chapter 4
1663 Words
Gary's POV
She stared up at me, her jaw dropping open and her eyes widening. "Sir…" She muttered. "I don't understand."
"What is there not to understand?" My gaze followed her now trembling body.
"I want you to be my wife." I had barely a smile on my face, so I guess she expected me to laugh and tell her it was a joke.
To me, it was a serious issue. She was the ideal person to be my wife.
She was indigent, destitute, and heavily indebted. She would make a good arm candy at social gatherings. She wasn't troublesome because she was so submissive. Not only that, but her body could keep my bed warm. She would make the ideal petite spouse.
"Sir, I am afraid that… can…not happen." Although she murmured, her golden eyes were intent.
She was not going to take her fate lying down. My gaze grew gloomy as I saw her face lowering and her swallowing.
"Miss Leonard, you really don't have much of an option and given the debt hanging over your head and the condition of your grandma, I thought you would be more sensible." I said, with a smirk on my face.
She retreated sharply, as though running away from me would help her.
"How do you know?" She blanched when I said it.
"I have my ways," I continued and stepped towards her while she moved backwards until her back struck the dressing room wall.
"So what will it be, Miss Leonard?" I questioned as I kept moving in her direction.
"I refuse!" She stated fervently.
Her intransigence was getting on my nerves. I assumed that I had misjudged her. However, I would make sure she gave in to me.
I placed my palms on the wall on either side of her head and trapped her between the wall and my body as soon as I got close enough to smell her cheap scent.
"I have to tell you that I always win, particularly by using unscrupulous methods."
Her eyes glazed over with panic as she looked up at me. "Sir, I cannot."
She backed away as if I had smacked her when I gave her a gentle pat on the cheek with my finger. "Then I cannot prevent what will happen."
"What will happen?", She asked.
"Since you refuse to bend to my terms, your grandmother will just have to pay the price." I told her.
Tears filled her eyes as she became as pale as a ghost. "Please, sir…"
"Your cries are not worthy of attention. You will become my wife if you wish to keep your grandmother safe." I stated.
She started crying. "Sir," she whispered. "There is nobody else I have. All I have left is her."
"More motivation to make sure I don't hurt her. I said.
"You know what you have to do to make that happen and in addition you will receive ten million dollars in exchange." I said while looking at her face to see her expression.
Her eyes expanded like two saucers, and before she could respond, she bit her lower lip till it became red.
"Yes, I will be your wife." She finally agreed.
With money, I knew she would give in. She slipped down the wall, clutching her chest, as I withdrew from her. Tears traced their pathways down her hot cheeks, but comforting her was useless. I would leave her to reel on her own because I had achieved my goal.
"The contract will be drawn out by tomorrow for you to sign." I said while straightening my tie.
I patted her back while looking at my reflection in the mirror. I took one final look at my soon-to-be bride, who was crying, and I left.
Amber's POV
My entire existence was collapsing. A man called Gary Kingston was breathing down my neck with a marriage contract after my granny and the loan sharks. He was clearly a terrible man since he threatened me using my grandma. How could I marry such a man? He'd threatened me with the life of someone she loved, even though he had promised me money in return. It told me everything I required to know about him. All of my issues would be resolved if I had the money, but I would then be married to a cold-hearted man. God alone knew the depth of his depravity.
"Amber?" I looked up and saw both Izzy and Rosie had worried expressions on their faces.
Even though they had already seen me, I brushed away my tears. I smiled a little, pushing myself off the wall, but it obviously didn't make them feel any better.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Izzy questioned while removing his coat and putting it over my shoulders.
"Why are you crying?"Rosie asked.
I tried not to cry, but I was unable to look them in the eye.
"It's nothing," I falsely said, my voice raspy.
"Don't you lie to me, Amber." Although Rosie spoke severely, her fear remained in her voice.
"We came over to see how work was going for you only to meet you crying your eyes out in the dressing room." Rosie finished.
"What happened?"Izzy asked.
I remain silent while they both embrace me.
"We are your friends, you can tell us anything." stated Rosie.
I inhaled, but it had no effect on calming my frayed nerves.
"I am getting married", I said, while my lips were quivering.
They both freeze and before Rosie said anything, a lengthy minute passed.
"When, to who, where?" The inquiry flowed naturally.
"He asked me today," I could not afford to let them panic, but saying that he had "asked" me was not accurate.
"The marriage contract will be drawn out tomorrow." I said.
"Why a contract?" Rosie asked but before I could answer, Izzy asked the next question which threw me off balance.
"Who is he?", He enquired.
But before I could come up with a good response, Izzy interrupted me. "He forced you into it, didn't he?"
I responded, "No," but I spoke too soon.
"Then why were you crying?"Rosie said while looking suspicious.
I remained silent, which was enough confirmation.
"The son of a b***h," Izzy growled. "Who in heck is this guy? Tell me his name". He continued.
"No!", I exclaimed.
Because Gary Kingston was a powerful man, I could not afford to have Izzy implicated only for his desire to keep me safe.
"Don't do anything that might make things worse." I said sadly.
Izzy and Rosie gave me a cautious look. "Is he a powerful man?" Both of them inquired.
I give a nod.
A drawn-out silence fell followed by a growl from Izzy "I'll kill the bastard." He angrily spoke.
"No, I don't doubt your anger, but you won't act in that way. Make me a promise that you won't act hastily." I asked that he promised me.
"All right, but only because of you," he responded hesitantly.
I tried to force an appreciative smile that avoided seeming like a frown.
"I know," I said.
They ask, "So what can we do?"
"Nothing, I'll be fine." I was dishonest.
"Just be there for me tomorrow," was how I asked my pals to accompany me to where I was going to give my life away.
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Gary's POV
As we were joined as husband and wife and signed the contract, two of her friends were with her. The tall, gym-rat-looking guy she brought along did not appeal to me, so at least I hoped they were her pals. He gave me a dagger-like gaze, but I didn't pay much attention to him. I was not going to allow him to think we were at the same level.
It appeared as though my new spouse had seen better days. There were purple bags beneath her bloodshot eyes and was certain she had sobbed herself to sleep last night.
After exchanging rings, we were pronounced husband and wife. She was officially my wife.
With her pals following her like bodyguards, she stood up to go.
"Amber," I said.
She kept her head down and avoided looking directly into my eyes. She bided her time till I spoke.
"Your belongings will be transported to my house tomorrow." I informed her.
Her eyes were wide as she glanced up at me.
"You are my wife, you will have to live with me." I told her without giving her any room to argue.
She had obviously not told her granny about our arrangement.
"But I can't leave my grandma alone." She stated.
"She can stay with us; it's a big place," I shrugged.
At last, she nodded and walked out on her and her friends, who gave me the impression of wanting to hack me to pieces with a butcher's cleaver.
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Valerie was waiting for me when I got back to the office after the wedding. Anger was showing on her face.
"Gary, you are married now?" She barked.
I silenced her with a single hand raise. I wasn't in need of this today. "Why does that concern you?"
Her face was devoid of color as she gave me a quick blink.
"It's not a major issue. It was merely an agreement." I informed her.
"Trent told me but you could not choose me?" Her features turned painful.
"You told me you were not the marrying type, that you did not believe in that shit." I said.
"I would have still done it for you." She screamed with her teary eyes.
"Well, there is no need." I interrupted her. "I have a wife now."
"You can't…"
My phone started to ring, interrupting her. I took it up without looking at her again.
"Sir, it's your wife." Lou answered on the other end of the line. I had instructed him to follow Amber carefully till she arrived at my house.
"What's happened?" I asked, slightly irritated.
"There are armed men in her house." Lou replied.
- Writer
