Devil’s Bargain

JASON’S POV

My lips curled as I watched her and her friend leave the conference room, deep in thought as the events that just unfolded replayed in my mind.

“If his legs don’t work, how do I know the rest of him works?”

I scoffed in derision. 

What the hell?

Like I would lie with her if I were paid a billion dollars. 

The familiar heat of resentment burned behind my eyes. The sheer audacity of her. 

My father finally finished talking with his minion, Christopher Brown.

That sucker had been in the family for as long as I remember and sometimes, the lines between professionalism and personal interests blur. 

He had become an extension of the family, always present at family functions and available at my father’s beck and call. 

At least he enjoyed the perks that came with it. 

Christopher gave me a curt nod before he exited the room, and soon enough, I was alone with my father again. The bane of my existence.

“I believe that went well,” he commented almost immediately after the door shut.

A scornful scoff escaped me. “You mean your plot to sell me out cheaply to this unsuspecting victim of your recent schemes?”

“You can mock the way I conducted the affairs. But I did this for your good.”

I laughed bitterly, my tongue whirling in my mouth. “My good,” I repeated, disgusted at the taste the words left behind on my lips. “That’s rich coming from you.”

His entire face hardened. A look I had grown to enjoy. It tells me that he is pissed. There is nothing that gives me joy than to see Mr. Morgan Monroe angry about something. 

“You might not understand the reason I did this, but one day, you are going to look back and be grateful that I did this for you,” he said, his face barely straight. It made me want to laugh. 

“Oh, please, father,” I interjected. “Don’t act like you did this because you care about your miserable son.” 

My voice was gradually rising, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before we continued from where we started before this pathetic deal was sealed. 

“Pimping me out to that criminal? Is that what I have to be grateful for?” I scoffed, my fingers curled into fists on my thighs. “The only thing you care about is continuing your bloody bloodline. You don’t give a freaking shit about me.”

His face remained impassive at my outburst. 

“I am not the one who decided to end his life rather than fight back,” he said, his voice low but no less intimidating. “I didn’t become Morgan Monroe, the name to be reckoned with in this country, by taking the coward’s way out of life’s circumstances.”

My lips formed a tight line as I listened to him.

“You made a deal with your mother and me when you decided to take your life in your hands, and I am going to see to it that you keep that deal before your time is up.”

His words were heavy and needed time to unpack. 

When I signed this deal with them a year ago, I didn’t know it would come back to bite me in the butt like a mad dog. 

“So, twenty million dollars?” I said, a dark chuckle slipping. 

My chest felt tight, like I was choking on the weight of my own worth being reduced to a number. 

“Is that what I am worth to you these days?” 

My laughter deepened, bouncing off the walls like a thrown ball. 

“And this moron you are making me marry? The thought that she would agree to this deal makes me hate her more. How stupid could she be? I would ask you for the moon if I were the one you approached with this.”

“Make a mockery of it for as long as you want.” he was already standing to his feet, and I had barely begun my arguments. “None of your snide remarks would get you out of this deal.”

“Deal?” I shot back at him, my disdain barely contained. “You call this a deal?” 

My lips curled with contempt as I held his gaze. 

“This is more like a devil’s bargain. Twenty million to convince an unsuspecting girl like her to bear an heir and marry a ticking time bomb like me.” I shook my head. “That’s low and cruel even for you.”

I could feel the crack in the composure he was trying so hard to keep as he lowered himself back to his seat, and I was bent on getting a rise out of him. 

“Tell me?” I sneered. “Does she know that I have just a year to live, or is that another clause you have kept hidden?” 

He didn’t respond immediately, his jaw set so tight I began to wonder if he had a wish to crush his molars to powder. 

“There’s no need to burden her with that information, yet,” he said, his jaw relaxing a little. “With time, she would come to knowledge of it. You don’t show the ram the knife before it is led to the slaughter.”

His words formed a funny image in my mind. 

“A ram led to the slaughter, she is indeed,” I commented with a sarcastic grin. “Besides, why be honest when you can manipulate someone into wasting their time on me?”

“You had a choice, Jason,” my father countered, his voice still steady but with an edge of exasperation. “Your time is limited because you chose it to be. Your mum and I…” He paused for an exhale, his hand rubbing the fine lines of his stubble to keep from bursting out. “We are still hoping—”

“Hoping for what?” I cut in, my voice sharp. “That I’ll have some miraculous change of heart? That I’ll suddenly decide to keep living this... half-life?” 

I gestured to my wheelchair, my frustration rising. “Newsflash, Father. That’s not happening.”

His taut gaze remained on me.

“And let’s be clear about something,” I continued. “No matter how many contracts you shove down my throat, I’m not changing my mind. And forcing this poor woman into this mess isn’t going to fix anything. If anything, it’ll make it worse.”

The room fell into a tense silence, my father shifting uncomfortably in his seat. 

“I can see that I have no say in this so-called deal of yours,” I said, exhaling loudly. “So this is me accepting my fate.” A mock grin adorned my lips, enjoying the reaction it was stirring from him. “I see you got yourself what you desperately desired then. A marriage for your sorry crippled son. Bravo, Dad!” 

He didn’t say anything. One power move that I had seen him wield over the years. 

“Speaking of decisions,” I continued, eager to show him that I had the upper hand in this deal. His face lifted, piqued with interest. “I have decided to return to the company and resume my duties as the CEO.”

His expression darkened once again. “Your cousin now holds your position in the company. What do you suggest we do to him?”

I rolled my shoulders. “Like I care.” I clicked the button on my wheelchair that helped with my movement, and slowly began to move away from him. “Do enjoy the rest of your day. You have earned it.”

***** 

Later that week, I was at the marriage registry with my new bride to tie the knot and make this dreadful union official. 

The car couldn’t go any faster than I wished as we drove back home after the sham show was over. 

I sat there in my wheelchair, looking every part the groom I shouldn’t be. Nice tux, lush tie, and a hair sleeked back, it became a part of my scalp. I could feel her pitiful eyes on me at every turn, her presence beside me suffocating me. 

What I would give to get very far away from her at this moment. 

“Are you going to ignore me like this the entire time we are married?” I heard her ask, her voice whisking me off my brooding and very dark thoughts. 

I turned, my eyes lifting slowly to meet her gaze. “What did you just say to me?” I demanded. 

“I said…”

My disbelieving scoff cut her off. “I don’t give a shit what you said,” I snarled. “What makes you think you could talk to me?”

She blinked, her lashes fluttering the way they did the other day in the conference room. 

“I… I”

My scoff deepened into a chuckle, and then i fell silent. 

Neither of us spoke for the next couple of minutes, our gaze locked on each other.

“I hope you are smart enough to understand the words I am about to say,” I told her, breaking the terse silence. 

I turned my gaze away from her, ignoring the incredulous look she just gave me. “I believe you are smart enough to understand that this union between us is nothing but a business transaction.” 

She gulped, the sound of her saliva moving down her throat prominent. 

“And just like every business transaction, there would be rules for this union.”

I ignored the snorting sound she made, pushing forward with my statements. 

“First and foremost,” I continued, my voice firm enough to elicit fear and trepidation. “You don’t get to talk to me. Ever.” I paused for effect. “You don’t speak to me unless you are spoken to.”

She flinched but I didn't stop. 

“Secondly, you don’t come close to me. I don’t care about the deal you made with my father. If you draw breath beside me, I will make sure you rot in jail, because that is where a criminal like you belongs.” 

I could feel her glare on me, but I remained unfazed by it. 

“And finally, I want you to mind your business when it comes to me. Mind your business and stay out of my way, and maybe you will be able to survive this joke of a marriage.”

She didn’t say anything. Not that I expected her to do so. If she had paid attention to all I said, then maybe she would realize that her opinion wasn’t needed. 

I exhaled softly, content with her reactions, until she opened her mouth. 

“I have some rules of mine as well,” she said.