Trapped By The Wicked Billionaire

Chapter 16: The Proposal

RIVA POV:

I was intrigued and wanted to ask, but with Snow there, I knew better than to push for answers. If there was one strict rule Ethaniel enforced, it was the condition regarding Snow.

He didn’t want her exposed to any disagreements or fights. It was particularly effective as Ethaniel and I didn’t have a natural relationship. So, it was difficult to diffuse the tension when there was no love between us and we rarely saw eye to eye on things.

Part of me thought it was to protect his precious image in her mind, another wondered if he was trying to make me appear softer and more agreeable.

If he was sending Snow away, it meant something big was coming.

When we were left alone, Ethaniel didn’t beat around the bush. “How are you adjusting to this… new lifestyle?”

I could tell from his expression that he was genuinely curious about my answer. And if I hadn’t known better, I would think he was nervous. It was ironic as only a few hours ago, I would have responded to his question without second-guessing.

‘Miserable.’

It was as if he read my mind. He chose that moment to ask me about it. Now, I wasn’t so sure I was miserable where I was.

“I… I’m adjusting,” I said finally. And then, without planning to reveal too much, I slipped, “I’ve started working on a book.”

“A book?” he repeated. His interest was piqued. “About me?” he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Possibly. But I am still confused about the title. What do you think about ‘Modern Day Coercion in Romantic Relationships and k********g?’” I threw back.

He flinched. His reply was all serious, “Riva, I didn’t kidnap you.” He paced around the room, looking for the right words.

“Didn’t you?” I c****d my head to the side and asked. In a way, he had kidn*pped me using my weakness and his moral high ground.

He gave me a look.

“We need to discuss our arrangement,” he began. “You have kept your end of the agreement and passed my initial test. Now, I think it’s time to take it to the next level.”

I c****d my brow. What did he mean by that? Was I on probation without knowing it?

“I said I would give this arrangement a few months to see how Snow reacted and to get used to each other. But now, I want to offer her a stable environment. So, I would like to start the wedding preparation and get it out of the way.”

I stared at him.

This had to be the least romantic proposal in the world.

Not that Ethaniel and I were a real couple. Our situation was complicated but this was… a bit too clinical.

“Are you proposing?” I asked. I had to make sure I understood him.

“Yes,” he replied bluntly.

“Sorry, I think I am hallucinating,” I joked. “Do I not get flowers or… you know… chocolate?”

“If you want that, I will have the staff send them to your room.”

He couldn’t be so dense, right?

I nodded. He was no fun when he was talking about business. And right then, he was treating his wedding like business.

“I would like a simple wedding without many guests. Due to my identity, I don’t want to make an event out of it and I would like to keep the paparazzi out. Also, I do not wish for my mother to be involved as I would like to keep it out of her social circle,” Ethaniel continued nonchalantly.

Well, it was his second marriage… that I knew of. He had already participated in the festivities. And this time, the bride was little-old-me, who didn’t deserve to get the same treatment as his child’s mother.

I understood that. But every girl had dreams of being proposed to. And he had dashed it before I could even begin to hope.

He turned to me, waiting for a response.

“You want me to gush about how you have swept me off my feet and I would die to marry you?” I asked him mirthfully. A last-ditch attempt to ease the tension in the room.

“I suppose that reaction would suffice,” he sighed.

“Ethaniel, are you asking me something or just laying out the conditions?” I wanted to clear up.

“Riva, I want this to work. I really want it to work…” He sighed and sat back down. “I would like to explain everything but this seems like the easiest way. The past doesn’t matter anymore.”

I laughed in disbelief. “Be serious, Ethaniel… I can’t just switch off my memory because it is inconvenient for you. You should be uncomfortable about how you treated me in the past and apologize.”

Was that so difficult?

I turned my back to him and barely whispered, “Believe me, I have tried to forget… It doesn’t work.”

I turned back around to return his stare. “As far as I can see, nothing has changed. I am here because of the agreement you forced on me and I will remain here until you find my presence useless and no longer blackmail me.” I shook my head in disappointment. “Actually, the book I am writing is about fathers… single fathers.”

“Fathers? And you implied that I was the inspiration?” Ethaniel was genuinely surprised.

“Somewhat,” I began. “I find that the best part of you. But I admit I don’t know you well enough to make a judgment.” I simply knew he dedicated his life to his daughter and that was the only redeemable quality about him.

“I find it hard to believe that you don’t know me,” he interrupted. “We have been living together all this time, Riva. I don’t have a secret, double life that you have conjured in your mind.” He laughed at the thought.

I raised my brow. “I imagined you as a spy, I won’t lie. You act too mysterious to outdo those rumors.”

He chuckled, his cold façade finally cracking. “You’ve made my childhood dreams come true. I assure you, my life is not so eventful.”

“That’s what a spy would say,” I countered.

“Touche.”

“You know… a few days after… our agreement started, I Googled you,” I confessed.

“And did you find anything interesting?” he questioned, completely at ease.

“I didn’t. And you know I wouldn’t because you scrubbed yourself clean from the internet. I could only find out stuff about your work.” I bit my lip as my mind reeled with thoughts. “It was as if you didn’t exist before you turned twenty-three.”

“Do you think I spawned out of nothingness?” he prompted.

“Like a vampire who had been in slumber for centuries and returned. It would also explain the mysterious air about you.” I waved my hand around, motioning at him.

“In a way, I did start to exist when I turned twenty-three. Before that, I was barely alive.” He allowed me to joke, but his words cut deep.

“I can see you tend to keep your private and professional life separate. As if you are two different people. Why do you do that?”

He shrugged. “I’m a grossly private person. But Riva, I haven’t stopped you from coming to my workplace and finding out who I am when I am not at home. I think I even suggested you come work there.”

He looked at me hopefully, like he still wished I would take him up on that offer.

I found that hard to believe. “Would you really let me in, Ethaniel?”

His face dropped when he realized the question was more loaded than he needed. I was not talking about his workplace.

“I will try to.” His voice was barely a whisper.

I slapped my hand on the table. “Okay. You didn’t ask me the question, but I will answer it anyway. Yes. Yes, Ethaniel. I will marry you.” I stood up promptly and left him in a stupor.

I rarely got the opportunity to leave him speechless. So, I rejoiced as I shut the bedroom door and plopped down on the bed.

Sleep evaded me. I had been easy on Ethaniel, I knew that. I was saying to myself that maybe it was because I was warming up to him.

But a part of me knew better.

I had my own past which I hid like a festering wound. I shrunk away when someone touched it. How could I force him to reveal his wounds when I was unwilling to show him mine?

I was not proud of what I had done in life.

I couldn’t even forget my own faults. My own guilt.

How could I hold him accountable for his?