CHAPTER 1

{AYANE}

My name is Ayane, and I am both mute and deaf. Since I was young, almost everyone has looked at me with pity the moment they found out I can’t speak or hear. It honestly doesn’t bother me much anymore, but lately, I wonder if they still look at me the same way when they found out that a handsome billionaire wanted to marry me.

Would they look at me and think I’m lucky? Would their gazes change from pity to gladness, or look at me with even a little jealousy?

I smiled a little bitterly as I looked at myself in the mirror. Jealousy? Maybe some would. But if they find out he only wanted me because I’m mute, surely, they’d still look at me as the same pitiful, unfortunate girl.

Sighing, I took my phone from my handbag and began to type.

[Good morning, Mr. DeLuca, I have arrived. May I come to your office now?]

I reread the message a couple of times before finally sending it. Then, without waiting, I looked at the mirror again and fixed my smile. When my brown eyes finally looked more determined than ever, I took another deep breath as I ran my palms over my long, black, hair.

Then I headed out of the bathroom.

The sofas in the massive lobby were empty. Everyone is walking so fast. Well, obviously, this place is filled with busy people.

This is my second time coming here to The DeLuca Spire, the prestigious headquarters of the DeLuca Corporation.

The first time I entered this place was when Calyx DeLuca, the CEO and heir of DeLuca Corporation, brought me here after our cancelled dinner date. He was called to deal with an urgent issue and invited me inside to wait for the driver he had called to bring me home.

My phone vibrated. I quickly fished it from my bag and opened the message.

[Calyx DeLuca: Wait for my assistant. He’ll escort you.]

I sighed in relief and replied.

[Thank you. I am at the lobby.]

The assistant arrived much quicker than I anticipated. I already met him once, that same night I first stepped into this place. His name is Chad. Tall, army-cut hair, and bulky. Everything about him honestly made him look more like a bodyguard instead of an assistant secretary to me.

Chad greeted me with a smile. He already knew my condition, so he didn’t try to converse anymore; instead, he politely gestured for me to follow him.

He led me to the private elevator, and while we waited briefly in front of it, I noticed how almost all the heads turned to take a look at me.

The elevator opened, and Chad gestured for me to enter first. I smiled at him. I’m a little uncomfortable. Not because of the curious gazes I received earlier, but by the way this big man is treating me like I’m some VVIP. I knew very well I was not.

After stepping out of the elevator, we passed by a few men and women before finally stopping in front of a door. Again, I could feel their gazes behind me.

Chad opened the door and without letting go of the door knob, he smiled at me and gestured for me to enter.

I smiled and bowed my head slightly to express my gratitude. My mother is Japanese, and although we left Japan many years ago, I spent most of my childhood there. But I guess the reason I couldn’t rid myself of the habit, even after all these years, is that bowing is the easiest way for me to say thank you or apologize.

After watching Chad close the door, I looked around. The office is huge. There is a mahogany desk, and behind it, a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the city. I can already imagine how pretty that view will be at night or even at sunset.

There is no single plant inside, and the walls are basically just a blank canvas. Not even a single painting hung anywhere.

The whole place, overall, not only looked lifeless but also felt cold. Still, in my opinion, the man who owns this place is much, much colder.

Another door in the left corner opened and…

I nearly forgot to breathe.

Calyx DeLuca is right there, half naked, and his dark hair is still dripping wet.

A towel is held in his hand, busily drying his hair.

I couldn’t stop my eyes from gazing at his toned body. His physical appearance truly is nothing but perfection in every way. Every angle!

It is unfair, but whether I like it or not, Calyx DeLuca is indeed the definition of someone described as a man with a face and body forged by the gods.

My phone vibrated. Pulling my attention away from his ridiculous perfection.

[Calyx DeLuca: I have a meeting in thirty minutes.]

I lifted my eyes and found he’s already gone. It seems he only came out to grab his phone to tell me that I only have thirty minutes to finish whatever business I have with him.

I’m not surprised at all, though. He’s a very busy man, probably dealing with millions every day. I know I’m already lucky that he’d even given me thirty minutes.

Taking a deep breath, I focused.

I opened the notes on my phone. Last night, I drafted everything I wanted to say, so now I think I’m more than ready.

After speed-reading the paragraphs I had written for the nth time, I copied and pasted them into my message box to send to him.

My fingers hovered over my phone’s screen for a few moments. But instead of sending, I deleted everything except the first sentence. I came here in person, so I must not bombard him with a lengthy message. It might end up annoying him, and that’s the last thing I want.

[I am here to discuss with you about your proposal, Mr. DeLuca.]

The door opened, and he came out. Now he’s currently buttoning his dark shirt with one hand. His hair is still damp.

My phone vibrated, pulling my gaze again from his face that just looked so criminally handsome.

[So that’s a ‘yes’, isn’t it? Now tell me your conditions.]