How do I become your wife?

TRISTAN

“No.”

That was the first thing that broke her silence. For a few seconds she hadn’t moved and I could have sworn that she had become a statue. I knew the question had taken her by surprise but I certainly wasn’t expecting an outright no.

“Excuse me?” I said, my tone betraying my disbelief.

“You heard me.” She said outrightly, this time with a stronger tone, as she rose up from the chair.

It was like the whole air in the room had been sucked out as she stared right at me. I could see the change in her eyes from surprise to something much sharper.

Offense.

“Are you crazy?” she began, “Scratch that. You actually must be a lunatic for you to even blurt that out of the blues.”

I leaned back a bit, as I watched her unload on me. Something about the scene and the fury in her eyes seemed to turn me on, but I dared not show it. Not while she was in this state.

“Surely you must have hit your head hard on your way here because if you think for a second that I am going to humor whatever fantasy you have about me.”

Her voice was climbing an octave now.

“As much as I like to see you all fired up,” I interjected, “I would advise that you remain calm.”

“I will do no such thing.” She said, maintaining her voice. “The actual fuck is wrong with you? Does this have anything to do with the night before?”

She scoffed, as she paced around the room fuming.

“You rich people seem to think you can have whatever you want at anytime you want it.” She continued, “You do not even know me to start with and now you stand here and say that I should marry you? I barely even tolerate you as it is.”

I watched all of this unfold in silence as I could hear Julians voice even now, dry with amusement.

“There are women who would be on their knees before you even finished saying your name.”

He certainly wasn’t wrong about that. There were women who would jump at the chance of being my wife and hitting me with those half assed smiles of theirs as they attempted to use my wealth and influence to prop themselves up in society, but then I didn’t want any of that. If I had my way I wouldn’t even do any of this to start with.

“Are you gay, Ms Cross?” I asked,

The shock returned to her face as she tried to process the question.

“What?” she asked, in surprise.

“You heard me.” I continued, “I am surprised you refused me so I wonder if it is that you are not attracted to men, even though I find that highly unlikely considering how well you entertain them.”

She rolled her eyes at this point as I could see the disgust on her face.

“So let me get this straight.” She said, as she indeed straightened herself, staring me right in the eyes.

“You think everyone would jump at a chance to marry you and that whoever doesn’t surely has to be gay to think of that.”

I shrugged my shoulder at this as the answer was heavily implied.

There was a brief moment of silence in the room and then she burst out into a hysterical laugh. I smiled at this, as I could see exactly what was going through her head.

“That definitely confirms it to me.” She said, “You definitely have to be a lunatic to have these thoughts of grandeur.”

She paced around the room once again, as she muttered to herself. “This cant be happening right now, I have to be dreaming.”

I rose from the chair now, eyes still fixed on her.

“I will have you remember exactly who I am.” I said, “And whose office it is you stand in. You do know that if I wanted you gone right this very second it would definitely not be too much of a hassle.”

“Then do it.” She said abruptly, as she approached me, staring me right in the eyes.

This was something that a lot of people never actually dared to, especially not in here.

“I knew that it was eventually going to get to this especially after the whole club incident.” She said, “If you want to fire me you might as well do it right now, your highness, because there is no way in hell I am going to get married to someone as arrogant and ill-mannered as you.”

That fire in her eyes. There was something about it that made me grin from ear to ear.

There was silence as we were practically in each others faces now, as she stared up at me. It was very obvious that she wasn’t going to budge, at least not with threats.

“Now,” she finally said, “If you are not going to relieve me of my job, then I will get right back to it. Good day Mr Blackwell.”

She turned around to leave,

“Five million.” I blurted out,

She paused right before she grabbed the door handle. I definitely had her attention now.

“I remember you saying that you had to work twice as hard as everybody else for what you need.” I continued, “But if you take this offer, you do not need to.”

She turned around and looked at me in disbelief and for the first time since I asked her the question I saw exactly what I had planned to sow in her heart when I had said it.

Doubt.

“And before you say anything, take into consideration that I am very observant.” I said, “I saw your eyes at the club. When I offered you ten thousand dollars to take off that mask.”

Her breath hitched, just barely.

“You wouldn’t have done it if money wasn’t one of your motivations,” I said quietly. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. We are motivated by something.”

“Are you dying?” She asked, out of the blues. “Is that why you need to get married immediately.”

I laughed at her thought process.

“Trust me, I am a picture of perfect health.”

“So why?”

“Are you accepting my offer, because I cannot tell you until I have your written consent that it is not spoken out loud elsewhere.”

She turned to look me right in the eyes this time.

“No,” she said once again, “Before I sign anything, I would like to hear why.”

We stared into each others eyes for a few seconds and then a sigh escaped my lips. I reached for my drawer and pulled out a file and tossed it on the desk in her direction. Initially, I had considered not telling her the truth about the clause, but she had successfully backed me into a corner.

She reached for it and began going through it. I could tell at the exact moment when she saw the clause by the look of shock on her face.

“So, you see my dilemma,” I said,

She was about to say something when I interjected.

“Ten million.” I blurted out once again.

Even I couldn’t believe I had just doubled the money, but my father had taught me that everybody had a price and I was about to find out what hers was.

I stepped closer, this time lowering my voice just enough to ensure she was listening.

“This is not a romantic arrangement,” I continued. “I don’t want a relationship with you. There will be no expectations of intimacy, affection, or emotional involvement. Think of it as a business proposal.”

Her gaze searched my face, clearly looking for the lie. She didn’t find one.

She was quiet now, her earlier fury giving way as I could see her considering it in her head. She was a smart girl after all.

“So,” she finally said, after what seemed to be an eternity. “How exactly do I become your wife.”