CHAPTER 3 - REJECTED BY THE BRUTE
1032 Words
JESSICA
The cab screeched to a halt in front of the mansion and I stared wide eyed at the magnificent building in my view. From what I had seen on TV about the Rodriguez family's financial woes, I had certainly not expected any of them to still own a mansion this huge.
I scrolled through my phone in search of the address that my stepmother had sent to me, just to make sure that I was at the right place, and after a quick confirmation, I finally came down from the cab.
It was already 8pm, the exact time that Tristan Rodriguez had requested to see me. I knew he was rude and ill mannered, but I had to make this union work, for the sake of my sick father.
I stopped at the huge brown door of the house and I knocked twice. The door squealed open almost immediately, and I was surprised to see Tristan standing in the doorway. I swallowed hard as my eyes darted across his body. He was wearing a long sleeve shirt, and all the buttons had been loosened, showing off his sweaty chest and rock hard abs.
Tristan seemed a little surprised to see me, and I wondered why this was so. Was he not the one who requested me to be at his mansion by 8pm?
"You're a minute late," He blurted out finally.
His words caught me by surprise and I found myself glancing at the wristwatch ony hand multiple times. Did it really matter if I was a minute late? Why was he trying so hard to be annoying?
"Little traffic on the way," I replied with a feigned smile. "Are you going to invite me in or not?"
"No," He shook his head in the negative.
My heart skipped a beat as I sensed the finality in his tone.
"No?" I peered at him.
"You see," Tristan started. "I half expected you not to come."
He pulled his huge frame away from the door, allowing me have a peak inside his little haven and I was even more stunned to see how beautiful his home was.
"I expected you to turn down my offer, Jessica," He continued. "To make the chase fun for me."
He paused and his dark eyes ran down my body, sending a cold shiver up my spine.
"But look at you here, at such an odd hour of the day, clamoring over a man you barely know. Doesn't that look a little cheap to you, Jessica?"
I could understand if the way I rejected him at our first meeting had bruised his ego, but I had certainly not expected him to turn me down, not like this.
My brain was already working very fast at that point. I needed to do something - to say something to save the situation, and from the looks of things, I didn't have all the time in the world. Tristan's eyes remained fixed on me, his face a mask of his obvious impatience and irritation.
"Look," I managed to mutter. "Can I just come in and we would talk about this well?"
"Sadly, I don't think that would be necessary," Tristan frowned and turned to leave.
No! I couldn't allow my father's only hope leave just like that. I grabbed him by the arm and he spun around at once.
"You wanted me!" I squealed. "You said I should be here tonight!"
"I wanted a fun chase," Tristan retorted. "This is not fun."
He pulled away from my grip and before he could walk off, I tried again.
"Remember you need to get mated to royal blood!" I said, trying my best to sound confident. "I'm your best bet as the daughter of an Alpha!"
"No you're not," He replied with a low chuckle. "There are hundreds of small packs and I'm pretty sure one of those Alphas would be willing to give his daughter's hand in marriage."
Slowly the realization began to hit me - Tristan didn't need me. I was the one who needed him. At that point, I was desperate. I had to do anything it took, to save my father's life.
Before he could walk away and leave me stranded, I fell on my knees.
"I need this, Tristan," I pleaded. "We need to get mated - "
"I don't think you understand me," He sighed and shook his head. "You're just like every other girl. You want me just for the money."
"Not for me," I whimpered, tears welling in my eyes.
"For who then?" He asked, c*****g his head to get a better view of me.
"My sick father," I sighed. "I have no money to pay for his bills and my stepmother has abandoned him. I love my father and I can't allow him die."
The emotions got to me in that moment and I burst into tears. Tristan watched me on the floor for a while, and finally, he got fed up of seeing me in tears.
"Alright, get up," He grunted.
He helped me up to my feet and took a napkin from his pocket to wipe my eyes dry.
"I must say I am impressed," He said. "I haven't seen anyone who loves her father as much as you do - "
As he spoke, my heart pounded in my chest. Was this it? Had he accepted me to be his mate?
" - But despite your very touching story, I still don't think you're good enough for me," He concluded.
"What?" I squealed in surprise.
"Guards!" Tristan growled. "Get this thing out of my sight."
And just like that, I found myself bundled up like a criminal by two burly men. One of the men hunched me up on his back and the other followed him closely as they made their way out. All the while, I kicked, screamed and cursed, all to no avail.
Tristan watched with a wide grin plastered across his face, as they took me out and there and then, I realized that my last hope of saving my father's life was the most handsome and ill mannered brute I had ever set my eyes on.
- Writer
