Chapter Three - His Motive

Skylar yanked his car door open and climbed in gingerly when all her protests fell on deaf ears. It seemed Christian was more headstrong than her! He drove towards his house while Skylar sulked, glaring out of the window to avoid him. 

“Why didn’t you attend the wedding?” 

“I’m not answerable to you.” 

“I’m just curious. I’m not demanding an answer from you.” 

“Whatever! Why are you forcing me to go with you?” She turned to give him a death glare. A strange wish to revolt against him started growing inside her. 

“I have my reasons.” Skylar seethed at his arrogance, wanting to punch the smirk off his chiseled face and give him a permanent black eye. 

“What reason can you have? Don’t tell me you’re dying to spend time with me!” Christian laughed instead of taking offense. 

“Yes, what if I am? I might have plans to tempt you to marry me.” A gasp of horror escaped her lips, and she looked out of the window. Her mind stopped functioning at his candid admission. Did he really mean that? How did he propose to tempt her? Would he force her to sleep with him? No, this couldn’t happen at all! 

“Stop! Stop the car or I’ll jump out.” Christian rolled his eyes at her! He was just pulling her legs, but it seemed she had taken him seriously. 

“Chill! I was joking.” Skylar glared at the disgusting man. 

“It was a creepy one. I am not fond of such jokes.” 

“Are you always so stressed? Why don’t to relax and enjoy life?” He asked, instead of apologizing for cracking a creepy joke. 

“I was enjoying life when Caleb and your grandpa dumped this marriage situation on me. It would make any eighteen-year-old stressed.” 

“Hmm, what if I give you time to complete your Hospitality Management program? We could stay engaged to each other in the meantime.” Skylar gaped at the guy in surprise. How did he know what she was studying? How did he know so much about her when she didn’t? 

“No, I’m not getting engaged to you until you tell me your motive.”

“You know the deal, Skylar. Go out on a date with me to know my motive.” Skylar chewed her lips when he drove in through the huge wrought-iron gates of the St. James family mansion. 

“I’ll ensure our first date is a memorable one. Try me,” he coaxed, parking the car in the vast garage and switching off the ignition. 

“I’ll see about it.” Skylar opened the car door and climbed out, ready to flee. 

However, Christian caught up with her soon and placed an arm around her shoulders, guiding her to the front door. As if she would run for the main gates!

“Keep your hands off me, Christian. I’m not your property.” Skylar jerked herself free of his hold and marched towards the front door. She pressed the doorbell angrily and waited to fight with Caleb for sending the hateful Christian instead. She had clearly informed her Granny to send Caleb with the keys to the house. 

“Maybe not now, but soon you’ll be.” Skylar ignored his remark and pressed the doorbell again. Why couldn’t someone open the damn door already? She couldn’t tolerate the man next to her, watching her constantly like she was already his property. 

“Can you stop staring at me?” she grunted with exasperation. Christian rolled his eyes, yet didn’t look away. The door opened and Lillian gasped with delight, stepping aside to allow them inside. 

“What a pleasant surprise, Skylar! We were just discussing you,” she said, drawing her into her arms for a casual hug. Skylar had nothing against Lillian. She liked the older woman who was the opposite of her brother. She was kind, mature, well-mannered, and simple. Despite being exquisitely beautiful and filthy rich, she didn’t have any airs about her. 

“I’m sorry for not attending your wedding, Lillian. I was upset with Caleb.” She returned the hug, calming down at last. 

“I understand, Skye. They shouldn’t have dumped the wedding on your shoulders now. You’re just eighteen after all!” Skylar nodded, relieved that at least someone understood her predicament. 

“It’s better she knows about it now than four years later when she has a boyfriend or two,” said Christian with an eye roll. 

“It won’t stop me from getting myself a boyfriend or two,” said Skylar angrily. 

“Try me, babe! I’m good with weapons.” He laughed at the jaw-dropped look on their faces and walked away towards his room upstairs. 

 “What did that mean? Is he crazy? I can’t marry him, Lillian. I hate him already,” protested Skylar, watching the man saunter off. 

“Relax. He’s just messing with you. He isn’t so bad, Skye.” 

“He is bad, Lillian. I had always heard our parents discussing how notorious he is. I’m not marrying him at all. If Sebastian has fled, then I’m free from all obligations,” said Skylar vehemently.

“No, Skye. It’s not that simple, you know. Grandpa has made a legal agreement with Christian. If he doesn’t marry you, he won’t get access to the business or his money. Everything will go to Sebastian.” Skylar’s jaws dropped with horror. So that was the motive for marrying her! 

“Why Sebastian? He has eloped!” Lillian shrugged, not having any answer to her question. 

“Come and meet your grandparents.” Skylar followed her while her mind thought of different ways to confront everyone. Lillian led her to a room at the backside of the mansion, but Skylar froze on entering the room. She noticed her granny lying on the bed, looking frail and sick. She hadn’t expected her to be so sick! 

“Granny, what happened to you?” she cried rushing to her granny’s side. Her granny turned towards her, focusing her eyes on her granddaughter’s face. 

“She had a mild heart attack, Skye. We just remove the drips this morning,” said Lillian, who was a pediatrician. 

“Why didn’t Caleb inform me?” she asked, feeling upset and guilty about her immature behavior. She sat beside her granny and picked up her hand. 

“I’m sorry, granny. I didn’t know it was so serious. I’ll take you home now.” 

“I’m fine, Skye. Don’t worry about me,” said her granny feebly. 

“We can’t move her so soon. Only if her doctor allows,” said Lillian. 

“Come and have dinner, Skye. Everyone is waiting for us at the dining table. Granny Miriam has already had hers,” said Lillian, leading her out. Skylar didn’t want to face Caleb or Christian right now, but had no choice. After seeing Granny’s condition, she felt guilty for not being there when she needed her the most. With Caleb and Lillian leaving the next morning, it was her responsibility now to take care of her grandparents. 

However, she dreaded meeting their grandpa, Benjamin St. James. He wasn’t like her grandpa at all. He was stern and scowled more than smiled. Skylar always feared him when she visited a few times with her parents, but that was years ago.

Lillian talked about her plans of joining Caleb’s hospital in Cleveland, and Skylar listened to her excited banter. How could she be so happy in an arranged marriage? Did they like one another for a long time? Maybe that was the reason they agreed to marry each other so readily. 

She led Skylar towards a grand dining room, fit for a king. Around the long dining table, Lillian’s grandpa and hers sat chatting with one another. Christian and Caleb also engaged in the conversation while waiting for Skylar and Lillian to join them. She could sense Christian's gaze on her, but she didn’t look at him. After his last retort, she wanted to avoid him more. 

“Hello, Skylar! Welcome home! We have been waiting for you,” said Grandpa Benjamin in his booming voice, which was enough to scare anyone away. 

“Hello, Grandpa Ben.” It was a nickname they had all called him since childhood. He didn’t interact with her much, but she knew he liked Caleb. 

“You should have attended the wedding, my dear,” said her grandpa crossly. 

“I’m sorry!” she said gingerly, sitting with her brother. She hated having to explain herself, but it seemed they wouldn’t let it go. 

“It’s alright, Grandpa. She had reasons to be upset with me,” said Caleb, saving her. She gave her older brother a look of gratitude and all the fight left her body. Caleb felt bad for his little sister. At eighteen, it was normal that she wasn’t ready to marry a stranger years older than her. 

“Please help yourselves,” said Lillian, pushing the food toward Skylar and Grandpa Phil. Skylar had just served herself when Christian got up with his plate and sat down beside her. It startled Skylar, and she choked on her food. 

Christian placed his hand on her back, gently massaging her to relieve her. Strangely, it felt so good that Skylar didn’t want him to stop. 

“Better?” he asked, leaning a little towards her. 

“Yes, thank you,” she whispered, her cheeks flaming red as she held his gaze. With his face almost inches from her own and his strong citrus and pine fragrance tingling her nose, Skylar forgot to breathe. She forgot he was the enemy! Only his touch warmed her skin. It was the only pleasant moment they had shared since they met!