The Wolfe's Contract Bride

ChapterTwo

Kieran's Point Of View

"Do you want to get fired, Miguel?" I snapped at my assistant in anger as he kept pestering me.

Miguel shook his head, adjusting his glasses. "Absolutely not, sir, but I don't wanna die either and that is why I am telling you to reconsider this."

"Just tell her I am busy," I tried to tell him off but Miguel wasn't going to give up any time soon. No matter how much I snapped or barred my teeth. That didn't work on him anymore. It worked when he first showed up in my house several years ago but as time went on, Miguel grew wings. Stupid wings.

Miguel came in front of me, blocking my path. He sighed tiredly as he operated his tablet. "If you choose not to go that means your schedule is free and I would have to call Mr. Traynor that we are quite interested in that dinner he spoke about at the gala last week,"

This bastard. Is he threatening me? His boss?

"Don't you dare call Traynor," I warned and he looked up from his tablet. "You have to do as she says then."

"Whip up a lie for her or something. You're good at that," I told him as I walked past him. "But sir," he trailed behind me, "She told me if I didn't bring you, she would feed me to Donnie and Sally," he shuddered and I could almost imagine him clutching his tablet in fear.

"Fine but this is the last time!"

"The car is ready downstairs,"

***

"Good day, young master," Maximus bowed as I stepped into the back seat. Miguel got in the front seat with Maximus while on the phone with who I really do not wanna see right now.

I have no choice but to see her at the moment but like I told Miguel, this was the last time. I let out a breath, resting my head as I leaned back on the chair. I looked out the window, the city blurring past.

Another goddamn summons. Like I don’t have an empire to run. Grandmother’s ‘urgent matters’ always boil down to the same thing - marry some vapid heiress or lose my inheritance. As if I need her money to stay on top.

Miguel’s threat about Traynor wasn’t empty, though. That dinner would mean shaking hands with the man who bankrupted Dad. I’d rather chew glass.

The city blurred past — dirty, loud, predictable. Just like the people in it. Always wanting something. Always...

I barely glanced up until the brakes screeched. A flash of movement - a girl, thin as a shadow, stumbling into the road. Her eyes locked onto the car, wide with terror before she lost her balance and fell.

"Are you okay, sir?" Miguel turned to me as he turned. I waved my hands dismissively, "sort that out," I snapped. I didn't want anything delaying me and giving me more headache. Maximus stepped out of the car and after a short while, the girl stood up and ran. Ran? I sat up, my eyes trailing after her retreating figure. The girl’s eyes stuck with me - wide, desperate. Like a rabbit in a snare. I shook my head. Not my problem.

A honk blasted from behind and I tore my gaze from the girl. "Let's go,"

We arrived at grandmother's villa about thirty minutes later. Miguel came to open the car door while I stepped out. I adjusted my suit, staring up at the huge mansion before me. I was already feeling tired without even entering. With a hand in my pocket, I walked into the house, ignoring the greetings of the lined up workers.

"Sir, the lunch is taking place in her garden," Miguel whispered to me and I threw a glare at him. "You chose now to tell me that?" I walked out of the house and was escorted to the garden. I could already hear grandma's cackle as I neared the place.

"I thought you said it was a lunch with grandma alone," I gritted. Miguel looked equally surprised to see another person.

"Ah my darling is here!" Grandma squealed. I got to her and she kissed me on my cheek. "I thought you wouldn't make it,"

"Well, here I am," I was served a plate of fruits as I settled in my seat. "You didn't tell me you would have guests," I said while glancing at the individual before me.

"Oh? Did I forget to mention Vanessa? Age does that, darling." She smiled innocently while stirring her tea, "You remember Vanessa, don't you?"

I glanced at the said Vanessa. Vanessa’s smile was so polished it could’ve been veneers. "It's been a long time, Kieran."

"Do I know you?"

The girl glanced at grandma while I tossed a grape into my mouth. "He must have forgotten you after the accident, you can't blame him." Grandma tried to make the lady feel better. I sighed. I was already getting tired of this.

"She is your childhood friend, darling, and she just got back from Tokyo yesterday so she decided to pay this old woman a visit. Isn't she such a sweetheart?"

"Yeah, very nice of her." I replied sarcastically.

"Vanessa has been out of the country for a very long time and everything is quite new to her. How about you do her a favor and you know, take her around, show her places and..."

I chuckled, "You're talking like you don't know how busy I am, grandma,"

"You could clear your schedule for her, it's no big deal,"

I set down my fork. The silverware clattered loud enough to silence the garden birds.

"Funny. I thought we agreed no more setups after the last incident." My smile didn’t reach my eyes. Vanessa’s faltered.

"Darling, it wouldn't cost you much to just help her around. She has been out of the country so long. Be a dear and show her around the city," Grandmother said, stirring her tea with a silver spoon that probably cost more than Vanessa's flight.

I examined my cufflinks, not bothering to look up. "My hourly rate is $25,000. Assuming eight hours for a proper city tour, that's $200,000 of lost productivity. Would you like to bid for my time, Grandmother? Or shall we consider this charity?"

The garden went silent. Even the fountain seemed to pause mid-splash.

Vanessa's smile froze. "Kieran, I didn't realize—"

"No, you didn't." I finally met her eyes. "People rarely do until they see the invoice."

Grandmother's spoon clinked sharply against her cup. "Must you reduce everything to transactions?"

"You taught me to," I said, standing. "Or did you think those childhood 'lessons' about marrying for advantage were just teatime stories?"

My phone buzzed, it was nothing important but it was a perfect excuse to get out of here. I dropped my napkin on the untouched dessert. "Now if you'll excuse me, something actually worth my time requires attention."

As I turned, Grandmother's voice followed me: "One day, someone will make you reconsider what you value, Kieran Wolfe."

Not likely, I thought, sliding into the waiting car. Value requires measurable return.

***

"To the meeting," I told Maximus as I stepped into the car.

"How was lunch, sir,"

Miguel really knew how to get on my last nerve. I threw a glare at him and he got the memo from the front mirror. I hissed and shut my eyes. Grandma would not rest until she matches me with someone. How long could I resist for?

The last time I refused her ‘advice,’ she shipped my favorite stallion to Argentina.

Maximus swerved into an alley, cutting off my thoughts. "Shortcut, sir. Traffic on 5th."

The alley's shadows swallowed the car whole. I barely glanced up from my phone until a metallic *crunch* jerked us to a halt.

"What now?" I growled.

Maximus stiffened. "Someone in the road, sir."

Through the windshield, a familiar figure stumbled - the same ragged girl from earlier. This time, three men had her cornered against a dumpster. One twisted her arm behind her back while another patted her cheek mockingly.

I should've looked away. Should've told Maximus to reverse. But her knee jerked upward, cracking into the leader's nose with a satisfying *crunch*. Blood spurted as he howled.

My fingers paused mid-text. Interesting

"Sir?" Miguel ventured. "Security is two minutes out if..."

"Wait." My order silenced him.

The girl was losing. When the second thug slammed her against the brick wall, her head snapped back with a gasp. Yet her fingers still clawed for the knife in his belt.

Stupid. Brave. Stupidly brave.

Something hot uncoiled in my chest. Before I could name it, my door was open.

"Sir! Your Brioni suit—"

I was already striding forward, the alley's stench of rotting food and urine clinging to my Oxfords. The thugs didn't notice me until my shadow swallowed theirs.

"Evening, gentlemen." My voice iced the air. "You're trespassing."

The leader wiped his bloody nose. "f**k off, rich boy. This ain't your—"

My fist connected with his throat. He crumpled, gurgling. The other two launched at me, then froze at the click of Maximus' c****d pistol.

Miguel sighed behind me. "Dry cleaning bill's gonna be astronomical."

The girl sagged against the wall, chest heaving. Up close, I could see the bruises blooming on her collarbone, the split lip she'd given someone earlier. Her eyes... wide, feral, locked onto mine.

Not gratitude. Suspicion.

Smart girl.

I reached into my breast pocket. She flinched, but all I offered was a monogrammed handkerchief. "You're bleeding."

She stared at the linen like it might bite her. "Why help me?"

"Did I?" I tilted my head. "Seems you had it handled."

Her laugh was a broken thing. "Bullshit."

A smile tugged at my mouth. Finally, someone honest.

Miguel cleared his throat. "Sir, the board meeting—"

"Reschedule it." I kept my eyes on the girl. "What's your name?"

She hesitated. "Lina."

"Lina." I tested the weight of it. "How much do you owe these animals?"

Her chin lifted. "Twenty grand."

A rounding error in my world. A death sentence in hers.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "I'll clear your debt. In exchange, you'll be my wife for one year."

This was crazy.

Her breath hitched. "You're insane."

We both agree on that.

"Possibly." I glanced at my Patek Philippe. "You have thirty seconds to decide."

Behind us, the loan leader wheezed, "She'll never—"

Maximus pistol-whipped him mid-sentence.

Lina's gaze darted between my extended hand and the unconscious thugs. When she spoke, her voice was raw. "What's the catch?"

"No intimacy. No emotions." I smiled. "Just... mutually beneficial complications."

A beat passed. Then her calloused palm slid into mine... warm, trembling.

"Deal," she whispered.

And just like that, I bought myself a bride.