Be my wife

Chapter 3:Be my wife

AARON’s POV

The woman was still bound to the chair and I could not really decipher the look in her eyes. As I looked at her, I couldn't help but wonder if she was telling the truth, if her plea for a second chance was genuine. There was something about her, something in her eyes that made me question my initial judgments.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my phone buzzed, signaling an incoming call. I glanced at the screen to see that it was Cole, my best friend .With a deep breath, I answered, hoping for a momentary distraction from this crazy situation in front of me.

"Hey, Cole," I greeted,"What's going on?"

Cole's voice crackled through the line, laced with frustration. "Dude you just lost another contract," he said, his tone laced with defeat. "There's a new rumor spreading, and it's damaging your reputation all the more.”

My brow furrowed, concern etching my features. "What kind of rumor?" I asked, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.

Cole sighed heavily, his frustration evident. "Samantha Sinclair," he replied,"She's saying you physically hurt her, that you were violent."

My jaw tightened as anger slowly took over. "That's a bloody lie!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with indignation. "I would never harm anyone. She's just trying to ruin me just because we fucked and she wants to be the number one woman in my life. And I don’t fucking want to be with her. She is a psychopath.”

Cole's voice softened, sympathy evident in his tone. "I know, Aaron. But you need to clear your name, and fast. These rumors can destroy everything you've worked for. You know they are still out there talking about your sex escapades and this new story spreading fast would cause even more harm.”

His words resonated within me, and my mind raced for a solution. 

“If I lay my hands on that Samantha, like really lay my hands on that crazy gold digging—“

“No man,” he interrupted. “Use your head.You should be staying away from that crazy woman  before she ruins you. You gotta focus on the main problem here.”

“What am I going to do?” I sighed in exasperation.

“Listen,it’s been almost a month now and you still haven’t found a suitable bride yet. That should be your main focus to ensure you get your inheritance in the bag.”

“You think it’s fucking easy to get a suitable bride? All the ladies are just whores or gold diggers. Or gold digging whores.”

“You haven’t searched hard enough. Look, it’s a win win situation for you. You get to save your career and also 

get the family business under your name. You gotta act fast because time is ticking fast,dude.”

“Where am I supposed to find her ? You make it seem so fucking easy.”

“I am just telling you because you are running out of time, my friend.” He said to me calmly.”Hey,you gotta make sure whoever you find should be someone the public hasn’t set their eyes on yet. Someone unknown,someone you’ve never been involved with,someone they have never seen.I’ll help you in whatever way I can. Especially with this Samantha’s case first of all. Just try to have a positive news when next I call?”

“Yeah. I’d see what I can find. Thanks man.”

“Anytime.”

As the call ended, I turned my gaze back to the woman, in front of me. She was still trying to free herself and I found a newfound spark of an idea taking hold of me suddenly.

Could she be the answer?

I may have just found the one.

I took a deep breath, my mind filled with a whirlwind of questions and doubts. It was time to get some answers, to delve into Bella's past and determine if she was truly the right person for the role I needed her to play. 

“I have a few questions for you,” I started.”Er…what’s your name?”

“Bella,” she responded quietly,her voice sounding more like a squeak.

"Bella," I began urgently. "I need to know everything about you. Do you do hard drugs or any drugs at all?”

“Do I look like I do drugs? Of course not. I am totally clean,” she responded simply.

“An ex convict maybe?” I tried again.”Ever been caught for any of your crimes?”

“Jesus. I have never been to jail. I am pretty much skilled but still don’t do anything extreme.”

“How do you know how to fight?”

“My boyfriend taught me of course. It’s a harsh world and you gotta know how to defend yourself when the need arises.”

“Do you kill people?”

“Oh.My.God!” She yelled. “Why would I kill people? For goodness sake do I look like I kill people?”

“If you do you’d be very great at it because with this face,no one would even suspect that you do.”

“I’m clean  and not a serial killer. Never killed anyone on my entire life. Happy now?”

I studied her intently, searching her eyes for any signs of deception. It was difficult to gauge her honesty, to determine if she was truly telling the truth. But I had to trust my instincts, to trust that this desperate young woman standing before me was not an actual criminal.

Pushing those doubts aside, I continued my line of questioning, desperate for clarity. "Do you do have any connection with kidnapping or any other illegal activities apart from being a thief?”

Her eyes widened even further .“I only steal art  and sell them. Can we skip all these ridiculous questions?”

But my questions were far from over. I needed to know if she had any connections to the world I lived in, if she had been involved with anyone famous, anyone who could potentially threaten the façade I was trying to build. "Have you ever been romantically involved with someone famous, Bella?" I asked, my voice both cautious and curious.

Her brow furrowed, confusion evident in her eyes. "The only famous person I've had a conversation with is you right now, Aaron Davis,” she responded.

That was a good thing. 

“Are we done with the questions now?” She looked uncomfortable.”If we are,can you at least untie me?”

“I wouldn’t be doing that.” I replied patiently.

“How am I supposed to scratch the itch on my ass cheeks then?”

“Not my problem.It would pass eventually.”

“Oh,fuck it,” she murmured under her breath.

"Do you know anything about marriage?" I asked further. "Do you know how to be a proper lady, to navigate the world of high society?"

She stared at me wide eyed, surprise flickering across her features. "Why do you need to know that?" she questioned, her voice sounding curious and apprehensive.

I hesitated for a moment, grappling with the right words to explain my intentions. "I need to know, Bella, because I have a proposition for you," I finally admitted.

Her gaze locked with mine and I could see her anticipation as well as confusion."I want you to be my wife," I declared firmly.

BELLA’s POV

My heart pounded in my chest, and my mind spun in disbelief at Aaron's proposition. I stared at him, my eyes wide with shock, struggling to find the right words to respond. "You... want me to be your wife?" I managed to utter, my voice trembling.

Aaron nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, Bella. Clearly,you’re unknown, a nobody. If I want this fake relationship to be convincing, I need someone who won't attract attention from the public eye."

His words echoed in my mind, leaving me speechless for a moment. This wasn't what I had anticipated when I begged him not to involve the police. It was a monumental request, something I never could have imagined. 

"Why me?" I finally managed to ask, my voice filled with a mix of confusion and apprehension. "There must be other options, other women who would be more suitable for this... arrangement."

A faint smile played on his  lips, though it lacked warmth. "Because,you seem to be the perfect fit for this role," he replied. "And besides, I will prepare a contract that outlines everything. All you have to do is marry me and have a child within a year and a half."

Hold up. I hadn’t even wrapped my head yet around getting married to him and now he was adding a baby to the list? 

What the actual hell was going on? Or maybe I was hallucinating.

"Oh hell no.. Marry you and have your child? Are you joking right now?” I managed to ask after I found my voice finally.

He studied me for a moment, his gaze calculating. "Your benefits, Bella," he replied, his tone detached. "You won't face legal consequences for your actions, and I will take care of your mother's surgery. Consider it a way to repay your debt and ensure her well-being."

"I can't do this," I blurted out.”Although you are the Aaron Davis,you are a stranger.Besides,I have a boyfriend who loves me to bits and who would never agree to  me doing something like this. I can't just... give myself to you.He was going to be the first,” 

A flicker of intrigue danced in his eyes, a glimmer of curiosity. "You're still a virgin?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice.