Nichkhun Horvejkul had a fortune at his fingertips. But to get the one thing he wanted, he needed a wife. Nichkun believed in many things. Working hard to accomplish a goal. Controlling anger and resorting to reason when a moment became confrontational. And creating buildings. Buildings that were solid, yet beautiful. Smooth angles and sharp lines blending together. All of these things made sense to him. Nichkhun did not believe in love everlasting, marriage, and family. These things made no sense, and he had decided not to incorporate such societal themes into his life

 Unfortunately, Uncle Nichan had changed the rules.Nichkhun’s gut coiled, and his sick sense of humor almost caused a laugh to spill from his lips. He rose from his leather chair, stripped off his navy jacket, striped silk tie, and snowy white shirt. One flick of his wrist unbuckled his belt, and he quickly changed into a pair of gray sweatpants and matching T-shirt. He both feet into his Nike Air sneakers and entered his office’s inner sanctum, which he’d filled with models, sketches, inspiring photos, a treadmill, some weights, and a fully stocked bar.

He the treadmill and tried not to think of smoking. Even after two years, when the stress kicked up a notch, he longed for a cigarette. Annoyed at his weakness when the urge hit, he exercised. Running soothed him, especially in his perfectly controlled environment. No loud voices interrupting his concentration, no scorching sunlight, no rocks or gravel impeding his path. He set the panel and began the steady pace that would lead him toward a solution.

Even though he understood his uncle’s intentions, the sense of betrayal slowly ate away at his peace. In the end, one of the only family members he loved had used him as a pawn. Nichkhun shook his head. He should have seen this coming. Uncle Nichan had spent his last few months alive spouting the importance of family, and had thought Nichkhun’s response was lackluster. Nichkhun wondered why his uncle was surprised. After all, his family should have been an advertisement for birth control.

As Nichkhun had drifted in and out of relationships, one thing became clear, all women wanted marriage, and marriage meant messiness. Fights about emotion. Children tearing them both at the seams, wanting more attention. Needing more space, until the end became the same as every other relationship. Divorce. With children as the casualties. No thanks.

He pumped up the incline and adjusted the speed as his thoughts whirled. Uncle Nichan remained stubbornly optimistic until the bitter end that a woman would save his nephew’s life. The heart attack had struck hard and fast. When the lawyers finally descended like a pack of vultures on the scent of blood money, Nichkhun thought the legalities would be easy. His sister, SoHyun, had already made it quite clear she wanted nothing to do with the business. Uncle Nichan had no other relatives. So, for the first time, Nichkhun believed in good fortune. Finally, he’d have something completely his own.

Until the lawyers read the will.Then he realized the joke was on him.He would inherit the majority of the company shares as soon as he married. The marriage must last for one year, to any woman he chose, and a prenuptial agreement was acceptable. If Nichkhun decided not to comply with his uncle’s wishes, he’d retain fifty-percent; the balance would be split among the board members, and Nichkhun would be nothing but a figurehead. Instead of creating buildings, he’d be stuck in meetings and corporate politics; exactly what he did not want to do with his life.

And Uncle Nichan had known it. So now Nichkhun had to find a wife.

He waited a few minutes as he gathered his thoughts. Then picked up the gold pen and rolled it between his fingers. He printed the words, each a nail banged into his own personal coffin.

Find a wife.

He wouldn’t waste any more time griping about unfairness. Nichkhun decided to make a clear list of the attributes his wife would need, and see if he could think of any appropriate candidates. Immediately, an image of Somin came into his mind, but he squashed the thought. The stunning supermodel he currently dated was perfect for social functions and great , but not marriage. Somin was a sharp conversationalist and he enjoyed her company, but he was afraid she was already falling in love with him. She’d hinted at her desire to have children, which was a deal-breaker. No matter how he laid out the ground rules of a marriage, emotion would ruin it. She’d become jealous and demanding, like any normal wife. He’d once read if a person made a list of all the qualities he admired in a woman, one appeared. He was almost positive the theory had something to do with the universe.But today he was desperate.

He set the pen on the left edge of the page and wrote his list.

            A woman who does not love me.

            A woman I do not desire to sleep with.

            A woman who does not have a big family.

            A woman who does not have any animals

            A woman who does not want any children.

            A woman who has an independent career.

            A woman who will view the relationship as a business venture.

            A woman who is not overly emotional or impulsive.

            A woman I can trust.

Nichkhun read over the summary. He knew some of his desired qualities were stubbornly optimistic but if the universe theory worked, he might as well put down everything he wanted. He needed a woman who looked upon the venture as a business opportunity. He intended to offer many fringe benefits, but he wanted the marriage in name only. No equals no jealousy. No overly emotional woman equals no love.No messiness equals a perfect marriage.

He sifted through each woman he’d dated in his past, every female friend he’d exchanged words with, every business associate he ever lunched with. He came up with nothing. 

Frustration nibbled on the edges of his nerves. He was a twenty five years old man, reasonably attractive, intelligent, and financially secure. And he couldn’t come up with one decent woman to marry. He had one week to find his wife. His cell phone rang. Nichkhun picked it up. “Taec.”

 

“Nichkhun, it’s me.SoHyun.” She paused. “Did you find a wife yet?”

A chuckle strangled his lips. His sister was the only woman in the world who got him to laugh on a regular basis. Even if it was sometimes at his expense. “Working on it now.”

“I think I found her.”

His heartbeat sped up. “Who is it?”

Another pause. “You’d have to meet her terms but I don’t think they’ll be a problem. Be open-minded. I know that’s not your forte. But you can trust her.”

He checked the last item on his list. A strange buzzing hummed in his ears as if in warning of his sister’s next words. “Who is it,SoHyun?”

Silence fell over the line for a beat. “Sun Hee.”

The room whirled in a dizzying blur at the familiar name from his past.

No frickin’ way.