Trapped By The Wicked Billionaire

Chapter 6: Offer I Can’t Refuse

RIVA POV:

“What would I do with a few bucks?” he interrupted plainly. He appeared annoyed by my insinuation. “I know the terms of your parole. If you get into trouble with the law within the next two months, you might be sent to jail. Think carefully about your future. Think about Drew.”

I refused to think about how he knew so much about my life when he had met me just a couple of hours ago. I simply wanted to punch that perfect face I had admired so much this morning that I tuned out the warning bells ringing in my head.

I wanted to punch him until it hurt me.

“You have my attention now. Let’s say I take the bait. What happens after that?” I inquired.

Ethaniel’s stance relaxed visibly.

It was clear that he was used to having the upper hand. The police station might be a new location for him, but he made a living crawling under other people’s skin and taking advantage of them.

I could imagine the restraint it took for him to allow me to be in charge last night. But I had to leave that train of thought behind.

Everything that happened… the pleasure I felt… The man I had admired….

Everything was a product of my overactive imagination and the previous night felt like it was a hundred years ago.

“Simple. I will withdraw my complaint. For the police, it will appear that we had a spat and it would suffice for now. However, we would have a different agreement, chalked out by a lawyer. You are to sign a written confession stating that you stole the watch and seduced me to do more harm. Secondly, there will be a prenuptial agreement.” He paused.

My eyes grew wide.

I couldn’t have heard him correctly.

“But that means…” I trailed off in disbelief.

“That is right. You are to become my fiancé. You will be engaged to me for a reasonable amount of time and then get married. I only demand you remain married to me for the duration of the year that runs simultaneously with the sentence you would get had you been convicted of the theft. If you leave before that time, I will hold the signed confession against you and you will be thrown behind the bar.”

It was not a threat. It was a promise.

If I didn’t do exactly as he asked, I would have no way but to spend years in prison. He would make sure of it. The price of his watch was enough for it to be a crime worth serving a few years.

I looked him in the eye for the first time since last night. I looked for a trace of deceit or humor. There was none. Not even a shred of decency. He knew how shameless he sounded and didn’t care to hide it.

“Surely this is as crazy to you as it is to me. Ethaniel, you don’t even know me.”

“I know everything there is to know about you. Didn’t the lawyer tell you already?” his condescending tone irked me.

“Not that s**t on the paper. Me, as a person,” I protested. “Well, you know I am a felon who has done a lot of s**t in my time… And you still want to be with me? What protection will a signed confession give you if I decide to burn your house down? Will you be able to sleep peacefully at night knowing that a woman you know is violent and have coerced into getting married to you can walk in on you?”

His face didn’t change. Like he didn’t think I was a threat. It made no sense.

“Surely, you don’t need to threaten someone to be with you. You look like a well-off, attractive man…”

He waved his hand impatiently. “Let’s cut the formalities short. Do you accept the deal or not?”

To the point. No feelings involved.

I realized I was dealing with a maniac. And he was a dangerous one because he held all the power. I didn’t have a way to wriggle out.

“Let me get this straight, Ethaniel Ryves… If that is even your real name. My choice is either to go to jail, or to be married to you for a year?” I questioned.

He kept his gaze on me and slowly, he nodded.

“If you put it that way, it’s an offer I can’t refuse!” I exclaimed sarcastically.

.

I was in awe of what money and power could buy. Apparently, it could buy ‘justice,’ too. Havelland only said a few words to the cops and they believed his story.

The ride to Ethaniel’s place was strained. But at least I was out of the police station. I tried to convince him to go to my apartment so I could pick up my things, but he responded with a short “It has been taken care of.”

I decided it was a waste of breath to argue and stayed put. The air was heavy, different from last night when the ride to his home was filled with passion and anticipation.

I was surprised to notice that we were going back to the same place as last night. So, the apartment hadn’t been his spot to bring hookups, but actually the place he lived in.

But that didn’t help improve my opinion of him.

I still couldn’t understand his ulterior motive. I had read a lot about stalkers, and it appeared that Ethaniel had the personality of one. At the same time stalkers were not the successful business type. At least that was what I thought.

After seeing the lawyer work his magic, maybe those businessmen just got away with it.

I also didn’t think myself important enough to be stalked. It was impossible for him to like me at first sight and stick to me.

Once inside the apartment, Ethaniel directed me to a small bedroom next to his. I hadn’t noticed it when I was here last. Not that I was in the frame of mind to investigate.