Chapter 37

Lillian

  

   The first thing I noticed was how tall Zayden was, he had to bend to pass through the door. And then someone followed behind him, shorter but he occupied space.

I stiffened, my fingers trembling slightly. Why was he here?

He smiled at me." Lillian, it's been so long."

I gritted my teeth; how could he be so jovial after everything he put me through?

" I told Victoria it was you I saw being rushed into the ward but she wouldn't believe me." He chimed.

"What do you want?" I said, cooly.

Jade and Zayden were watching. Jade had only heard fragments of stories about my foster family, but Zayden knew nothing, and I wanted it to remain that way.

He glanced around." If we could have some privacy."

I nodded at Jade. She nodded back and left, but Zayden remained sitting. I saw the hesitation in his eyes. He didn't trust Thomas to be alone with me.

I won't blame him, my father had the face of a criminal.

" Come on, Zayden, I need to speak with my daughter," Thomas spoke with arrogance.

They were staring at each other like it was a staring contest.

Zayden glanced over at me. I gave him the go-ahead, but he remained sitting.

Stubborn bastard!

" Zay, please," I said softly.

"Fine." He got up grumpily and left.

I was now left with the man that had made my life miserable.

He chuckled." What's little Lilly doing with one of the richest bachelors in the country, eh?"

I pushed myself to sit upright." it's none of your business."

" Are you dating him? I doubt it, though; You're not his type of ideal woman."

I closed my eyes, gently taking breaths." If you're here to remind me of how worthless I am then be done with it."

He snorted." I haven't seen you in six years, Since you ran away from your family. I wonder how your mother would take this and Shireen, she liked you, you know."

He took a deep breath before continuing." She cried for weeks and finally accepted that you were never coming back, and then she started to hate you, she destroyed your room."

He chuckled at the end of his speech.

I was breathing heavily by now. They had Shireen a year after they adopted me and that was when they both stopped being parents to me.

    I don't have a grudge against her; she was a nice little toddler, but her parents must have spoiled her beyond repair.

" I don't see how this is relevant, you disowned me. You are no longer my father." I snarled. My patients were running out.

He shook his head." I disowned you after you started whoring yourself with that lunatic boy, you were bringing shame to my family!"

I scoffed." Shame? He was the only one who cared! The days you locked me out, he took me in. He paid my tuition f*e!"

He threw his head back and started laughing." Then where is he now?"

I kept my mouth shut. Every single person I thought cared for me always had an ulterior motive.

" I remembered you saying he loved you and you loved him too. Where's the love of your life now? Who's the one he left broken."

I bit down on my lower lip, my eyelids were beginning to water. I was a stupid teenager back then, so stupid that I let myself into the clutches of a total stranger.

" Get out, we're done here."

He nodded." We're not done, Lillian. You're my daughter and I'll be back to collect my dues soon."

I squinted with my brows." You and your wife can rot. I never want to see you again."

He chuckled and patted my head." By the way, your lunatic boyfriend was devastated when you left. He's now a nice gentleman compared to before. I'll send my regards; I'm sure he'll be happy to know you're still in the States."

My heart dropped." Don't you dare tell him anything about me?"

Thomas was well aware of what he did to me, yet he did nothing about it.

" It depends." He shrugged.

" On what?"

He stood, straightening out his clothes." I hope we see each other again, I have a feeling we will."

He then walked out without answering my question.

I swallowed as I stared at the door. Thomas was capable of anything. When he took me away from the orphanage, I thought I'd finally be happy.

   He only adopted me because he thought Victoria couldn't have a child; a year later, she conceived, and I was more or less a servant.

   I shook my head, removing thoughts about my complicated childhood.

Zayden returned a minute later, along with Jade and Aiden. Thankfully, no one questioned me, but  Zayden was particularly staring at me.

I insisted on getting discharged but he bluntly refused. He made me stay another day before I finally returned to the mansion.

  The following day was exhausting because Zayden was all over me. And he was always exchanging words with Jade.

They hated each other's guts. At first, he didn't want Jade to go with us to his house when I was discharged, but Jade threatened to pull out his eyes with her nails.

They were always snapping at each other.

"Lily, how are you coping with this chunk of flesh." Jade snarled, giving Zayden a dirty look as we pulled over into the garage.

I couldn't stop myself from giggling." He has good food and a nice place so I can manage."

Zayden spoke, glaring at Jade as we came out of the car.." The only reason I'm letting you into my house is because Lillian insists."

Jade eyed him." Good, because you'll be seeing more of me from now on."

Zayden turned to face me." Tell me she'll only stay for a few days."

I raised my chin." This is my house remember? She's welcome to stay as long as she likes."

He paused, his eyes boring into mine. He understood what my words meant." Yes, it's your house." He said, emphasising on each word.

I smirked at Jade. I was going to take her advice. Zayden was a rich man; I had my life to rebuild, and what better way to do that than to use your husband's good fortune?

 

Soon it was nightfall, I was seated on the balcony enjoying the view from up there when

Zayden walked up beside me.

" How are you feeling?"

I shrugged."I'm still breathing."

He sighed." Well..umm...I'm sorry."

I turned to look at him." About what?"

"You had an anxiety attack because I asked you to marry me.” he flexed his hands on the railing.

My eyes roamed over the veins that covered the length of his long fingers to his arms.

Very attractive.

" About that." I cleared my throat." I didn't get to read the contract."

He glanced at me." Does that mean you might consider it?"

I smacked my lips," It's a contract so there should be certain terms from both sides. I won't agree to it if you're the one setting the rules."

He raised a brow, a smirk, appearing on his face." I just need you to marry me for six months, that's all."

"With no strings attached?"

"Well, I have a feeling my father would want a wedding, so you will have to pretend to love me while in public. Especially if there's going to be a wedding."

My curiosity heightened."I suppose, your father has something to do with your sudden marriage?"

He turned to face me fully." How did you know?"

I shrugged." I've read a lot of books, it happens a lot in romance novels. The Male lead is forced into marriage to save the company or has to marry to keep his position. Yours doesn't look any different."

He chuckled; his eyes bore into mine, making me feel naked." yeah, things like that happen a lot among rich people, but Mine is different."

" How so?"

" I'm not forcing you, you have a choice."

I scooted closer to him, just out of reflex and he did the same.

"And if I refuse?"

He stared out the lawn." Then it's either I marry Sage or lose the company."

The mention of her name made my stomach roil. I suddenly preferred him to lose the company.

Then a thought occurred to me. If he lost the company then there was a chance I might lose my job. First, because everyone apart from Aiden in the office hated my existence, and from my little intel, Sage's father was part of the board members, and he wasn't so happy about what I did to his daughter.

I cursed silently, I might as well make good use of this opportunity.

"I'm not jealous or anything but I'd rather you lose the company."

He chuckled." I could marry Sage Instead."

I glared at him." She'll make your life miserable, you could even lose the company in the process . I know an evil woman when I see one."

His fingers brushed mine.

It tingled. I didn't even realise we had gotten so close. Actually,I did, but I chose to ignore it.

" Jobs are hard to come by these days, if you lose the company, there's a possibility that I might lose my job," I added

"It's not a possibility, you'll lose your job. The board members, my father included, don't like you. Not after what transpired between you and the company's ambassador." He paused.

" There were rumours, and it brought a bad image to the company, so yes, you'll lose your job if I lose the company." He finished.

So basically ,I was still in the company because of him. It's rare for a secretary to skip work for days and remain employed. One of the many advantages of making out with your boss.

I sighed."Seems it's settled then."

His eyes found mine immediately, with a questioning gaze.

I took a deep breath." I'll marry you."

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it right back.

I chuckled." Stop acting all surprised."

I saw the way his shoulders relaxed like I had just lifted a huge burden off his shoulders." It's just that I never thought it would be this easy. I expected to spend days trying to convince you."

I smirked." There are conditions, though; you don't expect me to marry you without expecting anything in return, do you?"

He raised a brow."Hit me."

I shrugged, shoulders high." Not yet; I'll fulfil my end of the bargain first."

He smirked, amusement in his voice" Why do I feel like I'm being manipulated?"

I nodded gracefully." You are."

For the first time, he laughed. The simple gesture made my heart flutter. He looked extra handsome.

" You're using my own words against me." He said

I smiled, my chest warming up for no reason." You're not the only one good at manipulating people."

  

He smiled back and we both stood there enjoying nature in comfortable silence.

  It felt good to feel good. All I had to do was put all my plans in place, Six months was a very short time. But it was enough to get what I needed.