Chapt. 4 - The Agreement

"If you think this marriage is just a game and God is reluctant to witness because He doesn't like the way I forced you, then let the devil be the witness. You're mine." -Mike-

***

Angie looked restless and paced the room. She was biting her fingers and cursing herself for being so stupid today. Maybe even since yesterday. Why did she trust her best friend so much and agree when the girl took her to a nightclub, a place she'd never been to before and where her misadventures began?

What were bourbon, margaritas, and vodka? She didn't know those names at all. Even though she had drunk them carelessly yesterday, if it wasn't for her best friend insisting, she would never have touched those drinks.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid! You're so stupid, Ji!" Angie repeatedly hit her head and then flopped down on the bed.

Her memory instantly drifted to a few hours ago when she and Mike had made a ridiculous agreement that left her with a headache. She and he were about to become husband and wife.

Unbelievable!

"What if I don't want to sign it? I'm twenty and just tasted college freedom and a good job. I don't want to be someone's puppet." At that moment, Angie tried to convince Mike that living with her would be a hassle.

"Shut up! If you don't sign it, I can shoot you right now and throw your corpse into the sea." Mike gestured out the window, where a vast sea like the Indian Ocean lay below the bridge they were passing. "Or do you want me to tie you up and drown you there? That would be more fun, right?"

Angie shuddered at Mike's grin.

What if when Mike drowned her, she didn't die immediately but had to fight the Grim Reaper first? Being thrown into the sea and having to witness a slow death must have been excruciating. Moreover, Angie was a sufferer of Talasophobia and several other phobias—facing her own fears was her most terrifying murder weapon.

Suddenly, Mike's threat affected Angie, and she immediately reached for a pen to sign the file. However, her movements were halted when she remembered something.

She said, "I'll sign if I can put a condition on it. "

"You are a prisoner here, you have no right to speak."

"Then kill me." Stupid and reckless. Angie regretted saying all that because Mike couldn't play around with his words. He immediately ordered the driver to pull the car over, then grabbed Angie to take her out and do as he threatened. Angie struggled, but she was clearly outmatched by Mike's tall frame.

A single arm lifted and hoisted her onto the bridge railing without difficulty.

"No, no... don't do this! I didn't mean it, sir. Please... put me down..." Angie's whole body trembled violently, and her goosebumps bristled even up her arms. She closed her eyes, reluctant to look down. "Please put me down, Mike..."

Mike's brow furrowed instantly. How did the girl know his name, which he had never mentioned in the first place? How famous was he among women? Even the girl at the club yesterday knew who he was.

"Did you change your mind, huh?" asked Mike with a devilish grin that always made anyone choose not to look at his face or give up. They were willing to be slaves as long as they didn't become the butt of the madman's jokes.

Angie nodded, her body stiff with fear as she imagined that if she moved even a little, she would fall and become food for the fish down there.

"Well, I like your choice. Don't fight anymore if you still love your life." Mike put Angie down and left her lying on the ground.

Angie's breath caught. Imagining herself almost dying a ridiculous death, she froze in her tracks.

"Walk, I'll wait in the car," Mike said and walked away, leaving Angie cursing the actions of a heartless maniac. Not even a wife yet, she was like a plaything for him. What would happen after they lived in the same house?

"I can't walk, asshole! Are you blind?" Angie motioned for Mike to untie her hands and feet. However, she whistled for him to turn around since he was indifferent. "Hey! Untie me first, jackass!"

Mike turned around, but when he reached Angie, he didn't untie her but grabbed her body to carry her back to the car.

"Now sign it!" Mike ordered when he got to the car, then loosened the tie that had been strangling him. Angie was still frozen, tears rolling down her cheeks at the thought of her life after this.

"I have an important request," Angie said, wiping away tears. Please..."

Mike raised one eyebrow, seemingly in thought. Out of nowhere, he finally nodded. "All right. You can make your wish, but whether I grant it or not is up to me."

Although it was the same as gambling—win or lose, Angie would never know—at least she was trying to ensure her family's well-being.

"First, you have to guarantee the safety of my brother and mother because your lives must have a lot of enemies that would endanger them if anyone knew about our marriage."

"Okay. They will receive protection from us. Done?"

"There is more. After marriage, there will be no physical contact," Angie added.

This time, Mike shook his head. "You should know a few things that made me choose you as my captive bride. One, because you already slept with me."

Hearing Mike's statement, Angie snorted. "What the heck? You're so funny. Shouldn't I be the one holding you accountable for that? I'm still a virgin, and you took that away."

"Do you think you're the only one who's still a virgin while I'm no longer a virgin?" said Mike, which made Angie widen her eyes and pursed her lips. She almost burst out laughing. A man like Mike had never dealt with women before? Seriously, it was unbelievable. "That's enough, you can't talk until I'm done."

Angie let the man who had begun his tantrum continue with the critical words to him. But for Angie, the point of it all was only one: her life would definitely be a living hell after this.

"The second reason reinforces the first is because my father wants a descendant from me. So, in conclusion, I am not granting your request for no physical contact," he continued.

Angie was stunned, not having read everything in the letter or understanding Mike's main reason for choosing her in the first place. To her, this was all bad luck. Did it have something to do with her best friend, or was she suffering from prolonged bad luck?

One thing was for sure: Angie had no chance and no choice when Mike once again pulled out his favorite object so that Angie would never change her mind. The nightmare was about to begin right after the last scribble of her fingers on the paper she received.