Chapter two

Catherine 

“Good, you are finally awake,” I heard someone say.

“Why do I feel like I’ve been hit in the head with a hammer?”

“That must be all the drinks from last night,” the voice said  again.

I jerked awake and saw Kaden buttoning his shirt. “What happened?” I asked.

He turned to me. “You don’t remember?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“ I remembered. I’m trying to ask how I ended up in your bed.”

“Good, since you remembered, I need an answer to my proposal.”

“That does not answer my question,” I  mumbled to myself. Grabbing the bedpost, I stood up on shaking legs. “ I’m not looking forward to another marriage, Mr Mitchell.” I said, looking around for my things.

“Don’t you want to get back at your ex husband, Catherine?”

I clenched my fists, nails pressing into my palm. “How did you know about that?”

“Does it matter?”  He  prodded toward me, his hands in his pockets. “If I were duped out of my birthright, I would fight back, wouldn’t you, Catherine?” He asked coldly.

A flicker of unease settled in my chest as I locked eyes with him.  “That’s what I thought,” he said calmly.

“My people will draft the contract agreement and send it to you.” 

“I never agreed to any marriage proposal, Mr. Mitchell,” I snapped.

“No, you didn’t, but you will.” He kissed my cheek. “I will meet you again, wife,”

“I’m not your wife.” I shouted.

 He smirked. “Three days, Catherine, no more than that,” he said,leaving. “And I don’t take no for an answer.”

******

“How the hell did this happen, Cat?” Elena asked angrily. She had rushed to my house after hearing the news of the company.

“What’s this I’m hearing about Dean being the chairman of the board, and Samantha as his wife? make it make sense.”

I exhaled as I dropped onto  the couch, throat tightening, I  told Elena what had happened between Dean and me.

“What!” She yelled. “Catherine, we have to report him. He drugged you and made you sign  your company away.”

“I don’t have any evidence, Elena. He planned everything thoroughly.”

“What are we going to do now? You can’t let them take away your family’s wealth.”

No, he won’t, I said to myself. I won’t sit back and watch my family’s empire fall into the hands of another. Even if I have to make a deal with the devil.

With Elena gone, I kept pacing around wondering what to do. My phone keeps buzzing with messages, but I just stared  at it dumbly. My aunt Yelena had  at least called ten times.

A bang on the door brings me out of my haze. I opened the door to see Samantha standing there.

“What do you want, bitch?” I snapped.

“No need to get your pants all twisted up, Catherine. I’m here for the house,”

“What?  Are you insane? Get  the hell off my property.” I slammed the damn door in  her face.

“This house will belong to me!” I heard her shout.

I pulled out the business card Kaden dropped in his house and dialed the number.

“Hello.”

“I agree. Let’s sign the contract.”

Later that day, Kaden and I decided to meet up at his place.

I picked a short, sleek black dress and slipped it on. I left my house, slid into my car, and drove off.

I got to his driveway, killed the car engine, and took the elevator to his penthouse. The doors to his house opened, revealing a shirtless Kaden standing there with a cigarette butt between his lips.

“You don’t have to be half naked to get me to sign the contract. I already agreed,” I said, rolling my eyes.

He just chuckled.

“Sit. Let’s discuss the terms,” he said.

I sat, and he brought out the papers. I went through them and nodded. This is good. I agree to the terms except one.

“Which one?” he asked, dragging on his cigarette.

“You don’t expect me to be celibate for two years, do you? I’m still very  young. No, thank you.”

“And I don’t expect my wife to be with different men while we are married,” he snapped. “That term is non negotiable, Catherine. My terms, my rules.”

I nodded. “Alright, Kaden. But tell me this, why me?”

He killed the cigarette and leaned toward me.

“Because I can, Catherine. And  you are the one I want,” He said calmly.

“That does not answer my question, Kaden,” I shot back, refusing to back down.

He took his time before he spoke.

“I’ve been keeping tabs on you since I first saw you at the gala a year ago, but you were married. I couldn’t make my move.” He leaned back. “But what happened, happened, so I decided to step in. I need a wife, and you need an anchor if you’re going to beat your ex at his own games. So  let’s just say, in a nutshell, I want you,Catherine.”

Heart beating fast, I stared at him.

“Now, sign the papers,” he said.

I picked up  the pen and signed them.

He smirked. “Now, wife, time to make our grand entrance as a couple.”