Chapter Three: Declan

I looked at her as she scurried away to my car. I didn’t expect her to listen to me, but I was glad she did. I was aware that my future wife was stubborn as hell, and honestly, I liked that she had a backbone.

     I pulled out my wallet, took a hundred-dollar bill, and left it on the table before dragging that asshole of a boyfriend—ex-boyfriend by his arm.

     “Let go of me!” He tried to get away from me, but my grip was stronger. What the hell did she see in him? He didn’t seem like a good fit to her.

     “It feels terrible to be grabbed against your will, doesn’t it?” I snapped, slamming his back against a brick wall. “You’re going to forget about her. If you text, call, or try to meet her, you’re going to wish you had never been born.”

     He tried to fix his clothes and act unbothered by what I had just said, but I knew better.

     “Are you threatening me?” I chuckled at his foolishness. Only the weak resorted to threats. I was a man of action.

     “I’m not. I’m telling you what will happen if you come near her in any way,” I clarified. I turned to walk away, but then I remembered something important. Taking him off guard, I punched him in the face, making him scream in pain. “This is for bruising her.”

     I walked toward my car, leaving him behind, screaming as he held his bloody nose. Everyone needed to believe that I wanted this marriage to work, so I was going to play the role of the doting husband until I made her fall for me.

     This marriage was going to be nothing but a means to an end. I was going to bring the Hazelwoods to their knees because of what they had done to my father twenty years ago.

     However, I needed Kendra Hazelwood to believe that I wanted this marriage to work. She needed to think that this was all real, even if I agreed on the expiration date idea. I already had this plan in my head, so when she suggested it, I made them all think that I was honoring her wish, but in reality, three years was the maximum amount of time I was giving this marriage to get what I wanted. 

     A week ago, I approached John Hazelwood, making him believe that I was extending an olive branch. I, in fact, gave him the rope that was going to get wrapped around his neck. I was going to destroy that thief.

     I told him I wanted to put an end to our rivalry, because our union would make us financially stronger. John Hazelwood was a sucker for money, so he agreed. I told him I was willing to marry one of his daughters to bring the two families closer, and again, he fell for it, especially when I told him I’d give him ten percent of the company’s shares, and in return, I’d get the same amount of shares in his company, so our businesses would be connected.

     When I told him about marrying one of his daughters, I knew that my marriage to whichever one would be temporary, but then I saw the way Kendra questioned and negotiated every single decision her father made, and suddenly I was intrigued. The way she spoke made me realize that my marriage to her might turn out to be interesting, even if it was bound to crumble.

     My desire to learn more about the woman I was about to call my wife made me follow her tonight, and I was glad I did. If I hadn’t followed her, her ex-boyfriend might have done something reckless.

     I knocked on the window, and she unlocked the car. When I got in, none of us said anything. I stole a glance at her and found her too interested in her royal blue pants.

     “Is he your boyfriend?” I asked, turning to look at her, waiting for her eyes to meet mine

     “Ex-boyfriend. I was breaking up with him,” she replied without looking at me. “How did you know I was here?” This time, she looked at me.

     I didn’t answer, not ready to admit out loud that I followed her.

     She let out a scoff as she shook her head. “Let me guess. You followed me, right?”

     “Be glad I did that,” I muttered, looking at the black steering wheel.

     “Glad?!” she squeaked.

     “Had I not been there, you’d have gotten hurt.” I maintained my calm composure, although she was fuming beside me.

     I glanced at her, and she rolled her eyes at me. “I was handling it.”

     I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle because she didn’t look like she was handling the situation at all. “Sure. Whatever floats your boat.” I wasn’t going to stop her from believing that if it would make her sleep at night.

     This wasn’t a hill I was willing to die on.

     “Are you humoring me?” She frowned. God! She didn’t like going down without a fight. I didn’t want her to go down. I liked her the way she was. I was fond of her strong spirit.

     The way she negotiated with us today to get the most out of our marriage blew my mind. She wasn’t some damsel in distress who was willing to follow her father’s orders. I didn’t expect her to be like that, and I was glad that she had a backbone, because this would make our marriage fun. Had she not been the daughter of my enemy, I would have probably fallen for her.

     “Our engagement party is in five days.” I changed the subject. For a moment, I thought she was about to steer the conversation back to the whole following her topic, but when she relaxed against the seat, I knew she was ready to let it go.

     “I will text you the color of my dress once I get it,” she said, and I frowned. Why would she do that? “To match your tie with my dress,” she clarified. I hadn’t thought about that, but if she wanted us to match, we would do that.

     “Do you have my number to text me?” I wondered.

     “Give me your phone.” She opened her palm, extending it toward me. I unlocked my phone and handed it to her. I watched as she punched in her number. Her phone dinged, indicating that she had just texted herself from my phone. “Have a good night, and… thank you for handling Ross even though I could have handled him.”

     I chuckled at her choice of words, knowing this was the most I’d get from her.

     I reached for the glove compartment, and she pressed her back hard against the chair. What did she think I was going to do? I took out a small dark blue velvet box and opened it.

     “What’s that?” She pulled her eyebrows together.

     “Aren’t you my fiancée? You should be wearing my ring.” I took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.

     “It’s a bit loose,” she commented, flexing her hand as she examined the ring.

     “I can get it resized and give it to you on our engagement party.”

     She took it off, along with another ring. “Adjust the size according to this size.”

     She was fucking bossy. I liked that.

     “Your wish is my command, flame,” I said, taking both rings from her.

     “Flame?” The crease returned to her face.

     “Gotta have a nickname for you.”

     “And you decided to choose flame?” Amusement filled her voice.

      “It suits you.” I shrugged. It did suit her. She was fierce and strong. A burning flame that would take down anybody who stood in her way. Where’s your car?” I asked her. She pointed to a grey BMW. This car was more than four years old. Her father was a billionaire. Couldn’t he get his daughter a new model?

      I got out of the car and walked towards her door. I opened the door for her, and I couldn’t help but notice the look of confusion in her eyes. Hadn’t this girl been treated nicely before?

     She got out of the car, and we both walked silently to hers. She unlocked it, and I opened the door for her.

     “Let me know once you arrive home.”

     “Already playing the role of a caring husband?” She smirked. I had to play the role if I wanted her to fall for me. I had to make her believe that I was the most caring man in the world.

      But I couldn’t deny that I also wanted to ensure her safety for real.

     “Good night, Kendra.” I closed her door and walked to my car, but I didn’t get in until she drove off.

     Why did I feel that this marriage was going to get me in so much trouble?