Chapter 5: Marry me?

Katherine's POV

"Hi" I finally managed to say after practically checking him out real bad. Gosh! I thought I had more pride than this! 

"Is everything okay?" He asked. 

That was weird. Why was he asking me such questions? It's not like we are best buddies or anything like that. 

"Yeah, everything is perfect!" I replied. 

Of course everything was not perfect, but I wasn't about to tell this heart breaker about how miserable I was right now. He wouldn't understand anyways so why should I even bother?  

There was a look on his face and I was pretty sure it was pity. I probably looked like a sad puppy to him in need of rescue. Like one of the charity cases his family always supports to make sure they were on the good side of the people, to put up appearances, to clear their conscience. 

Well I was no charity and I was going to make sure that he understood that. I glared at him for no actual reason and I could not even understand why I was getting really angry right now. 

"Okay, if you say so, but can I please come inside? I don't want to get scorched out here," he said with that smirk on his face. 

Haha, funny. 

Gosh! The audacity of this man! 

Still I could deny that he looked dangerously handsome! However a handsome face would not hide his character and I was just infuriated at how so sure of himself he looked right now. 

Still I made way for him to pass and closed the door with as much gentility as I could muster. I didn't want him to see that he got to me so much. 

He made bold strides into my home, his judging eyes scanning every nook and cranny. He was probably thinking about how cranky and old this place was compared to the mansion and exotic buildings he was used to. 

Shawn Blackwell was a man that had never known poverty or suffering in his life. His father was already a made billionaire before they gave birth to him so he was born with a silver spoon encrusted with expensive diamonds. 

"Nice place" he said, after his careful inspection. 

That took me by surprise. I wasn't really expecting him to say anything nice about my home but so far he has been acting nice, way too nice. 

The Shawn I knew and have heard of wasn't this nice. I had to keep my guard up but that didn't make me forget my manners so I just said, 

"Thank you Shawn, what can I get you?" I asked. 

"Uhm just water," he replied. 

I almost retorted "are you sure you don't want it sparkling," but I stopped myself before the words came out. He was acting nice so there was no need for me to act hostile, I just had to play along.  

"Alright, have a seat, I'll be right back," I told him. 

I motioned for him to seat on the sofa while I went to get him a glass of water. He made himself at home sitting down like a gentleman while my eyes never left his side. 

My emotions were all over the place right now and I was seriously confused about what to feel. At least thank God I wasn't really clumsy, if not I'm sure I would have broken the glass in my hand right now, judging how I was more focused on him than the task at hand.  

Finally I handed the glass of water to him and he let out a simple thank you after taking it from me and having a sip. 

He lips looked red and nice and absolutely kissable…. Oh my, what is going on with me! 

I sat down opposite him trying to play it cool but I was anything but that. I was the definition of a complete mess. 

"So Shawn," I began, "I saw what you sent but I'm afraid I can't accept it," I told him, getting to the point as soon as possible. 

I wasn't really one for small talks anyways so it was better to lay the cards on the table as soon as possible. 

He looked at me for a while, like I was insane. He just stared and turned away as if lost in thoughts. 

"Why?" He asked, now looking at me. 

His eyes made me feel uneasy so I tried to look at anything else but him, he knows what he is doing to me, he must know. 

"Well because it's way too much, it's way more than I want and honestly it makes me feel like you're trying to buy me and not just help me out," I told him. 

"On the contrary Katherine, I just wanted to help, that's it," he retorted. 

"But I don't feel… uh… it's too much, can't you see that it's too much," I said. 

"No I can't. I had someone run your account and I saw the debt that your parents left you with, plus your own personal debt and now you have to take care of your self and Freddie alone, so no, I don't think it's too much, if anything it could be too little," he said plainly. 

It took a while for it to dawn on me that he just admitted to practically stalking me or at least my financial status. I felt incredibly embarrassed. I knew he had the power to do these kinds of things, I just never imagined that he would do it. 

"I don't want it," I stated. 

"Even if you don't want it you need it and I'm not taking it back," he said. 

"Well I do have a say in the help I choose to accept, you might not think so, but I do," I told him as a matter of fact. 

It was annoying how he felt he knew what was good for me, like I was incapable of making decisions myself. He didn't know me and I was getting tired of him pretending that he did. 

"I know you do, but think about Freddie," he said. 

He was looking straight at me, watching me closely, daring me to oppose and I hated the fact that he was right. He knew he had me. 

Freddie was my only weakness and I would do anything to give him a better life. All the walls I built against this man gently started to crumble at the mention of Freddie. 

I wanted to give Freddie a life I never had, a comfortable life and Shawn Blackwell was offering me a chance to do just that. 

It was like we were having this very awkward staring contest. Him invading my small home, invading my world and totally dominating it. 

"I just want to help, Katherine," he said in the most sincere voice I have heard from him. 

I didn't want to accept his help but I had to. I had to remind myself that he was a billionaire and 10 million would mean nothing to him even though it felt like I could buy the whole world with it. 

So with utter resignation I said my most humble "thank you" to Shawn Blackwell. 

"My pleasure," he said, "A deal is a deal after all," he added with a smirk. 

Oh no! What have I gotten myself into! 

"What do you mean?" I queried. 

"Well, I told you I want something in return and that's the reason why I'm here, to tell you what I want," he replied. 

"And what could I possibly do for you Shawn?" I asked genuinely. 

I mean he was a billionaire and without his money in my bank account I had a minus in my balance, a big minus. 

I could not fathom what he could possibly want from me that he did not already have so I just stared at him, waiting for a reply but he was studying me. 

His gaze went all over my body and it was apparent that he was checking me out with those beautiful big eyes of his. Was it possible that Shawn Blackwell found me attractive?.... no it can't be, I should not flatter myself with thoughts like that. Then he spoke and my heart skipped a beat, 

"Marry me," he said. 

"Excuse me?" I asked, trying to tell myself that I didn't hear him well. 

Marry me!" He repeated. 

"Why? Why should I marry you? Why should I choose to spend the rest of my life with someone like you?" I asked. 

I already knew the answer to the question I asked but I wanted to hear him say it. 

I wanted those wicked lips to spew those words condemning me to the captivity called marriage. 

There was no way around this, if there was I  would have searched till the end of the earth to find it.

"Because you owe me and it's time to pay your debt." 

Those were the words I didn't want to hear. My heart skipped a bit out of fear. How could I ever say no when he was right. He was always right. 

I have decided to accept his help but I didn't know he would ask this of me, of all things. Sure the thought of marrying Shawn Blackwell had crossed my mind when I had a crush on him, but he broke my heart and those dreams with it.  

I stood up from the couch cause I wasn't comfortable sitting anymore, I tried to go to the kitchen counter but he just stood up and followed me.

"But you don't love me, you've said so yourself," I countered. 

I was facing him this time, I dared him to deny it, giving him my stare of steel…. Or that's what I tell myself. 

In my mind I looked vicious but to him I'm sure I was just like a cute puppy. Even as I stared at him, his intimidating 6 ft 2 inches height just continued to mock me. It didn't help that I was just barely 5 feat tall. 

"It doesn't matter, I want you and that is all that matters," he said with a smirk. 

I should feel angry, disgusted, infuriated but no. I was hot all over, falling more in love with this beast. Those possessive words of his sounded like the sound of music to my ears.

He must know about how I felt about him or at least have a clue, maybe that's why he was playing with my heart so cruelly. 

Gosh! Why do I always fall in love with the worst guys!