Chapter 002

VALERIE 🎀

We were rivals but we have never crossed paths.

He'd steal my projects and I'd ruin his.

He called me Ursula on a live show , I organized a press conference and tagged him Dracula—the devil's spawn.

Everyone knew of our silent enmity but we've never met each other physically until —now.

I hate to admit but he looked better in person.

His jawline sharp, his piercing blue eyes and his body hugged In a three piece navy blue suit.

He stalked towards me like a predator circling it's prey and I took a step back.

"What do you want? I queried, my voice quieter than I wanted.

He grinned down at me.

"You."

My breath hitched.

What the—

"Leave us." He told Clara who was silently watching our interaction, her eyes darting between us.

"Oh,I ...."

She trailed off, pointing at the door.

"Stay," I ordered and turned to Zachary who was watching with his eyebrows raised.

I folded my arms and raised my chin.

"She only take orders from me."

He chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"I'm afraid whatever you want to say would be in her presence."

I tilted my head, challenging him.

His eyes glinted dangerously and his lips curled into a smirk.

" Sure, If you say so." he breathed and in one swift motion, his arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me flush against him. My hands shot up instinctively to push him away but his grip only tightened.

His breath tickled my nose and I could feel his chest rise and fall with every breath.

"Let me go," I said through clenched teeth, fighting to remain composed as my heart pounded against my chest. "Now."

" I..I think -uh- I...I should leave."

Clara stammered and his smirk widened.

"Smart girl," he drawled and the tip of her ears turned red.

I gaped at her in disbelief as she hurried out.

She didn't just leave me with him.

I shoved him hard and his grip loosened just enough for me to wiggle away.

"Touch me again," I hissed, "and I’ll make you regret it."

He only smiled, like he’d just been issued the most thrilling challenge of his life.

"Now," he said, his voice dropping lower, "I think we should talk."

"You can take your talk elsewhere."

I muttered dryly, not sparing him a glance.

He went on anyway.

"I have an offer for you."

I eyed him suspiciously.

"Marry me."

I snorted.

"What game are you playing?

"Marry me for a year."

My mouth hung open as I stared at him—first in shock, then pure, blinding rage.

My hands balled into fists, trembling as heat surged through me.

Without thinking, I landed a punch right across his smug face.

Zachary's head snapped to the side and my knuckles throbbed. For a moment, the room was silent except for the echo of my heavy breaths.

He slowly turned towards me, a red mark on his jaw glaring at me.

One corner of his lips curved upwards.

" You punch so well," He sounded amused and I blinked at him in disbelief.

" Yeah? I hissed. " Consider it a tip of how our marriage will look like"

He chuckled , " you amuse me."

I blinked, " were you accidentally dropped as a child."

" Why?" A smile danced on his lips. " Will that make you want me ?

" No, that would explain why you turned out twisted."

A muscle jumped in his jaw and I knew I had hit a nerve.

His expression hardened.

"Now, let’s talk about the terms."

"Terms?" I spat. "This isn’t a negotiation. You’re insane if you think I’m going to marry you."

"You don’t have a choice," he said smoothly, tossing a folder in front of me.

He leaned casually against my desk, his lips curled into a smirk as he watched me like an hawk.

I crouched lower and picked up the folder, my eyes fixed on him.

"What's this? I asked, eying the folder suspiciously.

"Why don't you see for yourself ?

I straightened and tore the folder open with trembling hands.

My fingers brushed against the documents and I scanned them, curiosity gnawing at me.

I froze and blood drained from my face.

My father's signature was on a dozen incriminating documents,evidence of embezzlement and tax evasion.

If these got to the wrong hands, they would ruin him and I might end up losing everything.

My heart caught in my throat and I glanced up quickly.

"Where did you get this? I demanded shakily.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pushed off the desk and closed the space between us in two slow steps. His height towered over my frame and I suddenly felt small.

"Does it matter?" he murmured, his voice dropping low. "What matters is what I can do with them."

"What do you want? I ground out, my heart racing.

He tilted his head, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"I already told you, I want you." His voice dropped to a whisper.

I looked up at him, my vision blurry. "You’re blackmailing me into marrying you."

"I prefer the term persuasion."

"You are a monster."

He smirked, unbothered.

" Of course, I'll give you time to think about it."

He leaned closer and I took a step back.

"But I must warn you…" his gaze dipped to my lips before finding my eyes again, "I’m not very patient."

I shot him a glare, my heart hammering against my ribcage as he searched my face before straightening up.

"Your time starts now, Ursula. Tick tock."

"Go to hell," I snarled, watching him walk towards the door, my fists clenched at my sides.

He paused, a dark laugh escaping his lips, and then, with a slow turn, his eyes locked onto mine.

"I’ve been there," he said, his voice low, dangerous, "and I’m bringing you with me."

The door shut behind him with a click and I felt my knees weakened.

I leaned against my desk for support, placing a hand on my chest to calm my racing heart.

What was that about?

But first, I need to find my father.

I stormed to his office and pushed the door open without knocking.

His head snapped up and his eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing here? He demanded sharply.

" I thought I asked—

I flung the documents onto his desk and his eyes only flicker to them for a moment.

"Zachary Wellington brought this to blackmail him to marry him," I seethed, my voice trembling with fury.

"How did he get hold of this?

He leaned back in his chair casually.

"Zachary Wellington, huh?" he mused, almost to himself. "Why didn’t I think of this sooner?"

My stomach dropped.

"He’ll make a good match for you."

My eyes widened. Huh?

"W…What?" I stammered, barely believing my ears.

"You should agree to his proposal," he said simply, a slow, satisfied smile curling his lips. "He has a lot to offer."

"I won't marry him," I said through gritted teeth.

His eyes instantly darkened and they narrowed into slits.

"Why won't you? We haven't recovered the shares that were pulled out because of the stunt you pulled," He said icily.

" I.. I can recover—

"You have no choice but to marry him,"

He said sternly.

"It would take me nothing to cut you off and leave you scrambling for crumbs."

My stomach dropped and heat burned my throat as tears prickled at the corners of my eyes.

"You wouldn’t," I whispered, choking on the lump in my throat. "I’ve worked too hard—"

"Try me," he sneered, his lip curling in cruel satisfaction.

______

I huffed as I made my way to the underground parking lot in Wellingtons corps.

If Zachary thought I would marry him without a fight, he has something else coming.

My lips widened into a grin as I spotted a sleek convertible in the space allotted to him. Splendid.

"I'm so sorry, you pretty little thing, but I hate your owner" I whispered to the beauty .

I fished out the knife I kept in my purse and went to work.

One by one, I stabbed the tires.The hissing sound from the slashed tires were like music to my ears.

As I made my way to the fourth tyre.

The car's alarm went off. Shit!

Flashlights were pointed in my direction.

I immediately took cover behind a pillar.

" Who's there? A guard yelled.

I'm screwed .

I slowly moved away from the car before breaking into a run.

Phew! I heaved a sigh of relief as my car came in view.

But I bumped into a wall.

A wall that has arms?

I slowly lifted my eyes to look at the supposed wall and my breath hitched as my eyes locked with Zachary's.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

" What are you doing?

"Nothing." a nervous laugh bubbled within me.

" Now, that's suspicious."

Just then, the security guard ran to our direction and I bit my lips.

" Oh, sir , it's you."

Zachary nodded, "yeah, is anything wrong ?

"Someone messed with your car and this Miss was the only one around."

The guard eyed the knife still clutched in my hand.

Zachary followed his gaze, and I could feel the smirk stretching across his lips.

"She's with me." He said smoothly, draping an arm over my shoulders. "She’s a bit dramatic when she’s upset."

The guard chuckled awkwardly. " Of course, sir. I’ll inform the others it was a false alarm."

"Do that." Zachary’s tone left no room for argument.

Once the guard disappeared, I yanked away from him.

"Let go of me."

"Not so fast." He pulled me closer, " let's go see your artwork."

He dragged me to his parking space and I winced at the damage I did to his car.

Whistling , he let go of me and inspected his car.

"Impressive," he drawled. "Didn’t know you had it in you."

I shrugged . "I aim to surprise."

"You sure did," he said.

"Too bad the security cameras caught everything."

My smile dropped.

He stopped inches from me, his voice a low whisper. "You just gave me leverage, Ursula . And I haven’t even put a ring on your finger yet."

I scowled. "You’re despicable."

He chuckled and stepped closer, his voice dropping to a taunting whisper. "Tell me, Valerie… if this is how you handle stress, what are you going to do on our honeymoon?"

My cheeks flushed, a mix of fury and… something else.

"I never agreed to marry you".

" Yet." He drawled .

" Why did you choose me ?

"Hmm, let's see," he tapped his chin, as if deep in thoughts, " Because I don't want you unmarried for the rest of your life, so I offered myself on a platter of gold."

"Bull shit, we hate each other. Why would you care?

His playful smirk vanished.

"Because I want you."

I snorted, " you can have any woman you want . Why would you want me, we are rivals."

" I can have any woman I want but they are not you," His eyes gleamed as he leaned towards me, his hands in his pocket. "And I would do anything to have you."

" What exactly do you want from me."

I asked as helpless feeling washed over me.

" Why don't we find out?