Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

A/N: Quickly, before the inspiration dies!

Can't Buy Me Love

Prologue

Arrogant. Rich. Handsome. Sarcastic. Intolerable.

All the above words could be used to describe Rufus ShinRa, a man who was supposed to be dead, but wouldn't tell a soul except his Turks how he'd survived the Weapon incident at Junon.

Personally, Tifa Lockhart didn't care much at all how he survived. She tended to focus more on the fact that he'd survived. With his death, all the ShinRas of the world would be dead. No more ShinRa, no more corruption, no more Planet dying, no more weird experiments… In general, world happiness and peace.

And to find out that all of that corruption and hatred and love of fear had survived… well, it certainly puts a cramp in one's day.

And then to find out that said corruptive force wants to marry you? Even worse.

The conversation had been almost entirely one-sided. Rufus had explained from a purely business standpoint. To paraphrase, if he could show the world that someone as beloved as an AVALANCHE member could love him enough to pledge their life for him, then the public would certainly give him a second chance. And he would use that chance for good, and rebuild all that had been destroyed, and use his powers for good, blah blah blah.

Tifa didn't believe a word of it. So she said, "Go to hell," and had Barrett escort the former President out of 7th Heaven.

Then the next day, Tifa received a mysterious letter in the mail, stating that she had one month to vacate 7th Heaven and remove its clientele so the building could be used for 'government means.'

Furious, and knowing he had something to do with it, Tifa marched directly into the five-story makeshift ShinRa building, took the elevator, stormed right into Rufus's office and slammed the paper down on his desk.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she exclaimed.

Rufus glanced at the paper, and then returned to his paperwork. "I see you got my letter."

Tifa scoffed. "Yeah, I got it. What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Rufus brushed his hair out of his eyes, hardly giving Tifa a glance. "Your building is being seized, Miss Lockhart."

"On what grounds?" Tifa asked, enunciating each syllable carefully. Her fingernails threatened to tear the paper and dig into the wood of Rufus's desk.

"All sorts of unruly people emerge from it in the middle of the night and create a public disturbance," the former President answered calmly. He set his pen down and leaned back in his chair, meeting the dark-haired woman's eyes for the first time. "And we can't have that while the city is in such a delicate state, can we?"

Tifa clenched her teeth. "It's a bar, you idiot; of course people are going to be drunk."

"Then they can be drunk somewhere else," he retorted, a sly smirk creeping onto his lips.

Tifa glared at him a moment before speaking again. "Alright Rufus, you and I both know what this is really about."

Rufus's eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Oh really? By all means…" He swept his hand through the air in a gesture for her to explain.

"I'm not going to marry you," Tifa snapped, setting both hands on his desk and leaning forward. "I'm not going to date you; I'm not even going to give you the time of day. And I most certainly am not going to sleep with you."

Rufus made a disappointed face and clicked once with his tongue. "Shame," he said. "It would've been worth your while."

Tifa gaped and, childishly, pretended to gag at his blatant come-on. "How can you be so arrogant when everyone hates you?"

The corners of his lips lifted in an outright smile. "Because I know they all secretly want to be me."

Tifa, bewildered by his unending cockiness, had no answer.

Taking advantage of her silence, Rufus stood, his motions lithe like a panther, and strolled around his room toward Tifa. "Be honest, Lockhart, have you even once thought about what I've asked of you?"

"You're not even worth the effort," she barked.

Rufus ignored her. "Think of all I could give you. Even with my company in shambles I have more money than any other man on the Planet. Anything you want, I can give to you."

"Maybe I don't want the things you'd give to me."

Rufus chuckled. "Lockhart, every woman wants what I can give to them." Tifa shuddered at the veiled innuendo, scowling. "Think about it," he spoke, standing tall in front of her. "Then come back with your real answer."

Tifa walked the rest of the way home in raging silence. No one tried to talk to her, not even acquaintances she'd pass by on the street; her anger showed easily in the way she held herself as she moved. By the time she reached 7th Heaven, she was fuming.

"Hey, Tifa?" Marlene began from a corner.

"What?" Tifa snapped, glaring at the girl.

Marlene shut her lips together tightly, eyes wide. Her bottom lip began to tremble, but she tried to hide it. "Nevermind…" she muttered, turning away.

Tifa sighed quietly, running a hand through her hair. Exasperated, she said, "Marlene…" calling the small girl back to her. She kneeled down and brushed Marlene's bangs off of her forehead, giving her a soft smile. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little stressed right now, but it's no big deal. What did you want to talk to me about?"

She smiled in return before letting it drop. "Some men dressed all in black came by and said something about leaving. We're not going anywhere, are we?"

Tifa flinched. He sent his Turks? she thought, her outrage growing by leaps and bounds. "What exactly did they say, Marlene?" she asked. "Do you remember?"

"They said we had to be out of here in less than a month or they were going to force us out," she relayed. "They told me to tell you that. What are they talking about, Tifa?"

Tifa had stopped listening, stopped looking at Marlene entirely. If he plays this game, she reasoned, there's no way I can win. No matter what I do, I lose.

"Tifa?"

The dark-haired woman looked back at Marlene, and sent her a reassuring smile, coupled with a hug. "Nothing, sweetie; it's nothing. I'll take care of it."

"Fine."

Rufus glanced up from his desk, meeting the burgundy eyes of Tifa Lockhart. "Fine what?"

Tifa glared down at him, arms crossed tightly. "Fine, as in 'Fine, I'll marry you.'"

Rufus blinked, as if he thought he hadn't heard her correctly. Then, wordlessly, he opened his desk drawer and pulled out a velvet box, opening and laying it on top of his papers.

Tifa regarded the white gold band, the enormous diamond cut perfectly right in the center, and felt her heart sink. "I have to wear that?"

"What did you expect?" Rufus asked indignantly. "A small town wedding at the Chocobo Barn? If this is going to be believable, it has to be authentic."

Clenching her teeth once more, Tifa held out her left hand. "Fine."

With one fluid movement, Rufus took her hand in his and slipped the ring onto her finger. In that moment, Tifa knew she had just sold her soul to the devil.