Sold To The Billionaire

Chapter5-A DealWithTheDevil

The days following Kate’s reluctant agreement passed in a blur of activity. The once quiet and reserved Peterson mansion was now buzzing with the sounds of wedding preparations. Staff hurried through the halls, making arrangements for what was sure to be a lavish event. Kate found herself swept up in a whirlwind of decisions, all of which were made without her input.

The wedding planner, a stern woman named Mrs. Davenport, took control of every detail. She presented Kate with an endless array of choices—flowers, invitations, dresses—but it quickly became clear that these decisions had already been made. Kate was merely there to approve what had been predetermined by her father and Mrs. Davenport.

Kate sat in the parlor, surrounded by fabric swatches and floral arrangements, her mind numb. She felt like a puppet, her strings being pulled by forces beyond her control. Her mother sat across from her, quietly sipping tea, her face a mask of serene indifference. Grace Peterson offered no comfort, no reassurance, only the occasional nod of approval as Mrs. Davenport discussed the plans.

The atmosphere was suffocating, and Kate longed to escape. But every time she considered walking out, the weight of her father’s ultimatum pressed down on her. She was trapped, bound by duty and obligation, with no way out.

“You should be more involved, Katherine,” her mother finally said, breaking the silence. “This is your wedding, after all.”

Kate looked up from the lace samples she had been absently fingering, her eyes meeting her mother’s cool gaze. “Does it really matter what I want?” she asked, her voice devoid of emotion. “Everything’s already been decided for me.”

Grace raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, almost pitying smile. “You should be grateful, my dear. Most girls would give anything to marry a man like Cedric Rutherford. You’re securing your future, and the future of this family.”

Kate bit back a retort, knowing it would be useless to argue. Her mother had always been a master of passive-aggressive manipulation, using calm words and veiled insults to control those around her. It was a tactic Kate had grown accustomed to over the years, but it still stung.

Instead of responding, Kate turned her attention back to Mrs. Davenport, who was now discussing the menu for the reception. The planner’s voice droned on, a steady stream of information that washed over Kate without leaving any impression. She nodded absently, agreeing to whatever was suggested, too tired to care.

Later that afternoon, Kate found herself standing in the grand ballroom, staring at the rows of tables being meticulously arranged for the wedding reception. The room, with its high ceilings and crystal chandeliers, was being transformed into a vision of opulence, every detail carefully crafted to reflect the grandeur of the event.

But despite the beauty of her surroundings, Kate felt nothing. The joy and excitement that should have accompanied planning a wedding were absent, replaced by a dull ache in her chest. This wasn’t the wedding she had imagined as a little girl. There were no butterflies, no anticipation, only a growing sense of dread.

As she wandered aimlessly through the room, her thoughts drifted to Cedric Rutherford. She had done some research on him after that fateful night, trying to piece together the man she was about to marry. The articles and interviews she found painted a picture of a cold, calculating businessman, someone who had clawed his way to the top of the corporate ladder with ruthless determination.

There were few details about his personal life, save for the fact that he had been married twice before. His first marriage ended in divorce, and the second in tragedy when his wife passed away under mysterious circumstances. The rumours surrounding her death were vague, but they left Kate with an uneasy feeling.

Who is Cedric Rutherford, really? she wondered. The man she had encountered during her one-night stand was charming and enigmatic, but the more she learned about him, the more she realised how little she actually knew. The idea of spending the rest of her life with a stranger, someone who might have hidden depths and dark secrets, filled her with anxiety.

As if on cue, she heard a voice behind her. “Lost in thought, Miss Peterson?”

Kate turned sharply, startled to see Cedric himself standing in the doorway. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his posture relaxed yet commanding. There was an air of confidence about him that was both alluring and intimidating.

“Mr. Rutherford,” Kate said, regaining her composure. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Cedric smiled, a slow, calculated smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I wanted to see how things were progressing. After all, this is my wedding too, isn’t it?”

There was something in his tone that made Kate bristle. She couldn’t tell if he was mocking her or simply stating a fact, but either way, it set her on edge. “Yes, I suppose it is,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Cedric took a few steps closer, his eyes sweeping over the room before settling on her. “It’s going to be quite the event,” he said, his voice smooth. “Your father has spared no expense.”

Kate’s jaw tightened. Of course he hasn’t, she thought bitterly. This marriage was his way of securing the company’s future, and he would do whatever it took to make sure it happened.

“What do you want, Mr. Rutherford?” Kate asked, her voice tinged with impatience. “Surely you didn’t come here just to admire the decorations.”

Cedric raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her bluntness. “You’re right, I didn’t. I came to see you.”

Her heart skipped a beat, though whether from fear or anticipation, she couldn’t tell. “Why?”

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. “I wanted to make sure you understand what’s at stake here, Katherine.”

Kate stiffened at the use of her full name. “Oh, I understand perfectly,” she said, her voice sharp. “This marriage is nothing more than a business transaction, isn’t it? You get what you want, my father saves his company, and I’m just the unfortunate collateral damage.”

Cedric’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something—approval?—in his eyes. “I’m glad you see things so clearly. But don’t mistake this for a one-sided deal. You stand to gain as much as anyone.”

Kate felt a wave of anger rising within her. “Gain? What could I possibly gain from this?”