The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Attempt

CENRIC

Sadie loosened up around me. If she continued to open things up about her, this marriage would start to bloom into something more than just a business deal. I also started to know a bit about her. She liked to be cocooned. She snored a little, and she wasn’t sorry to show what she wanted. I liked the boldness in her character. The first time I saw her picture, I knew there was a fire inside her, and I couldn’t wait to see it flare out.

“I thought you wanted to stay at home.” Theo barged into my office with brows knitted and an iPad over his chest.

“Are you trying to kick me out of my office?” I’d been reading through the company proposal I wanted to start. And this was something very personal to me. All the companies I owned were personal to me, and I always thought those employees depended on me. One wrong move I made, everything would crumble down, and if it happened, they would lose their jobs.

“Would you like me to grab you coffee?”

“Since when did I ask you to grab me a coffee?” My focus was still on the documents for the business permit.

“You don’t need me then.” He was about to turn around when I called his name.

“Can you send my wife a bouquet?”

“Now we’re talking about.” He smiled, tapping the iPad screen.

“Don’t mention it to my brother.”

“Did I just hear the words my brother?” I ignored Cas walking in.

“Theo, can you upgrade our security system to iris scan and voice recognition? Especially my office?”

Theo’s reaction was priceless, out of this world. He was still staring at me as if I had just lost my mind.

“Is it possible?”

“Yes. I need to make a budget proposal and send it to finance.” He grimaced. “Sir?”

“He’s messing with you, Theo. Forgive his lack of humor. Do whatever he asked you, except for the upgrade of the security system.” My brother comfortably spread his arms wide over the chair.

“Why are you here? Don’t you have appearances to attend to, money to donate to charities, business ideas to discuss over a video conference?”

“Sarcasm may be your strong suit, but one, I don’t give a shit. Two, I still don’t give a shit. Three, I definitely don’t give a shit. So, what was that about that you can’t share it with me?”

“Since I got married, you became more attentive, and it started to annoy me. Why don’t you go have a merry vacation and bang some models and leave me alone?” I stacked the document and shoved it back into the envelope.

He laughed, his body shaking. “It sounds so terrific and tempting, but I enjoy annoying you more. And you sound like a happy married man, a satisfied husband who can’t keep his hands to himself. How’s Sadie, by the way?”

“With a friend. If you wanna talk about my married life, you should just call me, invite me and we can talk about it over a drink. When was the last we did that?”

“Good idea. Just bros and no hoes?”

“Sure. Call me when.”

“You’re kicking me out already?”

“I’m busy.” Saved by the message with a jpeg file. It came from Devin, who was currently with my wife.

I hid my smile. They were in the lingerie shop.

I typed.

CENRIC: She’s gonna kick your ass if she finds out you’re ruining her fun.

“What’s with the smile?” my brother interrupted me.

“Just do me a favor and shut up. Go and find a woman to make you smile.”

“I’m starting to believe that you’re falling for her.”

My eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m not in love.”

“What’s so terrible about falling in love with your wife?”

I licked my lips and waited for Devin’s reply. It didn’t happen. A minute later, I called. He automatically picked it up.

“Get your hand off of her, or you will lose yours!” It was Devin.

“What the hell is going on, Devin?” I was already on my feet. The chair slid back, slamming against the glass wall.

My chest constricted. My blood boiled as soon as the other guy Devin was threatened talked back. “Devin, get my wife out of there. Or I swear to God I’m gonna go there and beat that asshole to a pulp.”

“What’s going on, bro?”

I ignored my brother. My fingers trembled. “That fucking asshole didn’t take my threat seriously. I’ll be there now.”

“Stay away from me, asshole! You sold me to the wolf, and I finally got out of your hair. What else do you want from me?” It was my wife answering her brother.

I paced back and forth as I listened to them exchanging provocative statements.

“Devin, use aggressive measure if necessary!” I ordered.

“Sir, it’s been handled. He left.”

“Take my wife home. Now!” I hung up the call. “I have to go home. That motherfucker is testing my patience. If he thinks it was just an empty threat, then he just signed up his death wish.”

“Calm down.” Cas gripped my shoulder. “You’re shaking. This is just an adrenaline rush because your wife was just assaulted. Whatever siblings dispute they have, you have to get to the bottom of it first before you jump into cutting someone’s head. If he needs to be locked up, I’m with you, but he’s still your wife’s brother, and you have so much, so many things to lose if you take this matter into your own hands. You’re not a Marine anymore, bro.”

I started to calm down a bit, but my anger just built up inside, ready to blow up. “Thanks.”

“Now, go and see your wife. If you need anything, just call me. I’m still up for that drinks.” He pulled me into a hug. “I’m always here.”

“Thanks.”

***

“Sadie?” I sprinted into the living room as soon as I got out of the elevator. “What happened?” I met Devin in the middle.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“I have no idea how he found us. As if he knew exactly where to find your wife, sir,” he answered.

“Babe?” As soon as she met my gaze, she smiled at me, but I still saw the terror deep in those eyes. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her tightly to feel her warm and delicate body against mine. “Are you hurt? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?”

“Chill out, big bad wolf. There’s nothing he didn’t inflict I can’t handle.”

I stared directly into her eyes as I shook my head. “I warned him not to lay or touch a hair in your body, and he just did. I will make sure he chokes by his own hand, Sadie.”

“Hey.” She gripped my arms. “As much as I’d like to see him choking to death, I don’t want you to get punished because of what he did. I won’t let that happen to you.”

“How did he find you?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “He doesn’t know this number. I didn’t even contact my father if you think that was how he found me.”

“That’s why you have Devin with you. I couldn’t even begin to imagine if you talked to him like that, and he wouldn’t hurt you. That’s why.” I pointed at Devin. “He needs to be with you all the time when you still want to go out and meet your friend.”

“That friend is here.” I heard a woman’s voice. I looked down to see a brunette raising her hand. She has the same age as Sadie but was voluptuous on the chest side. It was Zhuri. “Nice to meet you.”

“Hi. I’m Cenric. We didn’t properly introduce in the wedding.” I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“I’ll leave you two alone.” I looked at my wife and noticed a red mark on her arm. “That motherfucker.” I ran my thumb on the imprint, and it was still warm. “He’ll pay for this.”

“Nothing that I can handle,” she sang at me.

“Not even funny. Not even a little.” I pressed my lips on her forehead. “We’ll talk later. I’ll be in the office if you need anything.”

“You know what I need.” She smiled foolishly at me.

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Glad your humor still intact.”

I poured double whiskey once I got into my office and emptied the glass. I poured another shot when the door opened behind me.

“I wouldn’t even have to ask if you’re okay.” It was Beck.

“My plan is still in progress.”

“Of course, it is. Are you sure this is what you wanna do?”

“It’s personal to me. Even in the end, my wife will hate me.”