Chapter 6

Asher

I looked at my watch. It has been hours since she left but I couldn't get my mind off our little encounter. As much as I had pretended to be in control, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or even saying. It felt as if my words and actions were guarded by a primal need to own her. I scoffed. I had tracked her all these while and immediately I had the opportunity, I had pounced on it like a hungry wolf.

I swiveled my chair, wondering what she must have thought of me to throw a marriage proposal at her. What was more shocking was her reaction. She went pale, almost as if she had received bad news. Most ladies would have jumped on the opportunity to marry me—most would jump into my bed if they had the chance. But she was different. I didn't know there was a woman who didn't care about my status or money. I had to change that somehow. I stood up from my chair and headed home.

It was a short thirty minute drive but I decided to stop at a bar. It wasn't an expensive bar, in fact, some would say it was below my status. However, there was something I liked about the bar, something I couldn't exactly put into words. I parked my car in front of the building and got down. The bar was a small building, build like a house—it wasn't giving the classy look of places I frequented, but it wasn't looking all bad either. 

A red flickering light stood at the top of the building and a sign that said ‘night bar'. I entered the bar, as usual, the bar was nearly empty. I had never met more than five people in it at a time. It always made me wonder how Jack, the bar man, kept the bar running. 

“Hey, Asher,” he said with his usual smile. “It's been a while since I saw you around here.”

I pulled a stool and sat across from him. Perhaps he was the only reason why I came here; apart from being the only one I can trust with my worries, he had lost his wife and kid a few years earlier and had also needed a companion since then.

“I know; been busy, right? he said, answering before I could. I simply nodded my agreement. “The usual?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

I watched him mix my drink and slide it across the counter to me. I caught the cup and downed the contents in one gulp. I slid the cup back to him, asking for another. He shook his head. “Didn't the doctor ask you to reduce your alcohol intake because of—” he shrugged. “You know what.”

“Fuck the doctors. I haven't been here in over a month; one shot won't kill.”

I watched him prepare the second drink and slide it across to me. “Gracias,” I said, snatching up the cup and downing its contents.

“So, what have you been up to lately? It's been a whole month or more,” Jack casually said as he cleaned the surface of the counter. Two of the five people in the bar said their goodbyes and left. Now there were just four of us.

“Getting married,” I muttered.

His eyes widened as he looked at me. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was horrified.

“No kidding, who's the unlucky girl? Tell me about her.”

“We just met, so I don't know much.”

“That's all you know about your wife:-to-be?”

“She's pretty, and she stole from me.”

“Wait, let me get this straight. Someone stole from you and you decided that you'd get back at her by marrying her.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“What if she kills you and takes over your properties?”

“To be honest. That sounds interesting.”

Jack shook his head as he went to serve another customer who just walked in. Soon, he returned.

“So, you're really going to marry someone who stole your money?”

“Yes.” I felt my phone vibrate. I removed it from my pocket and checked my caller ID. Miis Peter. She still had 1 week to decide. Had she made a decision or had she come up with a counteroffer? If she had reached a decision, it felt more likely that she was going to decline the offer. I steeled my nerves and picked up the call.

“Miss Peters, I wasn't expecting a call from you for another week.”

“Sorry to spoil your plans,” she retorted. Her voice was sharp, and it wasn't difficult to discern that she wasn't up for snide remarks, just business.

“What can I do for you?” 

“I've reached an answer to your proposal.”

“Okay. So what's your answer?”

“Yes, under some certain conditions.”

Interesting. I could tell that she had decided a way to ensure she profited from the deal. She was brutal when it came to business dealings, and it was part of the reasons why she had piqued my interest.

“What are these conditions that you speak of?’ I ask, sitting straight in my chair. Jack raised a questioning hand, wondering who had my total attention. “If they're fair enough, I'll see it granted.”

“Firstly, there should be no sex during the duration of the contract. I might be your wife on paper, but we are not married.”

I let out a small laugh as she spoke. “Okay, and what else do you want?”

“Well, since you liked games so much, I decided to add a little something to make it more fun. If you opt for a divorce before the duration of the contract is over, then you'll be forfeiting the 70% returns I proposed earlier.”

I laughed. I knew it. She was up to something and had successfully found a way to flip things in her favor. But that was only if she was able to get me to divorce her before 1 year. A small smile touched my lips. “Miss Peters, you got yourself a deal.”