The Devil’s Convenient Wife

Chapter 6

ZARA’S POV

I was in a great mess and that was a fact I was trying to settle into. I watched Cael exit my room and sat down the next moment. The cushion felt hard on my butt and I blamed myself for overlooking it when I picked it. Inside of me, I knew the cushion didn’t matter at all. What mattered was Marcus, Nadia, Victor, my inheritance, and Cael. Yes, Cael had signed up to be one of my worries now. I would have to make a choice about him, sooner than later.

**

I tried to sleep but my mind kept drifting into places I didn’t want it. Eventually, I sat up and used sleeping pills, more pills than prescribed. Sleep came but it was cut short by the ringing of the doorbell. I opened my eyes, one at a time and exhaustion lashed at me. I walked to the door and opened it slightly to see who was disturbing my rest.

Lo and behold, it was Marcus.

He smiled upon seeing me and presented flowers to me with his right hand. I watched him skeptically, wondering if he had gotten crazy.

“May I come in for a second?” he asked when I didn’t accept his flowers.

“No, you lost the right to enter. You can talk from outside,” I replied.

“That’s no way to treat a guest,” he muttered, trying to push his way inside.

“Stop this crazy act!” I screamed at him angrily. I was breathing heavily and he backed off. I stepped outside and looked into his eyes, arms akimbo, “I don’t know what stunt you are trying to pull now but yesterday, I caught you in bed with my step-sister. Coming back here with so much audacity, have you lost your senses?”

“Keep it down,” he muttered. “I understand that you must have been hurt by what you saw yesterday. That’s the actual reason I came here to see you. I even brought flowers. Even though you are angry, surely you would accept my thoughtfulness.”

“Your thoughtfulness?” I asked, amused by the entire incident.

“Alright, I guess I should succumb a little, let you keep your pride whilst you forgive me,” he muttered. “I am sorry. I am sorry for sleeping with Nadia. I will try to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

I scoffed, “Why would I forgive you? I dropped the engagement ring for a reason. It was to tell you we are f*****g done, you crazy asshole.”

Marcus started to laugh hysterically. I took a step back, scared that he might have truly gone out of his mind.

“You can’t afford to lose me. I know that for a fact,” he told me calmly. “You would lose all your inheritance to your father if you don’t get married. You need me, Zara. You would lose everything if I left you.”

I clenched my fists, breathing heavily out of anger.

“Chill, baby tiger,” he said, laughing wildly. “No matter how much you hate me, you have no other choice but to work with me. How about we go inside and speak about reasonable terms? If I am to marry you, we should have an agreement.”

Marcus made to enter, touching the doorknob now.

“If you dare enter my house, I will call on the police and report you as an intruder,” I told him with firmness.

He turned towards me angrily, “Stop pretending like you don’t need me!”

“I don’t need someone as despicable as you,” I replied readily. “I wonder how I had dated you for three years. Get out of here, I am done speaking to you.”

“I will really go…” he muttered. “I won’t come back even if you beg me.”

“f**k off, dickhead.”

I walked inside now and shut the door tightly. I was hurt but I didn’t cry this time around. Finally, I had seen Marcus for the scumbag he truly was. Due to him, my decision has been made. I will have to meet with Cael.

**

Ashford Capital, Top Floor. That was Cael’s description and I followed it.

If I had ever thought Cael was after the inheritance I would get from my mother, the gigantic building Ashford Capital was on made me rethink it. If he truly owned it, it meant he was wealthy enough to have no use for my inheritance. But then, maybe he was just one of those people who wanted more.

I stopped by the receptionist’s desk at the top floor and she gave me a big smile.

“Welcome to Ashford Capital. If you wish to use our services, please go to the fifth floor. If you have any complaints-”

“I am here to see your CEO,” I interrupted.

“Oh, right, I am sorry. A lot of people come here mistakenly,” the receptionist muttered. She checked her tablet for a moment and drifted back to me, “Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but he will see me,” I replied confidently.

“I am sorry,” she told me gently. “Mr. Cael only sees people who have made an appointment with him.”

“He will see me, just tell him that Zara is here,” I replied, still confident.

“Everyone says the same,” she replied, trying hard not to blush. I bit my lower lip, embarrassed. Rather than try harder to convince her, I turned to leave. All of a sudden, I heard his voice right behind me.

“Zara! Is that you?”

I turned to confirm and I was right, it was Cael. He was wearing a grey coat which made him look sophisticated. He could pass for one of those nineties mafia bosses if he was wearing a flat cap.

I walked towards him and winked at the receptionist who was looking rather devastated. Cael led me inside his office and offered me a seat and a drink, the latter I refused.

“So…” he paused for a moment. “Are you ready to talk?”

I crossed my legs, “I believe I am ready to make a deal with you, as long as some conditions are met.”

“Of course,” he smiled. “I told you my terms already. Do you agree with them?”

“Not entirely,” I answered. “I would rather have you defer to my own terms.”

“And what might those terms be?” he asked casually.

“A one year marriage. It must be publicly convincing which means you’ll have to attend a lot of outdoor events with me. Couple shows, parties and events, press appearances, family events, you name it. After a year, we will have a clean divorce and will never meet each other again,” I proposed.

“Is that all?” he asked in a laidback manner.

I shifted uncomfortably, “Do you really not mind all the terms I have mentioned so far?”

“Not in the slightest. I would prefer it if you concluded.”

I swallowed hard and continued, “We will have an extremely intimate relationship in public but the opposite will be done privately. Separate rooms, no feelings, no jealousy, no sex.”

“You sound like you hate the last term,” he muttered. “I mean, both of us are quite compatible in that aspect.”

“It’s not me who hates it, it’s horny self,” I replied firmly.

“You got me,” he shrugged. “I accept all your terms, wife.”

I shifted uneasily, “So soon? Don’t you need to think about it?”

“I thought we didn’t have time to waste. Maybe I was wrong,” he said, smiling.

“No, you are right,” I replied. “We have a deal… husband.”