THE BILLIONAIRE I BURIED

The Man At The Gate

Maya's feet were glued to the hallway floor.

Adrian stood at the gate, his hand resting on the roof of the black car while studying the house as if it was already his.

At the funeral, he looked liked the dead, but now, he didn't anymore.

Her father caught her staring. 'You know him? You know his name?'

'This is his house,'

Ethan was approaching the window. ' Why is Adrian Cross outside your house? ' he asked.

Maya didn't answer. Her father was already walking away from the window and towards the door. 'He asked to meet with me.' Her father said.

'Send him away.'

'Why?'

'Why do you think, because I know what he does to people who trust him.'

'You don't know what you are saying.'

'I do. I know exactly what I'm saying.' She hissed at him. He pulled away his arm from her and opened the door anyway.

Adrian entered as if he was already familiar with every corner, two men flanking either side of him until he stopped. He waved a hand between the two men. 'Wait outside.'

They left immediately. Maya noticed as much as the fact that, whoever this man was, nobody disagreed with him.

His eyes landed on her as he was still finishing crossing the room. 'Mrs. Vale.'

'She is not your wife, Mr. Vale, not yet,' Adrian answered, not taking his gaze off Maya.

'Whatever your business is with my daughter, you will discuss it with me.' Her father said stepping between them.

'I already did.'

'Does that mean...?'

'Your company has forty eight hours before the bank takes it from you.' Adrian said. Maya knew what was to come next. She had lived it already. Her father would lose the house and her mother would get sick and Ethan would disappear the second the money was transferred. She moved before the moment could come. 'What do you want?'

Adrian finally took his eyes off of her, looking up towards her father. 'Your daughter.'

Ethan was the one who responded, letting out a laugh. 'That's a joke, right?'

'I do not joke about contracts.' He tossed a folder at the table, a marriage contract slipping out. Her father's complexion went pale.

'Do not do this Ethan.' Maya said, taking two steps towards him.

'Does your daughter really have that much value?' Adrian asked. The blood was rushing in her ears. 'I thought it was a joke too the first time around.' Ethan took two steps towards his father, taking possession of his belt. 'Now, now. Let's not do this.'

Adrian glanced at the ring on Maya's hand and then back at Ethan. 'Not for long.'

Ethan had a fistful of his collar in his hand.

'Ethan, don't--' Maya started to argue but Adrian was already speaking, just as calm as if nothing was touching him.

'Let go of him.'

Instead, Ethan made his grip stronger. 'Last warning.'

Ethan shoved him, and Adrian caught his wrist mid-air, twisting it and making Ethan kneel on the ground, gasping.

'Adrian!' Maya moved before she thought to. He released his hand the second she said his name, and Ethan was already wincing and kneeling against the ground.

She whipped around and pointed at him. 'You did not have to hurt him.'

'He put his hands on me first.'

'You could have walked away.'

'So could he.'

They stared each other in the eyes, for a second it was just the two of them, breathing in unison. Maya hated how her heartbeat gave her away, hated the fact that some small part of her could recognize his closeness. It was like a language.

His gaze dropped to her lips and then back at her. 'You are afraid of me.'

'No.'

'Your hands are shaking.'

'Are not.'

He took another step closer. 'They are.'

'You think you know me.'

'I know enough.'

'You know I will never marry you.'

'You will.' His whisper was just for her ears, 'because three years from now, you will be the one begging me to not walk away.'

She felt the floor tilt beneath her.

You remember, she said in her head.

Something flickered across his face before he grabbed the contract off the table. 'Sign it.'

She took the contract away from him. 'Tell me what happens in three years, tell me why I die.'

His hand stilled.

Ethan was watching from the side. 'What is she talking about?'

Adrian's eyes flickered between Ethan and Maya. 'She has been having strange dreams.'

'Dreams? That's your excuse?'

'It is the only one you can have today.' He turned to leave.

'Wait.' Maya said.

He paused, his hand gripping the frame.

She kept her voice quiet for his ears only. 'You were at your own funeral.'

He turned slowly, no shock or confusion, no look of anything she could understand. 'What did you see?'

'I saw you.'

'Alive?'

'Yes.'

'Did I speak to you?'

'Yes.'

'What did I say?' He waited for her to answer.

She hesitated, but he kept eye contact.

'You asked me why I was crying.'

His face went completely still, like he was losing something.

You remember, she reminded him.

'What did I say to you?' He did not answer. He took the contract from her instead, his gaze on the paper. 'You have until tomorrow morning.'

'To decide?' Maya countered.

'To sign.'

'And if I refuse.'

'Your father's company disappears. Tell me Ethan will not hurt your feelings.' He walked out without looking back.

She followed him to the driveway. 'Adrian!'

He paused beside the car.

'You said you need a wife. Why me?'

He opened the door, eyes meeting her once more and for a second the calm left his eyes; looking almost afraid. 'Because you are the only person living who can change what happens to me.'

He got in the car and the car pulled away before she could ask what that meant.

Maya stood alone in the driveway until the taillights of the car disappeared. Then something caught her eye. It was a small black envelope lying on the ground in the gravel. Her name was scribbled across the top in unknown handwriting, MAYA VALE.

She tore it open and out came a photograph of herself and Adrian. They both look slightly older, and the way they were standing, one next to the other spoke of a married couple. Behind them, Ethan was posing.

Blood was running down the side of his face.

She flipped the photograph over and three words were scribbled on the back.

HE KILLS ADRIAN.

Her phone rang in her hand. It was Ethan.

Maya looked at it before looking back down at the photograph. At the fiancé she was supposed to marry standing over the man she already buried once.

Someone knew what was coming. They were not warning her about Adrian.

They were warning her about Ethan.