Lila's POV
When I finally stepped into the private lounge, the type of restaurant that screams luxury, reserved by Mr. Knight, I immediately regretted ever agreeing to this meeting. My mother, Grace, had been unbearably insistent, almost desperate, that I follow her order and meet my so-called "fiancé", and create an acquaintance before the official engagement was announced.
I carefully scanned the room, my heart missing a beat as my eyes landed on him at a corner of the restaurant. Sebastian Knight sat comfortably in an armchair, legs crossed, his dark suit unmistakably tailored to perfection. His expression was as usual, unreadable, but his posture portrayed authority, influence.
He didn't even consider glancing up when I walked in, no move to acknowledge my presence.
I closed the door, hitting it with force, and as I wanted, I earned just a flicker of acknowledgment. "Well, this is more than awkward," I muttered under my breathe, crossing my arms.
Sebastian finally decided to raise his face, and as I expected, it was as impassive as a marble statue. "Oh, miss Monroe," he greeted, his tone normal but professional.
"Miss Monroe, just that?" I repeated incredulously out of shock. "Seriously, we go by that route? That's how you chose to play this?"
"I'm totally lost and not sure what you mean," he said, his voice devoid of remorse.
I marched up to him with full force, my heels clicking very hard against the tiled floor of the restaurant. "You have no idea of what I mean? You're seriously going to sit there and pretend all is normal, like you have amnesia, and can't recognize me?"
He leaned back again, ensuring to balance even more in his chair, his gaze cool, detached and void of emotion. "You sound confident, like we've met before? I don't recall meeting you before."
I clenched my fists, my anger was evident for all to see. "Oh, you don't recall having me on your bed? Let me jog your shameless memory. A certain night in club? A scandal also emerged after the events of the night? The fact that we enjoyed ourselves, kissed and—"
"Be careful," he interrupted me, his tone sharper than he used to be. "We're obviously in public."
I glared at him in anger. "You're unbelievable, Sebastian. Do you know what I've experienced, how I suffered in the hands of my mother all because of you? If you hadn't played the saint, swooped in like some self-appointed knight in shining armor, I'm sure we won't be here today!"
Sebastian's piercing eyes narrowed, but he maintained his cool, and giving me the opportunity to vent my frustration.
"My mother has been insistent and unbearable!" I continued, on a rising tone. "The media never gave me a second to freely take in air, my life is such a circus, and now, of all things, I'm being forced into this meaningless ridiculous arranged marriage—all because of no one but you!"
He stood abruptly, his towering presence suddenly overwhelming. "Just because of me?" he repeated, his voice calm but dangerous. "If I remember vividly, you were the initiator of everything. You seem to forget so soon how you made the choice of entering my room that night."
I opened my mouth to counter him, but the right words refused to form. I became speechless.
"Let's not make the mistake of rewriting this horrible history," he added, his tone icy and deadly. "We're both here for a reason, which is your mother's political agenda, and it would be nice to focus entirely on that, though I also have my own reasons for deciding to go by this arrangement."
I scoffed indifferently. "Reasons right? Oh, you mean the rumors that has been circulating about your sexuality? You only agreed as a way of saving your precious reputation which has been destroyed."
He smirked mischievously, his eyes glowing coldly. "And you as well is only doing this because your over ambitious mother won't let you be. So do spare me that rubbish of self-righteous indignation you are exhibiting, Lila."
The very sound of my name and not my surname on his lips ended up sending unexpected waves of shiver down my spine, but I knew better to shake it off as quickly as it came.
"Fine then," I snapped. "Let's just get this over with right away."
Sebastian nonchalantly gestured to the table and there lay a sleek, leather-bound folder. "It was the contract."
I sat down and hesitating, I started flipping through the meaningless pages. One thing was obvious, the terms involved were clear: one year of marriage, no involvement of personal entanglements, and of course a hefty financial settlement at the end of the one year.
"This is really absurd," I muttered not to anyone in particular as I skimmed the document carefully.
"It's good for practical," Sebastian countered immediately. "I want you to think of it as nothing but a business deal."
I shot him a daring glare. "This isn't in anyway a merger, Sebastian. This is clearly my life."
"And mine too," he said coldly almost interrupting me. "But we both know the implications of not following this arrangement, it's better than the alternative if you ask me."
I hated to admit that he was right.
Finally, with a resigned sigh, I grabbed the pen and reluctantly scrawled my signature at the require page . "There you go. Happy now?"
Sebastian took the folder containing the contract, and signing his name with almost the same detached cold demur that seemed to define everything about him. "Ecstatic then," he said very dryly.
I stood abruptly, there was no reason to stay any longer, I was ready to leave. "If you'll excuse me, I would rather spend my precious time being productive than sit here and pretend this adds to my life in anyway."
As I turned to take my leave, his husk voice stopped me. "Miss. Lila Monroe."
I froze, but my hand was already on the door handle.
"For formality sake, not like it worth," he said, his tone softer but still carrying its coldness. "I didn't mean for things to become sour between us, it was never my intention."
I glanced back at him, my heart heavy because of the sarcasm that his voice carried. "Neither did I plan to be here," I said quietly more to myself before walking out. He thinks so highly of himself, that I would have agreed to sharing the same space with him if not because of my mother, and most importantly; my inheritance.
I needed something that would help me stand on my feet when I finally leave my nightmare of a family. My father had left me with an inheritance, big enough to sustain me throughout my life, but my mother thinks I was under age to have it, while she gave Diana access to hers, claiming she's a better representation of our family than I could ever be.
Now, the main problem would come after the public announcement of their engagement. How will both of them navigate the inevitable public announcement? And what would become of Lila when Diana decides to become a thorn in the flesh just for her own gain?