My Twisted Marriage

The Landon Account

Emma

Three years later.

My phone suddenly chimed and I jumped up in shock. It was a text from my babysitter the twins were both running a little fever. I’d blanked out for about ten minutes now, in my head replaying those words, trying to make sense of it

“You owe me, I’ll be coming to collect my debt.”

It happened three years ago, but it still seemed like yesterday. By some miracle, I had managed to escape the hospital, although the circumstances were still a mystery.

“You’ve got that look again,” Joshua, my assistant said as he leaned over my desk.

“What look?” I said with an amused look.

“You’re in your head again. I need you here Emma, we’re closing in on what could be our biggest sale yet and Daryl needs you at your A-game,” Joshua said.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, quirking my brows in confusion.

“The Landon account,” he said with a wide smile, unable to contend his excitement “We’re meeting with the CEO today,”

Joshua’s words caught me by surprise and I froze for some moments. I couldn’t believe it either, I’d been chasing Yves Company for months now and the closer I got to a meeting with the CEO, I was always turned away.

“How did this happen?” I asked in shock.

“Well, we’re not entirely sure, but the rumors are that it’s your video sales pitch that got him interested. So all this is happening because of you, congratulations Emma.” Daryl said, gently taking my hand.

“Now let’s go, if we’re late for this Daryl will have our head,” he joked and turned away.

Heaving a deep breath, I composed myself and stood up. If I closed this sale, it would completely change my life, I’ll finally be able to afford the kind of life my children need and settle most of my debts.

Since I started this job after moving to Smithville, I’d spent more than half of my income paying off debts that I took just to stay afloat. My children were everything and after escaping to a new city with no one to support me, I had to do whatever it took to make sure they were safe and well taken of.

I was still thinking about what I’d do with my percentage of the deal when I suddenly bumped into a solid wall of muscle. Standing beside him were two heavy-built men dressed in all-black suits and sunshades even though we were inside.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze and caught his almond-green eyes staring at me. I didn’t need a soothsayer to know that was the CEO of Yves. I had to confess he was the best-looking man I’ve seen, but I quickly shook off those thoughts. I didn’t have the luxury of feelings, my kids were all that mattered to me.

He stared at me with a strange gaze which made me instantly afraid that I wasn’t going to seal this deal.

“H-hi, I’m Emma…Emma …” I stammered, reaching my hand out for a shake.

He hesitated for a while, his eyes still glued on my face with a look that made my skin shiver, and then reluctantly extended his arm for a shake,

“Lucian Castle,” he said and my eyes immediately caught sight of a scorpion tattoo on his wrist.

I searched my brain, trying hard to remember where I’d seen that tattoo, and suddenly my body surged with fear. There was only one other person I remember seeing this tattoo on - the mysterious man who had abducted me three years ago.

“Uhm Emma, everything alright?” Joshua nudged me stealthily and I snapped back to reality.

“Sorry Mr Castle, I’m looking forward to the presentation. I think you’ll enjoy doing business with us,” I managed to say convincingly.

Lucian didn’t say anything after that, he just nodded and turned away.

“Okay, what the hell was that?” Joshua asked me as soon as he walked away.

I didn’t know what to believe, could Lucian really be the man from that morning? For all I knew there could be a thousand other men with that tattoo, but something felt familiar about him.

Shaking my head, I dismissed those thoughts and followed them into the board room wordlessly. What mattered now was that I close this deal.

-

I was still frozen in my seat even after the presentation started. Joshua thought I was scared since we were going to present a project that was very important for my career, but in reality, I was still trying to figure out if Lucian Castle was the same man from that night.

“Ms … will take it from here,” Daryl’s voice echoed in my ears. I immediately jerked up and walked to the screen.

The entire time I was making the presentation, Lucian’s eyes were glued to me and I couldn’t help but feel conscious.

At the end of the meeting, I stood up in a rush, ending up dragging my chair noisily in the process, and tried to hurry out of the boardroom when I suddenly heard Daryl’s voice, “Ms …, congratulations. Mr Castle has agreed to collaborate with us, so as the person responsible for closing this deal, how about you show me a tour and give him a brief rundown of our company,” he said just before walking out.

‘Great, just what I needed’ I sighed in my head and turned towards Lucian.

Reluctantly, I led him outside the boardroom, walking down the hallway towards my office, when he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me aside. My body surged with fear. I could tell from a glance, that Lucian was not the type of man to mess with, and could not help but wonder what he wanted with me.

“I was wondering if it was really you when I saw your video Ms. … We finally meet again. It’s been three years now and I expect that you have my money?”

“You’re him, aren’t you? You’re the man from that night.” I asked.

Lucian did not say a word. He didn’t have to, the stern look he gave me was enough answer.

Swallowing hard, I muttered, my voice trembling, “What debts?”

The only debt I knew about was my father’s debt and I clearly remember giving Adam the money to pay everything off immediately after our wedding.

Lucian scoffed and ran his fingers smoothly through my hair, sending cold chills down my spine. He snapped his fingers and one of his guards stretched out something to my face, something like a stroll, it was a contract paper.

When I sighted my father’s signature on the paper, my heart scampered even more. Just above his signature was an outstanding figure of ten million dollars my family was still owing Lucian.

There was only one possible explanation for me and just as it occurred to me, I realized how foolish I’d been. Of course, Adam didn’t pay the money.

“Your family owes me this, Ms… and now you have to pack back,” Lucian announced.

“But I don’t have ten million dollars. How am I expected to pay back such an amount?” I instantly panicked.

Lucian took a step back and paused for a minute, he seemed to be contemplating something.

“We can work something else out if you can’t pay.”

My face immediately beamed with hope, “Anything please, I’ll do anything.”

“I need you to sign a deal with me,” Lucian said and my brows snapped together, “What deal?”

Lucian stepped forward, staring at me directly in the eye with an unusual look,

“A contract deal. A marriage contract.”