005

Katherine's Point of View

The tension in the room was crushing, except for the barely audible whinny of the surveillance cameras I'd noticed yesterday evening. Kai had, obviously, not been secretive in his aim to track my every action. 

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the heavy oak door that had been my cage for the past few days. My mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of memories I didn’t have. How had I ended up in that warehouse? Who had left me there? And most importantly, why was he keeping me alive?

The sharp click of the door unlocking jolted me. My heart almost leapt to my throat as the door swung open, and there he was, Kai.

He didn't say a word at first, only standing there, his imposing frame filling the doorway as a silhouette. His dark eyes locked onto mine, unyielding and intense, while I forced myself not to flinch under his gaze.

“Katherine,” He said, his voice smooth but cold. “Come with me.”

I hesitated, and, instinctively, I did not want to believe him. But what choice did I have? Gradually I got up and walked out of the room with him. Two guards kept pace with us as we traversed the dusky corridors, a constant reminder of being caged.

He led me into a luxurious sitting room, the stark contrast to the sterile confinement I’d grown used to. Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated the area with diffused light, while a heavy scent of leather and expensive perfume hung in the ambience.

Kai beckoned me to sit on one of the cool, black sofas. I complied, though every muscle in my body remained tense. He came down to sit next to me, and poured himself a drink of what appeared to be whiskey. He didn’t offer me anything, of course.

“I've decided," He said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “One that involves you.”

I crossed my arms, my gaze narrowing, “Let me guess. You’re finally going to let me go?”

His lips curved into a faint smirk, “Not quite.”

I leaned back, trying to mask my unease, “Then get to the point.”

Standing up, he put the glass on the black centerpiece and leaned forward, with his elbows on his knees, “I want you to marry me.”

I blinked, certain I’d misheard him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me," He said, his tone devoid of humor. “I need a wife, and you’re the perfect candidate.”

I stared at him, searching his face for some sign of this being some kind of joke. But Kai didn’t joke.

“Why on earth would you think I’d agree to that?" I demanded.

His gaze was steady, calculating, “Because you don’t have a choice.”

I laughed, a bitter, hollow sound, “Oh, so this is just another form of imprisonment? A new way for you to control me?”

"That's just not how it is," He said, his tone gentle yet edged with steel. “This isn’t about control. It’s about survival—yours and mine.”

“Survival?” I repeated, my disbelief growing. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Kai got up and started to walk, his motions regular like a predator moving towards its victim, "The people who abandoned you in that room didn’t do it by chance, they wanted you dead. If they find out you’re still alive, they’ll come after you. Being my wife will give you protection. No one would dare to cross me openly.”

“And what do you get out of this?" I asked, my voice sharp.

He stopped and turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Leverage. An alliance. And most importantly, the ability to control the narrative. An individual in my circumstances, with a wife at his side, comes across, well, invincible."

I shook my head, incredulous. “You’re insane if you think I’m going to agree to this."

He moved towards me, dark eyes fixated on me. “I’m offering you a way to stay alive, Katherine. Refuse, and I can’t guarantee your safety. In fact, I won’t.”

The threat filled the space between us, dense and inescapable. My mind raced, weighing my options—or lack thereof. It was true; whatever wanted me killed wasn't going to stop. And as much as I hated to admit it, being tied to Kai might be the only way to stay one step ahead of them.

But agreeing to this? It felt like making a deal with the devil.

“Why me?” I asked, my voice quieter now.

He tilted his head, studying me. “Because you’re unpredictable. And because you’re already in my world, whether you like it or not."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. This wasn’t a proposal—it was a transaction. A cold, calculated move in whatever game Kai was playing.

“Alright,” I replied, keeping it together, despite the conflictions I had.

His brows lifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Fine?”

“Yes,” I said, standing to meet his gaze head-on. “I’ll marry you. But please do not assume that this leaves me at your disposal."

His lips twitched, almost into a smile. “You’ll find, Katherine, that I don’t play games. And if I do, I’d always win.”

"We'll see," I said, refusing to allow him to intimidate me.

For a moment, we just stood there, locked in a silent battle of wits. Then he extended his hand.

“Deal?”

I fixed my gaze on his open palm and for all of my hardwired wiring to flee, I did exactly that. But running wasn’t an option. Not yet. Slowly, I reached out and shook his outstretched hand, the weight of my decision settling over me like a shroud.

“Deal,” I said.

His grip was firm, his gaze unrelenting. “Good. The arrangements will be made immediately. Welcome to your new life, Mrs. Black.”

I pulled my hand away, my jaw tightening, “Don’t call me that.”

He smirked, turning to leave, “Get used to it.”

With the door shut behind him, I slumped back onto the sofa, thoughts whirling. I’d just agreed to marry a man who saw me as nothing more than a pawn in his grand scheme. However, if he believed I was going to be "taken over" and simply comply with what he demanded, he was wrong.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.