Lorraine

My head ached badly as my eyes fluttered open. I shut my eyes quickly and opened them again and tried to shove the pain aside by shaking my head, but it only compounded the pain.

Slowly adapting to the empty bright room that had nothing but a bed, I tried to get up, then I realised that my legs were tied together and my hands also suffered the same fate as they were held together at the back of the iron chair.

My intended scream was muffled by the rope my lips were covered with, bringing tears to my ears as my heart beat in a staccato rhythm.

My fear skyrocketed when the door of the room pushed open with some men trudging in a lackadaisical manner like they owned the world. My eyes gleamed with fury as I caught the sight of their leader, strolling behind them with his lips curved in a mischievous smile.

I'd have scoffed if not for the restriction. I bet he was finding it funny.

"Untie her!" He ordered, his voice firm and hinged with disapproval.

One of his bodyguards in a black suit rushed towards me and untied my legs and hands. He turned around and tried to remove the rope from my lips but I raised my hand to stop him as I didn't appreciate the unwanted closeness.

A loud gasp escaped my lips as my mouth became free. I remained seated on the chair, examining my bare wrists which had turned red.

"Do you feel satisfied now that you've kept me all tied up like an animal being taken to the slaughterhouse?" I thundered, surprised at the angry tone of my voice and the boldness with which I lashed out at him.

He cocked his face to the side, his smirk still donned on his lips. At the snap of his fingers the bodyguards left, leaving me with him.

"You should feel proud of yourself for strolling around with several bodyguards like the king of Israel. Can you even protect yourself without them?" I mocked, but his chuckle disappointed me.

"You'll be amazed at how many things I can do for myself including making you mine." He began, his tone filled with an irritating kind of confidence I wished to have, because till now, my body still tingled with a strange kind of feeling at a mere sight of him even though he was the last person I wished to see.

"I will never be yours!" I shot back at the top of my voice.

He moved away from the empty wardrobe he was leaning on and advanced towards me, his step predatory and intimidating yet admirable. If I was this strong seven years ago, I wouldn't have fallen into his trap.

"You tried so hard to run away from me yet you are here, do you think that there's anything else you can do?" He asked, fixing his thumb under my chin so that I could keep my gaze on him.

I snapped my face out of his grip and hissed, putting some reasonable distance between us.

"The only reason I'm still here is because you found a way to get me. Why can't you understand that I despise you and I never want to be with you?" I spat back, clenching my fists as if I could punch him if given the chance.

He chuckled again, then folded his arms. "I despise you more, Lorraine, but you still have to marry me because you owe me." He stated calmly and this time I unclenched my fist and raked my fingers through my air in frustration. "A huge amount of money precisely."

Not again. For God's sake, when was he going to understand that I didn't borrow the money? I could sue him for defamation if I had the chance but what proof did I have?

"You know that I wasn't the one who borrowed the money, right? Besides, if you know who did it, why don't you go ahead and apprehend him, don't you see that I'm stuck in the middle?" I cried.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I got to know by chance and I'm going to spare you the details of how I found out so just do yourself a favor, sign the papers and become my wife."

I drew in a deep breath to maintain my cool, seeing that he wasn't going to bulge. I needed to find a way to get out of this mess before it would be too late.

Masking my sour expression with the sweetest smile I could come up with, I approached him slowly and reached for his hands. Electrifying currents surged through me as our hands met but I held him firmly to keep up the show.

"Dexter, as long as I can remember, we have both loathed each other from high school and I don't believe that you like me now just because I've grown into a beautiful woman. So why don't you stop this charade and let me go?" I asked sweetly, batting my lashes at him, "It would be good for the both of us" I added.

He stared at me, long and hard, then took his hands off, digging them into both pockets of his pants. "After what you did, I'd like you to know that I can't stand you, but this marriage cuts across our hateful feelings for each other. It's something you will never understand." His eyes turned dark and vengeful immediately, causing me to take a step back.

An exhausted sigh escaped my lips. "This is my life, Dexter. You won't ruin it for me with your so-called marriage contract." I protested.

He shook his head, and the vengeful glints were replaced with an unreadable expression. "If you don't marry me, then your life will be completely ruined, dear Lorraine. And don't forget that you have a lot of enemies, especially your step father."

This wasn't about the debt anymore, something dark was lurking behind his words and he wouldn't let me in on it. Escaping wasn't an option because he'd catch me again, he was capable of it. And obviously, he was more dangerous than the younger version of him I knew in high school.

My stepfather was a huge threat to my life and maybe he could protect me from him. Just maybe.

With a tired sigh, I raised my hands in surrender, forcing my voice to be firm and unwavering. "Fine! I'll sign the contract but I have a few rules."