You think life sucks? Well, welcome to mine sneaking out at midnight to beg some middle aged man to marry me so my biological father doesn't do something as normal as murdering me in the dead of the night.
I moved swiftly and silently through the corridors. It was dark which was good. I would rather demean myself without an audience, thank you very much.
Guests and important executives who came for the engagement was fast asleep.
My heart pounded in my chest.
I kept to a path that wasn't frequently used as I made my way to his bedroom.
I had to fix it.
I couldn't be the reason Avalon Group falls to her knees. One little girl for an entire Company suddenly seemed like a fair price.
Or at least, one girl staying alive long enough to find out the identity of the drunk driver who ran her mother off a cliff, seemed fair enough.
I had to find Kincade Essex, and I had to convince him to reconsider his decision. I couldn't let my mother's killer remain anonymous because my father murdered me too. I needed to take back my company from my dick of a dad.
I stopped in front of a large wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings - my family had spent thousands of dollars, decorating and adorning that room for him…money we didn't have.
The wretched old mansion we reside in was in dire need of renovations but all the money we could spare went to this room.
Anything for my future contracted husband.
For a minute, I stopped to think. I can do this, right?
I can convince one of the richest man in the world to marry a girl with a speech impairment and a love for fictional men with questionable sex drive, right?
I have to, I was born for this. I meant that literally.
My parents intentionally fucked each other to have me for the sole purpose of entering into a marriage contract with Kincade Essex.
It wasn't a well guarded secret.
Everyone knows that I exist for him, there is a virginity clause in our marriage contract, it should have been the first clue. I live for Kincade Essex
Before I was born, Avalon group, went bankrupt during grandmother's reign as CEO and quite frankly, my father's international gambling habits.
My parents in bid to keep the company afloat asked for help from other companies, only Essex group came to our aid but it wasn't without demands.
Thus, the nightmare that was called my life.
In exchange for keeping Avalon group afloat, Essex group wanted the two companies to merge to gain access to a natural resource - a silver white metal used to make jewelry very shiny called Rhodium.
So, a contract marriage between Avalon's heir and their heir, with the first born offspring of the marriage having legal claims to both companies was conceived.
Except there was a hitch to that plan, my parents had three boys and Essex had two sons.
And with that, someone had to go into the bedroom and produce a daughter.
Thus me, Noah- Nicolette Octaliegh Avalon Hatchett and my shit-show life of enormous responsibilities and little thanks.
I took a deep breath, smoothing out my dress and steadying my nerves. This was it. This was my chance to fix things.
I raised my hand, hesitating for a moment before knocking softly on the door.
It swung open, revealing a tall body but I couldn't make out his features. It was too dark.
Don't stutter.
Don't stutter...take a deep breath. Sell your self.
"Mr. Kincade?" I asked, almost jumping up in triumph over my small victory as I tried to hide the tremble in my voice.
My victory was short-lived.
"M-may I have a w-word with you?"
I didn't wait for an invitation. Our introduction was twenty one years overdue. I walked in.
"I'm s-sorry to have b-barged in on you, but I have to…"
"It's you" His voice was deep and it took me by surprise. "You are Nicolette"
"Y-yes." I answered. "I have come to s-speak to you about…"
I wanted to get it over with while I couldn't see his face, while it was still dark…while I still had courage to speak to such a powerful man or stop myself from vomiting over his ugliness.
"Hold on, Honey. It's too dark" He said and moved away from me and he clicked on a switch and the whole room lit up.
He turned around and we came face to face. I couldn't form a word afterwards.
Holy fuck! Yes! God, yes!
Kincade's rugged good looks took my breath away. His chiseled features were accentuated by a strong jawline and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he'd just rolled out of bed... Which technically he did.
I rolled him out of bed…I mean, he rolled out of bed for me.
He had a raw, masculine energy that was both captivating and intimidating.
I felt a flutter in my chest as he took a step closer to me. "You were saying…"
"Y-you are built like a m-machine" I gasped without even knowing that I was going to and like usual, I said the first thing I thought of.
He chuckled like he was amused. "Thanks. I think"
He was bare chested. Only wearing a black pants, the rest of him was so tan and so perfect.
I should have agreed to this contract marriage a very long time ago. A lot of mishaps could have been avoided… he would have taken me away from their abuse.
Someone like him had enough real power to make the rest of my family disappear like a bad dream. Enough abs to give me my mind-blowing fictional man-like orgasm I read about.
"Nicolette" he said and picked up a white shirt from the chair and started buttoning it up. "You wanted a word with me?"
my head snapped up in attention as I looked into his eyes. Those might not be blue eyes but those hazelnut ones works just fine for me.
"Of c-course, I do. I want to be your wife, sir"