A Marriage Of Necessity

Natalie Waesmer sat in her dimly lit apartment, the silence interrupted only by the soft hum of the refrigerator and muffled music from the party three doors to her room's left. Her fingers mindlessly traced the rim of her cup, the coffee inside long gone cold. She glanced at the clock. 2:17 AM. Sleep seemed almost nonexistent lately, her mind unable to escape the constant fear and anxiety brought on by her ex, Vesper Stout, the owner of the bar she frequented and whom she thought was a good man. Natalie buried her face in her hands as she frowned at the gradual decline of her life solely because she loved a man. Or thought so, at least.A sudden, sharp knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts and back to reality. Her heart raced as she approached the door, her mind preparing her for the worst there is, hesitating for a moment before looking through the peephole. Will it be another argument, another call for help, another need to move? Relief washed over her when she saw Lars La

Lars led her out, and they made their way to his study. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, struggling to shake off the sense of unease. This was the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one filled with uncertainty and risk, one that would change everything, as in everything. Inside the study, a man in a vest was sitting on a chair, a glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He placed both down upon seeing them.“I'm Marcus,” he introduced himself, standing up as he nodded. Natalie smiled at Marcus as she and Lars sat down on the opposite side of the polished mahogany desk. She immediately felt how imposing Marcus was, and every bit of him was as intimidating and classy as Lars.His jet-black hair, much like Natalie's, was meticulously groomed to a slicked back. He wore a tailored charcoal suit that fit him perfectly, paired with a crisp white shirt and an ash silver tie. Despite the smile, Natalie sensed the coldness in his gaze, like steel hidden beneath velvet. His ey

With her plate of pizza and glass of wine in hand, she returned to the dining area and settled in one of the chairs. She savored each bite of the square pizza and the rich red wine. She was lost in thought, the weight of the day's events heavy on her mind, when a sudden shadow loomed over her. Natalie turned around quickly to find Lars standing behind her. He looked slightly disheveled, his usually pristine appearance softened by the loose polo shirt he wore, untucked and relaxed. His suit jacket hung casually over one arm, and the tie loosened at his collar. For a moment, they both stood frozen. It was obvious that they weren't expecting to see each other at such a time, at such a place, and at such a state. Lars's face then broke into a slow, warm smile as he took in the sight of her.“Natalie,” he said gently, his voice breaking the silence. “Are you only eating now? I thought I ordered the staff around to prepare you one much earlier.”Surprised by his sudden presence, Natalie too