CHAPTER 4: THE PROPOSAL

JARED'S POV

I watched as the door closed behind Stephen, and I sighed deeply. 

Even though it had been five days since I learned about my new secondary gender, it was still too difficult to accept. 

Suddenly changing from Beta to omega, it was like the universe was playing a game with me... and sincerely, it was baffling. 

Just a few days ago, I was still lamenting about how Kane left me for an omega...

Funny how things changed so fast. 

I rubbed my forehead and weakly fell back in bed. The room was filled with my pheromone, which was extremely relaxing even to me. 

The orchid scent seemed to have the ability to calm the mind... even the doctor said it was extremely rare and was a sensitive pheromone that could easily attract Alphas___, thank goodness Stephen was a beta. 

The door creaked open, and someone walked in. I lazily opened my eyes, knowing it was the omega doctor coming for his usual check-up.  "Good morning." I greeted and turned around to look at him. However, I froze when I saw the person staring back at me. 

His heterochromatic eyes were especially beautiful and captivating at the moment. He wore a black shirt and grey pants, giving himself a dominating but casual look. 

I stared dazedly. My nose twitched, and an unbearable thirst brewed in my throat. The comforting scent of Cedarwood, mixed with my Orchid scent, made my body hot, and my skin tingled. 

"Hello," 

His deep voice broke the stagnancy in the room, and only then did I return to my senses. 

I cleared my throat and forced my head away. "You. What are you doing here?" He wasn't supposed to be here. 

I heard footsteps, and turning to look at him, I saw him pulling a chair to sit beside my bed. "You shouldn't get so close," I warned. "I'm representing." 

He raised a brow, "I know." He calmly replied. "Which is why I'm here." He added. 

Oh?

"What does my representation have to do with your presence here?" My interest was piqued. 

I wasn't expecting to see him again after that night. Though I'd been thinking about him these days for some unknown reasons, it still wasn't very pleasant to see him so suddenly. 

He was someone who should remain in the past...

He pushed a card into my hand. "I'm Sterly Brighton, the chairman of ICE & WORLD GROUP. Nice to meet you, Mr Jared Dickson." He introduced, but instead of stretching his hand for a handshake, he tilted his head instead. 

His eyes remained fixed on me, cold and unfeeling. 

My body trembled slightly. My eyes widened, and I stared at him in shock and disbelief. Who in the country wouldn't know the biggest group and the number one wealthiest Sterly in the nation? 

Everyone knew the name, and many had speculated that he was an old man or maybe a middle-aged woman who detested being in the limelight... 

But I never would have imagined him to be so young. No one would. 

I swallowed hard. "So?" 

Why was he here?

He crossed his legs and relaxed. His presence alone exuded quiet authority. "I'm  here to propose a deal, Jared." He said, his tone calm and composed. 

I struggled to sit up in bed and looked at him. Interest flickered in my eyes, "What deal does Mr Sterly have with me?" A university orphan with nothing to his name...

Mr Sterly's eyes settled on me, and his lips curled up slightly, emphasizing his cold beauty even more, "Marry me, Jared." 

Damn!

My heart raced abruptly, and I could feel my body tremble violently, "Are you crazy?" I blurted out. 

Why would he want to marry me?!

His brows raised, and I could feel a hint of displeasure in his eyes. "I'm not." He firmly replied. His lips pressed in a thin line. 

Seriously, he looked like a wronged cutie. My fingers itched. I really wanted to pinch him. But then again, had he lost his mind?

"The truth is, you look a lot like my first love..." He trailed off. His eyes dimmed, and sadness clouded him. 

He lowered his eyes, seemingly hiding his pain. 

"He got lost six years ago, and I'd been searching for him ever since."

My lips twitched, "Do I look like him?" 

He raised his eyes, and our gaze met, "Exactly. " He sighed. "The only difference being your age and you being a lot fairer than he is." He replied. 

I sucked in a deep breath. My eyes dropped, settling on the card in my palm. "So, that was the reason you helped me that day, and even agreed to spend that night with me." I suddenly felt like laughing. 

It was ridiculous.  

I wasn't only dumped, I was also taken as someone else's substitute? Really, this month was my nightmare. 

I swallowed the lump in my throat and then raised my head to look at the Alpha, "What do you want from me? I'm not your first love and I honestly don't wish to be him." To hell with his damn story!

Sterly's expression remained the same even under my angry gaze. He tilted his head to the side and crossed his arms. "My family wants me to marry." His tone turned colder. "But I won't marry anyone except him." He added, "So, marry me. We will divorce the moment I find him..."

I flared up, "You must be..." 

"I will pay you per month. You will receive the same amount as a Director in my company, all your bills will be paid by me and after the divorce, I will give you 4% share in my group." He interrupted. 

My eyes widened. The curse was swallowed and my palm became sweaty. 

My butt turned and twisted in bed, my tongue swirled in my mouth and my heart lurched, but I was truly speechless. 

Thinking about how I had to juggle different part-time jobs, just to barely pay my bills, and with the search for a new apartment... "I agree," I mumbled. 

Sterly's gaze flickered slightly and he leisurely stood up. "Okay." He said. His tone a lot more polite than before. "I will pick you up in two days." He mentioned before leaving the room. 

Two days... wasn't that the very day I would be leaving the presentation center? 

Tsk, money!

******

I sat in the black, sleek car, eyes lowered, staring at the wedding certificate loosely held between my fingers, and my heart pounded erratically. 

I suddenly felt nervous. The whole thing was faster than I could ever imagine and it still felt like a dream. 

From breakup to marriage... It felt too unreal. 

I bit my lower lip and slowly raised my head to look at the Alpha beside me. His gaze fixed on the road, his suit impeccably wrapped around his great physique and his unusually handsome face had a hint of softness at the moment...

I waved the certificate lightly___ a tiny piece of paper that would describe my future.