A contract with Mr Black

Chapter3

BOSS OR HUSBAND?

~••~Bethany~••~

I sat inches away from him, my hands trapping at my thighs frantically.His presence was overwhelming, and I could feel his gaze pressing into me like a weight on my chest. . It was like I couldn’t escape his gaze even in such a spacious and luxurious furnished office.

“So do you think you have what it takes to work here, Bethany?” He finally asked, his voice smooth, but with an edge to it. His fingers tapped on the folder he’d dropped onto the desk, the sound too loud in the quiet room.

I nodded, “ Yes sir.” His eyes lingered down on my figure longer than it was supposed to before locking back to meet my eyes.

He left out a sigh, “ Actually Bethany, I have found someone for this job already.”

My heart dropped at his words, if he had found someone else then there's no use of me being here. The one time I thought I could actually make a difference, I could actually get up and stop sulking over a jerk like James and now this was happening. And now… now it was slipping through my fingers before I even had a chance to prove myself.

I forced a smile, though it felt like the most unnatural thing I’d ever done. Throwing my purse back on my shoulders I stood up “Oh, okay then it's fine I should get goi–”

“I wasn't finished, “ He chipped in, interrupting me.

“I have an offer for you.”

My throat ran dry again, his eyes stayed intensively locked on my petite figure, piercing through me like he could see beyond what I was letting through. My skin tingled under his gaze, and I could feel my pulse quicken.

“An offer?” I repeated. My voice was barely above a whisper, the words fragile on my tongue.

He stood up from his desk in a swift motion, moving walking towards my chair just opposite him before stopping inches away, closing the distance between us, his tall, commanding figure towering over me. I instinctively shrank back in my chair, but my body felt paralyzed, like I couldn’t move.

He stopped just inches away, his presence consuming the space between us. I could feel the heat radiating off his body, and my lump forming at the back of my throat. His stare burrowing into me and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.

My throat tightened as he leaned in even closer, the warmth of his rough breath fanning against my neck, sending a wave of goosebumps across my skin and jolts of memories rushing back.

I could feel my blood rushing with a mixture of fear and–excitement. He wasn't going to me right. I questioned my subconscious.

His harsh breath stopped inches away from my ear before he whispered, his voice a low murmur that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Marry me”

My world stopped.

The words hung in the air, thick with something I couldn’t quite understand. to myself. My mind was spinning and my body frozen in place. I tried,to process what he had just said but everything in me. screamed that this wasn’t real. It couldn't be. He couldn’t have just… asked me to marry him. A night stand wasn't enough to suddenly seal such a thing.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything,but no sound seemed to come out. My thoughts scrambled, for a response, but nothing seemed appropriate. My eyes searched his face, looking for some sign that this was a joke or some twisted form of misdirection.. But there was nothing there. Nothing except the cold, steady intensity in his eyes..

His breath was still warm on my skin. And for a brief moment, I was sure I could hear the beating of his heart. I blinked, trying to focus on the reality of the situation but the room felt too small..

I looked away, unable to hold his gaze for more than a second. I didn’t know what to think, didn’t know what to say. My eyes darted around the room, looking for something to anchor me, something that could pull me back to reality. But I found nothing. I didn’t know what to think and didn’t know what to say.

“Excuse me?”I finally managed to choke out, pulling back, breaking the inappropriate closeness.

My voice trembled,“Did you just… ask me to marry you?”

He didn’t answer immediately, but his gaze never wavered. My eyes widened. He wasn’t joking. I tried to process what he had just said, but everything in me screamed that this wasn’t real. He couldn’t have just… asked me to marry him.

“Here's the deal, you get married to me and in return I give you the job, heck I give you more than that.” His eyes held nothing but seriousness, there was a laziness in the side of his eyes as if he just wasn't to get things over with.

“Why?” The question left my mouth before I even had time to register what he said. “Why would you want me to marry you? You… barely even know me.”

His lips curled slightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.“Don't get me wrong Bethany, I'm not the least bit attracted to you.”

I get my heart tugged at his words. I didn't want him to find me attractive so why did my heart ache?

“I need to get married for…”He trailed as if picking his words carefully. “personal reason and you need the job don't you? “ He finished.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This couldn’t be real. I was still reeling from the shock of his offer, my mind struggling to make sense of it all.

“I… I don’t understand,” I muttered,more to myself than him. My voice low and almost barely audible. “Why me?”

He leaned back slightly, his hands slipping into the pockets of his pants as he studied me. His eyes softened for a moment, but there was still that unmistakable edge to them. He leaned back slightly, his hands slipping into the pockets of his pants as he studied me. Like a predator assessing its prey.

“Because,” he said, his eyes narrowed down to me. “You need this Bethany don't you?” He asked. “Seems like the best way to kill two birds with one stone doesn't it.”

He walked back over to his desk casually, his long legs closing the distance in just three steps and making his way back to his seat, leaning in, his gaze still transfixed on me.

“Make your decision Bethany and fast.”

My mind was racing with thoughts I couldn't make sense of. Marrying a complete stranger was one thing but marrying Ryan Black was another. The right and normal thing to do would be to walk again but I couldn't let an opportunity like mine slip away. I couldn't let James' get the better of me.

I couldn't let James' win.

And this was freaking Ryan Black, a man who could change anything and what better way to make a comeback than with him.

“So what do you say?” He asked.” Am I your boss or husband or am I both?”

He raised his eyebrows waiting for a response from me.

I could never get another opportunity like this, not even in my wildest dreams.

“Alright then,“ I found myself saying, shocking myself as well as him.”

“Let's get married.”

Ryan looked at me taken aback by my sudden response but immediately regained his composure. A smile forming at the corner of his lips.

He chuckled, “Alright then meet me first thing tomorrow morning.”