When Love Becomes a Contract

“Quinn! Quinn!” Kira’s voice pulled me back. I blinked, realizing my mind had drifted totally blank for a second. She stared across the table at me, her eyes showing a strange mix of emotions I couldn't figure out. “ What?” I asked, rolling my eyes. “You were literally talking about divorcing that cold-hearted tyrant five minutes ago… and now your mind is somewhere else?” She lightly slapped a hand against her forehead. “ You've got to be kidding me Quinn” She clenched her teeth. “ That's exactly my point Kira… the court wouldn't take my plea seriously. They said I don't have enough reason to divorce him” My jaw tightened. “Do they want to wait until I’m dead before they listen?” “I think that’s been Cole’s plan all along.” Kira clenched her fist on the table. “He probably has something to do with the court’s response.” I exhaled deeply as I thought of exactly what to say. “ I hate to say this but... We need a plan. A proper one. Something that would force the court to accept my lawsuit”. I pursed, running my eyes through the cafe we were in “ We need to make Cole cheat on me”. I added, while my eyes calmly settled on Kira. I couldn't read her face, but I could tell she was devising a plan, one that seems dangerous. “ There will be no bloodshed Kira Laurent” I broke into laughter “Come on… you look like you are about to stab someone at any slightest annoyance from them” I continued laughing, covering my palm with my mouth. Kira’s silence alone could make a dead man question his death. She immediately shot me a deadly glare. “ You sometimes make me worried about your safety. Cole is not a normal man and you know it… and now is the time to take this divorce seriously, but you aren't” My expression darkened with despair “ I know Kira… I guess I'm scared to start the lawsuit” I picked my nails “ I think I can't look him dead in the eye and tell him, I want a divorce” Kira rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time. “Come on, Quinn… don’t tell me you still have feelings for that self-centered husband of yours.” She got up from her seat and moved behind me, placing both palms gently on my shoulders as if trying to comfort me. “Do you still love him?” she asked, her face turning pale. Hundreds of thoughts ran through my head. A cold chill ran down my spine, and I gulped down the drink in my mouth. “Of course I don’t… I hate the sight of him,” I lied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Good! Now you’re talking… the divorce it is then.” She moved back to her seat while I gave her a small thumbs-up, my face carved into a faint smile. I exhaled deeply, watching Kira as she fixed her eyes on her phone. The world seemed to pause at that exact moment. I muttered under my breath “No more drama.” ********* My name used to be Quinn West... until Cole Vandal brought a contract marriage plan to me, promising me wealth and stability. I said yes to him… with a golden ring on my finger and then got the name Vandal. A name that speaks wealth wherever it is mentioned across Spain. Vandal has been published as the brand name in many companies. Clothes, shoes, heels, accessories and whatnot. And of course, you could say I was the wife of a multi-billionaire. But what would get everyone confused is why the wife of a multi billionaire would want to divorce one of the wealthiest man across the globe? Well… I wouldn't have agreed to such myself if Vandal hadn't finally pushed me to my limit. And yes. I wanted out. I suddenly heard loud sirens outside… It sounded like the whole division of police would run their vehicles directly into the cafe. The door swung open, revealing Cole's men. There were five of them… all in suits with dark striking marks on the back of their palms. To them it was a symbol of their strength whatever. I rolled my eyes, with crossed legs and folded arms as I watched the top guy walk up to me. “ Mrs. Vandal. Your presence is required at Haven,” The guy spoke calmly, his face tight. I scoffed mockingly “ Haven? That's my home you son of a b***h!” I yelled, staring directly into his eyes. The room fell completely silent. No one said a word or moved a muscle. Kira’s eyes softened into concern as they settled on me. “ You need to calm down, Quinn, or you might do something you will regret,” she said as she stretched her hand across the table towards me, signaling me to hold it. And yes, I had that bad temper no one dared to cross. Obviously aside Cole. I exhaled deeply as I stood up. Holding onto Kira's palm who in turn wrapped hers around mine. She nodded slightly with a good go ahead. And I replied with a short smile. “ I will meet you at six” I assured her, and she responded with a short smile. I didn't quite know why she did that but I believed she was worried about me. And then I walked out of the café into one of the vehicles I was directed into. I got to haven, standing out of the vehicle as I gulped down my saliva. Vandal’s Haven, stood like a palace in the heart of Spain. I proceeded in entering the building, walking with ease as I saw Cole standing at the far edge of the room, close to the fireplace. The room was dark, and the entire curtains were closed. Only the fire in the hearth filled the room. I could only see his broad back. One of his hands tucked into his pocket revealing the lines of his vein, while the other held a glass of wine from the opened bottle I could see on the table. I cleared my throat signalling him that I have arrived. Though I knew he would have noticed. But the ego in me prevented me from saying a word. He turned to look at me, his hair which seemed to partly fall across his face caught my attention. “ Where were you?” He asked. His voice was cold. I rolled my eyes, my arms crossed under my breasts. “Thought you knew where I was since you sent your boys to fetch me like I was one of your little rats,” I spoke in a harsh tone. Cole slowly walked toward me, not too close, but close enough that any incoming slap would have landed directly on my cheek. “I warned you about the divorce and listening to that friend of yours,” he said, his voice still calm… only this time, colder. His dark eyes looked like they had been holding a grudge against me for years. I maintained my posture, not budging an inch. It made him furious. No one else would have noticed, but I saw it in his eyes. He hated the fact that I wasn’t afraid of him. Neither did I get all excited around him. I only needed him to raise my status so I can escape my toxic family, and that was all there was to it. I interned at his company after graduating from college and later worked as his secretary. He eventually took interest in the things I did and the places I went… one would say he fell in love with me. Eventually, we got into a fake marriage. With time, his cold and uninterested behaviour toward me became the talk of the town, and people began suspecting him of infidelity. Soon enough, the media would probably start digging into our marriage. I didn’t want any of that to happen, so I decided to file for a divorce. All my plans of leaving this marriage were going perfectly fine until my husband unknowingly decided to make things easier for me. The only thing I found difficult to resist about Vandal was his ability to make me crave his touch. And I didn’t think the man standing right in front of me would let me think about anything else right now except how badly I wanted him to satisfy those cravings.