Z
I see her pupils dilate, trying to make sense of what she just heard. But my attention is equipped by the swelling on her hand and how she keeps rubbing it in fascination. I wonder what's that about.
And the way she looks at that stranded fiber hanging out from the sheet that covers her with more interest than she has shown in me is surprisingly annoying. I don't want her interests to lie in me, but at the same time I don't want her interests to lie anywhere else either. That's reasonable right? Considering I am going to make her my wife, that is definitely reasonable.
A voice in my head sounds, "She hasn't even said yes."
Oh but she will. I have spent years concocting the perfect plan, I have everything I might need to convince her to agree to my request which is not exactly a request. 'More like blackmail.' the voice inside of me whispers again, fucking with my head.
I don't know how long it has been since the voice inside me has reared its head again. It was with me when I went through some of the worst phases of life at the hands of my father. It cocooned me in its envelope and I felt safe, protected from whatever my father might send my way. It was comforting at first and then gradually when I got addicted to the shelter it provided, it went away. Never came back.
Until now that is.
And now it's taunting me, reminding me of every ulterior motive I have, every insecurity I have as well.
It's agonizing.
It's a torture I will have to live through. I don't even know for how long. Because the voice is only a one way thing. I can't talk to it or ask for it to go away. It stays and speaks as it pleases.
As it fucking pleases.
"Why me?" Erna speaks and the bubble that was building around me bursts and reminds me of where I am and why.
I look up at her only to find her staring in my eyes looking for answers I can't give her. 'Or won't.' shut up you stupid voice. I don't know why this voice is making me so irritated but whatever. I don't have time to deal with it at the moment. It can wait in the back seat while I deal with the current situation in hand.
I stare back at her with the same intensity and I see a shiver run through her body. But she is not scared, no. She is curious, My little toy.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine to have.
Mine to break.
Mine to consume.
"Because it can not be anyone else." I answered her quiet question in an equally quiet voice.
____________________________
Erna
This stranger.
The one who is looking at me as if he has known me my entire life.
Who is he?
Like underneath all that classic jazz, who really is he?
I am wondering that, lost in thoughts just like he is when his voice reaches me again in a caress. "Because it can not be anyone else." his voice has somehow dropped down several degrees. Its raspier too. And he just answered a question, I hadn't even realized I had asked aloud.
I nod even though I don't understand one thing about all of this.
"What is your name?"
I watch him contemplate before he answers, "Ezekiel."
No last names huh. Nevermind, it's not like it would matter anyways.
"So, like… you want to marry me because you like me or something?"
"Don't flatter yourself."
"Then why me? An assassin? You want me to work free jobs for you or something?"
"No. if anything, I want you to stop doing these jobs.'
"Hold back stranger. What? No! I won't marry you."
"Look, I need a wife urgently or my family would disinherit me. ."
"Oh, so you need a fake wife?"
"Yes."
"And you chose the one person who burned down that inheritance?" his lip quirks at my reply.
"Yeah I suppose. Apparently I am a masochist."
You sure are, I almost say that out loud. And because if and I say that if I agree to do this, I am making his life a living hell.
"If we do this, we need to set some ground rules."
"My building, my rules or you pay me 200 million in cash."
Fucking bastard. He wants to play. Let's play.
"Fine, I will give you the money." I won't, I can't, obviously.
"Why would you not choose the easy way?" he sounds disoriented.
"Signing away life to a prison with you in it, doesn't sound easy to me."
His lip quirks again but he changes his expression soon after.
"Well we could negotiate. And maybe set a time limit."
"Oh, now we are talking."
"How about five years? Just to make sure I get every last penny I am owed."
"Sounds plausible. And you won't interfere with my job. And no snooping in my business."
"I can do that."
"Also we won't consummate the marriage."
"Are you a virgin?" I am almost offended by the gall this man has to ask me such a question.
"No of course not!!!" I say a bit too convincingly that it sounds like a lie.
His gaze darkens for a mini second before it goes back to normal, and if I had blinked, I would have missed it.
"Fine, we won't. But If I need a child…"
I interrupt him before he gets a chance to speak, "Surrogacy!!!"
His expression sours but he nods anyway.
"And you pay my bills."
"You can have my black card."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Does it have a limit?"
"No."
Well leave it to me to figure out its limit. After all, what more could a girl want from a fake marriage. So I nod and say, "Okay then, I will marry you."