"Wife? Stephanie, you didn't tell me you got married?" I could hear Daniel's voice. It was polite and friendly, but I knew the underlying tone. He was angry… and that meant trouble. I shuddered, remembering what happened when he got angry.
Just like before, Cliff pulled me closer, his arms protectively wrapping tightly around my back. "It seems my wife is not comfortable enough with you. We will take our leave." With that, Cliff scooped me up into his arms, holding me tightly.
I should have refused his actions, but when was the last time someone took my side? Protect me? Shielded me? Was such warmth ever present in my life?
"Are you not going to get down?" My foolish thoughts came to a halt at his voice. Cliff kept his gaze quiet and warm, not the usual stares I received. I broke eye contact first and got down from his arms. We were already at the parking lot, and it seemed Daniel didn't follow us.
"Thank you." I gave a light bow. If it wasn't for him, I would still be stuck there with Daniel, and who knows how it might have ended. I shuddered just thinking about a repetition of the past.
"If you are grateful," Cliff lowered his face to meet mine, just a few inches away, "How about accepting my offer?" he continued, his black eyes glinting.
This close, I could see all the details of his face; how perfectly structured his features were: thick eyebrows, a straight nose, fuller lips, and dimples that enhanced his mischievousness. It was understandable why, even with his reputation as a playboy, he was still the most eligible and desired among single women. He was rich, good-looking, and most of all, even as a playboy, more of a gentleman than most men.
I pulled myself out of my thoughts. What was I even thinking? I took a step back, creating some space between us. "I am grateful for what you did, but I can't marry you," I replied honestly. Cliff was a perfect man, even with his womanizer personality, but I knew men like him were desired by many. Being the wife of someone like him, even contractually, would mean a repeat of what happened five years ago.
"How can I love someone like you? Did you forget you are a defective piece?"
The words rushed into my mind like cold water being poured over me. Right. Someone defective like me would only be a burden to others.
"If you want, I can talk to your grandfather about it," I suggested. Since neither of us wanted this and it was an arrangement that wasn't originally ours to keep, there was no point forcing ourselves into marriage. I knew Cliff really cared about his grandfather… or perhaps feared him.
Cliff stood up straight. "No need. This is far more interesting than I expected."
Interesting? I wanted to ask what was interesting to him, but he had already disappeared. As curious as I was, I didn't dwell on it. Hopefully, it was our last meeting, and I could only wish him luck in securing his inheritance. I didn't think further and drove straight home.
I walked to my car parked at the corner, planning to drive home and visit Grandpa early the next morning, but my plans rarely went my way. My phone lit up with my grandfather's caller ID. I already knew what was coming.
I picked up the call, and before I could say hello, his sharp voice cut me off.
"Return home immediately."
Then the line went dead.
I let out an exhausted sigh. The tone and urgency in his voice could mean only one thing: he was angry. I started my car and drove toward the estate. It was better to deal with it sooner rather than leave it for tomorrow.
Cliff's POV
"I heard you went on a blind date for marriage." I glanced at my right-hand man. He was smirking, waiting to hear the details.
I groaned in frustration. The image of her in that yellow sundress kept popping into my head like a taunting reminder of my rejection. I gave her such a great offer, yet she chose a married man over me? A married man?
"Find out everything about her, especially the man she was having an affair with," I ordered. There was no way I was accepting defeat to a married man of all people.
"So she rejected you." I could hear him trying to control his laughter. "I guess it's your first time being rejected. Or the second time… I remember that girl in high school who called you trash."
Sometimes he was more annoying than helpful.
I shot him a sharp glare. "Are you done?"
"Oh, come on. Even the most wanted playboy has his off days. It would be funny if she were the same girl as before." Alex continued his nonsense. But I knew there was no way that girl would be a homewrecker. If anything, she despised it more than anyone. If my grandfather hadn't tried to threaten me, I would have never…
"Does she know about your job, or did you just act like an unemployed loser?"
Alex trailed off as soon as I glared at him. Telling her I was in the mafia would be worse than being called unemployed.
"Do you think it's a real marriage? I just need to be married so Grandpa will leave me alone. Women like her are not marriage material," I remarked. Someone who selfishly ruins the lives of two people doesn't deserve happiness. People like her are what I despise most. The blatant way she accepted it, as if it were something to be proud of, already disgusted me.
If it weren't for Grandpa I would have never met someone like her. Her pride in those words made me hate her, yet I couldn't stop thinking about her brown hair that almost looked red in the sunlight, her green eyes gleaming like new leaf buds in spring, the yellow dress hugging her curves, or the way her face bloomed every time she smiled, seducing anyone who looked at her. She was definitely a seductress who could attract any man and yet she chose a married one.
An uncomfortable knot twisted in my stomach just thinking about her seducing that man. Someone like her was too good to be a mistress. More importantly, that man who made her react like that, who was he? Was he her lover or…
No. I didn't even want to think.
I had decided that even if this marriage was nothing but a sham to keep my grandfather happy, she wouldn't be bad as a plaything. I just had to take care of that tiny flaw she had.
"Are you still here?" Alex's voice was loud enough to stop my thoughts.
"Do you want to make a bet?" I smirked. "How long do you think it will take to make her fall for me?"