Chapter three

I slowly opened my eyes, everything is so peaceful and quiet

“Feels so soft” I murmured incoherently, still half asleep as I stroked the fluffy beddings underneath me…

My eyes slowly fluttered open slightly disoriented, I shut them not wanting to get uncomfortable… wait my bed isn't always this comfy, I slowly opened up my eyes again, scanning the high all white ceiling with little golden angels dancing on it and the soft white drapes on the open window fluttering in the early morning breeze

This could be heaven

Just then my brain began to function, This is unfamiliar territory.

Now fully alert I tried to get out of bed

‘Psych’

The moment I sat up I fell back down holding onto my head as it felt like it could fall off at any second.

I tried again and that sharp pain that shot from my head to my legs said not today bitch, hence forcing me back down.

“Where am I?” I asked in a raspy voice… now taking a good look at the very spacious room, neatly decorated and spotlessly cleaned.

The alluring scent that filled my nostrils sent my brain on a frenzy as memories of the previous night came flooding in.

I remember the face of the handsome lunatic that rescued me from those goons.

I remember how he swooped me off the ground into his muscular arms, and the crazed smirk he had on his face while doing it too.

The smell of his cologne saturated the entire atmosphere of the bedchamber, it was the same smell he had on that night.

‘It’s one thing to be strong and exude pure masculinity and probably be a little handsome and slightly loco to say the least, but… it's an entirely different ball game for a man to smell this darn good, it should be a sin for a man to smell this heavenly.’ I thought to myself still trying to fit in all the pieces of memories from last night where they belong.

The faint steps approaching and turning of the door knob snaps me back to reality

“you're finally up?” my ears were graced with the most soothingly hoarse voice I've ever heard

My eyes darted towards the source of the sound only to yet again be astounded by the finest set of honey brown eyes.

His whole personality is someworth entheal and so unreal, a person can't be this perfect.

‘Earth to Ava’

“Y-yes.. thank you very much for your help last night.” I muttered adjusting my legs to get comfortable.

“You can keep your thanks, as my help wasn't for free.” he said nonchalantly, almost resembling a jokester

“Huh?” I blurted confused, am I missing something here?

“What’s with the face? I hope it's not always gonna be like that, because…” He trailed off his sentence half way, looking at me with amusement written all over his face.

‘Wait… I am so lost right now. What is going on? Why shouldnt I thank him? Is he crazy or something?’ I wondered, he definitely sounds crazy right now.

“Don’t just sit there looking at me all confused woman and please tell me you didn’t lose your memory overnight?” he smirked as he made jest of me

‘He's so unserious’

“No… I didn’t lose my memory, It just felt like I had the craziest dream on a creepy night”. I explained trying to help him understand me.

“Well good for you…

I thought you were going to die on me when you refused to wake up and you started shaking like a demon possessed little boy all through the night.” He snidely remarked, with his lips curled up ever so slightly in a little smirk.

‘Did he just call me a possessed boy’

You know what?

I’m gonna choose peace today. “Thank you for last night,” I said almost in a whisper.

“I told you I didn’t want your thanks! If you are going to be here, then you’ll have to be a lot more obedient.”

“Oh no Sir! I think you’ve got it all wrong, I’m really grateful for your help but I’ll be taking my leave now.” I said standing up to take my leave but my legs once said oh hell no and gave way underneath me.

Before I could plummet face first into the ground, His firm grasp on my waist swiftly saved me the embarrassment.

He pulled me firmly to his hard chest bursting with pure muscle and long hours in the, i just stood there like a fish out of water seemingly distracted, cause all I could think of is….. This is some Bollywood shit right now.

‘What is happening to me’

Overall this was more distracting than it was helping.

I'm here trying so hard to keep my cool, but I can feel the blood racing to my cheeks after I felt his big firm hands grasp my tiny little waist reminding me I was a lady

‘Oh dear God save me’ I swallowed a large gulp of air

“Thank you.” were the only words that escaped my mouth as I jolted out of his grasp to sit back on the bed, pretending I didn’t just flinch under his touch.

“First things first, I’m Egon and secondly if you remember clearly, I only helped you because you agreed to be my wife.” He said all too calm and firmly, not a single trace of the prankster I met with prior to this moment.

“What?!” I asked, losing my stance as the memory puzzles began piecing themselves together.

“I only thought you were probably drunk or maybe fooling around”

“Well luckily for you I was doing neither of those things.” He stared sternly with his eyes Piercing like that of a hawk watching its prey.

“But I was in a dire situation, you can’t take advantage of people like that…” I tried to reason as the information I just heard sent shivers down my spine.

‘He's serious’ he's much crazier than I thought

With a giant stride he stood towering over me, with the concept of space dead to his existence, he now looks a bit intimidating from where I'm at.

“Sir please.. I mean Egon please you have to understand,” I still tried to reason out as his dangerously warm eyes stared sharply into mine when I called him sir after he told me to not call him that.

“You need to understand, I was technically run away from an arranged forced marriage, so you wouldn’t expect me to run out of one forced marriage only to end up in another.”

“It’s a contract marriage Ava! Nothing like the marriage you ran away from, It’s not like I’m marrying you because I love you or anything, this is gonna be just business in which both parties benefit.”

The moment those words came flying out of his mouth, my heart stopped

I know I sound a little dramatic especially because he's a total stranger, but that in itself hurt me like hell...

I felt my heart burst into several pieces.

“Wait... how do you know my name?”

“ I have my ways, things aren't so cumbersome when you have machineries and cash to fund it.’’ He said dismissively

‘‘Besides the so-called marriage you’re running from, is he richer? Younger? Or more attractive?”

“No I don’t think he’s anything compared to you,” I blurted out before I could even catch myself

Egon's face turned into a cunning and sly smirk at the realisation of what he just made me admit to him.

‘Cunning bastard’ he's back in his prankster persona

“So If I’m more attractive and richer, what’s stopping you?” He said so egotistically, surely trying to get on my nerves.

But I'm too focused on trying to gather what little dignity I have left, and not say anymore silly stuff that'll embarrass me even further.

“I’m just not ready for marriage!” I uttered, a bit lost for words and refusing to keep digging the grave I've opened up for myself with that haphazard remark.

“Are you underage?” He asked using his eyes to scan my whole body, making me so uncomfortable.

‘Oh dear,’ it's suddenly so hot in here, even with the air con turned on.

I could swear this man was undressing me with his eyes and it made me squirm under his intense gaze.

“I’m just not ready and besides you said you had money to get all the information so why are you asking if I’m underage?” I remarked feeling witty for asking such an unplanned intelligent question.

“I know you clocked twenty a months ago and that you have a younger sister and a mom. What I couldn't understand is why you don’t want to get married even if it’s to help pay the bills your family owes.” with that he struck a nerve.

That's a very sensitive topic I’ve been trying to avoid, and it turned my mood sour immediately.

“It’s not very nice to pry into people’s family business and I advise you to refrain from it.” I lashed back at him, absolutely livid at this man and his guts, but I'm still struggling to keep my cool as I glared at him.

I know I’m in no position to start a fight and definitely not with the person that helped me.

Can't be biting the hands that feed you, they say

“Don’t be so dramatic and besides, it’s not even a choice on the table, you are doing it!” He ordered, finally taking his eyes off my body.

For a split second I could swear I caught a glimpse of a sinister look in his eyes… he reminds me of the joker, playfully unserious while being assertive and effective.

Just the thought of his complex personality sends cold ripples down my spine.

What have I gotten myself into

“But you can get someone else to do it, I’m sure you have friends and women throwing themselves at you, if you’re this adamant on getting a wife.” I tried to play it cool.

“It has to be you and it'll interest you to know that I don’t want a wife, I need a wife.” He stated firmly with eyes full of desperation.

“Well I’m not getting married to just anyone, thanks for the offer though.” I declined.

“I’m not just anyone Ava, I’m Egon Hatt! The wealthiest, smartest, most attractive and youngest billionaire you could meet in the whole of Carlifornia.” He listed being a bit braggadocious, as he grabbed my chin,lifting it up until the tip of our noses touched.

And I suddenly forgot how to breathe, I forgot how to be human and nearly passed out from the lack of oxygen.

My heart was pounding furiously behind my rib cage threatening to burst out any second.

I haven’t been this close to any man before. Having him this close makes me feel so woozy and strange, I might drop in a bit.

“You don’t look so young to me.” I shot him a snide remark to get him vexed to play it off.

“I see you prefer to play naughty.” He added chuckling as he released his hold on me. Finally freeing me of the torture he put me in.

He turned around to leave

“Let me leave, Egon!” I yelled after him

“Never…

Well, except you want your suitors back, then be my guest” He retorted, hitting the nail on the head as I recoiled back into my shell.

Nothing is gonna make me go back to Montey! And I can’t even bring myself to face my mother after she clearly gave me up willingly to those nasty hooligans without a fight.

I can't go back….