Geraldine's POV

“I didn't know…I'm sorry.” I apologized, my voice trembling as I looked up at him. I glanced around hoping that the maid's presence would ease my fear but she was long gone.

“How do you plan to make up for my saving you? I can't bother with keeping an ingrate alive.” His words sent a chill through my spine. The way he had said it calmly with a smile…like he could kill me.

“Please, I don't have any money.” I stammered uncontrollably. My snarkiness was nowhere to be found. 

“Does it look like I need money?” He chuckled and rested his chin on his plan with a bored look in his dark irises as he observed me.

I swallowed heavily.

'What the hell can I offer him? He has everything!’ I thought silently, but he seemed to have read my mind as he raised a brow with disinterest. But the words that came tumbled out of his lips were anything but shocking.

“Marry me.”

What?????

Did I hear correctly?

“Marry you?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it louder might make it more real.  

He leaned back in his chair, his piercing eyes never leaving mine. "Yes, marry me. Or do you need me to spell it out for you?"  

His calm demeanor only made his words more jarring. Was this some kind of twisted joke?  

"Why... why would you want me to marry you?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief. "You don’t even know me!"  

My skin crawled at the cruel and confident curve of his lips. "I don’t need to know you. You’re alive because of me. Now, I decide what happens to you."  

I shook my head in denial as I took a step back. “How does this even make sense?! There’s nothing I can offer you. I’m just an Omega. You saved me, fine. Thank you. But I can’t—"  

"You will," he cut me off, his voice sharp as a blade. "I wasn’t asking."  

My wolf howled in fear at the sheer weight of his presence, but I fought the urge to crumble under it.  

"No," I said firmly, surprising even myself. "I can’t marry you. You are not my mate."  

His smirk disappeared, replaced by a sign of irritation. The air around us seemed to thicken with his dominance as he stood. 

“Ah, I see, she's sentimental.” He made a tutting sound with his mouth and in a flash, he was in front of me, his hand gripping my chin as he tilted my face up to meet his cold dead eyes, “Unfortunately, I don’t take no for an answer."  

I gaped, uncertain whether to breathe or scream.

No matter what I chose in the end, my body was refusing to cooperate.

“You will marry me,” he said, his voice soft but laced with a low-key threat that left no room for argument. “But let me clarify something for you, little wolf.” He released my chin and stepped back.. “This isn’t about romance or mates. This is a business arrangement.”

My brow furrowed in confusion. “A business arrangement?” I echoed. 

“Yes.” He began, pacing slowly. “It will be a contract marriage. Two years. No more, no less.” 

My nostrils flared as I tried to understand his words. “What...What do you mean? Why would you want a contract marriage with someone like me?”  

He stopped and turned to face me, his dark eyes narrowing. “That is none of your concern.”  

I opened my mouth to argue, but he silenced me with a look that could have killed me.  

“Two years, you will act as my wife,” he continued. “We will not have any... personal relations. You will simply play the role I require of you. And when the contract is up...” His lips curved into a smirk, one that sent a chill down my spine. “I will settle you with twenty million dollars.”  

My jaw dropped. “Twenty million dollars?” I whispered, the sheer amount shocking me.  

“Yes.” His tone was dry, as if he was just discussing something as ordinary as the weather. “It's enough to ensure you never have to scrap around again.”  

My mouth fell open at the insult and his dry response. “But... why me? You could have anyone…someone better, someone who isn’t... an Omega.”  

His smirk faltered, and for a fleeting moment, something unreadable flickered in his eyes. “Because you owe me,” he said simply, his voice colder now. “I saved your life. This is how you repay me.”  

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. He wasn’t giving me a choice. It was either agree to his terms or...  

“And if I refuse?” I asked quietly, my voice trembling.  

His smile returned, but it was empty of warmth. “You better not. You have nothing to lose after all.”

He was right. As much as I hated to admit it. I had nothing. No home, no family, no resources. And now, I had an stuck up Arsehole demanding my obedience with the promise of more money than I could ever dream of.  

I took a shaky deep breath. “Two years,” I said slowly, meeting his gaze. “No personal relations. And twenty million dollars when it’s over.”  

He inclined his head slightly. “Exactly.”  

“And if you break the terms?” I asked, a spark of defiance flaring within me.  

His smile deepened, as if amused by my audacity. “I won’t.”  

I hesitated, nervously moistening my dry lips. This was insane. Absolutely insane. 

"Fine," I bit out, my voice shaky as I bit my bottom lip. "You want me to marry you? I’ll do it. But don’t think for a second that I’ll ever be yours."

  

His lips curled into a predatory smile, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something: amusement, maybe?, in his dark lifeless eyes. "We’ll see about that," he said softly, his tone laced with menace.  

He released me and stepped back.

"Prepare yourself," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "The ceremony will be soon. And, Geraldine," he added, his tone dropping into a dangerous whisper, "don’t even think about running. You wouldn’t get far."  

I watched as he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and the suffocating weight of his words.  

What the hell had I just agreed to?