Marry Me Twice

Marry Me

My eyes fluttered open and I felt a pound on my head as I sat up on the bed. I looked around and noticed I was in a strange room. It isn't my room. My room is not dull and it isn't painted grey.

"Ugh," I groaned at the recollection of my encounter with Jacob Steele and my heart raced against my chest. I can`t believe I walked into his arms. What will happen to me now? Just before I could figure something out, the door opened and I jumped from the bed alarmed.

Red shoes stepped into the room and my heart hammered against my chest. The bloody attires as he would refer to them. I raised my head and saw him leaning against the door, his hand buried in his pant pockets. He was frightening in black but more frightening in red.

I gulped slowly and held my head up to look him in the eyes. Those deep lilac eyes could drown you in seconds.

" What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice hoarse as I hid my fear behind my unsteady voice.

He gazed at me with curious eyes but deep down, I knew he knew everything about me. He already had a plan for me before capturing me like a mouse.

I waited anxiously for his answer and with each passing second, his silent and deep gaze became thorns on my flesh. I want to run away. I want to hide from him. I still haven't forgotten the task he wanted me to carry out before I escaped.

" MARRY ME,"

" What?" I blinked in disbelief.

" Marry you? I will never marry someone like you," I scoffed and folded my arms on my chest. He sure thinks highly of himself because of his good looks.

" You don`t have a choice," He said, his voice cold and I immediately snapped back to reality. My feet went cold and i inhaled slowly to relax my nerves.

" I have a choice," I mumbled to myself but he heard me, and that almost gave me a heart attack.

" YOU OWE ME!" He roared and I staggered backward, my heart in my mouth as he took gentle but dangerous steps towards me.

My back hit the wall and I saw him tower over me with his intimidating height. His expensive cologne filling my nose and remembering me of the day he showed up at the prison. How could I forget this scent? I can`t believe he approached me with a different scent to capture me.

My chest rose and fell faster than it had ever been and he leaned forward, his face inches away from mine and I forgot to breathe.

" Don`t forget that," He whispered, his breath fanning my ear and I felt ticklish all over, my stomach knotting.

He scoffed and leaned back, straightened himself before taking three steps backward.

I finally remembered to breathe as I let out a silent long breath.

I composed myself and cleared my voice. I can`t let him take control of my life because he saved me. I am too young for that.

" Yes, you saved me from going to Jail... but... I didn't ask you to. You could have minded your business, you know," I muttered the last sentence under my breath and looked away like I didn't say that.

" You could have rejected my offer but you didn't," He defended and I licked my lips.

He is right. After he left that day, i reached out to him, accepting his help, not knowing what was behind it. Perhaps, I should have just gone to jail. Heck no!

" Is there no other way that I can pay off this debt?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper. Somehow, i felt like i was digging a grave for myself with that question. What if he comes up with something more brutal?

" Of course there is," He answered immediately and my heart hammered against my chest. He has been waiting for me to ask for an alternative. I sighed heavily and swallowed the bile rising in my throat. I can`t let my fear win. I can`t let him feed on my fear.

" And what`s that?" My voice cracked and i hated it.

" Meet with Lacoster tomorrow. Convince him to return what he stole from me," He said and my eyes popped out of their sockets. My heart skipped a beat in my chest and my hands trembled.

I slowly made my way to the bed and sat down before my legs could give me away.

Coster is a dangerous man. I may not know much about him but I know enough that he is a deadly italian man with a big ugly scar who has been terrorizing the country for years now.

" I can`t," I blurted, shaking my head non-stop.

" He will kill me," I croaked as I fought back the tears brimming in my eyes.

He laughed and I hissed despite knowing that could get me killed by Jacob.

You have until 11 pm today," He said and turned towards the door.

" I will convince Lacoster to return what he stole from you," I blurted out, my voice firm but I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing.

" Goodnight, Lucinda," The door shot and I dropped on the bed. Bastard.

********

Sitting in the back seat of the Maybach, I let my tears soak the tissue papers in my hands. I didn't even get to see him not even convince him. All my rehearsals and effort went to waste. Is this how I am going to be a wife to a man I don`t even know? A man who frightens me? An unforgiving man?

My life is about to turn upside down in a few minutes. I wish the car would continue driving and not come to a halt but I can only pray for the drive to be slower and longer.

But just before I can finish my silent wish, the car pulls up in Jacob`s mansion. My soon-to-be called home. The thought of it made me sick to my stomach.

I swallowed a big lump before getting out of the car. I followed the driver inside with my heart in my stomach and to my surprise, he was there in the living room, a glass of blue wine in his hand that he casually sips from. Celebrating his victory already, huh?

Clutching my handbag, I looked away when our eyes met.

" Judging from your swollen face, I bet you failed terribly," He drawled and I forced the bile in my throat down before saying in a raspy voice.

" He refused to see me," I answered defensively and he chuckled.

" Meet me at the balcony in five minutes. Don`t keep the priest waiting," He got up and left and my whole life flashed before my eyes. Everything is happening too fast.

I sat on the couch and cried my heart out before going to the balcony while trying to keep my head and mind clear as much as I could.

Like he said, a priest was waiting. Not only the priest but two other persons. A man and a woman.

I stood absent-mindedly beside Jacob and listened to the priest give his sermon. It was brief and before I knew it, I had a ring on my finger and a glare from Jacob made me slip the band on his finger with trembling hands.

" I pronounce you husband and wife,"

Hot tears streamed down my face after the priest's final words. I never imagined I would get married without my father`s blessing and in his absence. I felt like screaming and punching the wall but I was given a pen to sign a document instead.

I held the pen in my hand and reluctantly drew my signature on the paper thereby sealing my marriage with Jacob Steele. I will be stuck with him for two years and I am not to tell anyone about the circumstances surrounding our sudden marriage. He needed a wife and I was the perfect candidate because I owed him and now he owns me. All of me!