Chapter 7: My Soul For $10 Million

༺RAYNE༻

I’m temporarily lost for words and I’m certain my face must’ve twisted in shock like a clown in a kid’s birthday party. My jaw slackens and my eyes probably look like they’re ready to pop out of their sockets.

“$10 million?!” I say in a squeak, my mouth instantly watering.

Mr Everhart nods.

I snatch the papers I’d tossed and begin skimming through them like a hawk. And then I see it written in bold—$10,000,000. How on earth did I skip this? That’s such a ridiculously large amount. I can’t believe he’s willing to throw it away just like that.

This marriage must really mean that much to him. He must be desperate or crazy—or both. But why me?

Mr Everhart carries on, still calm as ever. “And that’s not even counting the other perks that come with being my wife. Lifetime health insurance, a generous monthly stipend,” he pauses and then adds, “basically anything you want. All you have to do is be my wife for one year.”

My heart starts beating like a marching band. I bite my lower lip, thinking. I’m definitely not thrilled about becoming a billionaire’s human-pet but…$10 million? And lifetime health insurance? That’s no joke.

Only a fool would turn down an offer like this. And I’m no fool. As it is, I’m tired of my miserable condition. I can’t keep living off scraps and constantly worrying about my health. I’d probably turn into a beggar before I’m able to save enough of my salary to get comfortable.

Now, I’m being offered a staggering sum to play a billionaire’s wife. Would it be such a bad idea to just... give in?

I can’t help but wonder why Mr Everhart desperately needs a wife. My curiosity has just peaked. “What’s in it for you? Why are you doing this?”

“That information is reserved for my wife,” he answers monotonously.

My jaw drops. I stare at him, stunned. What kind of answer is that? He’s asking me to become his wife, practically making me his slave and I’m supposed to agree without even knowing why?

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“Not in the slightest, Miss Sullivan.” He brings out a pen from his pocket and extends it towards me. “A signature. That’s all it’ll take for you to find out. All the information will be yours the moment you become my wife.”

This man is unbelievable! It’s like he’s enjoying the fact that I’m torn. But if I don’t accept his proposal, where will I go? The streets? A shelter? I don’t have a lot of options. I consider my choices. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it’ll set me up for life.

Perhaps I should put my dignity, stubbornness and emotions aside. Be rational, Rayne! For once in your life, use your brains!

“Okay,” I muse, barely more than a whisper and draw in a deep breath. “I’ll sign.”

I snatch the pen from him and as I’m about to write my signature, his indifferent voice makes me pause.

“Just so we’re clear and on the same page, once we get married, you’ll belong to me. You’ll do what I say, when I say it. And you’ll be happy to do it,” Mr Everhart explains in a flat, matter-of-fact voice.

I stay silent.

“You’ll play the picture-perfect wife, happy and loving in public. And after a year, I will set you free with $10 million and a lifetime of health insurance.”

He looks at me without a hint of emotion, waiting for my reaction, possibly for me to counter or say something in protest. But I’m already sold. It’s not like I have a lot of options. This is the best choice I have.

Yes, I’m that desperate.

“Fine.” I write my name on the dotted line and hand the pen back to him.

This is it. I’ve sold my soul to the devil.

Mr Everhart takes the contract from me and eyes the document before tucking it in a briefcase. I watch him, speechless.

“Congratulations, Miss Sullivan. You’re only a step away from being legally mine,” he announces with an emotionless face. “

“Please promise me you won’t make my life miserable,” I say in a shaky voice.

He raises an eyebrow. “Miserable is such a strong word. And I don’t think your life can be any more miserable than it is now.”

Ugh! Is this what I have to put up with for one year? This man has been irritating me since we met. If he wasn’t so good-looking and so good in bed, I would’ve cussed him out already.

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m stating the facts. Besides, you don’t have a choice anymore. You belong to me now.”

Something tells me I’m making a very big mistake, that I’ll regret what I’m doing in more ways than one and for the rest of my life. But if I could come face-to-face with that ’something’, I’d give them a piece of my mind.

They couldn’t come through for me so how about they just leave me alone and stop filling my head with these thoughts!

I gaze at Mr Everhart and he returns the gesture. As I stare on, a million scenarios of how this deal of ours is going to turn out, plays out in my head. And I can only hope this ends well.

Now that I’ve sealed the deal with the devil, I think it’s only fair that I get my answers. Every single one of them.

“So, Liam, what’s in it for you? Why do you need a wife so desperately?” If I say I’m not shocked by the sudden confidence in my voice, then I’m a terrible liar.

Mr Everhart seems pretty shocked too because he’s looking at me, eyebrows raised and mouth half open. His features are twisted into an expression that suggests a bulldog who’s just been shown a mirror.

“First name basis now?”

I nod. “Yeah, I’m going to be your wife so...”

He smiles, the first real smile I’ve seen from him since we met. I wish I could tell him how gorgeous he looks when he smiles rather than the sour, cold look he wears like a second skin all day.

“You're not my wife yet. I can't give you that information just yet.”

“Oh, come on! I just signed your contract and I've agreed to marry you. The least you could do is tell me what I'm really getting into. What's all of this about?”

He stays quiet, his eyes locked with mine as if daring me to continue pushing the issue. And finally after a long time, he sighs.

“Alright, Rayne.” My name sounds so honeyed on his tongue. “Here’s everything you need to know about me and our arrangement.”

He starts to spill the details and I listen carefully. Apparently, Mr Everhart, I mean, Liam is doing all of this because of his grandfather, Lucas Everhart. I've heard quite a few things about that man before now. He's tough as nails, competitive and is the fifth richest man in the world.

I would say Liam gets his no-nonsense personality from him but he doesn't. At least not by blood. Liam was picked up from the slums and adopted by Lucas who raised him equally as his two biological grandsons.

According to Liam, Lucas keeps pitting his grandsons against each other so they don't take anything for granted and so they can strive to be the best. He'd given each of them a subcompany of the Everhart Empire to manage.

But it's not enough. All three grandsons want to gain total control of the Everhart Empire which consists of eleven multi-billion dollar subcompanies and makes up a whopping thirty percent of America's entire workforce, with assets totaling trillions of dollars.

Lucas has made it clear to them that he'd only give total control of his empire to whomever he finds worthy and responsible. Getting married will give him an edge over his ruthless cousins, like he calls them. And once Lucas sees how responsible he is, the Everhart Empire would be his.

“Wow,” I gasp, trying to process everything. This is deeper than I could've ever imagined.

“Now you know why this arrangement, this marriage means a lot to me. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win. Even if it means marrying you. You just might be the ticket to my throne.”

I swallow, a chill running through my spine and my gut. There's this glint in his eyes when he says that. It's scary, dark and cold and it screams hunger for power louder than a lion's roar.

It's a side of Liam I think I'll be seeing more often, a ruthless, driven side that’s been hiding behind his expensive suits. A side that’s suddenly terrifying.

What am I getting myself into?