The CEO's Surrendered Daughter-in-Law: An unexpected passion

Spin-off of: Ties of Fate: A Contract with the Cowboy.

Prologue

United States - Texas - 1996

Max drove to the small town that, by the way, had everything, and looked at his son, who was lost in thought, looking out the window.

"Do you want to stop at the bakery and buy something for the trip?"

"Excellent idea, Dad. Are you going in?" Daniel asked when his father parked in the square.

"No, you know my tastes. Bring me something and a fizzy drink. I'll wait for you at the bookstore."

"Okay."

Daniel went into the huge bakery, and Max went to the bookstore. He didn't usually have much time to read, but when a book caught his attention, he couldn't resist spending hours reading.

He picked up a hardcover book that caught his eye, with the image of the universe and an astronaut lost in space. So he decided to read the synopsis to decide whether to buy it or not.

Meanwhile, one of the seamstress's assistants entered the bookstore. The bell rang, signaling that another customer had arrived. She also liked to read almost all genres, especially romance novels.

Ever since she saw Mrs. Colt dressed as a bride, she had been dying to have a Colt in her life, but the only one she knew, Jack, was already married. She didn't know his brother, whom her coworker had mentioned, but she would give anything to meet him. She really wanted to be part of that family; everyone spoke very highly of the Colts.

She heard about their youngest brother who had shown up, a young man in his twenties, and she was even interested, but she found out that he had started dating. So the only Colt left was a man who was almost impossible to meet, since he rarely showed up in town.

While she was looking at the books on one of the shelves, a very fragrant man passed by her. His perfume was so pleasant that she looked at him, who was standing with his back turned with a hardcover book in his hand. She looked closely at his hand, large and with thick fingers, and he was very tall, probably six feet four inches. It was rare to see a man that tall in the city, except for the Colts. His hair was slightly gray and his body was well defined, noticeable even under the suit, as it hugged his curves. She looked down at his long legs and rounded butt. She had never spent so much time admiring a man old enough to be her father, but this was no ordinary man; he was different. He turned his face to the side to look at another book, and she was able to admire his profile. She found him very handsome and attractive. Honestly, she even thought about approaching him, but she had always been shy, which was why she had never had a boyfriend. While she was thinking, a gorgeous boy, her age, opened the door, rang the bell, and called the man who smelled good. "Daddy, shall we go?" "Sure, I'll just pay for this book." Natasha watched the man walk to the cashier, still without having the opportunity to see his face. Her shyness didn't let her take a single step to talk to him. So he paid for the book and left, and she missed her big opportunity to talk to the handsome old man.

*Damn! Why am I like this? I need to lose this shyness*, she thought as she walked to the door and watched them get into a luxurious car. *He's rich, he certainly isn't from the city, dressed in such an expensive suit. Yeah... I missed my opportunity... As always...*

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**Chapter 1**

**Brazil - São Paulo - 1998.**

Maximiliano Colt, better known as Max or Mister Colt, walked calmly through the company's lobby. The rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoed on the marble walls, accompanying the tireless words of the lawyer at his side.

Once again, Max found himself mired in legal issues, documents he had signed without due care, a high price he paid for trusting too much. His serious expression reflected the pressure he faced daily as CEO of FashionTech Colt, one of the largest fashion and technology companies in the country. Suddenly, as if something had tugged at his senses, his gaze was drawn to the main entrance. What he saw there left him speechless. A stunning woman with long red hair stood talking to the doorman. Dressed in an elegant skirt suit, she exuded a presence that was impossible to ignore. Max froze, his eyes fixed on her, as the lawyer's monotonous description faded into the back of his mind. Most of her body was covered, but the way she moved, the confidence in her posture, exuded a charm and sensuality that left anyone breathless. *Company model*, he thought, but something about her seemed different, special. Max's deep blue eyes shone with an intensity he hadn't felt in a long time. Junior, the lawyer, noticing his boss's distraction, cleared his throat, trying to bring Max back to the present. Max looked away for a brief moment, but his mind was captivated by the sight. He returnedstaring at the woman, unable to contain himself.

Her walk was a work of art. The soft sway of her hips, the shapely legs that glided gracefully. Every detail about her seemed meticulously orchestrated to bewitch and ignite a man's desire.

Max felt a wave of heat rise up his neck, a sensation so intense that he was forced to loosen his tie. Never before had he allowed himself to look at such young women with such interest, but something about her disarmed him, breaking his own rules and prejudices.

The lawyer, noticing the abrupt change in Max's expression, stopped talking and followed his boss's gaze. When his eyes met the stunning redheaded woman, he immediately understood why Max had lost focus. The atmosphere in the lobby changed, charged with a silent, almost palpable tension.

Max felt his heart race, a muscle that he had always controlled with coldness and determination, now pulsating uncontrollably, betraying his composure. Who was that woman? And why was her presence suddenly affecting him so much? These questions echoed in his mind, but before he could ponder any answer, the woman turned her face and their eyes met.

It was a shock. As if an electric current passed through him. Her eyes, an intense green, shone with a mixture of mystery and challenge. Max felt his breath catch for a second. She smiled slightly, a subtle gesture that seemed to hold secrets that he suddenly desperately wanted to unravel.

Everything around him disappeared. The lawyer, the problems, the commitments of the day... Nothing else mattered. Max Colt, the man who had always remained in control, was lost in an instant that lasted an eternity.

The young woman looked away and continued walking, the sound of her heels echoing in the lobby, while Max, still dazed, watched her until she disappeared into the elevator. When the door closed, he let out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding.

Max didn't know it yet, but that woman had just opened a door in his life, a situation he never imagined he would experience. A simple vision, a brief moment, and nothing would ever be the same again.

Max was still lost in his own thoughts when the sound of a throat clearing brought him back to reality. Junior, the lawyer, was clearing his throat insistently, trying to regain his boss's attention.

"Mr. Colt," Junior insisted, urgency in his voice. "About the documents...?"

Max blinked, shaking his head slightly, as if he were trying to shake off the impact of the vision he had just had. He looked at Junior, but his mind was still on what had just happened.

"Yes, the documents," Max replied, his voice deeper than he intended. He tried to focus on the matter at hand, but it was impossible to ignore the rapid beating of his heart.

Junior continued to speak, now more confident for having regained the CEO's attention.

"We need to review the terms urgently, Mr. Colt. We can't allow this situation to get worse. If we don't act quickly, we could have serious legal problems..."

As Junior spoke, Max felt his irritation growing. Not with the lawyer, but with himself. What was wrong with him? Since when could a simple woman distract him to such an extent? Max had always prided himself on his discipline, on his ability to stay focused, but now...

That woman's smile was still etched in his mind. She had disarmed him with just one look, a split second that made him lose control of himself. A part of him wanted to let it go, to move on, but another part, a deeper, more visceral one, knew he couldn't simply ignore her.

"Junior," Max interrupted the lawyer abruptly, raising his hand. "Send the documents to my office. I'll review everything later."

The lawyer was somewhat surprised by the answer, but nodded.

"Of course, Mr. Colt. I'll take care of it right away." Max looked at the lawyer, realizing how impatient he was being. He knew the documents were important, but at the moment, something else was eating at him. "Thank you, Junior. You're doing a good job," he added, trying to soften his earlier abruptness. Junior gave a slight smile, thanking him for his trust, and quickly walked away, leaving Max alone in the lobby. Max remained there for a few more seconds, his eyes still fixed on the elevator that had taken the redheaded woman away from him. He knew that this would not be their last meeting. Something inside him told him that, somehow, fate would bring them face to face again. Still immersed in his thoughts, Max straightened his posture, adjusted his tie and, with a deep sigh, headed to his office. He had a lot of work to do, but something inside him had changed. That meeting, however brief it was, had left an indelible mark.