"Logan, have you seen my cashmere scarf, I can't find it." I don't look up from my laptop as I point towards under the bed.

She clicks her toungue, "Well if you saw it there why didn't you put it back?"

"I'm sorry your scarf wasn't my top priority, love." My eyes begin to burn from the amount of time I've spent staring at this stupid screen.

"Really, Logan?" She scoffs and walks into the bathroom.

Maybe it's me dealing with all the stress from work, or its her nagging me with little irritating shit but a dark cloud has been raining over us for about a month.

And my father literally pushes all of his work onto me so that I can 'reach my potential' and take over the company. But he has assistants. I fucking don't because I work for him.

And my damn back hurts.

"You know, I don't get why you've been so damn cranky, Logan!" Out of nowhere my lovely wife pops out of the bathroom.

"Maybe it's the ton of work I have to do?"

"Still, y—"

"You know what, Sarah? You're right, any time I see anything of yours on the floor, I will be sure to pick it up and place it where it belongs. Lesson learned." I close my laptop and get ready to leave.

"Logan, what is the matter with you?!" She follows me into the kitchen.

"You've never worked a day in your life so I don't expect you to understand the concept of maintaining a job! But that's what I do! My dad doesn't take me fucking shopping every week and buy me Porsches! He piles me with work so I earn it myself, AND I'M STRESSED OUT!" I spin on my heel and slam my hand on the counter top making her jump.

"How many times do I have to tell you before you understand, this is the busiest I've ever been. I just need time to get this in order and we'll be back to normal." I sigh softly and grab my keys.

Tears brim her eyes as she stares at me. "But I'm your wife."

"Jesus, it's like talking to a brick wall! Fuck's sake!" I slam the door behind me and get in my car.

Tugging on my hair, I rest my head on the wheel and groan. I can't even catch a break at home.

~•~

"There is someone I want you to meet, today." I look up at my father to find him nearly jumping with excitement.

"Who?"

"I don't want to spoil it, so I'll wait until they get here. We'll be having lunch with them today to talk about a few things. We'll be eating at John's Cafe at 12:45. Be ready." With that, he shuts the door and I look at the clock.

I only have thirty minutes left. I've been searching for any reason why we need to have a meeting with total strangers. Maybe it's about the recent cuts we've had. But I honestly have no clue why our staff is being cut, basically in half. All father kept saying was to wait and see.

I hate surprises.

I finish an email I was writing before heading towards the elevators. Luckily, John's Cafe is located in the building so I don't have to drive anywhere.

I step out as the elevator dings and walk into the Cafe. Father waves me over to a large table secluded from anyone else.

A man and a woman, most likely over forty sit across from my father. I sit next to him and curiously glance at the strangers. The man who stares blankly at me runs a coffee colored hand over his dark trimmed beard, his eyes contrast against his skin tone, a vibrant blue. Though, the woman next to him is the complete opposite, her hair is a dark blonde and her eyes are brown. Her grin widens and I'm worried her pale face might crack.

"Son, this is Quinten and Penelope Krämer, Co founders of Books And Things." The names ring a bell, but unlike my father, I don't smile.

"Logan Carter." I shake their hands and look at my father for an explanation.

"Oh, I'm very sorry, we are waiting on our daughter. Books And Things is technically her company now. She tends to show up late. Ah! There she is." I hear a heavy accent that I can't quite place... Definitely European.

"I apologize for the wait." My head turns at the and of the melodic voice beside me. I can't help but stare.

"Yasmin Krämer, a pleasure to meet you." She shakes my hand and my fathers then sits next to her father. They greet each other with a nod and she ignores her mother. You could tell she got her looks from her father, she's literally a female replica of him besides her lighter skin tone.

Father nudges my shoulder, I finally introduce myself to her like an idiot.

"So now that we're all acquainted, we are here today to discuss the possible merging of companies." I break out of my trance and turn to my father.

"Merge? What—"

"We are a major company that looks for new and upcoming writers, right? So when we find those writers, we should have a direct connection to the millions of Book And Things around. And that means that you'd have a partner to help you with the work load." My father smiles at me as if this isn't the worst possible news I could ever receive from him.

"That doesn't even make sense, what other companies like ours merge with book companies? You told me that I'd have the company after you." My brain was struggling to grasp what was happening.

"It will be yours, son. Yours and Darling Yasmin." He turns his smile over to the Krämer's.

Feeling a bit sick, I get up abruptly. "Excuse me."

I leave the table and walk outside near a railing, leaning on it I let this past month run through my mind. All my hard work was supposed to mean something. Supposed to lead to something that I can finally be proud of.

Does he not trust me enough? Does he think that I'll fuck everything up? We don't need to merge the company, he's doing this for some specific reason. And it's not some business arrangement. Can't I just get one break, God?

"Are you okay?" I turn my head to find Yasmin with her head tilted, staring at me. She doesn't look at me with pity or sadness, more of a thoughtful or curious look.

"Sure." Her heels click against the ground as she walks closer to me. My body seemed to stiffen at her proximity, she smelled amazing, though I couldn't put a name to the scent.

"This wasn't exactly a decision I wanted either, you know. We'll both have to figure it out and adapt. If you cooperate with me then I'll cooperate with you and there will be no hard feelings or rivalry. We both have a job to do, so deal or no deal?" She turns to me fully and stares me in the eyes.

Words couldn't even describe her beauty, whatever anger I was feeling before had dissolved. I hold out my hand and keep my eyes on her.

"Deal."