Chapter 3:

Nicole blinked, her eyes growing tired all of a sudden, the papers shook aggressively under her firm grip. "Xander?"

Xander.

Xander. That man she hated, was her matchmaker, she sustained a scoff, pretending to be busy with the papers. "I don’t think that will work." She stared up at them.

The two women took a quick glance at each other, and then Natasha spoke up. "He’s the only one who matches all your demand, he is neutral, you can live in the same house but you don’t always have to see him, he’s not ready to love, you aren’t, you are perfect together."

Nicole pondered.

"Give it a try, I will arrange lunch for you when he’s back, and you guys can talk. Is that okay?" Nicole nodded her head.

The two women pushed the chairs aside. "We would go now." They stumbled towards the door.

The pen fell unto the bundles of papers, and the windows blew furiously causing her hair to be scatter, layers rumpling down her face, Xander? He was coming back to New York, last time he and his mother had moved to London, she had been excited, why? She was never going to see him again. His presence alone brought dread to her face.

They were just nine and they hated themselves whole fully, was it really natural to hate someone that much. She didn’t care.

Some part of her itched to see him after all those years, would he be different, would he be mature, handsome?

In a few days from now, she would find out and then decide if she would marry him.

-

Some weeks later,

The door of the car screeched open, and some figures came out, their hair blowing. Xander rubbed his cheeks, the warmth of New York, he didn’t miss it, there was nothing that would make him feel warmth, warmth were for losers. His father had said.

He heaved a sigh as he stared at the restaurant that stood firmly to the ground, his lips curling upward, Imperial restaurant, he remembered, his mother would always force him there, narrating how good the seafood was, but to him, it was disgusting.

Zane and Lucas followed his direction.

He made to enter the restaurant, they followed, he took a step, they took a step, he gazed at them sharply.

"I have told you to rest, yet, you argues on coming to New York." His gaze was heavy on Zane.

Zane cheekily laughed. "It was only a few wounds, I would be okay soon."

Xander glared deathly at them, before he made to enter the restaurant, again, they followed.

"What do you think you are doing?" He finally turned to look at them.

"We are protecting you," Lucas said, rather brief and concise.

"I am meeting with a woman not some enemy."

"We know." They said in unison.

He heaved a sigh, "Well, you could stay here." He entered the restaurant, and yet, they still followed.

Nicole tapped her fingers on the table impatiently, suddenly regretting why she had agreed to meet up with him and talk.

What were they even going to talk about anyway? Meeting your childhood enemy and saying what exactly.

She gazed at the table, quietly thinking of what she was going to say.

"Nicole," A cold voice had hit her hard.

She peered her eyes upward, her lips suddenly curling up, Xander Castillo. Xander was in front of her, yet she stared at him, he had grown, his dark hair sparkling as usual, and his eyes, rough and layers of tiredness, she gazed at him with bulged eyes.

He glared at her, taking a seat.

Zane and Lucas stood, their eyes peering at Nicole. "She is good." Zane elbowed his brother, but the latter ignored him and focused his gaze on Xander.

Nicole gazed at the men, three men, one woman, this wasn’t going to be an easy lunch.

"Xander." She began. "You look well."

He ignored her compliment, it was fake anyway, so he didn’t care. He knew the harbor in her voice, the dark, cold tone. It was there.

He leaned on the chair, "Let’s discuss like adults, you want to get married?"

She gripped the glass of water angrily. Her eyes blazing with unseen fire. "You are really straightforward."

Zane rolled his eyes, heck, his boss was always straightforward.

"Let’s talk quickly; I have somewhere to go."

Nicole’s blood boiled in anger, her hands gripping the glass, who did this man think he was? She was angry, her eyes boiling with emotions.

"I am only getting married to you because you match my standards,"

"Standards?" He reverberated the word out loud, his eyes twinkling. "We are to discuss some things if you want us to get married."

She listened.

"First, you have to live in my house, and you have to do whatever I ask you to do. You are to follow my every commands."

"Who do you think you are?" She raised her voice, her eyes glaring with anger, particularly rage. If she could tear him apart, she would have done so when they were little.

She hated him.

She despised him for no reason at all.

Zane widened his eyes, a woman had actually dared to yell at his master? He gazed curiously at Xander, watching his every reaction, what would become of her now, would she get her jaw broken, or even worse, her whole bones.

Xander was calm, something that was really unexpected of him. "We are getting married, you have to do as I say."

She chuckled darkly, her voice turning cold. "It’s a marriage of benefit, you have to agree with the terms."

He glared at her. "Let’s be brief, are we getting married?"

"Yes." She breathed in, she couldn’t let go of him, he was the only person who matched all her requirements, she couldn’t let go of him.

She would bury her hate for him, and be..

"Great." His voice rang out. "Getting married, you will become my possession, and I will own you."

That was it, she couldn’t take it anymore, grasping her bag, she pushed the chair aside. "There is no possession without a master." She stumped away.

Xander crouched his brows.

Zane rubbed his eyes.

Lucas stared at her departing figure.