"Marry me" He said.
"Why?" I asked him.
Why me?
He could have anything in the whole damn world, why on earth does someone as powerful as him wants to be tied to me!
"That's for me to know and for you to find out, Kaitlyn Reid"
The way he called me by my full name hinted at a familiarity. A familiarity I'm yet to be confronted with.
Does he know me?
Do I know him?
Where?
Did we meet in the past?
"Let me see your face" I demanded with my fist clenched tightly like I was about to throw a punch.
"No" he said, his voice dropping a decibel. "Is my future wife afraid that I might not be to her standard?"
"I don't care about physical beauty, Mr. Midnight-" I started to speak but I was interrupted.
"Jack" he murmured. "My name is Jack"
"Mr Jack-"
"Just Jack, please…I haven't told anyone my name in a long time. Feels good, please use it" He told me.
It didn't come out as an order. It was more like a suggestion except with someone like Jack Midnight, suggestions are more like a demand.
"Jack" I tried it out.
It fitted perfectly.
"Jack" I said again…for some reason, it amused him because he smiled.
"I like how you say it" he admitted. "It sounds like-"
it was my turn to interrupt him.
"Couldn't I give you something else? My soul perhaps?" I mocked.
"Your signature would do just fine, sweetheart"
I was stomped.
Come on!
Must I be the frying pan straight to fire type of girl?!
"Did you hesitate this much with Lucious Reign or is my future wife playing hard to get?"
I went back to the table and I ran my hands through the paper like it was some fragile glass that might break.
"What are the rules, Jack? I need to know the rules of this game before we play it" I demanded.
One needs to learn from their mistakes, shouldn't they?
He turned around but the balcony was still too dark to make out his face.
"The rules are simple"
"Okay" I nodded.
If I knew the rules then I can prepare myself for them.
"The rule is…there is no rule"
I blinked.
Was he sent purposely to earth to confuse the hell out of me?
"No rules?"
"Yes…well, except one"
I nodded vigorously. One rule is good.
I can deal with one rule.
One rule is fantastic!
"What is the rule?"
"You can't think or dream about Lucious. If you think or dream about your ex-husband again, I will kiss you until you soaking wet and even then I wouldn't stop"
I blinked.
I was speechless for a minute.
It seems like Mr. Midnight Rhapsody was a mad man, it was the only explanation for this ridiculous request!
I came to plot revenge!
I came here to him...for help because if I held in the hatred in me without doing something about it, it would explode and take even more causalities.
I came here because I failed my baby and she paid for it with her life. And I needed someone to make me feel less... useless.
Someone to help me hold the people who ruined her life and mine accountable.
And he dares to demand such outrageous request?!
"How am I supposed to plot revenge if I'm not allowed to think of him, Mr. Midnight Rhapsody?" I asked him.
I hoped he would see the absurdity of his ways.
"Okay. I will make an exception for your revenge fantasy, Kaitlyn but it must be under 12 minutes" He said in this voice that told me he wasn't joking.
He was deadly serious.
"12 minutes?!" I was outraged.
"Yes. Even the most gruesome murder can be plotted in five minutes, my Bambina" Jack said.
What the hell is a Bambina?!
"Jack…"
"Katie, sign the papers"
I had this feeling come over me like there was no other option. I wasn't leaving this room alive except I became his contracted wife.
It was that or be gruesomely murdered. It's been an hour already, he must certainly have thought about a thousand ways to do it.
"How do you know Lucious?" I asked him.
"We run in the same circle"
"What does that mean?" I asked again.
"Sign the papers, Katie" he dropped the glass on the table in the balcony and placed one hand inside his pocket and brought one up like he was checking the time. "It would be good to be married before midnight"
"What happens when the clock runs out?" I asked him genuinely curious.
"I turn 30…officially. Sign the papers and Lucious disappears…forever"
"I don't want him dead!" I said quickly "death will be a mercy. I want him to suffer. And I want him to know I made him suffer"
There was a pause.
"Okay. It will take years but okay. Now, sign the papers"
I picked up the pen and signed them.
Great! I'm married again.
"Now, what?" I asked him.
"Now, I take care of that head of yours. I can't have my wife bleeding to death on our wedding night, Bambina. I will send someone in"
I had a feeling he was planning to jump out of the balcony when I spoke again.
"Let me see you" I demanded.
"Are you sure? You might not like what you see" He said.
"I swear it doesn't matter if you are disfigured or burnt in a fire….it doesn't matter to me. If life has taught me anything, the beautiful ones are the rotten ones. It doesn't matter, Jack" I took a step closer to him. "Let me see you. Let me see my husband"
There was some hesitation.
And then he stepped into the light. For a minute I simply stared at him and then, tears dropped down my face.
"I take it, you are disappointed in me, sweet wife"
When I spoke, it was with deadly honesty.
"Yes. Very much so!" I said spitefully.