Reborn to the Day I Chose My Nemesis

Beryl

The office was cold, way too cold.

“Is it always this cold in here?”

“Explain your proposal.”

I guess no small talk then. I hadn't thought about explaining before making my move. I'd sound like a crazy woman if I say I went back in time.

“I need to protect my people.”

He cocked his head to the side, “you are one of the most competent women I know, you run a multi-million dollar company, what can you possibly need my help to protect?”

“Myself.” He raised a brow, “I need your help to protect myself.”

“I see.”

He drummed his fingers on his table, while my heart drummed inside of me.

“Why should I help you?”

“You are one of the most feared men…”

“I am the most feared man in the city, darling, not one of.”

I internally rolled my eyes at his arrogance, but I nodded in agreement nonetheless, “Yes. No one would dare cross you, and I need you on my side.”

“You are stating the obvious, I was asking what I stand to gain from this arrangement. Why should I help my top competition? watching you and your company burn is literally my goal.”

He was right. He was my competitor, he had no reason to help me, but then… He was the only one who came looking the last time, the only one who helped.

“You’ll be bored without your top competitor.”

“Try harder. You are a business woman, you can do better than this.”

“10%. I'll give you 10% of my shares, I'll no longer be a competitor, I'll be right beneath…”

“I don't do hand overs and pity wins.”

“What then do you want?”

“You.” He said without missing a heartbeat, and my heart skipped a beat.

I felt heat on the tips of my ears and I cleared my throat. “Me? What do you mean?”

“If I walk into your event tonight as your fiancé, it will be forever. You will be my wife, my woman, and I'll have You know that I do not share.”

I let the information sink into my mind that was running around in circles now.

“You want me to marry you.” He nodded. That was not what I had in mind, I expected something else, but he just wants a wife? “What does being your wife entail?”

“Whatever you want it to entail, but note, I do not share. You will not have another man in your bed.”

“Can the same be said for you?”

“I'm a devil, not a dog.”

“Do I have to bear children for you?”

“It's up to you.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“So is your proposal.”

We held each other’s eyes, my chest rising and falling quickly as I tried to make sense of my situation. Getting married to him was not on my list, and from the look of it, I'll end up in his bed too.

I immediately sprang to my feet at the thought of that, even though it sent tingles down to my core.

“Find something else.”

“That is my only request. You are either in or out.”

“I'm ou-”

The image of my father on that deathbed, Linda and Luke walking arm in arm in my place, her shoving that poison down my throat.

Breathing became harder and I leaned forward, alone, there was no saying what they'd do, what plans they could come up with, but with him..

“My father,” I choked out, forcing air down my lungs, “he's in Memorial Nursing Home, if you can have him moved today to a better and more secured Home, with people you trust, before the time for the event, I'll agree to your condition.”

“Why does it sound like I am the one who needs a favor?”

“Are you in or out?”

He smiled, revealing a small dimple - a soft contrast to his sharp features- but it disappeared instantly.

“We'll see.”

Reaching into my pocket, I brought out the drugs I packed from my dad's drawer.

“Can you have these checked for me as well? This is different from the deal, please.” He glanced at it, then back at me and he nodded. “Thank you, I hope I'll be seeing you around.”

He shrugged his brows and I walked away. I called my designer and requested a new outfit for the night, then I drove home.

Luke's car was parked outside when I got home and I held my breath. I hoped I wouldn't have to see him till tonight.

Echoes of laughter resonated in the house from the kitchen when I walked in, and I headed to that direction, just to see them standing so close together, laughing as Linda cooked something.

Hatred simmered in me watching them, my fingers wrapped around the flower vase and I almost bashed it against their heads, but I held myself back and forced a smile.

“Babe,” it felt wrong calling him that now, “I wasn't expecting you.”

They both broke apart and turned towards me surprised, but Luke immediately schooled his expression and walked over to me.

My skin crawled as he pulled me in, and kissed my cheek. “Hi Love, did you leave wearing that?”

“It was an emergency.”

“The hospital told me George was fine though.”

I stiffened. I knew the hospital reported certain things to him, I only assumed it was big moves not something as minor as me visiting him.

“They report his visits to you?”

“Only the important ones.”

“But…”

“Come, let's go up. We have some things to discuss for tonight, you are signing some shares over to me, remember?”

I forced myself to smile and nod, of course I remember. Tonight, I not only announced him as my fiancé, I announced him as the third biggest shareholder for my company.

This time - I maintained the smile on my face and allowed him to lead me upstairs - He won't be getting a penny from me, with or without Zach making it tonight. But a part of me, a huge part of me, hoped he'd make it.