CHAPTER TWO

KATIE’S POV

“Huh!” The word finally escaped from my lips as I dragged my eyes to look at Axel, who seemed to have grown horns in just a few seconds.

“The wedding date is undecided for now because we didn’t think we would get a bride so soon, but we will start preparing for the big day now.” Axel continued saying, totally ignoring the confused expression I had on.

I dragged my eyes from him to land on the man I was supposed to marry and watched him smiling as he nodded, his fingers carefully wrapped around the glass of wine he had recently poured for himself.

Everyone was acting as though I didn’t even exist. I decided my life like it was theirs.

I dug my nails into my lap again to snap myself out of what I desperately prayed was a dream, but it wasn’t because, by the time I would sprout my eyes open again, I was still sitting here, hearing them have their absurd talk.

Soon, their words started to fall into oblivion as different scenarios moved around me, my mind drifting to all the terrible things that could happen and an image of me ending up old and lonely flashing right in front of me, causing tears to sting the back of my eyes but I don’t let them out.

The rest of the dinner passed by quietly, and I kept drifting in and out of their conversation while playing with my food because, for a well-known reason, I had lost my appetite.

I watched Maverick pour himself another drink and then bring it close to his lips, and the thought of having to kiss those lips made me cringe.

Help me!

I mumbled in my head as I prayed that someone or something would magically whisk me away from her.

Maybe my Mr. Right.

Only now, that dream was about to be tarnished.

I sighed heavily and squeezed my eyes shut for a while.

****

I was back in my supposed room, rolling on the bed for the umpteenth time as the sleeping god refused to visit me. Every single time I managed to close my eyes, I would find myself walking down the aisle with my face wrinkled and my skin pale only to find my ‘to-be husband’ laying in a coffin, dead, and then the priest would pronounce us husband and wife then ask that we kiss. I jerked back into consciousness every time I got to that part. For an unknown reason, I would wake up with a weird feeling spreading through me to the tips of my fingers.

After fifteen failed attempts to sleep, I eventually decided to take a stroll around the house. It wasn’t like I could run away even if I wanted to because this place was well-guided, and I was sure that Axel must have ordered them not to let me out.

Another reason I wasn’t about to run away was because I had nowhere to go. The street wasn’t as fun and calm as it looked; it was tougher out there, and I knew that.

I heaved out another sigh and stared at the bright moon and the beautiful little stars stuck with it while wondering if my Father was looking at me right now and wondering why I was so weak.

“You are a brave girl, Katie. Act like one.” He would say to me every time I came back from school bruised because of the endless bullying.

But one time, I retaliated and ended up wounding Maggie. I could still remember the smile he had on me as he ran his palm over my head.

I squeezed my eyes shut briefly as tears stung the back of my eyes before drifting apart to look at the space ahead of me. The chilly breeze hit me gently on the face and sent me to gnash my teeth a little.

I was hella freezing, but I still wasn’t willing to go in and then come out. That would feel so weird.

I rubbed my palms together to provide heat, then placed it on my cheeks.

“And you are?” I heard a deep masculine voice ask from behind, and I fidgeted badly.

My head turned to look his way.

Axel!

Letting out a breath, I looked away.

“You shouldn’t sneak on people that way. Did your Father teach you nothing about manners?” I let out, even though I knew I sounded a little too rude.

I could feel his gaze hot against the back of my neck, but I still didn’t turn to look at him.

“And did yours forget to teach you not to talk to strangers in that manner?” He said, and I almost scoffed out a laugh.

Stranger!

He didn’t think of me that way when he was planning my entire life.

I heard him move from behind me, and soon, he was standing right in front of me, his body blocking the beautiful view of the night. I rolled my eyes so badly that they almost got stuck in my head as I formed my palms into fists.

The urge to land them on his stomach was so high, but I didn’t do it because I could tell that he would barely fill it. My eyes trailed over his chest, and it seemed broader and more ‘perfect’ as though he had hit the gym.

“I repeat, and you are?” He said and leaned in to look me in the eyes.

His Blue eyes look so warm and inviting yet dangerous. His scent hit my nose, causing my stomach to clench a little as a tingling feeling spread down my thighs. He smelled dangerous and evil, but I liked it.

He raised an eyebrow to remind me that he needed an answer. I hated that I had to repeat my name to him.

“Katie.” I responded and dragged my eyes away from his tempting eyes to look elsewhere, anywhere but his lower waist, because I knew my mind would play a ‘let’s daydream’ kind of game on me.

“Oh! The supposed bride.” He said scornfully, then laughed briefly. His laugh sounded like a fine tune in music.

Supposed!

My head replayed, but I didn’t respond.

“Let me guess.” He continued. “Did he promise you a house too? Or a trip to a fancy country? Or maybe a lot of cash.” He said, but I could tell that there was mockery in that.

“Huh!” That was all I responded with.

He dragged in the air and then straightened himself, a part of me hating that I couldn’t smell him anymore.

“You know, to marry my Father. I’m just curious to know what your price might be given that a young lady like you would settle for an older man like himself.” He paused to run his fingers over his hair. “The last one demanded a car, so let me know what yours is so I might pay you off.” He completed.

I dragged my eyes to look at his face to see that he had a smirk on.

“Is this how you go around, paying everyone off?” I scoffed bitterly as anger surged through me because I knew he was right. After all, all I cost was 300 bucks.

He laughed mockingly.

“Yes, especially if they have a price.” He informed pridefully, and I scoffed again as I squeezed my fist harder.

“Did anyone ever tell you you suck?” I said angrily and watched him shrug his shoulder.

“I have heard worse, so that sounds more like a compliment.” He responded.

I inhaled deeply, the air now mixed with his scent, almost knocking me off my feet, but I didn’t give in. I could tell that he had changed his perfume and his clothes, too, from what he had on in the morning.

Standing firm, I dust the invisible specks of dirt on my pajamas.

“Goodbye sucker.” I mocked with a forced smile on my face, then stepped away from him.

I continued my strides forward, ignoring his intense stare at me. I could tell that he was looking at my butts, and the thought of his tongue sliding over his lower lip as he did make my cheeks heat up.

He is an asshole, Katie.

I reminded myself, but I could still feel the effect of his scent on me as my pussy drooled a little more. I knew it was either him or the fact that I hadn’t had sex in a long while, and when I say ‘long while’, I mean years, long agonizing years.

“Let me know when you have a price.” He said after me.

His words caused my anger to mount higher and my pussy to drool a little more.

The effect of reading just too much of Rina. Because tell me why I preferred ‘assholes’ to ‘not assholes.’ That was how I ended up with Jackie for the first time, and according to his name, he had proved to be a jerk. My friend, Beatrice, had warned me, but I never listened. After finding him in bed with Beatrice, I promised myself never to do both assholes or guys.

I hated them.

Maybe that was why I felt like this was better. An offer in a place far from what used to be my home. A marriage with no love or feelings.

But all the same, it didn’t feel right, especially if the groom was of that age.

His words echoed in my head again, and I bit on my lower lip in rage.

But maybe he was right. Maybe I could take the offer and run away from here, as far as it would take me.

It seemed like a perfectly good offer, and the voice in my head kept telling me to go back and tell him it was a deal.

But I don’t because I didn't want to come off as being desperate.

One thing I was sure of was that we would meet again, and he would make me the offer once again.

By then, I would never say no.