Chapter5
1740 Words
The Condition
Troy's POV.
"What is your condition?" I asked as I tilted my head, my eyes reading the confusion and fear on her face.
"Your word isn't enough, I need an assurance.
I want us to sign a legal agreement." She said and I chuckled.
" I made a promise to you Daphne, isn't that enough?" I asked and she nodded in disapproval.
"I need it on paper. I need to be certain Mr Armstrong."
I clicked my tongue as I stared at a woman who was trying so hard to look tough.
"Alright then, we shall sign a legal agreement.
You will stay with me for a year and in return, I will make sure your mother gets all the treatment she needs. " I affirmed and she beamed with a smile.
***
I opened the door and moved away for her to enter.
She walked slowly into my mansion and I could smell her anxiety.
"What would I be doing? Be your servant? A maid?" She asked and I chuckled.
" I just need you to stay here with me. You have already signed the papers so there's no going back."
I said and she shrugged, her eyes wondering about.
"Hello brother.." a familiar voice greeted me and my eyes ran to the stairs.
It was Noah, Ambrose's sister. And behind her was Ambrose.
Daphne turned to me, her eyes filled with questions.
"You must be Daphne, the poor girl whose mother Troy saved." Noah bickered as her eyes scanned Daphne's body.
"Does she know that you invested millions into that hospital? She's the reason right?"
Daphne turned to look at me and I shrugged.
"Enough Noah, know your place." I warned and grabbed Daphne's arm.
Leading the way, I led her upstairs to her new bedroom.
"Is it true? Was what she said true?" Daphne asked as soon as we entered the room.
" I gave you my word and even signed a legal agreement.
That doesn't make me any less of a businessman. My investment in the hospital is nothing more of a business strategy."
I explained and she stared at me with doubt.
We stood still, inches away from each other as we glared at each other.
I took a step closer and she flinched.
I ached for her touch, I wanted to feel the mate bond so bad.
I opened my mouth to speak, to tell her that I needed her close just to stay sane but the words were buried deep within my tongue.
"Get some rest now." I said and left the room hurriedly.
***
I gulped down a glass of tequila and quickly refilled it.
"So what's your plan?
Why did you invest so much money into the hospital facility and construction?" Ambrose asked with a mumble as he sat across my dimly lit study.
"It's just charity Ambrose, don't sound cocky." I rebuked as I stirred the glass of tequila.
He didn't believe my words, he knew I had other motives for investing so much money into the hospital's ongoing construction and he was right.
He just stared at me in silence, probably throwing a million guesses about my true intentions.
"The moon will be at its peak tomorrow.
If she's really a hybrid, will she change into a wolf under the full moon?" He asked, breaking the icy silence.
" Hybrids are powerful creatures.
If she's one, then her ability to shift into her wolf is totally under her control." I replied and he sighed in disappointment.
"But I have a plan.
There will be an inaugural party tomorrow to kick start the construction of the new hospital building.
I will find out the truth tomorrow." I said with full conviction as I led the glass to my lips.
" How… if hybrids only shift at will, then how will you get her to shift into her wolf." He asked and I shrugged.
He was right, getting a hybrid to shift into her wolf against her will would be almost impossible.
But I was determined, determined to break the curse.
"Sunflower… sunflower seeds will force her to shift." I declared and my words gained Ambrose's interest.
"I just have to lace her drink or something." I took a sip of my tequila and stood up.
The seeds of the sunflower were capable of triggering a shift of any werewolf and I was determined to use it to my advantage.
"You just have to make sure Daphne is present at the party and away from her wolf friend, Zachary." I added and retired to my Daphne's room.
I sat in the darkness as I watched her sleep, her presence saving me from familiar doom.
***
An uproar of laughter and thunderous applause filled the air as the city's mayor gave his speech.
The moon was on its way to the sky and I felt anxiety crawling into my skin.
I moved away from the crowd and walked to the reception of the hotel as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Ambrose's number.
"Where is she? The moon is almost here." I groaned into the phone as I walked out of the party hall.
"I just dropped her off, I'm in the parking lot." He replied as my eyes settled on a woman coming from a distance.
"Hello Mr Armstrong…" the feminine greets and I ended the call.
Her face came into the light and I groaned in disappointment.
"Were you expecting to see someone else?" She pouted and I shrugged.
" I'm Cassie Maddox…" she introduced herself, her hand extended for a handshake.
I was hesitant at first but took her hand when I smelt her wolf.
It was anxious but vigorous.
"It's clear you're waiting for someone," she tried to start a conversation but my silence made her shrug.
"Daphne, are you waiting for Daphne?" She asked and her words gained my attention.
"Don't look all surprised Mr Armstrong.
Daphne is my friend and it isn't news that you have shown interest in her."
I stared at her blankly as she yapped, not wanting to say a word.
" So tell me, why Daphne?" Her question came as a shock and left a grin on my lips.
"What do you mean?" I asked but backed away as I noticed Daphne's presence.
Her gorgeous body in a black silk dress with a high split. Her red long hair flowing down her shoulders made me gasp as I admired her enchanting beauty.
"You look beautiful," I confessed, my lips still ajar.
She let out a weak smile as her cheeks burned with shyness.
"Arghm," Cassie feigned a cough and it brought my eyes back to her body.
I clicked my tongue as I realized she was wearing exactly the same dress as Daphne.
"Would you like to dance?" I said, offering Daphne my hand as I noticed the moon had reached its peak.
She placed her hand in mind and I walked her into the wedding hall.
"Why are you here? Are you stalking me now?" Daphne asked as we steadied our feets on the dance floor.
"I'm a big part of the evening Miss Daphne, I ought to be here." I attested as I grabbed onto her waist.
She smelt like coconut with a mixture of the ocean's breeze.
She triggered my wolf's desire to be set free and I couldn't wait to break the curse.
"Are you that obsessed?
Huh?
Heard you invested a lot of money into the construction of the new hospital building.
Why?" She asked as I twirled her around.
My eyes sped to Ambrose who was standing in a corner.
He waved at me and it was a signal indicating that it was time to execute our plans.
"Do you want to know why I'm doing all of this ?
Why I want you so close to me?" I asked and she nodded with interest.
I pulled away, ending the dance and she stared at me with confusion.
"Follow me, I have something to show you." I said and walked away.
I hurried into the room Ambrose had set up.
Two glasses of orange juice stood on the table.
I pulled out a capsule containing powdered sunflower seeds and poured it into one of the glasses.
I glanced through the window and at the moon as I waited for Daphne.
It was taking so long. I was dead sure I made her curious enough to follow me.
My patience grew weak as my anxiety reached its peak.
I reached for the glass of orange juice which wasn't laced and emptied its contents with a single gulp.
A sharp and sudden throbbing in my head made me lose my balance as I staggered back.
My breath became hatched as I struggled to remain on my feet with intruding blurry vision.
"Mr Armstrong, are you ok?"
A familiar voice said and my eyes sped to the door.
I saw her dress, its black, silky and shining surface. But her face was blurry, Indefinite and shallow.
"Daphne…" I called out as my limbs failed me.
I fell to the bed and she quickly ran to my side.
"Are you ok?" She asked again as her fingers trailed and caressed my face.
"I… Daphne," I squinted my eyes just to get a clear glimpse of her face but failed with every attempt.
She smelt different, not like coconut nor the ocean's breeze.
I couldn't place it, my body was too weak to act.
She laid on my body as she continued to caress my face and soon, my lips were captured by hers.
I wanted to pull away but the warmth of her mouth made it impossible.
I was intoxicated but I wasn't sure why.
I dragged her by the hair and slammed her on the bed.
My beastly side was dominant and for some strange reason it made her chuckle.
I kissed her, so intensely that her moans filled my ears.
I wanted her, she sparked something unknown in me. Something dangerous and dire.
"Daphne…" I whispered as I pulled back.
"Are…. Are you Daphne? Daphne…" I stuttered as I struggled to recognize the woman's face.
I couldn't, my eyes were too weak.
They were overpowered by the throbbing in my head and the heat in my body.
"Tell me!" I groaned in frustration as I found myself unable to hold back anymore.
- Writer
