Decisions

Chapter seven

“I’m ready.”

The silence that followed my words disturbed me. For a moment, I wondered if he had hung up.

Then he spoke again.

“I see.”

His voice was calm. Definitely not what I expected. I didn't even know what I expected. His voice was unreadable.

Not surprised.

Not excited.

Just… certain.

“You made that decision quickly,” he continued.

I looked down at the card still in my hand, rubbing my hand over it to see if the name disappeared.

“Circumstances change quickly,” I replied.

A quiet pause followed, then he hummed in response.

“ Are you sure about your decision, Miss Moretti?”

“Are you still in the city?” I asked, not ready to reply to that question.

“Yes.”

His answer came immediately.

“But not for long. If you’re having second thoughts,this would be a good time to say so.”

I let out a small breath.

Second thoughts.

I had a thousand of them.

But what exactly was waiting for me if I didn’t do this?

A father who had just taken my shares.

A sister who had stolen my fiancé.

A company that would soon no longer accommodate me.

“No,” I said quietly.

“I’m not changing my mind.”

Another brief silence.

Then he spoke again.

“Good,I’ll send a car for you,” he said.

The words caught me off guard.

“A car?”

“Yes, a car, miss Moretti. Will that be a problem?”

“ No… I mean yes, sorry, why are you sending a car?”

“We need to discuss the terms of the contract properly.”

My eyes drifted down the street, the cold wind brushing against my face.

“You assume I’m free today,” I said.

“You are,” he replied with so much confidence.

How was he so sure?

Something in my chest tightened.

“My schedule is actually quite full,” I said.

“ Miss Moretti, It will please you to know, I am aware you no longer work at your father's company.”

“How do you know that?” I asked slowly.

“I make it a habit to know things that might affect my decisions,” he replied.

That answer didn’t exactly comfort me.

“ And my whole life affects your decisions?” I ask carefully.

“ At the moment, yes.”

The certainty in his voice made it clear he wasn’t guessing.

“I’ll send the car to your location,” he continued.

I frowned slightly.

“You don’t even know where I am.”

“I do.” came his yet again confident reply

“Don’t worry,I’m not having you follow me,” he added. I could hear a smile in his voice.

“That’s very reassuring,” I muttered.

“ I just had people keep track of you after you left the hotel. Just make sure you're not falling off any staircase.” He said. Now I was sure he was making fun of me.

That somehow wasn’t better.

“You’re very thorough,” I said.

“I have to be.”

His voice softened slightly.

“My situation doesn’t allow for mistakes.”

That reminded me of our conversation. He didn't disclose the reason he needed a wife.

“What exactly happens now?” I asked.

“We talk,” he said simply.

“And then?”

“Then you decide whether you still want to marry me.”

I frowned slightly.

“I thought I already agreed.”

“You agreed to consider the contract,” he corrected calmly.

“I still expect you to read it.”

That surprised me.

Most powerful men I knew weren’t that patient.

“When will the car arrive?” I asked.

“ Two minutes”

“ Two minutes?” I repeated

“I told you, miss Moretti, I don’t like wasting time.”

I couldn’t help letting out a small breath of disbelief.

“You’re very confident for someone proposing a marriage contract to a stranger.”

“You’re not a stranger,” he replied.

My brows pulled together.

“What does that mean?”

Another pause filled the line.

Then Killian Montclair said quietly,

“It means I know exactly who you are, Jade.”

The words sent a strange shiver down my spine.

For a moment I didn’t know how to respond.

The distant sound of an approaching car broke the silence.

A sleek black vehicle turned the corner slowly, pulling toward the pavement where I stood.

My eyes widened slightly.

“Your ride just arrived,” Killian said calmly.

I stared at the car.

“You’re watching this happen, aren’t you?”

His voice carried the faintest hint of amusement.

“I told you I know where you are.”

The car stopped in front of me.

The driver stepped out immediately and opened the back door.

I tightened my grip on my phone.

“ Get in the car, jade. I'll see you in a bit. Whit that he dropped the call.

I was really doing this.