Elizabeth
“I accept.”
Although faint, the scribble sound gnawed at my ears as I quickly signed the document.
My stomach tightened as heat pooled. My chin lowered to my chest as I dropped into the chair. Defeat stamping a bitter taste on my tongue.
Mr. Adiaga smiled as he took in the white paper and tucked it back in the envelope. A smile—one that seemed to hide sinister intent—gleamed up his face. “Thank you.” Tossing it on the other vacant chair, he said. “Are you ready to have dinner yet?”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I should be going home,” I stated, my fingers digging into the armrest of the blue upholstery chair.
His dismissal behaviour grated on my very last nerve. Acting like he hadn’t done something so inhumane.
His gaze hovered around me before he drank the last content in his wine glass. “So the contract is simple. You just have to act as a wife for a year. Tomorrow, prepare; you will be moving into the Adiaga’s mansion while you prepare for your wedding. A week is enough for that.”
Still wallowing in the pit of uncertainty, no words left my lips. I could have protested; living with a man, I barely knew. This wasn’t how I planned on getting married. I had always dreamt of getting married to Michael. He and I would live in a nice, sweet home and have two kids. Michael wasn’t a cat person, but he said he wouldn’t mind having one because of me.
This wasn’t the life I had envisioned for myself.
A year trickled down my face as I stifled the sobs about to break out of my throat.
Mr. Adiaga's eyes dipped at a rare moment of what I thought was sympathy. “Oh no, don’t cry,” he said with an exaggerated, warm voice. “Many women would kill for this life.”
Kill to become a slave to a man as heartless as he was. I spat to my feet. “Good night. I need rest.”
"But the didn’t date isn’t over,” Mr. Adiaga said.
Saving whatever was left of my dignity, I jutted my chin. “Until the wedding, I am still the owner of my life.”
He wiggled his brows, and his face contorted into a rosy expression. “You are one hell of an interesting woman.”
My eyes widened, but quickly I narrowed them. He didn’t deserve a reaction from me. Without responding, I swung around and strutted out of the restaurant.
.
.
Immediately after I got home, I took off my heels and turned on the light bulb. The bright white light shone on the walls of the apartment, but it couldn’t reach the walls of my heart.
I sprawled on the sofa, the tight dress bridling my movement. My hands flew to my neck. The diamond necklace looked more like a collar confining me than an accessory.
The next fifteen minutes were spent on the sofa, thinking of ways to escape from this predicament. Would running back to London save me? Then what if the chaos followed me to London and then I drowned not only me but my aunty?
As I grunted, simultaneously, a knock on my door filled the air. I whipped my head to the door and the clock—8 pm.
Once again, my heart thudded. Who could it possibly be now? I picked up the white flower vase on my coffee table and drew closer to the door.
“Who is there?” My grip on the base tightened.
“A package for Ms. Elizabeth from Mr. Adiaga” A man’s voice came from the other side of the door.
Dropping the vase on the floor, I opened the door. A delivery man stretched out his hand, holding a package. “Mr. Adiaga ordered this meal for you.”
The tantalising aroma of the food darted into my nose, stirring a hungry storm in my stomach.
Ignoring my traitorous stomach, I said, “Please kindly return the package to him.” Before the delivery could say anything more, I slammed the door shut.
I returned and sprawled back on the sofa. My thoughts resumed terrorising my mind until sleep came in like a hero, snatching me into her beautiful arms.
***
The relentless thuds on the door startled me awake. My eyes flew open, and the morning light sprinting from the windows bored into my eyes, burning my iris.
Teetering in the line between being half awake and half asleep, I approached the door, and without hesitating, I opened the door. Thankfully it was Tessy and not the loan shark.
“You must have really loved the outfit to sleep in.” Her eyes zeroed in on me. Tessy gasped. “Is that a real diamond?” Her hands darted to the necklace still on my neck.
“Yes.” I gestured for her to come in. “Yesterday was tiring. I ended up crashing on the sofa.”
Tessy smiled and settled on the sofa. “I came to check up on you. And also to tell you, I found a job, but the pay is quite small.”
My chest tightened as a pang of regret gripped my heart. “Never mind, I have already sold my soul to the devil.”
Curiosity arched her brows. “What do you mean?”
Slipping out of the gown into my bra and pants, I settled on the sofa. From the accident to the dinner and useless contract—I explained it all.
“You shouldn’t have turned down the food. It did nothing to you.” She winked... a failed attempt to lighten my mood up. Tessy exhaled as she sat next to me. “Try and see the silver lining here. You won’t be selling your kidney.” An awkward smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Another failed attempt to lighten my mood.
I had tried to see the silver lining, but there was none, as I ended up selling my whole being.
A knock thudded on the door, followed by a louder thud as the door collapsed to the floor.
My eyes widened. The loan shark man strutted into my apartment, his hands dipped into his pocket. Instinctively, I curled up, covering my almost naked body.
The man’s eyes darkened as his eyes raked over me. A smile formed on his lips and he drew closer. Curling his around my wrist, he yanked me off the sofa.
“I thought you gave me a week.” My voice quivered.
“I changed my mind.” His eyes lingered on my cleavages. “You have a beautiful body. How about you pay me in another way?" He pinched my chin and forced my gaze to meet his horny eyes.
A crawling sensation journeyed beneath my skin. His breath against my skin burnt disgust into me.
“Leave her alone,” Tessy yelled. About to come closer when one of his men trapped her between his hands.
“How about I make you mine?" The boss’s cruel hands went around my waist.
“Sorry, she already belongs to me.” A familiar voice filled the room, one I hated but was so glad to hear.
With the most horrid frown I had seen, the boss turned to Mr. Adiaga. “And you are?”
“You should check your account. Her debt had been paid.” Raphael’s eyes rested on my body, and his eyes darkened briefly.
The boss checked his phone, and without saying a word, he and his man disappeared.
Mr. Adiagatook off his suit and hung it over me. “Did that bastard hurt you?” His tone reverberated with warmth.
A warmth that painted my cheeks red. His musky scent that lingered on his suit filled my nostrils.
“Let’s get you out of here.” He added.
“I need to change,” I said, before heading to my room to change into a knee-length gown.
**
After a while, we arrived at the Adiaga’s mansion. The mansion stood on large acres of land. Towering trees lined the driveway. A large fountain was stationed meters away from the stairs that led to the entrance.
Mr. Adiaga's footsteps and mine echoed as we entered the house. Climbing the stairs and passing through the white-panelled hallway, we entered a room.
Brown shelves lined the walls of the study room. The air harboured the scent of paper.
My eyes fell on a man settled on the sofa in the middle of the room, a wheelchair next to him.
His black hair was styled to perfection. His hunter-hazel eyes seared over me, melting my skin with a feeling I knew well—fear, and another I couldn’t dare discern. The black polo shirt did a horrible job concealing his broad chest.
“Is she the one Raphael?” His voice was hoarse yet pleasing.
I whipped my head to him. “Raphael?” The plaintiff’s name was Mr. Zain. The name on the contract was Mr. Zain Adiaga.
My breath shuddered as shock swept my whole body.
Mr. Adiaga shot a taunting smile. “This is Zain, your husband-to-be.”
He had tricked me.
