Married for A Million Dollars
.Chapter 4: far from Ariana’s ideal type..“No. I can’t.” She shakes her head. “I can’t marry you. Even for A Million Dollars.”And although she would do anything to oblige her good friend’s wishes, a million dollars is a luxury that a poor person like her couldn't even afford to even think about.“No?” Williams repeats faintly. He narrows his eyes. “I wouldn’t refuse it just like that, Gillies. A million dollars is a shit ton of money that I know you’re in desperate need of.”Now it’s Ariana’s turn to clench and unclench both fists. “You know nothing about me, Montenegro.”The bastard shrugs nonchalantly. “Oh, but I do know enough. For example, I know that your dad died and left you under the water. You’re drowning in debt that you couldn’t even pay back with all your life. Your house is this close to being auctioned off. It’s six months behind mortgage and even though you saved it from foreclosure once last year, you won’t be able to save it again.”“Not to mention your own debt you’ve accumulated within the years,” he has the nerve to continue. “After your little getaway to that dance academy in the States, you were forced to sell everything you had to make a difference—not that there’s been any difference. It’s all still the same. And now here you are, surviving on your puny salary from this pigsty and depending on wealthy men who actually come here and give you better tips than the others. Nasty perverted fuckers, such as Javan, to get you by. But I bet they don’t pay enough for you to even last a day. ”Ariana’s cheeks flame furiously at the humiliating degradation. She hates the feeling of her eyes wettening and she promises to kill herself if a single tear is to drop.“I didn’t realize it was necessary for you to research every aspect of some—what did you call me again? Oh yeah, dirty-mouthed, violent, twenty-something diner waiter like me,” She mutters through clenched teeth. “I’d say I’m honored but I’m plain disgusted at how low you stoop to get what you want. How you don’t know what the fuck you’re saying, jabbing someone’s hardships right in their face as if they weren’t already aware.”Something near remorse flickers in his doe eyes before he scowls again. “I wouldn’t have to if you didn’t hypnotize my father into thinking you’re the perfect spouse or whatever. All I’m doing is pointing out the pros of this deal, Gillies. That’s how business works. You keep the cons to yourself, but it’s your choice whether you want to be blinded by the downsides rather than the benefits. If you agree, you’ll get what you need, and I can shut my dad up, and we all go home happy by next year.”“No, you’re the only one who gets to go home happy,” Ariana says. “Don’t think you’re doing everyone a favor, asshole. For one, you’re cheating behind your dad’s back and for another, staying married to you will only drive me insane and get me nowhere. Thirdly, take a look at yourself and how you keep downgrading your honor right now. Fooling around with your dad and playing dirty just to get a stupid title. That’s what it is at the end of the day,” She repeats when Williams’s mouth curves unhappily.“Just a fucking materialistic title. I don’t know about you, but I respect Walter with all my life. And I’m not going to plot against him, if not listen to him.”There.Her soliloquy is done. Although Williams has been looking utterly bored by the end of her speech, his eyes sparkle in surprise.And confusion.“I wouldn’t worry about other people’s conscience,” he says lazily. “Especially not my dad’s. He’s the one who made me do this shit, and we both know you’re the muse that inspired him.”Now he leans closer, gaze darkening into something dangerously cunning. “As for my offensive behavior, it’s up to you whether you want to take it as constructive criticism or not. That helps build character. I think a million dollars isn’t something you can deny, no matter your pride. At the end of the day, your pride isn’t gonna feed you nor keep a roof over your head when you’re out on the streets.”Before Ariana can open her mouth to answer, she’s yet again interrupted by a languid flick of Williams’s finger.“Don’t think I’m desperate enough to marry you or even agree to all of this. I can easily cut your face out of this deal and find an alternative to please the old man, but you know, this is easier and it’ll work for everyone in the end, including you. It doesn’t have to be messy, yeah? Just think with your brain and not your romantic heart or whatever crap for once. It’ll help you make better choices.”“As if you do,” She rolls her eyes. “I bet you don’t have a romantic bone in your body, Montenegro. Only the ugly desire to keep making more money.”Williams laughs out loud.His voice would’ve been melodic and lovely and free, if it isn’t for the harsh irony painting over the sound. “Oh, yeah. You’re right about that. I love making money, but I’m doing this to avoid conflict with my dad. I don’t like fighting over shit. And if you actually knew my dad like you say you do, you must know he’s seen better days.”Ariana purses her lips.He isn’t wrong. Even her coworkers notice Walter’s deteriorating health, and it isn’t a pretty sight.It wasn’t drastic progress, per se, but day by day his smile grows fainter, laughs sound tired, and eventually his body follows after.“Okay, but wouldn’t it hurt him to know we’re scamming him like this? He’d be so disappointed in me. He’ll never forgive that.”Williams looks affronted. “You know, I think I finally found out the reason why you’re so poor. You’re such a doormat. You could be doing great things but you keep acting based on what others think and not yourself. Is my father’s disappointment more important than a million dollars? God, Gillies, is that how you let your own dad treat you? Let him stomp on you and throw you into a debt you’re expected to pay despite having nothing to do with it, just so that he wouldn’t be disappointed in you?”“That’s a low blow. You are not going there,” Ariana warns, acid dripping from her tone. “Don’t you dare speak about my father that way.”He scoffs. “I don’t see why. He wasted his life away with liquor until he died out of alcoholism, and yet you’re still filial to his dead ass. Really? Aren’t you currently choking on IOUs?"“No one asked for your opinion on my dad’s lifestyle. Last time I checked, it’s none of your concern, so shut the fuck up. And Walter doesn’t deserve this. He’s a good man.”“And I don’t deserve none of this—this manipulation!” Williams barks. “Everything was going fucking fantastic until he suddenly drops this bomb on me and expects me to reorganize my entire existence to make room for a stupid spouse that I don’t want, let alone need. And it’s not even like I get to choose my suitor. I’m stuck with one person, you of all people. There’s so many socialites out there and yet he chose you, so I was bound to think there’s some good in you—but all I see is that you’re too immature, too rough house, too violent, too ignorant with your head high up in the clouds. You’re too raunchy in your tiny uniform and too much of a pain in the ass.”“I’m glad we can agree on one thing,” Ariana mutters. “That I’m not the perfect spouse. The perfect spouse for you, that is. I’m too hot, too kind, too generous and too righteous to be matched with some douche. I’m too pissed off at you to even consider spending a whole year of my life with you, much less breathe the same air as you.”Williams’s eyes glint ferociously. “Ariana Gillies—”“That’s it, your ten seconds finished ten minutes ago, Montenegro. I’m done. I’m out of here. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got shifts to cover,” She announces, and leaps over the counter and lands on the other seat, where she escapes, the flimsy white shirt clinging onto her sweaty body as she crawls out of the booth.Williams makes no move to stop her.As she walks with her back turned to the counter, she forces herself to forget this whole conversation.Forget the face of the man she fantasized for years, and forget the million dollars he offered her in becoming the one thing she’d rather die hungry than be—his lawfully wedded wife.Ariana walks away, only because she doesn’t want to do something that’ll cause her to regret for the rest of his life.She was furious at him minutes ago, but now that there’s a good distance between them, her shoulders slump at the thought of Williams taking one of the few things that gave her hope—the hope of him being the type of man she wanted to love and admire from afar.Williams Montenegro turned out to be far from Ariana’s ideal type.In fact, he’s the exact opposite—someone who let her down.And thats what stings Ariana the most..TBCMarried for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 5: a temporary ring and surname..The first thing Ariana wakes up to the next morning is a notification popping up on her browser saying she’s lost her internet connection. After reloading the page a few times and troubleshooting the issue, Ariana realizes it’s not something she can easily fix.“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” She groans, burying her face into her hands.Since it’s her day off today, she treated herself to some extra sleep before getting up at twelve and snacking on a biscotti she picked up from the display case at work last night. She planned to finally sit down on her laptop and browse through some job listings within the area for the extra money. Her shifts at the diner wasn’t enough for her to live by, even if pay day is around the corner.Ariana checks her connections and reboots the power modum once more before grabbing her cell phone to contact her internet service provider. She didn’t have cable nor a proper phone plan,
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 6: close call and a save .“Come on, Ari,” Harold croaks, his lips upturned into a smirk. For every step Ariana takes backwards, the man only takes two steps forward in response. “What’s a few minutes going to do you? You’ll make some time for your generous customer, won’t you?”Ariana’s hands delve into her back pocket. “Look, if you want your money back, then you’ll get your money back. Just stay away from me.”It looks like what little control she believed she had over the situation quickly dissipates into the air as the lascivious glint in Harold’s eyes darken.He’s approached so close that Ariana stumbles into the cold surface of the dumpster. That’s when she yanks the money out of her pocket and tosses it at the man.“Okay, here. Take it.” The bills flutter to the ground. Harold makes no move to retrieve them.Whatever color’s remaining from Ariana’s face has drained.Harold chuckles. “If it’s money you want, Ari, then that’ll be arrange
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 7: paid to marry the heir .Williams raises a brow. “But you will to people like Harold?”“I’m not a whore!” Ariana yells, and before they both know it, there’s a smack against skin and the result is Williams palming his flushed cheek in mute anger.Jaw dropped at her feat, Ariana quickly lowers her stinging hand and forces herself to meet Williams’s furious gaze.They stay like that for a whole minute, staring at each other in seething silence. The apology on Ariana’s lips washes away almost immediately.Finally, Williams dangerously enunciates, “If it’s marital sex that’s bothering you, then I suggest you forget about it. I’m not interested in sleeping with you whatsoever. On the other hand, since I’m paying you to play my loving wife, I expect complete loyalty on your part.”“And I bet you expect the exact opposite from yourself,” Ariana rolls her eyes.“Of course,” he says without missing a beat. “But I’ll obviously be lowkey. I don’t wan
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 8: call me by my first name . “This isn’t signed,” Williams remarks as he goes over the contract. “Not yet. Had some alterations I wanted to get back to you with.” Ariana sets down her fork. “I want the payment divided in five installments. First two hundred thousand on our wedding night. Then the second part four months later and the third part two months after, and the remaining at the end of the year. The personal expense thing is fine, but I want a separate bedroom for myself, a charity budget, and a scholarship to any academy of my choice. If I happen to die before the contract expires, the rest of my payment should be donated to the charity listed on my will. If you die, I have the right to be paid full by your estate without adhering to the contract.” She doesn’t notice Williams leaning over her as she leafs through each section. When Ariana glances up, startled at his presence, Williams sits back and shrugs. “Sounds good to me. But
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 9: all for the money . “You need new shoes.”They had just stepped onto the curb where Williams’s sleek black Mercedes was parked waiting for them—from the looks of it, it was probably triple the value of Ariana’s house. Williams had held the door open for her to slip into the back, only to hold her back with a light hand on her shoulder.She glances up at him, annoyed. “What?” “New shoes,” Williams impatiently repeats and gestures towards Ariana’s Chuck Taylors. “We’re going to one of the most notoriously expensive jewelry stores in New York and you’re wearing a pair of Converse that look like they’re begging for mercy. How will they expect you to afford it?”“That’s the thing. I can’t afford it.” Ariana shoots him a look and gets in without another word.Williams rolls his eyes and moves over to the front passenger seat. The driver’s wheel is occupied by a silent buff guy concealed behind sunglasses and a bluetooth earpiece. He barely spar
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 10: selling her soul at a cost. Not only does Williams possess a pretty face and boyish charm, there’s a sense of professionalism to him that makes him sound and seem older. His handsomeness contains depth in his personality and the dignity he was raised to hold would make him stand out from a group of young adults like him. In fact, he could’ve said he was a minor and Ariana would’ve been just as smitten.She must’ve been gawking at him longer than necessary because Williams’s frown slowly turns smug. “I guess you don't give a damn about my age from the way you're checking me out."Way to ruin the moment.Ariana scowls. “Why should I care about the person I’m marrying if I’m just in for the money?”His beautiful hazel eyes waver for a second and it nearly wounds her to hear Williams mutter, “You didn't have to put it that way,” and turn away from her.“Look,” Ariana says after a moment, guiltily reaching for his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 11: No strings attached. No strings attached.. “Ariana. Car. Now.”She could’ve easily obliged and end the discussion but riling Williams’s nerves up like this turned into a nice pasttime. So Ariana crosses her arms and flashes him an crescent-eyed smile. “Nuh uh. I’m just going to stand here and piss you off.”“Ariana Gillies, don’t tempt me,” He whispers, leaning forward. The dangerous glimmer is prominent in his hazel eyes.She gulps and uneasily glances away, eventually deciding to succumb to her command and just climb in when Williams swiftly grabs at her shoulder, pulling her by the nape against his body and effortlessly anchoring his mouth onto hers.There’s fireworks.Or—the flame that was flickering inside her erupts and sweeps across her skin like a blazing wildfire. It thoroughly stuns her into oblivion, forcing her mind to swallow out the noisy surroundings and focus on her accelerating heartbeat that pounds her ears.She’s incom
Married for A Million Dollars:.Chapter 12: only if they knew . Ariana scans the front page and suppresses a groan, palming her forehead at the ridiculous title that was plastered in the center.DINER CINDERELLA BEWITCHES MONTENEGRO PRINCE!The article rambles on to detail the story of Williams stepping into Vene’s in search of Ariana one night and went home disappointed, only to finally sit her down over breakfast and instantly fall heads over heels with her.She’s not surprised. After all the scheming and convincing Williams had done to achieve Ariana’s hand, nothing less would’ve been expected from the billionaire’s exaggerated storytelling. As phony as the article sounds, the way it was written is impressively convincing and could move anyone to tears.If only they knew.At the right is a magnified photo of her temporary engagement ring with a lot of tiny comments surrounding it. A larger shot of her and Williams passionately making out against the door of his Mercedes outside