“Can you please tell me where you’re taking me?” Crystal asked curiously, she had agreed to follow them to wherever they were going to and in exchange they agreed not to shoot her. As she got into the car, they blindfolded her quickly, even though she was panicking she tried her best to stay calm. “When you get there, you will know?” One of them said and she felt the car engine revved to life. “Why did you abduct me?” She inquired again, for some reason, she felt the sudden urge to know what she should expect. “It’s not an abduction if you agreed to follow us.” The man stated there was something in his voice, she didn’t know whether it was confidence or sarcasm.“Do you know no one would refuse to follow you once you hold them at gunpoint?” She questioned softly, careful enough to not anger them so they don’t blow out her brains on impulse. “Tell me one thing, are you going to kill me?” “Probably, it totally depends on you.” He muttered she was squeezed in between the two hefty
Crystal didn’t know how long she sat there but she could tell it was a lot of time, she felt sore in her arms and legs, she had been sitting for too long and she fell asleep a couple of times too. Jones McQueen had left and he didn’t tell her what he would do to her, she was just seated there in the silence. “Mrs. Smith,” She raised her head up when she heard the familiar voice. “Are you ready to discuss with me?” “I have told you that I won’t aid your nonsense.” She cracked; there was certain dryness in her voice. “I have very valid information that you have the key design to the summer festival shoes.” He said as he proceeds to the chair, he was wearing a bathrobe that revealed his chest; he sat down in all his seductive glory. “I want you to give me that, we checked in your purse and found some couple of useless flash but it wasn’t nothing related to a shoe design.” “I don’t have it.” She lied. “How will stealing someone else’s design be of any benefit to you?” He chuckled dark
“Mr. Smith d,o you have any information on Crystal’s whereabouts?” Paige asked curiously and Kayden dropped the pen in his hands, he glanced up at her, she was standing halfway through his office. Worry was etched on her face, it was very obvious that she didn’t get any sleep too, her eyes were swollen and they were dark underneath. “Are there any leads yet?”“I know you are worried about Crystal, but you should knock before you come into my office.” He complained with a small frown on his face.Paige’s face tightened immediately as she raised her arms to her chest and folded them.“Are you even worried about Crystal?” she inquired. “Shouldn’t you be looking all over for her? I know how you feel about her, but she disappeared, what if something happened to her?”“Since we involved the STIU why should I also bother myself?” He closed the laptop, and glanced outside the building, night was descending on them already and he still hasn’t gotten a text message from the arrogant McQueen bas
Kayden and Petra were whispering something to themselves, but after a while, they just stood and glared at each other before Petra took the empty tray and walked out of the room. Crystal couldn’t comprehend what was going on but she remained quiet. Kayden’s glare then turned towards her. “You heard what Petra said?” His cold voice came unexpectedly and it almost made her jolt. “Finish everything in the damned bowl.” “Aren’t you being a little too caring today?” she asked as she raised the spoon to her mouth but only to drop it again, it was just too hard to eat, he looked at her suspiciously. “Do you want me to lick your shoes this time?” “What did McQueen what from you?’ He was quick to change the topic; he strolled back to the chair and sat down. “Why did he keep you for so long? “I would appreciate it if you saved the questions for tomorrow,” she started lifting the bowl for her lap and placed it on the small table that was next to the bed. “I’m so tired and sleepy now.” “We wi
“How are you feeling?” Sebastian asked both of his hands fixed in his pocket as he stared down at Mr. Connell, who seemed to be lost in thoughts and unaware of the environment. The old man jolts slightly but as soon as he noticed that it was Sebastian, he was relaxed again. “The only time I ever see you is in the hospital.” “I’m getting better,” The old man sat up in the bed. “My old age is catching up to me.” “I don’t think that’s the case,” Sebastian sighed running his hands into his night-black hair, he placed the roses he bought into the vase and disposed of the dead flowers. “Kayden really is bad for your health, Mr. Connell you might not be my father but you don’t deserve to be treated like this.” “I told you to call me father.” He said with a small frown. “It's not just Kayden that makes me fall into shock. You do too.” “That’s why I try to avoid coming over unless it’s important.” He said bluntly and he strolled over to the vacant chair in the room. “But you should stop w
Crystal was sitting there quietly, staring outside the window, her eyes following the streetlights as they passed them; just another she does to get things away from her mind. She let out a sigh, trying to calm herself; even though she tried desperately she was unable to calm down. Where could Jake be right now? What is he doing? Does he know where she is already and he is just keeping quiet? Or he had completely forgotten about her, which is impossible. Jake isn’t the type of person that would just forget her. Then is he just watching her from the darkness and when she least expected it he would appear from the darkness, just like he does in her dreams? She shut her eyes tightly trying to get away the horrendous image from her mind; it was very scary she opened her eyes again.“He’s an offender and you are a victim, there is nothing he can do to you.” She schooled herself internally, in the same way Paige would have done, she recalled everything Paige had said to encourage
“Why did you request to see me?” Mr. Andrews asked with an uninterested expression on his face, his arms were folded across his chest. He was repeatedly taping his feet on the polished floor and he was constantly glancing at the golden wrist watch strapped to his right wrist, as if to tell them he had other important places to be so they should hurry up with whatever they are about to discuss. “I am going to be late if you keep being silent.” Crystal glanced at Paige who had an idiotic smile slapped on her face, she was looking as optimistic as ever; Crystal closed her eyes in frustration, hoping Paige would just get this over with. “I am sorry that we are taking your time,” She started with an uneasy smile on her face. “I know you have a lot of places to be since working hours is closed al-"He interrupted her sharply. “I was hoping we can get this over with, I have wasted ten minutes of my off hours, and you are not even talking to me.” He gets up and picked up his dark coat f
“What the hell are you doing?” He asked curiously pressing down on her neck even tighter. Crystals mouth fell open, she was short on words. “Why were you pretending to be asleep?” Paige and Mr. Andrews didn’t not tell her what to do; incase Kayden decided to give in to his lunacy and then strangle her. They made it sound so easy, she was supposed to fall asleep and when he notices it; he was supposed to put his coat around her and carry her inside the house… that is how it is supposed to play out! Not like this…“The punishment for falling asleep in your car, is it strangulation?” she asked and Kayden’s grip on her neck softens. “Will you kill me because I fell asleep?”“Oh this,” he chuckled darkly staring down at his hands. “I was merely trying to wake you up, and since we both know you weren’t sleeping; why don’t you tell me what the plan is?” Plan? Did he figure it out already? Did Mr. Whites tell him anything? Crystal broke into cold sweat, despite the air conditioner
Alright! *drops pen* This is a special shoutout to everyone who turned the pages over, this is my first book (the first one I ever took seriously lol) and I'm glad it's not that bad. *hehe* Thank you so much for reading, commenting, venting your concerns, voting, and supporting "My Contract Marriage." Your opinions were appreciated and valued and it was just enough for me to go on as a writer. Y'all are my special babies and I won't forget this beautiful ride. Will it have a sequel? Probably. I hope to write more books in the future, so please stay tuned. My favorite character in the book is Sebastian, hehe, you should see more of him in the sequel (If I ever take my life seriously *hehe*). Thanks once again for supporting this book and staying with me through its rough times. xoxo
“Would it be a surprise if I told you?” He teased, pulling some stubborn strands of her hair away from her face and feeling up the soft skin of her face with his long thin fingers.“Don’t you think this is too much?” She asked, staring in the distance, her feelings overwhelming her. “It’s too much for me.”“I don’t think it’s enough.” He answered, and Crystal looked around once more. “Not enough?” she asked herself internally, what did he mean by it isn’t enough? She pinched the insides of her palms, hoping she would wake up from the unreal dream.“You deserve to have this and more. This is not enough for someone like you.”“But why?” it was still unbelievable. This building was worth millions, yet she couldn’t understand why Kayden thought she was worthy to have something of the sort. “I don’t know how to pay Mrs. Darling back, nor do I know how did I ever deserve to get such a gift?”“You don’t have to pay her back, however, you can also pay her back by doing exceptionally good in
Kayden glanced at Crystal who was staring outside the window with a rather unhappy look on her face, he was concerned because she had not spoken a word to him since the beginning of the ride, and he couldn’t help but feel that she was either angry or sad.“What’s making the birthday girl so sad?” He quizzed with a teasing smile as he controlled the steering wheel professionally, but Crystal didn’t glance back at him as much, which was even more suspicious.“It’s nothing.” She muttered and even after some seconds passed, she was still staring outside, yeah, she was mad at him, but what did he do? He had no clue what he had done wrong. Is she mad he was celebrating her birthday?That didn’t seem to be the case, she was just fine a few seconds ago, what could be the problem? He glanced back at her worriedly. “Did I do something wrong?” He guessed but she didn’t reply to him. “Crystal?”“No, you didn’t,” her response resembled that of a doll with missing batteries and Kayden’s eyebrows
"Are we not going to work?" Crystal asked as she climbed the stairs and headed towards the dining area. She noticed that Kayden, who was usually dressed by this time, was sitting at the dining table in his pajamas, drinking his morning coffee. Crystal glanced at her wristwatch and realized that it was way past their usual resumption time. She quickly opened her calendar app to confirm that today was not a weekend or a public holiday.They were already late, because even though she tried to get him out of bed, he wanted to cuddle a bit more, and she also couldn’t resist his charms.Instead of their usual breakfast foods, Petra and the other maids arranged the table with sweets, scones, and a baked turkey.“What?” she asked curiously. “Is this for Thanksgiving or something?”Crystal sat down on the chair next to Kayden. “Do you not know what day today is?” Petra asked, taking the words right out of Kayden’s mouth.“No, is something going on today?” She asked him curiously, and Kayden c
The sounds of birds chirping filled Crystal’s ears, she turned to the other side of the bed, her hands instinctively reaching for the pillows to block her ears; she turned away again, and this time it was the sunlight that was in her sight, she picked the other pillow to shield her eyes.Suddenly, she was pulled against a sturdy chest, the skin of which was smooth and enticing. She snuggled closer to him, relishing in the comfort from the heat his body radiated.It felt like she was floating on a cloud, she opened one of her eyes to observe his beautiful face, Kayden’s eyes were closed as he slept peacefully, and for a moment she wished time stopped so she could remain like this forever.It was peaceful.“I can’t sleep properly if you keep fiddling about the bed.” He murmured against her ears, smoldering her cheeks with kisses even though he was still half asleep.“I think it's morning though.” She noticed returning the small kisses to him as well, placing her head against his chest a
“I told you I am fine.” Sebastian scolded Lorenza, his mother because she had been complaining about his health ever since she got to the hospital. She cried about thirty minutes before he was able to convince her that he wasn’t going to die.“What do you think I am going to do if you had died?” The door opened and Crystal ambled inside with a tray of food in her hands, for the three days he had been here, Crystal hadn’t left the hospital. “How do you think I will survive?”“Mom, I told you that I wouldn’t die from such a shallow stab wound… It would be laughable.” Sebastian muttered and Crystal scrunched up her nose in disgust, as she neared the bed.“I told you not to speak like that again.” Crystal scolded glaring down at him, he used the same words Kayden used when she was worried about him. “What part of your death would be comical to us?”“I am pretty sure some people would find it funny, especially Kayden.” Sebastian pouted “That’s no way a man should die.” Lorenza rolle
Crystal’s eyes fluttered open when she heard a pained growl that came from Jake, when her eyes opened, he was on the ground, with Sebastian’s heavy boots placed against Jake’s head.“Crystal!” She turned in the other direction, and she saw Kayden heading toward her in fast strides, he pulled her as he got down on one knee and his silver eyes narrowed when he noticed her busted lips and swollen eyes. He reached for her face and caressed her in his palms, she felt fresh tears well up in her eyes, and his frown deepened when he noticed the narrow cut on her neck, it was terrible, even though shallow.Kayden didn’t want to imagine what would have happened to her if they got there any second later, the bastard had a knife to her delicate throat, as though she was a piece of vegetable, why would someone be so evil?“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered and his frown deepened, for what reason is she apologizing? “Kayden…” She reached for him and pulled him into a hug, he noticed that she was tre
Trigger WarningThis chapter contains some violence, please read it at your discretion.Crystal thought to herself, she had to clarify the misunderstanding, probably this anonymous sender was planning to send those gifts to someone else and there must have been a mix-up in the addresses… She wasn’t close with any middle-aged man, so why did he keep sending her letters and gifts? She was only lucky Kayden had moved her out of his office, he would be so worried by now, that’s why she would meet with this old man and tell him to stop. She was able to get out of the company and proceed to the parking lot without being noticed by anyone; at least not anyone close enough to follow her.She stood out in the open, her eyes met by the very bright lights of the underground parking lots, that almost blinded her. She stood there rigidly in one spot for about a minute or two, unsure of what to do or where to go, and there was no one in sight too.The letter didn’t give much details, it simpl
Sunlight creeps into the bedroom from the slightly opened blinds in the room, warming up Crystal’s face, she stirred being disturbed by the light. She felt something heavy on her waist and she glanced up to be met by a pair of silver eyes staring intently at her.“Hic…” she gasped softly when she realized she had been sleeping against Kayden’s chest, she could hear his heart beating in slow steady rhythms, he pulled her closer with a smug satisfaction on his face, his heavy arms on her back.“Good morning,” He murmured his voice still husky with sleep, Crystal flushed red from his seductive bedroom voice, and unable to form words, she nodded at him. “Did you sleep well?”“Y-yes,” she answered with a slight tremble in her voice, it was unbelievable, who would have thought that one day she and Kayden; would be lying down in her bed, naked and tangled underneath the sheets? “How long have you been awake?”“For a while now,” He confessed and he reached to feel the soft skin of her fac