TO STAY OR TO GO?
1056 Words
SIA’S POV
"Marry me, Rowan Cardel" I said, my words bouncing off the white walls in the unfamiliar room.
I didn't know why I was asking a complete stranger to get married to me, but this was my only opportunity to pick up the already shattered pieces of my life.
I wasn't completely wrong.
Judging by the way he eyed me, I could tell that he didn't want any other person to know that he almost killed me a few nights earlier.
He let out a mirthless laugh, "Doctor Tanya didn't tell me that an after effect of getting slammed in a crash will be the ability to say absolute insane things"
I nibbled on my lower lip, without a word.
I refused to allow a stranger get on my nerves, especially one who was supposed to be asking for my forgiveness, I reasoned.
He tugged at his tie, loosening it. "How did you know my name?"
"The doctor mentioned it" I blurted.
A line etched within his brows as he pulled off his tie and flung it at small pile of clothes at the corner of the room.
"What else did he say?" The man asked, kicking off his shoes.
I threw my head backwards and a stab of pain shot through me. I winced.
He noticed it and paused, "Don't move too much!" He ordered.
I froze.
He strode towards me and gently laid me back on the bed, tucking my arm in my side so it wouldn't hurt me.
He was close. So close to me that I felt his hot breath on my face.
My senses flared and I bit harder on my lower lip, trying to get a firm hold on myself.
No man had ever made my heart to race except Nolan, my now ex-fiancé who slept with my sister.
"Are you okay?" A voice boomed next to me.
It was Rowan. His arms were now shoved into his pockets.
I shuddered, "Er. I don't—"
"You keep acting as though you've lost your mind. Why did you have to lock eyes with me like that? Never seen a man before?"
I tore my eyes away from his face. He was right. I had been staring at him all along. I felt heat creep up my cheeks.
"Well, Doctor Tanya has already done the introductions" He said, walking away from the bed.
I tried to respond, but it sounded more like a groan— a pathetic groan.
He whipped his head around to glare at me, "I am beginning to think your arm isn't the only broken part of your body right now. Your brain probably needs a fix"
Then, he broke into a dry laugh.
I frowned, watching as he rubbed his chest and stopped laughing as abruptly as he started.
He was now eyeing at me from where he stood across the room.
"Who are you?" He asked.
I cleared my throat, "The stranger you almost killed with your drunk driving"
His lips curled into a snarl. "I was not drunk driving that night. Tell me. Who are you? What's your name?"
"With the powers you have, I assumed that you should have done some digging about me"
He rolled his eyes, "Will you answer the damn question?"
His voice was sharp and urgent, taking me by surprise.
"Sia" I blurted. "I am Sia Stanton"
"One fun fact about you is that you go clubbing in a work outfit. I saw when you drove out of the parking lot of that club"
I frowned, "You don't know anything about me, Rowan"
"Fun fact number two. You are probably on the run from someone for a hideous crime. That explains why your phone has been blowing up nonstop ever since we picked you up from that crash scene"
I suddenly remembered that I had not seen my phone in a while. "Did you answer my calls while I was unconscious?"
"Yes? Just once. It was a mistake and someone yelled trash into the phone before hanging up"
I exhaled, "Doctor Tanya said you head the one of most prestigious real estate companies out there. I'm assuming that your reputation means a lot to you"
He leaned against the wall.
"On that note, Rowan—" I continued, almost running out of breath, "I am asking that you marry me or risk losing your reputation"
I waited for a response from him, but there wasn't any. His face was blank and it didn't betray his emotions.
Rather, he studied me with his piercing green eyes.
I grew uncomfortable under his gaze and I asked, "Won't you say something?"
"Yes. I'll marry you, Sia"
His words hit me with a force and I choked on air. "Uh?"
"Isn't that what you want?" He asked, "I will marry you, but only on my terms"
Before I could say anything, the bedroom door was kicked open and a man rushed in, panting.
He was just as tall as Rowan was, only that he was heavily built.
His eyes had a wild look to them and they darted between Rowan and I.
"There's a problem, Rowan!" He exclaimed, as his hands wiped his sweaty forehead.
"What is it?"
"Your mother just called. I picked the call because I was with your phone and—"
"And what?" Rowan thundered, glaring at him.
"She said that Nana passed out some minutes ago!"
Rowan swung around and punched the wall.
"Damn it! Go to the car and have the engine running. I'll be out in a minute" He said.
The other man nodded and bounded out of the room.
Rowan turned to face me. "You heard me, didn't you?"
"I'm sorry, but what are you talking about?"
He gritted his teeth as his hands balled into fists, "I will marry you, Sia Stanton, as long as you agree to my terms. Do you agree?"
I gave a weak nod.
"Great! I'll be back this evening with my lawyer. We will get to sign a contract marriage. I will compensate you heavily for your time and when I am satisfied, I will dissolve the marriage"
I coughed, "A contract marriage?"
He smirked, "Yes, Sia. A contract marriage or I eliminate you for good."
With that, he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
- Writer
