04: ODÉLLE

•Odette•

It was Draven again.

“Mr. Lockwood…” His name rolled out of my mouth like a cautious warning.

“I have a private room. Would you like to join me?” Draven came closer, his scent wafting through my nostrils. That damned mint coffee again.

My throat went dry as I shook my head negatively. Join him in a private room? Did he think I was drunk enough to lose my common sense?

And what the hell was he doing here, of all places to be?

“I’d rather not. Thanks for the offer.” I attempted to sidestep him and escape, but he blocked me with his large frame.

“I misspoke. Join me in my private room. Now.” The order was direct. The look in his eyes was nothing short of commanding, authoritative; and I was damn familiar with the expression.

I suddenly felt like it was my father standing in front of me, and it made my spine curve so I could shrink into myself.

Draven didn’t give me enough time to compose myself and speak up. He took advantage of my disorientation to place a hand on my waist and began to usher me forward.

His palm was hot. I could feel it even through the material of my dress shirt and suit jacket. Neon lights and mellow music guided our path until we reached his supposed private room.

There were two floors in this bar. The lower one with cubes for the general public and the upper one with private rooms for exclusive patrons.

“Drink?” Draven offered as he directed me to sit on the couch.

I threw him a look before I replied, “No, thank you.”

He sat down across from me with a small table between us. He ended up pouring alcohol for two and pushed a glass to my front.

I didn’t make a move. My hands were fixed on my thighs. I was beyond uncomfortable.

Just what was he working towards with this forceful invitation?

“You might need it soon,” Draven gestured to the drink in front of me.

I had a feeling he was right. But I still kept my hands to myself.

“What do you want?” I went straight to the point, shedding off whatever ounce of politeness I’d been projecting before.

“You.” Draven stated.

“Excuse me?” I exclaimed, shooting up from my seat.

Draven lifted his glass and looked me right in the eyes, only to say, “I’m not finished. Sit back down.”

I didn’t want to. I was ready to turn around and march out the door, but I couldn’t. If it wasn’t the cold domineering look in his seductive green eyes keeping me transfixed on the spot, it was the fact that the whole room had transformed into a cage.

I felt like if I took the wrong step, I would get brutally devoured. But I didn’t want to admit defeat so easily.

“Sit down, Odette Valmont.” Draven repeated before taking a sip of his wine.

My knees buckled, and I slowly sat down again. My fists clenched and unclenched as I glared at Draven.

“Nice. As I was saying, I want to marry you—don’t say a thing until I’m finished. My grandfather is dying, and as you know, I have no other living relations. He wants me to wife up and provide an heir.” Draven placed his drink back on the table and relaxed into his chair.

I opened my mouth to say something, but he threw me a warning look that made me shut my mouth without hesitation.

“I’ve always liked your personality, Odette Valmont. And you’re stunning. Our kids are going to be gorgeous.” Draven spoke with a level of certainty that made me wonder if he was borderline insane or just madly confident in himself.

“So let me lay the terms down for ya. Three years. We marry for three years; you give me a child. You get to taste the luxury of bearing the Lockwood name.” Draven gestured for me to pick up my drink.

Maybe it was the foxy look in his eyes that compelled me, but I didn’t even know when my fingers got pasted to the glass and I brought it to my lips to take a sip.

The wine was cold and harsh. Just like my reality.

“That’s all?” I questioned after Draven went silent for over thirty seconds.

He smiled broadly, looking like he’d achieved something. Then he grabbed a pretty-looking file that I hadn’t noticed until this very moment from the left hand side on his chair.

He handed it to me while saying, “How does ODÉLLE sound?”

I opened the file and began to read through the document while Draven talked.

“Your own brand, distributing millions of fashionwear and accessories all round the globe. You headlining fashion shows, launching new designs, hosting exclusive reveals. You as the sole owner of the biggest brand the world has yet to know.” Draven spoke with a suave voice, saying exactly what I wanted to hear.

As I carefully scanned the document, I saw all that he was talking about and more. I even felt myself getting convinced by his bullshit, until my eyes settled on a particular clause.

“What do you mean by sexual relations?” I asked tentatively.

“Hm?” Draven’s eyes met mine in a puzzled state.

“It says here that Party B, which is me, should be ready to engage in sexual relations anytime Party A is in the mood. And also, what’s this clause about remaining faithful and whatnot?”

“Don’t play stupid, Odette Valmont. If we’re going to get married with the idea of producing kids in mind, of course we have to fuck. And is it such a terrible thing to remain faithful to your partner?”

Draven’s straightforward words had my shoulders trembling.

I couldn’t imagine myself getting ‘fucked’ by The Draven Lockwood of the Upper East, the flexible steel, the maddest man in business.

“Mr. Lockwood, I hope you can understand, but I don’t believe your terms suit me.” I slowly slid the file back to him on the table.

Draven’s relaxed vibe didn’t falter. He picked up the file and placed it beside himself.

“Is it because you’re a virgin?”

“W-wha—how do you even know that??” I exploded, not even knowing the right words to use to depict my utter shock and confusion.

Draven shifted to the edge of his seat and smiled mischievously. “How do I know that pussy from the Montague family never had the pleasure of tearing through your virgin cunt? I have my ways.”

Draven’s filthy way of speaking made my stomach flip for many reasons.

“Mr. Lockwood, mind the way you speak to me.” My voice almost wavered as I warned a man that could pick me up like a cube of sugar and squash me into powder.

“No, I will not mind the way I speak to you. I want to fuck you, Odette Valmont. You’re not the only intelligent and beautiful girl in the Upper East. You’re certainly not the richest nor do you have the best family name.

“I can go through thousands of options before settling for you. But here I am, offering this deal to you first because I’ve fantasized about popping your cherry since I was in college. I’ve laid down my terms, plain and simple.” Draven said without a change in his steady pitch.

My brain almost short circuited when I processed all of his words. I could not say a single word as Draven looked at me like he was ready to jump my bones.

“Do you accept my offer?”