Page 10 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

ISAAC

I hadn’t expected her to say yes. Not really. Mina Duvall didn’t seem like the kind of woman who handed out second chances easily—not to men and definitely not to Bancrofts.

I knew I pissed her off and hurt her feelings last night when I put the brakes on what probably would have been an amazing night.

But like a dutiful soldier, I had to keep up this stupid ruse.

My father was all but demanding it and I really didn’t want to make an enemy of Hectar Duvall.

My brothers and extended family would all get caught in the drama. I was the sacrificial lamb.

If it had been anyone but Mina Duvall, I might have put up more of a fight.

I might have even considered throwing my family to the wolves and escaping to some tropical island to ride out the fallout.

I was still not all that interested in marrying anyone, but I was leaning into the idea of hanging out with Mina.

Maybe we could get her dad to chill out and back off his marriage plan.

Me and Mina? We worked. We could enjoy each other’s company for a while and then this whole thing would be behind us.

I looked out the window. My penthouse sat high above the city.

The sprawling skyline stretched out before me, the midday sun glinting off the glass and steel of skyscrapers.

I leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, my fingers drumming absently on the surface.

I loved to watch the cars and people below.

It was like the ant colony I had in my bedroom when I was little.

I loved to watch and think about the stories every one of those people had.

Sometimes, I would sit on a bench in Central Park and just watch people.

Unfortunately, it was harder to watch and observe when people could see me doing it.

But up here, I was hidden from their eyes.

My home was a sprawling space that I’d filled with art, leather furniture, and enough tech to make a Silicon Valley nerd drool.

I turned away from the window. I hadn’t planned on asking her out again so soon, but after last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. That kiss in the club had been electric, and her laugh? It did things to me I wasn’t ready to think too hard about.

My phone buzzed on the marble countertop. I glanced at it, expecting another text from my dad or maybe one of my brothers checking in. Instead, it was a name I had saved as “Girl from Blues Bar.”

“Hey, stranger, still up for that pool party?”

I didn’t try to remember names. My phone contact list was filled with similar descriptions; Blonde from Charlie’s, Great Tits at park, or Lady from coffee shop.

Yes, I know it’s a dick thing to do, but it’s easier to keep them straight.

I feel like parents from thirty years ago all had the same book of names and they all leaned toward Chloe, Carly, or Riley.

I don’t have the mental bandwidth to keep track of them all.

I stared at the text, my thumb hovering over the screen. Normally, I’d jump at the chance for a casual hookup, especially with someone who was already in my rotation. But the thought of seeing Mina tonight made me hesitate. I didn’t want to mess this up—whatever this was.

I typed out a quick reply: Sorry, busy tonight. Rain check?

Her response came almost immediately: You’re breaking my heart, Isaac.

I smirked and tossed my phone onto the couch. It wasn’t like I owed her an explanation. We both knew the deal—no strings, no expectations. Still, it felt weird to turn her down. I wasn’t used to saying no to anything, especially not when it came to women.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already past noon, which meant I had a few hours to kill before picking up Mina. I could’ve spent the time lounging around, maybe catching up on some shows or scrolling through social media, but I was too restless to sit still.

Instead, I changed into my workout clothes and headed down to the gym in my building. The gym was empty except for a couple of regulars I recognized but never bothered to talk to. I hopped on the treadmill, setting it to a brisk pace, and let my mind wander as my feet pounded against the belt.

Mina.

She was all I could think about. The way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the way she’d looked at me in the club—like she wanted to devour me whole.

And then there was that kiss. God, that kiss.

It had been reckless and wild and everything I usually loved, but something about it had felt different.

More real. More dangerous. There were consequences to getting tangled up with Mina.

Or maybe it was just the inner rebel getting pissed at the idea of actually wanting the relationship my father was pushing me into.

I increased the speed on the treadmill, pushing myself harder as if I could outrun the thoughts swirling in my head.

By the time I finished my workout, I was drenched in sweat and no closer to figuring out what the hell I was doing.

I showered quickly, threw on a fresh pair of jeans and a black button-down, and grabbed my keys.

The drive to the Duvall estate was short but felt endless. My mind kept circling back to Mina—what she’d say, how she’d look, whether she’d even show up after the way things had ended last night.

But there she was, sliding into the passenger seat of my car like sin wrapped in silk, wearing a black cocktail dress that should’ve been illegal. Hair up, lips glossy, looking at me like she was trying not to smile.

“I still don’t understand why I said yes to this,” she said. “Guys that shut me down and send me away like rejecting a package don’t typically get a second chance.”

I smirked and pulled into traffic. “Because deep down, you can’t resist me.”

She snorted, loud and unapologetic. “Try again.”

“You’re bored. And I’m interesting. You see a kindred spirit. You like me. You like that I’m not like your other boytoys.”

“Dangerous,” she corrected, adjusting her sunglasses. “And irritating is what I would say.”

“That too.” I grinned and tossed her a wink. “But you’re here.”

Her mouth quirked like she wanted to fight that truth but didn’t bother.

I pulled away from the massive estate that made Dad and Kathy’s look like a hovel.

I forgot just how wealthy Hectar Duvall was.

I would think there would be a long line of men wanting the chance to marry Mina.

Yes, it would be for the money and power, but that wasn’t anything new.

Why was Hectar forcing me to marry his daughter?

Clearly, there was a major flaw I had not seen yet.

“So where are we going?” Mina asked.

“An auction,” I said.

She turned to stare at me like I’d just told her we were attending a tax seminar. “An auction. What the hell? I could do that with anyone. I don’t want to go to some stuffy auction. I’ve been to a hundred and they all suck.”

I grinned. “My father’s got a piece he wants picked up. Some rare watch or vintage yacht chair or God knows what. I told him I would pick it up for him.”

Mina groaned. “You’re taking me to an event full of rich people trying to spend obscene amounts of money on things no one needs?”

I chuckled. “Technically, we are those people.”

“I hate us.”

“Me too,” I said and flashed her a charming grin. “But we are who we are. Why not enjoy the perks?”

The hotel was one of those old, pre-war monsters with chandeliers the size of hot tubs and carpets that probably held more secrets than the CIA. It smelled like money, old cologne, and a hint of cigar smoke.

Mina looked around with an expression that screamed kill me now . “This place is the epitome of my childhood.”

“Repressed and stifling?”

“Exactly.”

The auction was already underway. A woman in a ball gown was describing an Italian wine decanter like it held the Holy Grail. I snagged us two glasses of champagne from a passing tray and handed her one. She took it without protest.

“To surviving childhood trauma,” I said, raising my glass.

“To escaping it with style,” she replied, clinking hers against mine.

The next item up was a crystal-encrusted fountain pen. I raised a brow. “Three guesses who needs that.”

“You,” she said instantly. “Because you’re the kind of man who needs a pen that screams you’re filthy rich and too good for a basic bitch pen.”

“Not inaccurate.”

The bidding started. I hadn’t planned to participate—I was only here to pick up the thing for my dad—but Mina looked so horrified by the whole affair I couldn’t help myself.

I wanted to show her a good time. And the wild thing was, I knew she wouldn’t be embarrassed by my bullshit. She was going to feed off of it.

“Ten thousand,” I said lazily, lifting the paddle.

Mina choked on her champagne. “Please tell me you didn’t just bid on that thing.”

I kept my eyes on the stage. “Oh, I did.”

“Why?”

“Because, like you said, these pretty fingers can’t touch a basic bitch pen .”

Another paddle lifted. “Twelve.”

“Fifteen,” I countered smoothly.

Mina swiveled to face me. “Isaac.”

“Twenty.”

She slapped my arm. “You’re drunk.”

“Not even tipsy.”

“Twenty-five thousand,” came another voice.

I raised an eyebrow. “Thirty.”

The gavel came down a moment later, and the audience clapped like someone had just cured cancer.

Mina shook her head in disbelief. “You’re certifiable.”

“Probably,” I admitted. “But did you laugh?”

She tried not to. I watched her lips twitch. “A little.”

Victory.

I have no idea what the fuck I’m going to do with a crystal pen, but thirty grand is worth it. She was grinning like she didn’t have a care in the world.

I went to settle the tab. The auction runner eyed me like I was either an idiot or a king. Possibly both. He knew damn well who I was, though. Everyone in the room did.

“Charge it,” I said, sliding over the card. “And hey, auction that pen again once I’m gone. Give the second bid’s money to charity.”

His eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

He nodded slowly, clearly unsure if I was serious. “Of course, Mr. Bancroft.”

I left him standing there looking like he’d just seen a unicorn fart glitter.

Back at our table, Mina was draining another champagne. “You’re an idiot. Where’s your stupid pen?”

I waved a hand. “I’ll pick it up later.”

We drank a little more. Technically, a lot more.

Once I realized I wouldn’t be driving anywhere, I figured I may as well have a good time.

Eventually, the alcohol stole away our manners and volume control.

We got a little loud. I don’t remember exactly what we were laughing about.

Something to do with a woman’s hat and a dog that looked like Winston Churchill.

Whatever it was, it earned us a stern talking-to from the event coordinator and an escort out the back door.

Mina was cackling as we stumbled onto the sidewalk. “We just got kicked out of an auction.”

“Technically escorted,” I said, offering my arm. “Very classy.”

She took it and wiped tears from her eyes. “My father would be horrified.”

“He’d get in line behind my father.”

We walked along the sidewalk doing impressions of the rich and miserable. I mimed one woman fanning herself with her bid card while Mina mimicked a man adjusting his monocle—which he actually had.

Then she stopped short, her eyes lighting up as she pointed across the street. “Wedding.”

I turned. Sure enough, a bridal party was entering a venue, all satin dresses and tuxedos.

She grinned. “Wanna crash it?”

I looked at her, wide-eyed. “Do I want to crash a wedding?”

“Let’s say we’re old friends of the bride’s family.”

“Only if I get to pick your name.”

“Deal.”

We darted across the street like we were on a mission. Inside the venue, a woman with a headset asked who we were.

I smiled broadly. “I’m Sebastian. This is Persephone.”

Mina choked on a laugh. The woman blinked. “From the bride’s side?”

I nodded solemnly. “Met her at a wellness retreat in Maui.”

“Totally life-changing,” Mina added.

We were waved inside with barely a second glance. I had no idea if they recognized us but I wasn’t going to question it. She wanted to crash a wedding. I was up for it.

The room was glittering with fairy lights and champagne towers. “Keep me away from those champagne flutes,” Mina said close to my ear. “Seriously. There’s a story I’ll tell you another time. Don’t let me near them.”

I arched a brow but nodded. “Understood.”