CHAPTER FOUR
1413 Words
Dorian
The night was colder than usual for February. The kind of cold that crawled under the skin and sat in the bones.
I was standing near the tall window of my office when Marcus entered without knocking.
“They are here,” he said quietly.
I finished the last sip of whiskey and set the glass down. “Bring them in.”
Marcus stepped out. A moment later, the doors opened again and Richard Rowan stumbled inside like a man who lived his entire life in cheap bars.
His shirt was wrinkled. His aura smelled of fear and alcohol.
And beside him was the girl.
Ivy Rowan.
She followed behind him with small steps, as if each one hurt. Her eyes stayed on the floor. Her hands trembled so badly that the small bag she carried kept shaking against her leg. Her dress was thin. Not suited for winter. Not suited for anything, really. Her cheek had a fresh red mark and a bruise was growing under her eye.
Richard shoved her forward.
“Here she is,” he announced with a smile that tried to look confident. “Fresh and innocent. The perfect bride.”
Who does this bastard think he is?
He should be grateful I needed a wife badly, else his body would have been food to my dogs. Nobody owes me and goes free.
I ignored him and only watched her.
She stood in the center of my office, her shoulders curled inward. She looked so fragile I almost expected her to crumble if someone breathed too close to her.
Her uncle whispered something into her ears. And she dropped to her knees. Her hands were pressed to the floor. She bowed her head. Her entire body shook. I could hear her breathing, fast and uneven, like a small animal trapped in a cage.
Richard laughed. “See what I mean. She knows how to behave. You will not have a problem with her.”
“Stand.” I ordered.
Ivy flinched. She did not rise.
Richard hissed at her. “Did you not hear him? Stand up this instant.”
She tried to stand, but her knees slipped on the polished floor. She struggled again and forced herself upright. Her legs wobbled.
She tensed as I stepped closer.
When I stopped in front of her, she looked even smaller. Almost weightless.
I lifted one gloved hand and touched her chin. She gasped softly.
“Look at me.” I said coldly.
She resisted for half a second. Then her chin rose under my fingers. Her eyes met mine for the first time.
They were pale gray.
Her eyelashes were wet. Her lip was cracked. A thin cut ran across it. It was still bleeding.
I studied her carefully.
This was the girl he brought me to solve a two million dollar debt.
This was the girl I would marry to secure an alliance.
This trembling thing who now stared at me as if I was death itself.
Richard rubbed his hands together. “So. The deal is complete. She is yours now. Everything in the papers is legally binding.”
I did not look away from her. “Did she sign anything?”
Richard snorted. “She does not need to. She is under guardianship. I am allowed to make decisions for her.”
Ivy swallowed. Her throat moved like she was trying not to choke.
“Raise your head,” I said again.
She lifted her head a little more.
I walked around her slowly. She stood very still, like a prey hoping the predator would lose interest. Every breath she took trembled. Her fingers dug into her dress. She did not dare look at anything except the floor ahead of her.
She must have been trained that way. To be silent, invisible and not anger people.
I stopped behind her and spoke to Marcus.
“Get the documents.”
Marcus handed them to me. I glanced through. Everything was exactly as agreed. The marriage contract. The debt clearance. The transfer of legal guardianship. It was disgusting but clean on paper.
I signed without hesitation.
Richard let out a relieved laugh. “That is it then. The debt is cleared.”
I ignored him. My eyes went back to Ivy.
“You are shaking,” I said.
“I am sorry,” she whispered
Her voice was very soft and thin.
I set the papers down and walked back to stand in front of her.
“What exactly are you sorry for?” I asked coldly.
She blinked fast. “I do not know. I am just sorry.”
Her voice broke on the last word.
Richard groaned loudly. “Do not mind her. She apologizes for breathing.”
I turned my head slowly towards him, disgusted by his presence. “Leave.” I said coldly.
“What? But I thought maybe we could discuss…”
“Leave,” I repeated.
He swallowed hard and nodded. His eyes flicked to Ivy. And he looked satisfied.
He hurried to the door. “Good luck with her.”
When he was gone, the silence grew heavy.
Ivy stood alone in the center of the room. She wrapped her arms around herself without thinking, as if she suddenly felt colder.
Marcus waited by the wall, watching me carefully. He knew my moods better than anyone.
I circled Ivy again.
“Do you know why you are here?” I asked, my voice void of emotion.
She nodded. “Yes. I was told.”
“And what were you told?”
“That you… that you bought me.”
Her voice cracked.
I stopped in front of her. “I do not buy people.”
She looked confused. “But…”
“What I paid was to clear his debt,” I said. “Not to purchase you.”
She looked down without saying a word.
I studied her face again. There was a bruise forming along her jaw. Someone had hit her recently.
“Who did that to you?” I asked coldly. Not that I cared.
She shook her head quickly. “Please. It does not matter.”
“It does to me,” I said. “You're mine now.”
“It was nothing,” she insisted. “I made a mistake.”
Marcus stepped forward slightly, noticing the change in my stance.
“Dorian,” he warned quietly.
I ignored him. My eyes stayed on Ivy. “You think being hit is something you earn?” I asked.
She nodded once.
I breathed in slowly.
This malnourished looking girl was mine.
Not because I wanted a wife.
Not because I wanted her.
But because the world demanded I have one to keep my empire standing.
And she was nothing but a piece on the board.
I stepped closer and lifted her chin again.
She froze.
“Look at me,” I said coldly.
She obeyed immediately.
Her eyes were glossy. A single tear clung to her lower lashes.
“You are not going to be hit here,” I said calmly.
She looked stunned. “What?”
“You will not be hit in this house.” I repeated.
Her lips parted. She stared at me like she did not understand the words.
Marcus spoke carefully. “She does not know how to accept kindness, Dorian.”
“I am not offering kindness,” I muttered. “I am stating rules.”
Ivy swallowed. Her voice shook. “I do not want to cause trouble. I will do anything. I can clean. I can cook. I will not bother anyone.”
“You are not a worker,” I said. “You are not here to serve. You are here because I need a wife.”
Her knees gave a small tremble at that word.
“Do you understand?” I asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I understand.”
I released her chin slowly. Her head lowered again. She looked like she might faint, so I stepped back to give her room to breathe.
Marcus cleared his throat. “Should I call the staff?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
He headed towards the door.
I looked down at Ivy one last time.
Her shoulders were still shaking.
As Marcus reached the door, I spoke again, my voice calm and cold as winter itself.
“The wedding is in three days. Prepare her.”
- Writer
