3. A Help

CENRIC

Something is off.

I knew it.

I could feel it in my bones. But why was I even surprised anymore? She was forced. Why did they also have to treat her terribly? I couldn’t blame her if she wanted to run away. If I were in her shoe, I had already done it a thousand times. Poor thing.

Nowadays, this awful tradition should be banned, but a lot of old-fashioned—those powerful families kept this tradition alive for their transaction purposes—to keep the family business running.

I shut my eyes close for a moment. Gritting my teeth was as painful as the twist in my stomach. They would pay for this.

Money could be earned and replaced, but the pain and trauma they had inflicted on her couldn’t be undone—it stuck in her brain like goddamn cancer. I knew how it felt—I’d been there. Even until now, I was still haunted by it—the trauma—the mental trauma was difficult to be cured. I just hoped she hadn’t gone that far. One broken person was enough in a relationship, but two? That would be too much.

I called my brother. As if he was expecting me, he sang my name, irritating me further.

“Who’s your inside man?”

“Who?” I knew he was messing with me. I could feel him grinning from the other line.

“Trust me, if you don’t take this seriously, I’m going to beat the hell out of Jasper—” I checked the time on my watch. “In less than thirty minutes, and I will drag her with me, whether it would cause havoc between Hanslo and me, I don’t give a fuck! They’re the ones who are in deep debt, not me.” My eyes gleamed against the reflection on the glass wall.

“Wow! Since when do you care?”

I growled. “Casimir?”

“Fine. Jeez, you’re grouchier. How did you even know I have someone inside. Don’t answer that. I’ll send the contact to you now.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Just glad you care.”

“Bye.”

I didn’t want her to get in trouble with her brother again than she already had. As much as I hated this arrangement, I made sure to keep up at the end of the bargain.

I called the contact as soon as I received it.

The second I heard her voice again, instead of making me feel angrier and unapologetic, she made me feel relieved.

Her tone seemed to relax as she talked about her failed plan.

And then the asshole that I was. “I don’t want to get married.” That was honest to the fault answer. At least, I wasn’t yet ready, and I hadn’t found my choice of bride. But maybe we could work this out. So long as she would not be a constant pain in my ass.

“So did I.” Her admission definitely didn’t surprise me. And so was her honesty. At least there was something I liked about her. “So, maybe we can talk about this before we both regret it.”

“No. And you promise to be there.”

“Aye yay, captain." I could even see her saluting at me. "A promise is a promise. Unless my father or my brother would poison me before our wedding.”

I blew out a breath. I knew she was joking, but it just validated my suspicions. They did not treat her right because she was a woman who didn’t have a place in their business. For Hanslo, the only good of women was for fucking and baring their heir. That was why he abandoned his wife to choose what she loved to do than being his goody-two-shoes spouse.

“They won’t dare touch or lay a hand on you again. Did you hear me?”

“Then you don’t know my family, Cenric.”

“Then they’re about to know me, Sadie.” I grabbed my coat before I walked to my assistant. He’d been working for me since I started to make my way in cryptocurrency. Theo was reliable.

“I’m surprised you know my name, Wollf.”

“I know your name, your birthday, your favorite color.” That was a lie, but I was about to find out.

“Let me guess. Did you a background check on me? Guess how many boyfriends I have? How old I was when I lost my virginity?”

“Don’t go there, Sadie,” I growled. My voice raised. My outrage blurred into fury, and I saw a dark tunnel ahead. It was painfully obvious that this was the least topic I wanted to talk about. As much as I liked her untouched, I wasn’t a saint either. Knowing someone was touching her, giving her pleasure, it already terrified the living shit out of me. If this is how I started our relationship, then I fucking sucked at it.

I hoped I didn’t terrify her. “This is why I didn’t want to talk until we got married. Since we both didn’t have a choice at this moment, I’d rather not talk to you for the time being.” I entered my private elevator that headed up to my loft.

“You can’t make me bow to you or bend for you with your empty threats, Mr. Wollf.”

“We’ll see if that was an empty threat,” I snarled. “Keep in mind that you’re worth my twenty-five million dollars. You can work as my slut a hundred lifetimes. You won’t be able to pay your family’s debt,” I groaned, pissed beyond reason that I just used a fucking debt against her. She provoked me, and I didn’t have time for this shit.

I shouldn’t have called her.

“You’re right. Maybe I just pay it in hell.”

“It was out of line.” My patience started wearing thin. I swiped my card and punched codes to my penthouse.

“Is that your way of apology? I could get used to it, but it needs a little practice, though.”

I sighed in irritation. This woman didn’t back down. I didn’t know if I was to be thrilled or pissed off for her being strong. Her picture didn’t do justice—she looked innocent, classy, and poised, and I was like talking to her evil twin right now.

“I don’t apologize. Not to anyone, even to my future wife. So, suck up my attitudes. I won’t change a fuck. I just called to make sure you’re okay.”

“I get it. You said a thousand times, and I said a million times, that I won’t ditch you at the altar. Since I am now your property, you can just put a leash around my neck, or you might also put a mind control technology on me so that I will just do what you want without my objection.”

“You clearly like to talk, my asset,” I snickered. I couldn’t remember someone had retorted to me like this to annoy me. In our case, it amused me as much as I didn’t like to admit.

“What else do you want, my master, before I kill you in my dream?”

“Naked?” I froze a little. Too late to take it back. I didn’t know why I said that, but I was sure I wasn’t flirting with her. No fucking way. Maybe I just felt comfortable talking without a filter, just like her to me.

“Asshole.” I know, I am.

“Watch your tone.” I slumped to my ass on the couch and took my shoes off. I massaged my temple. This morning, when I woke up, I never had a plan or even thought of talking to her. Now, a few hours later, I was bickering with her and her filthy mouth—the kind that I dislike.

“You kept shoving into my face the obvious which, I’m freaking fed up, hearing it from my family every freaking day.”

“If you need anything, call Devin, indiscreet. If either of your father or brother lay a hand on you, call Devin.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Stop being a brat.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” she sang. Jesus Christ.

I snorted. “Bye.”

Before I could toss my phone aside, it vibrated again. Fuck me. Did she call me again?

“What is it, Sadie?”

“Wow! You two seem to get closer quickly than I ever anticipated.” Fuck. Me. It was Cas.

“I was just messing with you. She doesn’t have a phone, asshole.”

“I bet you wish she’s the one in the other line.”

“What do you want? If it’s not important, then I need to rest. I’m exhausted.”

“Sweet dream, brother.”

“I hate you right now.”

“I love you too.”

My phone dinged, and it appeared I received a message. 

You’re not what I thought you were. SADIE

Careful what you wish for. I replied

SADIE: Oh, I’m so terrified.

CENRIC: Are you gonna annoy me for the rest of the day?

SADIE: I was thinking maybe we should just elope.

I chuckled. 

CENRIC: Not gonna happen. You only get married once. At least let me make it special for you, even if you loath your groom.

SADIE: This is just a business deal. Why do you have to make it special since I am just a sacrificial lamb? 

CENRIC: I don’t want you and Devin will get in trouble, Sadie. Get some beauty rest.

SADIE: See you then.