His Rules, My Game.

CHAPTER TWO - THE PROPOSITION

Lenora's POV

"You're thinking about leaving, aren't you?"

I halt. I'm halfway out of bed, my dress is clutched tight to my hands.

I turn around to glare at Xavier, he's still lying on the bed with his eyes closed but his voice is awake and alert.

I gulp a lump down my throat, I can not help but admire how gorgeous he looks with a messy hair.

"I-I….” I stuttered. “I am going home.” I said, feigning confidence.

“You were going to leave without saying goodbye?” He snaps his eyes open, those ice-blue eyes that seem to see through me.

I bit my lower lip. “Actually….” I trail off. I wonder what it is exactly about this man that makes me feel so intimidated.

"Anyways, you are not going home.” He suddenly says, his voice commanding.

“Excuse me?” I raised a brow at him in confusion.

“Your father just told you he's selling you to an old man. Your fiancé has been f*****g your stepsister. Why would you want to go home?"

I mutter a cuss under my breath. The accuracy of his words stings. I finish dressing in silence, my hands shaking as I pull the zipper up on my dress.

“Look, I am sorry about what happened last night.” I pause to clear my throat.

“Why are you sorry? I enjoyed every bit of it.” I catch Xavier licking his lips seductively and it makes my heart melt.

How can he be so blunt?

I watch Xavier from across the room as he moves through his bedroom, his bare chest, all sculpted muscle and controlled power steals my breath immediately.

“Anyways, I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

Xavier turns to glare at me and I immediately look away.

"It's a business proposal"

My gaze swiftly moves back to him. "A business proposal?"

"Contract marriage." he says simply. "Two years. I need a wife for business and personal reasons. In exchange, I'll provide unlimited financial security, a position in my company, complete control over your career, and freedom to build your own life. After two years, we divorce amicably, and you walk away with enough money to never depend on anyone again."

I stare at him like he's insane. "You can't be serious."

"I'm completely serious.” He says and there's no trace of humor in his tone. "You need an escape. I can provide one."

“Is this what you do to every girl you have s*x with?” I scoff at him in disbelief.

Surprisingly, Xavier smirks. “Just you.”

"Why would you do this?" I ask, eyeing him in suspicion. "You don't even know me."

His eyes move over my face slowly, like he's searching for something "Are you sure about that? Cause last time I checked, I know your father wants you to marry a man twice your age, I know your fiancé f****d your step—-”

"The answer is no.” I snap at him, my voice is firm. "I'm not marrying a stranger. I'm not marrying anyone."

I expect him to argue, I expect him to use all that power and charm or whatever it is about him that makes me stupid. Instead, he simply leans back against the wall.

"Okay.” Xavier says. "That's your choice. My driver will take you wherever you need to go."

The casual acceptance stings more than rejection would have. He's dismissing me, suggesting that last night meant nothing, that I mean nothing.

"Why would you offer me a contract marriage if you won't even be persistent about it.” I mutted to myself. I grab my bag and slowly walk towards the door when Xavier's next words cause me to halt in my steps.

"Though I should mention, last night was incredible. You're always welcome back if you change your mind."

The comment makes my cheeks burn with humiliation. He's already treating me like a one-night stand he's grown bored with.

I grit my teeth in anger as I step out of the room.

Like Xavier promised, his driver actually gives me a ride. At first, I do not know where to go but I eventually ask the driver to drop me at my house.

Maybe, just maybe my father has changed his mind.

I spend most of the drive in anxiety. What if Julian is at home? What if we meet? What will I say to him?

I eventually arrive at home. I meet my father waiting in the study.

“Where have you been?” His voice is laced with impatience.

“It doesn't matter.” I mutter.

“You better not think about doing anything reckless. You will marry him.” Richard says coldly. "Do you understand what you're throwing away?"

"A man who has been cheating on me with my stepsister?" I stare at him in disbelief. "Yes, Father, I understand exactly what I'm throwing away."

"You're nothing without this family." He says, his voice laced with bitterness "Nothing. Do you understand that?"

His words hurt, but they also clarify something, He's right. I am nothing. But maybe that's not such a bad thing, maybe it's freedom.

I rush upstairs to pack and while I'm packing, Vivian appears at my doorstep.

"Leave the wedding dress while you are at it." she says coldly. "It's too valuable."

The pettiness of her demand makes my skin crawl. I leave the dress behind without any argument and walk out with only my suitcase.

I decide to spend some time at an hotel since I have no where else to go.

Choosing a hotel far away from my house is the best decision because the last thing I need is running into any of them.

The hotel receptionist tells me my room will be two hundred dollars for the night. I reach for my credit card, but then I realized it's not in my wallet.

Panic floods through me as I realized I left it in the cab I boarded. I'm about to explain that I need to retrieve my card, but a masculine voice from behind startles me.

"I've got it.”

I turn around to gaze at a tall figure dressed in casual clothes. His face looks familiar and it takes me a moment to recognize him.

Elias Cross!

He looks so different than he did in secondary school, he looks older, sharper, but still carrying that handsome face and charm that made him popular back then.

"Elias?" My eyes widen in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"Lenora Sterling? I haven't seen you in years." Elias says, handing the receptionist his credit card.

A smile grows on my face. “It is so nice to see you around.”

“Same here. How have you been? I heard from a few classmates that you are engaged.” He says.

My face drops.

“Everything is fine.” I lie with a straight face.

Elias smiles. “As much as I would love to catch up, I am here for a business meeting. But we can hang out some other time?”

I nod my head. “Sure.”

We exchange numbers, and he promises to check on me.

I move to my hotel room, hoping to catch some rest but I can't stop thinking about Xavier's proposal, The contract marriage, Two years.

It would solve everything but accepting it would mean entering into something with a man I barely know anything about. That is a risk I'm not sure is worth taking.

The next morning, I apply for every design job I can find and surprisingly, I get a call a few days later for an interview.

It is the first good thing that has happened to me for the past few days.

The exciting part is that it's not just any company but Crescent Design Studios, one of the most prestigious design companies in the city.

I make sure to leave the hotel on time so I can arrive at the company without any problems.

This is the first real chance I've had in years to prove myself, to build something that's mine.

I arrive at the company and the receptionist directs me to the third floor, the office by the left corner.

I take the elevator up, my hear racing extremely fast. The corner office is made of glass and steel. Through the frosted glass door, I can see a silhouette at the desk.

I knock softly and let myself in.

"Have a seat, someone will be with you in a moment." The man in the office says. He turns around and walks away, almost immediately.

I sit, crossing my legs, smoothing my skirt. My portfolio is clutched tight in my lap. I'm so engrossed in steadying my breathing that I don't hear the door open behind me.

"Thank you for waiting."

I immediatly jerk off the couch at the sound of that voice, the same voice from the club and from the penthouse.

Xavier Cross.

He's wearing a charcoal suit that probably costs a fortune. His ce-blue eyes land on me and I catch him smirking mischievously.

"Are you stalking me?"

"Lenora. I own this place."

That's not possible. The CEO—

"I bought this place three days ago." He says, moving towards me. He crosses his arms and continues. "I have to say, you look absolutely stunning. That color on you is..."

He pauses, his eyes lingering on the way my blouse curves over my chest, the shape of my body in the skirt.

"...hot."

Heat floods my cheeks. "Mr. Cross—"

"Xavier." He corrects.

"Xavier, that's not appropriate. This is an interview."

"Is it?" He tilts his head and pauses to clear his throat. "I was hoping it might be something else entirely."

I stand there, my heart races because of the way he stares at me.

"The contract marriage.” He blurts out.

I wnat to ask how he even knew I applied to this company but it doesn't matter. He's Xavier Cross, he probably has his ways.

“The offer still stands, Lenora, you have nothing to lose.”

He's right, I have nothing left to lose.

My family's already destroyed. My fiancé's already betrayed me. My father already doesn't care. There's no rock bottom anymore because I'm already at it.

However this offer, It could be a weapon. This could be power.

"I'll marry you.” I say quietly.