2: A husband for hire
1076 Words
Nia’s brows furrowed. "Done.” She said hurriedly, “Just go along with it please.”
“Alright then,” he smirked, his lips brushing against her ear so gently as he whispered, "I’ll tell you the condition later.”
Nia opened her mouth to reply him, but Brianca didn’t give her a chance. "That’s a rather rushed marriage, don’t you think?" Her voice laced with venom as she eyed Kael. "Or are you just desperately trying to get over Jacob?" She squeezed Jacob’s hand, her nails digging into his skin as she tried to emphasize her point.
Nia’s jaw clenched, but she forced a smile. "At least I don’t go around stealing my friends' men."
Brianca’s face darkened. "Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes, “you were never a friend. You think you’re better than everyone. And let’s be real—Jacob loves me, not you. I can’t believe you ran off to marry some nobody just to get back at us."
Kael’s wolf growled low in his chest at the insult.
Did she just call us a nobody? Rode growled.
Kael smiled, trying to calm his raging wolf. All of these could only happen in the city. Anything like this in the pack and the person would be six feet under before they could even complete their statement. He took a deep breath and held Nia’s hand to ground himself. However, Adrian wasn’t feeling the same calmness, he was boiling, his veins pulsating as he prepared to lunch at Bianca, however, Kael grabbed his arm, holding him back. "I’ll handle this," Kael whispered, his tone deadly calm.
Kael stepped forward, his towering frame casting a shadow over Jacob and Brianca. "I’m Kael Connon," he said, his voice steady and authoritative as he introduced himself. “The—
Before he could continue, a voice called out, "Mr. Kael!"
All eyes turned to see Mr. Javon approaching, his eyes brimming and narrowing in respect and admiration.
"How’s business going?" Javon asked, shaking Kael’s hand enthusiastically.
Kael smirked. "Considering I’m about to close a 69 million dollar deal right now, I’d say it’s going well."
Jacob and Brianca’s faces paled, their smug confidence crumbling.
“Well I’m glad it’s going well,” Javon replied, his eyes still brimming bright with admiration for Kael. “Do let me know if you need anything, anything at all, it’s on the house.”
“Okay,” Kael replied, nodding with a smile as Javon walked off.
Nia straightened her back, her shoulders lifting with newfound pride. She shot Brianca a triumphant smirk, savoring in the victory of the moment.
Bianca gasped, her cheeks flushing in clear embarrassment. She grabbed Jacob’s arm and pushed him. "Let’s get out of here," she hissed. "This b***h isn’t worth our time."
As they left, Nia turned to Kael, her eyes narrowing on him. "Who are you?"
Kael hesitated, his mind racing. She had no wolf scent. That could only mean she was a mere human. Worse, what if Adrian was right? What if she was just another gold digger like all the other desperate bitches in the city? He couldn’t afford to tell her he was a billionaire, at least not now.
"I’m a…" He paused, searching for the right words to say but nothing seemed to come out, he opened his mouth, allowing the words to flow out. "I’m an escort."
Nia blinked, her lashes batting in confusion as she exclaimed. "An escort?"
"Yes," he replied, his tone casual, though his mind reeled. It was better if she thought he was nothing more than that—at least for now.
Why would you do that? Rode growled in protest, but Kael ignored it.
Idiot! You need to claim her. We’ve waited years for her, Rode continued but Kael ignored him.
She was a mere human, and he couldn’t afford to let her know who he really was. Not yet. Not until he was sure what she was or who she was.
Nia raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "An escort? Wearing a three-grand suit? Signing a sixty-nine million dollar deal?"
Kael’s smirk didn’t waver. "I deal with elite and top class clients," he said smoothly, leaning against the bar. "And that contract? Just something I made up to shut your ex up. Figured he deserved to be knocked down a peg or two."
Her eyes narrowed, disbelief etched on her face as she tilted her head. "You just don’t look like an escort."
At that, Kael’s wolf stirred, a low growl vibrating in his chest. Without warning, his wolf pushed him forward and Kael pinned her against the wall. In one swift motion, his hands found her thigh, fingers curling possessively around her leg as he pressed his body against hers. His lips grazed the sensitive curve of her neck, his breath hot against her skin.
"Is that convincing enough for you?" he murmured, his voice a dark, dangerous rasp that prickled against Nia’s skin.
Nia’s breath hitched, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. The heat of his touch and the intensity of his gaze made her feel unsteady, as though the ground beneath her feet had shifted. She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the strange flutter in her stomach.
Coughing lightly, she tilted her chin up defiantly. "Now that we know who you are, tell me," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "what exactly do you want from me?"
Kael’s smirk deepened, his wolf howling with satisfaction at her vulnerability. "Well," he began, his tone dropping to something darker, "besides the fact that my suit costs three grand..." He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity as he looked into her eyes. "You agreed you’d do whatever I want."
Nia’s stomach churned, an icy chill running down her spine at the dangerous tone to his words. Her throat tightened as she repeated, "What do you want?"
Kael’s gaze locked onto hers, unflinching and commanding. "It’s simple," he said, his voice smooth but laced with authority. "Just an arrangement." He turned to Adrian and added, "Shift the meeting to tomorrow."
Adrian blinked in surprise, nodding his head as fast as he could.
Nia’s eyes darted between him and Adrian, her instincts screaming to run but her curiosity keeping her rooted in place. "What kind of arrangement?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Oh, you’ll find out soon enough."
- Writer
