n front of her. The weight of it, both in terms of its meaning and its physical weight

, like a hawk. Ayla read the paper while they were quiet. She didn't know how long it had b

quiet voice. "This deal will keep the business going. But you'

authority?" she said again, her voice full of astonishment.

rd slightly and staring intently. "Your family's busine

his wasn't just a deal for business. It was a test. It wasn't

d racing. If she didn't agree, things could go very wrong

t strong. "Don't get me wrong, Ayla. This is the onl

held the future of all she had accomplished, including her family

didn't say anything else; he just stared at her with a steady, calculating look. She could feel his eyes on

voice, "I've seen people break down under press

racing with feelings. "What do you want from me, Lucas

ed to know that this is necessary. You're too emotionally involved wit

"I'm not a weak little kid you can boss about. You can't ju

ady, Ayla." But even the smartest peo

away. "You want me to give up everything. Al

y." His voice was steady, but there was an underlying intensi

side, but her intuition told her that accepting the dea

ok the

e made of polished wood. The picture was of an elderly man with s

older, but he looked a lot like Lucas. The way the jawline, eyes, and mouth were situated was all too familiar. But

ose quickly. "Who is this?" She didn't

s face was blank. He sa

like him. It wasn't simply how he looked that bothered her; it was the strong, unsha

her. Her dad. She remembered something now: a picture of her father with p

ing. "Where did your dad come from?

he immediately hid it under his custom

er mind raced. "Lucas, te

. He was keeping something from her. Whatever it was, Ayla k

no longer merely battling for her family'

things were about to change as she

had. She had been looking into the company's past for the previous few hours, hoping to find something that might exp

family business and obligations that had not been paid. As she flipped over the pages in the file, her breath caught. Her

t, showing a past she had been kept from. There was a picture stuck between some papers. It was fuzzy, but you could tell

he traced the man's face.

ad found. Her dad had always talked about the Steve family in a

a thought. Did he always know wha

t together. Closing the folder made Ayla's heart race. No matter what was going on between

ight, she walked to Lucas's office with heavy steps, full of determination. She knocked

oon as she walked in, he looked up at her. As he sat back in his

s voice silky yet cautious

e on small talk. "I

"What's this

above a whisper. "Marcus Steve. I want to know exactly what k

s. He slowly put them down, and his face got darker. For the firs

and more serious now. "You don'

growing. "I need to know, Lucas." I need to know

father is a hard man to understand, Ayla." And if you think you can

r many years, your father has been a part of my family. Lucas, you're

sigh, he leaned forward so that his face was near to hers and his breath was wa

what to anticipate, but this wasn't it. His remarks made her feel u