Chapter4.
1309 Words
Jennifer's POV
Nothing could have prepared me for the latest plot twist life had thrown at me.
Shit.
It was so big, that three days later, I still couldn't get over it. I'd honestly thought my life was over after my doctor's appointment, but I didn't expect the rest of the events that followed. I always heard that the world was a small place, but how small was it that I just had to be offered an arranged marriage to the man I rolled in the mud and loathed?
We'd interacted just a handful of times, but I hated him and that was it.
Dad's words rang in my ears, but I pushed it aside immediately. There was no way I was going to get married to Cassius, over my dead body. Yes, I was fresh out of an engagement, but I wasn't desperate to be a ‘Mrs’ so soon and nothing was going to change that.
Except my inheritance.
I hated it. I hated the fact that Dad had to add a clause to my birthright.
It wasn't unusual for Dad to burst into my room unannounced, but even in a million years, I didn't see his next words coming.
"You have fifteen minutes, Jennifer" his voice was cool but in no way did it help my racing nerves. " Fifteen minutes to make up your mind or everything goes to Blair."
What? I couldn't believe my ears.
"Dad?" I echoed. "You're joking. This can't be..."
"Fourteen minutes." He cut me off with a stern look. "Time is ticking, Jennifer."
There was no way this was happening. This just had to be the biggest twist life has thrown at me. What did he mean by that? How could he want to give away my birthright to the same person who had betrayed me? The same person I'd planned on getting my revenge on?
It was a messy situation overall, but I was on the losing end no matter what choice I made. It felt like life was against me, and I was on the verge of going nuts.
Dad's words echoed in my ears and I pictured an ecstatic Blair rubbing it in my face that she was now the owner of everything, if I refused dad's ultimatum, that Is.
While Dad's eyes screamed bloody murder, I used that time to get a grip on myself. I knew Dad was only looking out for me, even though his way was flawed, but even at that, I needed to find a loophole out of this. A benefit that would be worth all the sacrifice.
I had looked up Cassius, against my better judgement, in the past three days and the information I'd gathered on him was beyond shocking. He was beyond wealthy, and his influence spammed all through the city and even in places I never thought was possible.
He was a billionaire and he got into the category of the men I read about in fictional books; hot, wealthy, dangerously sexy and uncharacteristically rude too.
I sighed, and even though I loathed him, he had the things I needed; influence and power. With those things and his riches by his side, it would be more than easy to make Blair and Daniel pay for what they'd done to me. The doctor’s words rang in my head again and I shut my eyes as fear and pain stabbed my heart. Three months is enough time if I start now.
An idea popped up in my head and before I could second guess myself to do something I would regret, I turned to Dad immediately.
"I'm going to sign the document." I rushed out the words. " I'll explain when I get back."
Without waiting for so much as a second, I pulled the small stack of papers out of his hands and dashed out of my room.
If I was going to do this, I needed to be sure I was doing it right.
Thanks to Cassius’ status, it was pretty easy to find him. After being checked in by his receptionist, I walked straight into his office. However, the man that stood in front of me, wasn't the one I was used to.
Up until this moment, I never believed it was possible for someone to get hotter in a span of three days. His brown hair was slicked back, and they matched the chocolate velvet that were his orbs. His lips were drawn into a thin line and even though I'd just burst in unannounced, I didn't so much as see a hint of surprise or shock on his face.
"I'm here for one thing and one thing only." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop myself. "I agree to the marriage."
The silence that settled between us was deafening. His eyes raked over me, from head to toe and it took everything in me to not feel self conscious.
Without another word, I slid the papers across his desk and it landed against the tip of his pen with a small thunk.
"There are some things you should know though." On my way here, I'd take the liberty of adjusting some things. Alongside the marriage papers I'd gotten from Dad, I made sure to add a separate sheet that included rules hiding our marriage. "I suggest you read through it."
"No falling in love."
Was the first rule in the book, and somehow, under Cassius' tone, it sounded sexy as hell.
"Not at all." I nodded once. "This is strictly business and I want it to remain that way."
A chuckle rumbled at the base of his throat. That was the least reaction I'd expected, but he shocked me even more by signing it.
"You didn't read the rest." I huffed. "How are you even...."
"I don't care." He shrugged, his eyes still trailed on me. "At least not for now."
"What's in it for you?" I blurted out. The only reason I'd agreed was to get my revenge. On the other hand, he didn't need me for Jack s**t, so why was he willing to marry me?
"That should be discussed over dinner, don't you think?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. In just a couple of strides, I watched him appear by my side, just to loop his arm in mine. "Come."
I had no idea where he had in mind, but I followed him anyway. My heels clicked loudly against the almost empty hallway. Luckily, we didn't have to walk for long.
The moment we pushed past a set of double doors by our right, I gasped out loud.
White bright lights from cameras hit me square in the face and I stumbled. Just before I could lose my step, Cassius’ huge hands wrapped around me. While I struggled to compose myself, I felt him slip something onto my finger.
A ring, and not just any kind. It was a huge rock.
"Mr Redford." It took me a quick minute to realize what all of this was. A press conference. "What do you have to say about the rumors? Are they true? Are you really getting married?"
My husband said nothing. Instead, his fingers intertwined in mine, and in the most gentle way, he lifted it up for all to see.
"It's true!" Someone else cheered. "He's married!"
More and more questions were thrown at us, but I blocked them out as soon as they came. It seemed to be working well, until I spotted someone in the crowd.
No.
"Miss Wellington." His voice rings out in the crowd. There was a sly smirk on his face and I just knew it wouldn't translate into anything good.
"How can you be getting married to someone else, when you're pregnant with my child?"
What? What the hell?
- Writer
