Billion Dollar Vows

Chapter7

LEILA

“You have twenty‑four hours to decide… or everything your family built dies with you.”

A loud sigh left my lips. I felt my stomach sink, at any moment I felt the food that I had eaten making its way back up.

What does this even mean for me? In an hour of talking to this man, my life could potentially shift. It could get way better or way worse.

I felt my heartbeat loud in my ears. I didn’t want to imagine a world where I’d be tied down again, especially knowing what Barry did.

I knew nothing about the man in front of me, not about his family, or private life. All I knew was he destroyed my career without mercy, together with him and his infuriating Well- Off Family.

I lifted my gaze to the man in front of me. I opened my lips, then bit back my words. I knew how I thought about marriage was different from most women. It wasn’t a place for solace for me, it was a trap. It was always a trap.

James sat back down, and the hood of his hoodie slid down his jet-black hair. His eyes were still steady on my every move, maybe my every thought. The calm in his expression unsettled me, like he could see exactly what I was thinking, like my thoughts were his to read.

I sat back up and looked at the selection of mouthwatering meals. My eyes landed on the grilled fish, its heat rising in soft, curling wisps of steam.

“Leila Hamilton, what’s your excuse for not wanting to agree to this, you have more to lose.”

His hands were locked in place, while his eyes remained narrowed to slits, fixed on mine.

I took another bite of the fish and dabbed my mouth with the napkin.

“How am I so sure what you are saying is true?” I challenged him.

I knew this would make him furious and that was exactly where I wanted his head to be, so he could leave me alone and find another person to disturb.

Instead of the tight annoyed face I braced for, a smile broke across his lips. A smile I didn’t expect. My heart skipped a beat as I averted my gaze to the left, hoping he couldn’t see me.

“You’re amusing Leila. I guess you don’t want to agree to marrying me and getting your multi-billion dollar fortune back from a corrupt billionaire, mind if I ask why? Don’t you trust me?”

I froze, my breath caught halfway, it wasn’t his business to know me. He didn’t know I could see through him. Through the Harrisons. If he could make me lose my job without any hassle, how could I trust that I won’t be disposed of at the end of it all?

Marrying James meant I gave him the victory. I was just another girl he could pay off and silently abide by all his rules I knew nothing about

“Mr James Harrison. Please find another lady to marry you, I have a fiancé,” I said.

I bore my eyes into his which made him scoff. He was about to answer when an abrupt ring silenced the room.

James looked at his phone instantly his brows furrowed. He dragged his chair to excuse himself from the Dining table. When he left I took in the scene around me. All the staff and butlers were at the side in the line just waiting for an order from their Master.

“Who the f**k told him!” I heard. I looked towards the long hallway where James came out from, his hair was disheveled, and his jaw was tight.

The man who was with him when he came to take me from Barry’s house entered the dining room and handed him a Tab.

“Ravilov has the balls to see me. He should have waited till my father kicked the bucket. Such a useless Bastard.”

He looked at the tab, and then he looked at me.

“Oh shit.” His hands were in his wet hair.

“ Oscar and Lady Florence follow me now, Leila follows suit,” His footsteps leaving deep thuds in their wake.

I didn’t move an inch.

Lady Florence noticed I wasn’t beside her then she looked back at me, Horror enacted to her face

“You don’t want to make Mr Harrison angry Miss, let’s go,” She said in a whisper to my ear.

I rolled my eyes and stood up and followed them inside.

“What’s happening anyway?” I asked the lady.

She averted my gaze and quietly led me to a room.

It was a mini study room. James stood tall beside some books, two in his hands then he pressed some buttons. A low beep was heard and slowly the shelves started moving, revealing a brown wooden secret door.

My eyes widened. I’d never known this existed in real life, I only thought it happened in movies.

James' eyes found mine. He grabbed my hands in his firmly and led me inside the door. I yanked my hands away, earning a death glare from him.

“Where are you taking me? I knew you were planning to lock me away in marriage, but I didn’t know it was also a physical prison!”

“It’s James Harrison for you, and quit complaining.” He looked away from me and to the secret door. An enemy just arrived and if he sees you, you are absolutely done for. Stay here for a few minutes till he is gone. Lady Florence, keep her company. I have some unfinished business,”

He closed the door to the dark, dusty-smelling room,”

I turned to the door, hitting my fist rapidly. I was being kidn*pped! James was clearly a psychopath.

Lady Florence tried to hold my hands in place and whispered.

“Madam, you’re safer here than out there, believe me.

She turned on the light in the darkness and I slowed down. I looked around to see two old dusty couches, and the golden chandeliers' light reflected on the dusty floor. Wherever this place is, it is beautiful but seriously unkept.

I looked at Lady Florence. She was about my height but I knew she was much older than me. What exactly was this Manor about?

I snapped out of a daze and forced a smile on my face. It was a mere attempt for me to calm myself internally first.

Suddenly, a thunderous bang tore through the manor.

It was a gunshot,

then another and another. My eyes snapped to Lady Florence. Her face had drained of colour. Our gaze locked, wide with shock before a scream ripped through the house.