I watched as he silently dried his wet hair after dropping a rather big bomb on me. With the way he leaned back casually, his white robe around his body, he looked sleek and noble.
I did not want to dwell on the fact that beneath that was just shorts and rock-hard abs.
I quickly turned my gaze away, tucked a strand of my blonde hair behind my ears and my eyes focused on the blue pool.
"Mr. Steele…"
"Being formal now, I thought we passed that?" He asked.
I sighed. "Sorry. Habit. Zayn, I get that we are in a precarious position right now, doesn't mean we have to fuel the flames of gossip by being together. I was drunk when that happened, even forgot you were a popular figure, and I…I don't even know what I am now anyways…is just that marrying you is a rather big step I am not ready for" I was ranting I know, but it happens when I am nervous.
"Do you want revenge?"
I turned towards him, his eyes were closed and I wondered if he was even listening to my ranting.
"Do I? I have come to a decision that I do want what belongs to me. My mum's company, my home, everything that they took away from me…" I gulped down the bitter taste of rage, the things I have lost, my dignity, my life.
I touched a spot in my jeans, where a scar lay, taking deep breaths I continued. "I realize to achieve that I must crush my enemies as well"
"If that's what you want, then you would not mind marrying me," Zayn said, eyes still closed
"Is this because of the rumors?"
Zaym scoffed, "As if I care about the rumors. I am Zayn Steele, bad-arse billionaire playboy, of course, I am going to be on every tabloid"
Narcissistic…that was what I thought.
Still, I kicked it to the back of my mind, "Since you don't care about the news, then you shouldn't care about this, just like your other escapades…I am sure this one would die down too"
Hopefully, it does and I won't be remembered as one of the girls that have been slept with by Zayn Steele. Even though I was, doesn't mean the entire world should know about it.
"And how would that affect your reputation?" He asked, I kept quiet. He opened his eyes and leaned forward, his eyes were as bright as black obsidian and there was a strange smile on his lips. "Listen darling, you want to do all that chivalry, you need a good backing, and a rather clean slate. If you don't marry me, then…people would use that against you. The Stark family is like a little ant where I am, I can kick them away but that's not my fight. This is your fight, and even though they are like ants, they are still powerful, and don't forget that they have the backing of the Waldorf family"
My heart stung when he said that surname. The Waldorf family, my mother's family, who had abandoned me and sided with my father in disciplining me because I was a disgrace. I lack the etiquette, grace, and power that my mother and sister had.
Too quiet, not bold enough, not strong enough to rule the Waldorf family so they gladly took the company I had watched my mum build from scratch, a company I had modeled for, they took it and threw it into Aurora's arms.
I didn't want to think about it as tears were starting to form in my eyes.
I looked away from Zayn as I did not want him to see me cry, to see me vulnerable again, he has had enough of my tears these past few weeks.
"You need a tissue?" I shook my head.
"I am fine."
"No you are not, and crying doesn't make someone weak. You are a normal lady with high emotions. It's not a big deal, you have been through so much"
I sighed. "So…you would help me do all that if I married you?"
He nodded.
"Maybe…maybe there are other methods to consider…" I said, still unsure to take the drastic step.
"You have a day and a half to think about it" his voice interrupted her. "You have my number, call me when you have finally stopped fearing to take a big step" he still had that slight smirk on his lips that could make one leg wobble.
But my legs were anything but wobbling. Instead, I paid more attention to his words, it was like he could read through me. Even though he tries to act like someone who doesn't care, a classic playboy, he is observing. Because no one who did not observe would build an international tech company and not be.
"I understand. It's just a bit sudden and well you hardly know me…"
"We are not marrying for love darling and besides, to make you feel better I am also doing this for myself. I have many people who want to take my place and have been using my bad-boy persona against me. I have a family, and I am threatened too. So…being with you might stabilize that" He tilted his head and looked up at the sky. "It's getting late, do you want me to take you home?"
"No need, I can take a taxi" I quickly stood up and nodded at him.
With a last look at the man who had now closed his eyes while leaning back, enjoying the night breeze I turned and left the pool area.
Entering the elevator I took a deep breath to calm myself. So many things to do, to think about. It's still hard to believe that he had asked me to marry him.
Marriage of convenience. I had always wanted to marry for love, but now here I was thinking something else.
When the elevator stopped on the last floor, I quickly stepped outside with my head lowered. I was in such a hurry that I did not notice the two people heading towards me and crashed into them.
"Gosh, are you blind or what?" The voice said and I froze.
It's been weeks since I heard that voice, laughing and smiling at my best friend. I did not want to see her. Please…please why is fate like this?
I wasn't ready for this confrontation.
I immediately stepped back and looked at the red-haired girl who looked at me with an arrogant expression, and then slowly rather slowly my eyes moved to look at the man that stood beside her and my heart stopped.