Years of restraint holds me back from snarling and acting impervious as he attempts to rile me up. The ugly rumor is like a black mark painted on my back that I can’t scrub off my skin. Nobody gives a fuck that there’s no single evidence connecting me to my rival’s death or that I have an alibi at the time the murder occurred.

“The court says otherwise.”

“Kian is a man who knows how to pull the right strings. He wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of his ruthlessness and tenacity to beat his father by building his own empire. The merger is as important to him as it is to you.” Leaning back in his chair, he waves his hand in dismissal and threatens, “Besides, my concern is Bianca’s safety and well-being. Men like you always have a few skeletons in the closet and with the business you’re in, you’re bound to have enemies.”

He doesn’t miss my fists curling as he implies I could harm Bianca or let another human being hurt her. However, I also can’t deny his apprehensions aren’t entirely misplaced.

The defense industry is a game of monopoly with old and corrupt players who don’t take kindly to new people entering into their territory. Threats, intimidation, manipulation are all done to hinder growth, all of which I experienced and survived myself.

“No one is hurting my wife.” Because her worst enemy is her husband.

“What about your past?” He arches one eyebrow questioningly.

A tingling sensation forms behind my neck, an awareness prickling in my gut at his probing tone. “What about it?”

“It was clean. Too clean.”

Of course the bastard investigated my past. Though, he would not have found the truth. I had made sure no one knew of my father’s second family or my ties to them. Ensuring I cut and erased them after that god-awful night.

“In my experience, it’s always a red flag. So should I be worried about my daughter?”

The lie falls easily from my lips, tasting bitter and as though I’ve practiced it a thousand times. “My wife knows everything about me. The good, the bad, and the ugly. So, if you’re doubting her integrity, then you don’t know her at all.”

His gaze narrows and sharpens. “I’m protecting her and I have every right as her father.”

“Yet you haven’t asked the most important questions.”

“What could be more important than her safety?”

“Do I love her? Do I make her happy? How much does she truly mean to me?” I shake my head in disgust as I throw my words in his arrogant face. “All you’ve done since we sat down is worry about your own reputation rather than what she wants. Maybe it’s exactly why she didn’t tell you about us sooner.”

His jaw grinds and a vein pops in his forehead but I’m not finished. I smile cruelly, the one I give my rivals, and lower my voice as I shatter his illusion of control. “I wonder if she’ll even want your blessing if I told her you tried to marry her off to her best friend’s fiancé, Nova, despite knowing he’s already engaged. Imagine how badly your respectable reputation would be tarnished if it was made public that you basically tried to sell your daughter for some measly profits.”

“She’ll never believe you.” I laugh in disbelief at the bastard not even attempting to deny it. It’s going to crush Bianca if she ever finds out.

“Are you willing to find out just how much?” I threaten. He remains intelligently quiet and I rise to my full height, sneering down at him. “Don’t for one second think I won’t destroy you if you ever try to sabotage my relationship with Bianca or dare to steal the smile from her face. I meant it when I said no one hurts my wife, not even her own family.”

With one last scathing look, I leave his office. If he’s smart, he would take my warning seriously.

BIANCA

I’m a ball of nerves as I watch Dash and my dad make their way to his home office after all of us mingled and had a few drinks. I’m half tempted to follow and eavesdrop but my sister’s excited voice keeps me rooted to the couch.

“Ooh… Looks like Papa is taking him for the talk,” says Arya as she air quotes “the talk”.

“You think?” I mutter absentmindedly.

“Oh yeah. He had one with Aryan, too, when I began dating him.”

I’m alert now. “What did Papa say to him?”

“Aryan never told me. He did look like he pissed his pants,” she reveals, half wincing and half laughing. “Not that you have anything to worry about. Dash is intimidating as hell, even more than Dad.”

That’s what I’m afraid of. Dash is mischievous, teasing, and protective, but it’s a side he has reserved for me. A layer I glimpse when it’s just us together. While the other side of him is cold, scary, and vicious, which becomes tenfold around people he can’t tolerate and doesn’t respect.

Unfortunately, my dad is one of those people.

You put two angry and prideful bulls together in a tight space, one is bound to come out bloody. They have had a rough start, which is troublesome for our already precarious situation.

Meanwhile, Mom’s rude and sour behavior was easy to dismiss as she played the gracious host, walking back and forth between the kitchen and drawing room. It was blatantly obvious Dash isn’t her first choice for me, without her even giving him a chance.

My eyes dart every so often, waiting for him and Dad to return. Only for anxiety to strike the longer they don’t. Then again, it’s only been a few minutes. Tell that to my wildly beating heart.

Please let them get along, I pray to the angels above.

“That’s a big fucking rock,” gasps Arya, when I tuck away a curly strand behind my ear with my left hand. It’s a welcoming distraction from my chaotic thoughts. Stealing my hand, she admires my ring. “Is that a purple diamond?”

“Mhmm. I didn’t even know they existed.” It glitters when the light hits it just right.

I won’t lie, it took me a long time to get used to the weight. I’m always extra careful to protect it, considering it’s the most expensive piece of jewelry I own. More like borrowed, since I will return it to Dash once our arrangement ends.

“I’m really sorry, by the way.”

“Why?” I counter, honestly confused.

“I wouldn’t have said those things to you if I’d known you were dating someone.” Her expression pinches in apology. I notice she’s cut her hair even shorter, so now it reaches her shoulders and it makes her look even younger. “I shouldn’t have butted into your life, regardless. Forgive me, please?”

“Stop being silly, Ari. I love you and I could never stay mad at you.”

The pure relief and joy on her face pulls at my heartstrings. Her gorgeous smile is the most important thing to me in the world. It makes all the risks worth it. No matter the tumultuous emotions Dash is evoking inside my broken heart, I cannot let it deter me from my goal.

“So have you both picked a date for the wedding?” asks Arya with exuberance, eyes brightening. “Gosh! We have so much to plan—and shopping. And let’s not forget the bachelorette party.”

My stomach drops and nerves dance beneath my skin as I wince because I’m about to pour cold water all over Arya’s building enthusiasm. Was I asking too much that I wished for the same reaction from my stubborn parents? Disappointment and anger swirls inside me, and I push them down.

“I married him today at the courthouse, Ari.” My words don’t register as she continues to ramble.

“I’m thinking Jaipur for shoppi—” she trails off as soon as my news penetrates. Her shocked gasp is audible as she stares at me, dazed. “Wait, what?”

I open my mouth to shush her when another voice rumbles from behind us.

“You’re married!”

My mom’s outrageous cry startles us both while my eyes widen like saucers as they clash with hers when I look sideways. I hurry to rise and approach her cautiously. Red blotches form on her cheeks as she reins in her anger.

“Let me explain, Mom.”

She dramatically presses her palm against her chest, shaking her head at me. “My own daughter didn’t think to invite her mother to her wedding. And at the courthouse. How am I going to show my face to my friends?”

I close the gap between us, only for her to halt me with her hand. I explain in a soft tone, “We didn’t want to wait and I didn’t think you’d want to come. And why would I? You haven’t spoken more than two words to my husband.”

“This isn’t the Bianca I raised. Disrespectful and selfish.”

I flinch while tears gather in my eyes. Arya rushes to my side and intertwines our arms. She speaks strongly and with a firmness I didn’t expect while defending me. “Ma! Why would we be against it? Dash is perfect for her, and so what if she didn’t want to have a big wedding?”

“Lower your voice, Arya,” admonishes my mom while I stand mute, feeling gutted at her displeasure. All because I didn’t marry the man she wanted. Turning to me, she declares, “I do not accept this.”

“Afraid the papers make your opinion irrelevant.”

Dash appears in my peripheral vision, walking with a thunderous expression aimed at my mother. The unadulterated relief that falls over me is both unexpected and staggering at his mere presence.

Like nothing can touch me if he’s by my side. This man—my husband—has made me feel more protected in the last month than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. Not even when I was hopelessly in love with Niall.

The second Dash is near, I’m pulled into his warm embrace, making Arya’s hand disappear. I lower my gaze, not wanting him to see the tears yet again at my mom’s behest but as always, he misses nothing when it comes to me.

Tilting my face, he rubs the tear that escapes free with his thumb. His sharp gaze twists to my mom, who glares at us with her chin held high.

His voice is chilling as he speaks, “I warned you last time not to ever upset Bianca. Apologize to my wife.”

“Dash!” I gasp at the same time my mom does.

“How dare you?”

At the commotion, my dad and Aryan aren’t far behind. Immediately, they sense the tension in the room and the rage pouring off of Dash. Outwardly he’s contained, but only I know he’s teetering on the edge, ready to storm down on others.

“What’s going on?” demands my dad. His poised gaze flickers to Dash and for a second, fear flashes in his eyes that leaves me stunned. My emotions are too frazzled to unmask its meaning.

“Bianca married him without our permission,” Mom complains, turning to him. Only to be rendered shocked when he speaks.

“I know.” He raises one hand to silence her when she tries to reply. “Dash already told me and they have my blessing. We’re going to welcome him into our family.”

“But—”

“What’s done is done. To celebrate, we’ll throw them a reception party next month and invite all our friends and family to properly introduce them as a couple.” He stares at Dash for confirmation, who then peers down at me.

“It’s your choice, kitten,” he whispers for my ears only, and I nod.

I slide my hand into his and face my dad. “We’d like that, Papa.”

“Good. Now let’s have dinner.”