CHAPTER 3 Partner

Lucie turned around and walked back to her room, closing the door behind her. She ran her hand through her long hair, feeling a bit frustrated.

The celebration banquet for the third anniversary of the partnership between ENH Corporation and Fusion was just two days away. How was she going to find a man better than Axel to be her male companion in such a short amount of time?

Lucie lay on her bed and thought about it. Just then, she heard several people outside carrying things upstairs and asking where to put them. Carolina opened her room without hesitation, saying, "Put them in here."

"This is my room, and no one is allowed in," Lucie stood up and stopped them.

Carolina didn't care and showed a bright smile, "Mom said I can have any space in the house, and if you don't agree, I can book a hotel for you outside of my home." She emphasised the word 'my' with a proud smirk.

"Get out!" Lucie didn't want to waste time with her and pointed her finger at the door.

The next moment, Lucie saw a servant handing a delicate and silver detailed box to Carolina. Lucie's eyes widened, "Don't touch my things!"

With a loud crash, the box fell to the ground, and all the jewelry inside scattered and broke. It was a gift Lucie's mother had given her before she passed away!

"Oops! I'm so sorry my dear sister. I didn't hold it tight enough." Carolina apologized but showed an indifferent smile on her face and had mean glint in her dark eyes. Clearly, she did it on purpose.

Lucie felt a burning anger surge up in her chest and slapped Carolina in the face without holding back.

"How dare you touch something my mother left for me?! Haven't you ruined enough for me?!"

"So what if I touched it? It's just something from a dead person!" Carolina screamed, "Now this house and everything in your room belongs to me! You are nothing compared to me!"

Carolina faced Lucie's ice cold eyes and stared at her with a sharp look like she was hoping a blade would pierce into Lucie's body.

But she still said, "Your mother has been dead for so many years. She means nothing anymore to my Father! Father has already agreed to give me your room. I'm the one marrying into the Score family now. It's clear in your mother's will that you can only inherit her legacy if you get married before you turn 25. There are only a few days left now. Let's see what you can do about it now! You will get nothing and have nobody! You will be alone forever and I will have won!"

"What? How on earth do you know what's in my mother's will?!"

Carolina was stunned for a moment and felt regretful that she accidentally revealed this secret in a moment of blinded rage.

"Father told me. Anyway, you won't get anything your mother left you. So you better just give up! As I said before you will have nothing and no one! You will be alone and I will have taken everything from you!"

Lucie suddenly laughed, "Carolina, are you sure I can't find a good man and get married?"

"Oh I am certain!" Carolina laughed. "No matter what you do, no one will want you! After all I will just turn them against you and they will love me more then they could ever love you!" Carolina smirked as she looked me up and down.

Carolina was extremely confident and she knew that even if Lucie could find a man, he would never be better than her Axel, who she gladly stole from Lucie! Besides, even if she found someone, they couldn't get married in such a short amount of time. So Lucie wouldn't get any of her mother's inheritance!

Carolina turned on her heels and left, her blond hair bouncing behind her. Lucie looked at the messy room caused by that storm called Carolina, took a few deep breaths and picked up the things on the ground. Lucia looked at the broken items with both heartache and anger.

She had to find a man to attend the upcoming banquet and get married before her 25th birthday to inherit her mother's legacy!

Even if she had to find a stranger to pretend to be her boyfriend!

Lucie decided to try her luck at the bar. She looked around but couldn't find any suitable men. She remembered the man she had a one-night stand with that night - he had excellent looks, physique, and even good sex skills. If only she could find someone like him.

"Who are you looking for?"

Lucie heard the voice and it felt familiar. A tall figure came into view, and she looked up to see the man's handsome face. She was so shocked that she stood up suddenly.

Seeing Lucie's sudden change of expression, Ruslan smiled.

Very good, it seems like she still remembers me. Ruslan thought to himself with a smile.

Although Lucie did want to find a man like him, it didn't mean she wanteded him to appear in front of her., but they were both adults and they had been willing partners that night.

Although it was a bit awkward to suddenly meet again, she didn't feel guilty or scared.

"I haven't found anyone suitable yet. I'll probably have to look elsewhere, so I'll leave first." Lucie pretended to have a calm demenour, threw a glance over at Anna, and was about to leave.

"I left you a note to wait for me, didn't you see it?" Ruslan lowered his head, his lips close to Lucie's ear, his voice magnetic and deep. It reminded Lucie of honey, if honey could talk.

"I saw it." Lucie said without explaining.

"If you saw it, why didn't you wait for me? Did you just use me and run away?" Ruslan raised a dark eyebrow with an enticing smile on his face.

"I'm not- I wasn't running away. Didn't I leave you a service fee?" Lucie cocked her head in question at him.

Service fee? How dare she bring that up? Ruslan angrily thought of that damn moment that he discovered those coins on that bed when he went back.

"How much am I worth to you?" Ruslan's voice whispered roughly in her ear.

Lucie didn't know how to answer. She did want to leave him more, but she didn't have any cash with her that day. All she had in her purse were those coins and her bank card.

"What do you want then?" Lucie asked with a delicate raised brow. "Should I pay you more?"

Ruslan sneered. Did she think she could just pay him off? She probably couldn't afford it.

"I want you to be responsible for me."

Lucie was surprised and amused as she turned around to look at him, his face was close to hers as she asked. "Responsible? Do you want me to marry you?"

"I don't need you to marry me. Didn't you come here to find a man? Can't I be that man?" His face came closer to Lucies and she feel the warmth of her face due to how close they were.

Lucie turned away and pretend coughed to hide her embarresment. Was her purpose that obvious? Even someone who had just walked in could tell she was looking for a man?

But looking at Ruslan's handsome face and imposing manner yet he was relaxed and had a calm face, Lucie suddenly had a good idea. Based on looks and demeanor alone, this man completely outclassed Axel. If she brought him to the banquet, there would be no problem!

"Fine." Lucie agreed."Since you want me to be responsible for you, then be my boyfriend. There's a banquet in a few days with my familu, and we will attend it together."

"You're using me again?" He raised a brow again.

Lucie smiled and shrugged. "You're the one who asked me to be responsible for you. Do you agree or not?"

Ruslan sneered. She had some nerve! People who used him usually didn't end up fine.

Ruslan reached out and pinched her chin between his thumb and finger to make her look up at him and meet his eyes.

His eyes were as deep and dark as the sea, showing no emotion, drawing Lucie in. His dark blue eyes seemed to be filled with mystery and danger cauzing Lucie's mind to go blank. All she could do was think about was his eyes.

"Once I start dating someone, I won't easily end things with them. Since you've decided to do this, be prepared for it and me."