2. A Game We'd Play

“This is what you want?! This kind of game you want to play with me, Kelmira?!”

Kelmira remained calm even as Corven continued to show his anger. The anger that Kelmira had predicted since the first day she makes the plan in her mind. There were two possibilities when Corven saw her with another man. First, feeling jealous because he felt Kelmira was the woman who owned his heart. Second, feeling like his 'toy' should not be touched by others because if so, Corven felt his pride fell to the bottom of the most shameful abyss. As for the possibility of jealousy, Kelmira was not so sure. Right now, Corven's ego was offended because Kelmira could be flirty with another man.

“Oh, Boss! Why are you so angry?”

Kelmira touched Corven's hand and made a pleading face at him. This was a tactic, remember? To make that billionaire feel important and powerful until he thinks like he was the only one in the world that Kelmira needed.

“You cunning woman!” Corven cursed as he swung his hand to escape Kelmira's touch.

“I know all you do is to keep my attention on you! You just enjoy playing with me.”

Kelmira took a deep breath before replying softly. “You and I have made a bet, Corven. Actually, I’m not wrong if I want to make love to another man. You have the same opportunity. You can have fun without me, and so can I. But you act like I’m the one at fault here. Besides, I haven’t even kissed any man on the lips tonight. Unlike you. You want me to stay clean from other men’s hands, but you? You left a trail of your saliva on another woman’s lips. Who is more deceitful here?” 

Corven moved quickly and pressed Kelmira's chin down quite hard. Kelmira didn't whimper in pain; instead, she demonstrated that she was more than capable of resisting Corven's actions.

“What are you going to do, Corven?” Kelmira said, her voice muffled by his strong grip on her neck and chin. “You want me to die by your hands, hm?”

As if that wasn't crazy enough, Kelmira wouldn't stop provoking the man that is really mad right now. She should have begged to be let go, not just made Corven even more upset.

Kelmira knew she was different from most women. If Rosalie knew what was going on in Kelmira's head, she would surely take her to a therapist. 

“Do it, Corven.”

Kelmira surprised Corven by intentionally tightening his grip on her neck. Corven immediately released his grip and caught her limp body, which was paralyzed by lack of oxygen.

“Are you crazy?!” Corven said angrily.

Kelmira smiled at Corven's panicked face. “We're both crazy, Corven. I love a man with a bad personality like you, and you want me to be with you when you can't give me love. We shouldn’t be together. I'm not important enough to you, Corven.”

Corven stopped Kelmira's words by kissing her lips. However, Kelmira quickly pushed Corven away.

“I don't want to get a kiss from your lips that have touched another woman!”

Corven was flabbergasted. “So, you just wanted to get a kiss from that guy you don’t know?”

“Stop bringing other men, because I haven't even tasted his lips once. Listen, Corven, I want to stop—”

Corven covered Kelmira's mouth with the man's tie, making Kelmira unable to speak anymore.

“I'm going to take a shower, and then we'll talk. One thing you need to remember: I don't want to hear about your resignation as my executive assistant unless you become my wife. Dare to resign, it's the same as being willing to marry me, Kelmira.”

*** 

Kelmira had lost count of how many times she had shaken her head because it was too difficult to understand Corven's constant desire for marriage.

“What’s really going on in your head, Corven? Resigning from my job is the same as agreeing to be your wife? Do you know what you’re talking about? You know that marriage is a very serious topic, right?”

Kelmira pointed at Corven's face, her eyes narrowed in accusation. “You want to get back at me. You want to take our game to the matrimonial level?”

“You're too busy thinking about your crazy games, Kelmira. What I want is for you to be my wife. To be completely mine. That way, you won't be able to go off with another man.”

“It's just you wanting to dominate me. You feel so challenged because you've found a 'toy' that's hard to conquer. Yes, all men are the same. You won't like games that aren't high-stakes.”

“I didn’t create this game. You played me, Kelmira.”

Kelmira nodded in acknowledgement without denying it in the slightest. “That’s right. I create any game between us. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘I love the player and you love the game’? That’s what I’m doing with you. I love you, the player in this game. Without creating it, you wouldn’t be attracted to me. Why? Because you can’t love me.”

“Again and again, you're only busy talking about love, Kelmira. When will the discussion stop dwelling on that?”

This time Kelmira tried to fully focus on what needed to be discussed, of course outside the topic of love.

“Tell me, what makes you want that marriage?”

“Of course, because there is no other suitable candidate than you to be my partner.”

As a woman who loves to use instinct, Kelmira knows that the reason is not honest from Corven.

“I’ve known you for over five years, Corven. And we’ve had sex thousands of times, which means we’ve strengthened our bond as you enter my body over and over again. So, stop trying to hide the real reason from me.”

“Fuck. Okay! I'll tell you the real reason.”

Corven seemed busy opening his cellphone to finally show a digital document with very complex contents for Kelmari to read.

“I'm just the child of a mistress who, fortunately, was born as a man. My status as a billionaire will probably disappear if I don't get married and have children.”

Kelmari was silent for a moment before she laughed. It was definitely a confused laugh that also cast doubt on Corven's statement.

“Stop messing around, Corven. We don’t live in a kingdom. You were born into a wealthy family, not a royal one. Silly excuses like this won’t make me give in to your wishes of marrying and becoming your child-making machine.”

Corven pressed the bridge of his nose and sighed uneasily. “I knew no one would believe this.”

“Yeah, who would believe all that? You're not a mistress's son. There's no mention of that in any American news forum.”

“That's because they killed my mother and paid the media to keep quiet about all these facts!!!”

Corven's scream and his very tense expression were a sign that the man was not lying. 

“Why did they do that?” asked Kelmira.

There was a part of Kelmira that felt this was an uncomfortable act. Knowing the dark side of Corven's life meant being willing to keep it a secret until her death. The question was, would Kelmira be willing to die for Corven?

Unfortunately, there was no turning back. Kelmira had nowhere to go with the secret she'd learned from Corven's own lips.

"It's dark. The reasons behind it all are so dark, Kelmira. I can't even think rationally enough to process it all."

Corven seemed to lose himself in a memory that Kelmira couldn't know how it was. So Kelmira stroked Corven's cheek to bring him back to his senses and speak calmly.

“Were you a witness to your mother's death?”

Corven's lips trembled, holding back a cry of his deepest fear. All he did was lean into Kelmira's embrace, as if he truly believed that only she could help him.

“I need a partner who can understand my every plan, Kelmira. I don’t need a stupid woman who’s busy demanding and whining at me. Every time you help make my schedule, take care of my meals when I’m drowning in work, every time you come when I need you without asking, when you stay calm when I’m facing a crisis at the company… I know you’re a great woman.”

That means Corven believes that every great man has an extraordinary woman behind it.

“I’ve never felt like you didn’t mean anything to me. I have plenty of proof that you’re incredibly important to me. If I said you weren’t that special… I’d be lying. Having sex with you makes me feel comfortable and I feel a deep connection to you. Even smelling another woman scent makes me upset and angry. You’re the only one I want, Kelmira.”

Kelmira wasn't simply flattered by Corven's romantic remarks. They came from Corven's intense efforts to convince her to marry him.

"What would happen to my child if he were born into your wealthy–complicated family? Have you ever thought about that? That child I give birth to will likely have no immediate influence on your life or your position as a billionaire who could be ousted from the Beaufort family."

"That child had a profound impact on me, Kelmira. Even before you gave birth to him, your pregnancy alone saved me."

Kelmira's brow furrowed deeply. "Corven, I truly don't understand. What is so powerful that you need a wife and children? You know, a wife and children aren't weapons. They're human beings who need your commitment as the leader of the marriage. Besides, being tools for you to maintain your power… that's simply evil, Corven."

"Kelmira, that's why I'm asking you to marry me. Be my wife, and you'll find out what crazy things happen within the Beaufort family. I won't explain further, why? Because you haven't said you agree to marry me yet. I'll tell you everything, and you'll know everything once you're officially my wife."

Look at how Corven still manages to control himself. Even after Kelmira's many probing questions, he's still persistent in his marriage proposal. Nothing can stop Corven Beaufort once he's set his mind to something.

"Give me the ring." Kelmira said.

Corven raised both eyebrows. “Will you marry me?”

“Are my hand gestures and words not enough to make you understand? Yes, I want to marry you, Corven Beaufort.”

Corven eyed Kelmira suspiciously. “Without asking me for any conditions?”

“I will give you that condition after knowing many things in your family.”

"We won't make a prenuptial agreement then?"

Kelmira stopped Corven with her index finger. “You’re coming to a very foolish conclusion, Corven Beaufort. We’ll still have a prenuptial agreement, just wait and see what points I’ll include there.”

Because after all, Kelmira doesn't want to be the only party who is harmed in the marriage.