Chapter 2 Dangerous Man

Staring at him, the room becomes eerily quiet. Both were gauging each other. 

"That's the only way I could stop mom from pestering me" he shrugs.

"She loves you as a daughter, so better make it legal" he added.

"I can't believe you are falling into this kind of trick. For goodness sake Luther, you are not a high schooler to be bothered by such a threat" she chuckles while shaking her head in pure amusement. 

"She happens to be Chairman Helen Steel of Steel Corporation. The most arrogant woman, well, aside from you of course"  he sarcastically counters.

Unamused, she smiles sweetly.

"Then find a suitable woman who would jump into your bed and make her pregnant. Problem solve. Simple as that" she snickers before standing up.

"Where are you going? We are not done yet" he glares at her when she was about to leave.

"Your time is up, I only entertain clients for a maximum of thirty minutes" she casually mumbles before going to the ensuite bathroom to wash her hands.

"Wait, I paid one million dollars for your time" he angrily reminded. 

"You paid for my thirty minutes consultation. Regardless of the amount, I could only sit down with you for that period" she corrected with a grin.

Incredulous, he chuckles before fishing out his phone. 

"There, I transferred another million. Now, take a seat" he triumphantly declares, challenging her. 

Exasperated by his antics, she slumped back on her chair. She just slightly grasps the message of transfer from her phone before it went black. 

"Luther... I know you are rich and you could pay for my whole day. But I'm not the right person to solve your foolishness" casually serious, she faces him with clasped hands. 

"It would be on your terms, Arah. Just give me this peace of mind" he persuaded.

Remaining to be quiet, she just stare at him like he lost his mind.

"Fine, it would be temporary. Then if I find someone suitable. A wife material then we will divorce. While in this marriage, I assure you I won't take your time. You can do your usual stuff. I won't insist on you. I won't intervene with your schedule. I will respect your boundaries. I just need that piece of paper for mom and right now, you're the most eligible. And it would be your rules, Arah" he desperately explains. 

"You go to such lengths just to do this nonsense? I expect more from you, Mr. CEO. I heard a lot, acclaiming your shrewdness in the business world. What happened to that man? Why so irrational this time?" unbothered and unconvinced, she responded with a sly smile. 

"Don't you dare make me beg you, Amara Rechner!" upon hearing her tone, his mood changed.

"And don't you dare threaten me, Mr. Luther Steel" she replied with the same intensity. No one even the man in front of her could intimidate her.

With their locked fierce gazes, they duel in silence. One trying to dominate the other but no one is winning. 

"I don't need a woman right now. Well, I need a cunt, but not a serious relationship. I need a piece of that bullshit marriage contract. I'm getting tired of explaining, Amara" he mutters with a clenched jaw. 

"And you decided to pester me with your ridiculous proposal?" she counters.

"Because you are the perfect person I need. Someone who doesn't care about my money, my status, and everything on my entire agenda. Someone who will not be bothered not to see me the whole day, the whole week...months, or even years. Someone who doesn't care about everything around her including a missing husband as long as she has patients to attend to" riled by Arah's lack of concern over his plight, he exasperatedly exclaims. 

"I'm not like that!" a sudden protest rise in her gut. She doesn't agree she was that negligent. 

"Believe me, Arah, you're like that" dismissing her protest, he insisted. 

"And you are exactly what I need. I need your deliverance, so, please. I'm too busy to have a wife now if it's not you. You know what I mean. There is no way you will bother to know what I'm up to unless I'm dying" he smirks while she exasperatedly rolling her eyeballs.  

Though seething with irritation for the man, she has nothing to counter. She has been overly focused on her career, the reason she is the top-notched Dermatologist in the country today. Clients would wait for months to have an appointment with her. A sought-after doctor of socialites and famous personalities. 

Relationships in any form are out of her agenda. She doesn't have time for it. A day with twenty-four hours seems to be not enough for all the things she wanted to accomplish. More so having someone who will just bombard her with her lack of time. 

Heaving a sigh, she intently stares at the desperate man. Luther is the ruggedly handsome type. A day or two-day-old stubbles cover the lower half of his face making him look ruthlessly dangerous. His red thin chiseled lips have the kind of naughty promise for endless pleasure. Not to mention the sharp gaze of his almond shape deep-set blue eyes paired with the perfectly crafted nose. His face already screams of superiority. A total package. 

His athletic build, handsome face, the power, and influence he bears, and a fat bank account conclude everything. Needless to say, he is beyond perfection.  A dream guy for everyone. For her? She refuses to acknowledge. 

Heaving a sigh, she pursed her lips. A mannerism whenever she is in deep thought. 

Despite how brilliant her mind could be, there is a part of her that agrees with the ridiculous scheme Luther wanted to pull out. The dumb side of her is winning. And no matter how she convinces herself of the absurdity of the idea, she is actually considering it, to her aghast. 

Well, there's no harm in helping the jerk once in a while. Anyway, he knows how to respect her boundaries. She will not be threatened. 

To her dismay, she seems to have no control of herself today and a part of her has been fervently convincing herself to agree. 

"I will have my own space and no physical contact. I mean...the sex part of marriage. No commitment whatsoever. No demands of any form. I am not an actress, so, no lovey-dovey set up in front of the public, we are not youngsters and it's cringy. Do your thing and I will do mine. Since this is your scheme, it's your full responsibility to protect this so-called marriage. I won't have issues with other men, but since you love to date and fuck around, be discreet. Because I won't be defending your ass once rumor comes afloat. You're on your own to face mom" she mutters while looking straight into Luther's eyes.

"Deal" readily, he agrees. 

Raising her brows, she suspiciously stares at him. She wasn't expecting his quick agreement.

"Most importantly, I'm not meek so don't expect a coy wife. I will have a voice equal to yours, I don't like being dictated" she added with a smile.

"Don't worry about anything, just sign the marriage contract. And I've known you for more than eight years, Arah, no need to remind me" relieved by her agreement, he winks at her. 

"Just don't fall in love with me. But if you did, just tell me and we will make amends for your terms. That would be understandable. Especially the sex thing, it's better than masturbating alone. I could do it better, I assure you" his sly smile added to her irritation. 

"Shameless. Now out. My patient has been waiting for hours now" she stands and gestures to the door.

"Such a great treatment for your future husband" he snickers before standing up. 

"I will be back later with the marriage contract" he announces before heading towards the door. Leaving Arah with a raised brow.

"In a hurry?" she sneers at the leaving man.

"You might change your mind. I won't take chances. It already cost me two million dollars for a less than an hour discussion" he replied without turning back to look at her. His two hands were already inside his pockets. 

"You're filthy rich! Losing a few million won't hurt you" she loudly retorted.

"Yeah, I know. See you later, wifey" he playfully responded before disappearing from her sight.  

Staring at the empty door, she was surprised when a smile carved her lips. Upon realizing what she was doing, she tries to stop herself by biting them. There was nothing funny with the situation but she was somewhat amused. 

She has been tolerant with the Steel brothers but never indulgent, until today. And she doesn't know what comes into her to have agreed.

"What mess did you put yourself into, Amara?" she whispers to herself, blankly staring at the wall across from her.

Slumping on her chair, she massaged her nape in frustration. Why did she agree with such foolishness? She repeatedly asks herself but could not find the answer. 

Or she doesn't really want to find the answer. She is not yet ready...to be honest. 

"Luther Steel is a dangerous man, Amara. He could break you in no time" she continue to talk to herself while slumped on her table. 

She was never worried about a waiting patient. Though the clinic's other services were unhampered, the moment Luther Steel set foot on her territory, she had instructed her secretary to cancel every appointment she has today. However, the reason for attending to patients is her only escape from the shameless man.  

After the exhausting bantering, all she needs is to be alone in her thoughts. She has a lot to think about and she has to start right away. 

She had mindlessly put herself on a dangerous path she had been trying to avoid. 

Her impulsiveness today would surely cost her a lot...really a lot.

Like eight years ago. 

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