Binding Vows

CHAPTER 4

I’m quiet for a while. Shocked by the request. I sputter, running out of words.

“It’s the only way I can take care of you, even when I’m not around. Marry my son.” He continues, looking at me with expectant eyes. I hesitate still.

“Okay, I will.”

He releases a breath of relief. “Upon marriage, you will get a trust fund of twenty million dollars, properties worth fifteen million dollars, your own mansion, and ten percent of the company’s stock.”

My mouth was agape, and only when I remembered that man’s word did I shut it. Eddy stretches to the other side of his bed, taking an envelope and a black box. He gives them to me.

“This is a contract. My son’s signature is there already. So is mine. You only have to sign, and it’ll be official.”

“Eddy, I don’t think I should…”

“Please, child, the world is a very cruel place. And you…” He coughs. “You are too innocent for it; this is the only way I can keep protecting you”.

“Oh, Eddy,” a tear runs down my cheek.

He gives me the black box. “This child, your father gave me this”.

At that, I audibly gasp. “Eddy, you knew my father?”

He smiles weakly, “Your father was my dearest friend”.

That was the only explanation he would give.

“Open this when you feel like everything is crashing down on you. It might help you rethink certain decisions”.

“It’s time for your medicine, Mr Wyatt.”

“That would be all, child. And remember, I love you dearly and I only want what’s best for you.”

“I love you too, Eddy. It would be a lonely world without you.” I kiss him gently on his forehead. I have never feared death, but I hated it. It took my mother from me when I was born, it took my father when I was only seventeen, and now Eddy was next. Inevitably, as it seemed, I didn’t want him to leave.

After a last glimpse at him, I walked out of the room in haste, not wanting to see him in that state anymore. I fight to control my tears, my vision going hazy. I almost crash into someone.

“Sorry,” I mutter, head bent to hide my eyes.

“It’s you,” a soft but cold voice says. I raise my head and see a woman in her late sixties, petite with brown bob cut hair, and another, probably in her twenties. Her platinum blond hair is styled in a slick bun. I wince at how much pain she might be in. She’s three inches taller than I am with the stiletto heels she’s wearing. Her beauty is angelic, and I immediately feel insecure. And for some reason, she’s glaring at me.

“What are you doing here?” the woman asks, a bite to her tone.

I flinch, “Eddy asked me…”

“Eddy!?” she asks, flabbergasted, “have some respect!”

I bend my head low, not having anything to say. I’m visibly shaking, and they notice. I don’t know if it adds to their anger, but I hear the woman laugh wickedly.

“I don’t know the kind of relationship you and my husband have, but when he leaves, I’ll be sure to get rid of you myself,” I whimper, the tears I’ve been holding fall freely. She walks away, leaving me with the other girl who leans in to whisper,

“Show your face here again, and it’ll be the last place you ever see.” She walks away, hitting my shoulder as she passes. I run downstairs, bumping into someone yet again. I don’t know who these people are or their vendetta against me. I want to be out of this place immediately.

I don’t bother offering an apology, and I walk around whoever it is I hit.

“Sloane, what are you doing here?”

That voice…I whirl around and sure enough, it’s him.

“Are you some kind of creep? How did you follow me here?”

His shocked face morphs into that of anger.

“Follow you? Like I said, Sloane, you flatter yourself”.

I’m about to give a ‘smartass’ reply when she comes running downstairs, the blonde girl.

“Roman,” she calls. His face whips towards her, “Your father.” At that, he runs up the stairs with her, leaving me shocked to my bones.

‘Roman’ is Eddy’s son. I’m getting married to Eddy’s son. I’m marrying Roman.

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Three weeks have passed, I haven’t seen or heard anything from Eddy or his son. My life goes on like it wasn’t about to change any moment from now. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe Eddy didn’t mean it and I could go on living my life the way it has always been.

I decided too soon.

A knock on my door interrupted my reading on a Sunday afternoon. It was Roman. A scowl forms on my face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask

“Fulfilling my father’s wishes” he says dryly. I roll my eyes.

“Hey! I didn’t ask you to enter”.

He pushes me asides and with a frown,he sits. He takes the book I was reading and examines it before dropping it.

“This will be quick” he says, taking out a small envelope from his jacket. “I’m sure my father has given you a similar one”

I only have one couch and so I grudgingly take a sit beside him. Too close. I can feel the heat emitting from his body. I flush.

“Yes”.

If he notices me squirming, he doesn’t say anything about it. He nods, taking out a pen.

“I’m sure you don’t want to marry me any more than I want to marry you.”

I purse my lips. He continues.

“So I drafted a contract that will help us. A year after our marriage, we will go our separate ways. Having both fulfilled my father’s wish, and you getting the money you so desperately want…”

“Woah, woah, woah…excuse me? I don’t want your money”.

“But here you are, eager to get married to someone you don’t know”.

“Eddy wanted…”

“Mr Wyatt to you”,he cuts me off

“He is Eddy to me”, I glare at him. His jaw ticks.

“One year, and you’re out of my life”.

I should tell him off. I should tell him to take his money and his contract and shove it up his ass. But I remember Eddy. For whatever reason, he wanted me to marry his son. Eddy wants what’s best for me.

“Fine!” I say. “One year and that’s it.”

We sign the documents. You better know what you’re doing Eddy. I just hope he didn’t make a terrible mistake.

Roman stands, adjusting his suit, he turns to leave. I follow to lock the door. He’s already out the door when he takes my chin and stares into my eyes. When he speaks, his cool breath fans my face.

“You are going to be my wife. I’m not a gentleman. Don’t expect me to leave you alone when our marital rights are to be fulfilled.”

He eyes my chest.

“At least you’re not lacking in some departments.”

I flush so deeply, he smirks.

“See you soon Red”.

I might have just signed a deal with the devil.