New Destiny

"I'm asking you to marry me." Said the deep husky voice making Blair go still.

Her face became emotionless. Her emerald eyes bore into his blue ones as if she was trying to read his mind; searching for answers to her many unspoken questions. And finally after what seemed like ages she spoke:

"Poor me! Even my ears aren't functioning properly but.. I don't think that I have aged that much, do you? Then maybe... someone is making fun of me!" her mocking tone was obvious. She didn't bother to look at them as she continued talking "Nice try but... it doesn't suit you! Now gentleman, let's go back to the real topic. What do you need me for? I hope it's not something boring like last time. Remember spying on annoying spoilt heiresses is not my thing"

She felt his burning gaze on her head. Just then, she decided to have a quick glance at him. Seeing his serious expressions made her feel uneasy and before she could even gather her thoughts he said:

"Blair... I thought that the past two years you spent with me were enough to teach you what kind of person I am. I don't go around saying things I don't mean. Never forget it."

She was expecting this kind of answer but she just couldn't understand him. His request didn't make any sense.

"This is crazy! I.. I.. am not up to such weird demands! If you have both lost your minds then let me remind you that I'm still sane. Have a nice day... Or night!"

With that said, she grabbed her purse and was heading towards the exit.

"Do not rush to judgment before you understand the situation!"

"Trust me, I have understood everything! You're taking the wrong medications and it's impacting your... mind!" And with the sweetest voice she could master she added "Be careful next time"

Thinking that she has successfully gotten rid of this troublesome case, she kept on walking. And just when her right hand touched the door's knob, two bulky men in black suits stopped her. They were standing right in front of her preventing her from taking a single step forward. Trying to push them away felt like budging a wall.

"Can you get your dinosaurs out of my way?"

'No response'

"I said.. would you kindly get your din- your security guards out of my way! I have other things to attend to"

'Still no response'

At this rate, she felt like a child begging his mother to let him go to play outside. She couldn't take it anymore as the veins in her neck were about to explode. Turning around, she found him puffing a cigarette with no care in the world.

"You-"

"Miss Grace, please have a seat! No one is forcing you to do anything! Just hear what Mister King has to say."

'If caging me doesn't count as forcing then I'm at the wrong planet' she thought.

Finally after coming to a conclusion, she realized that she has no other way out. So she obliged to mister William's request without any further discussions.

"Good" his ever so awaited sentence was heard. He didn't seem bothered with her resfusal... Oddly! He wasn't the kind of person to take the word 'No' kindly. There were severe consequences to saying it to his face yet this time... It appeared as if he was expecting this reaction from her!

"So? Is anyone going to explain this 'marriage' thing?"

"What do you want to know?" Said Elijah

"Every single thing? Why? How? Me? You? Where? When? Go ahead"

A humourless chuckle left his throat as he began talking:

"You sure ask a lot. Ok... Then let me start from the beginning! This is obviously a contractual marriage... that won't be lasting for more than two years or... even less! It will end when I make sure that I have obtained what I desire-"

"And what is-"

"I don't like it when people interrupt me! Now.. for answering your question; the objective of this marriage is to give me a" His gaze shifted to her eyes as he pronounced "Stable image"

He saw the confusion on her face and so he kept on talking: "Some hidden things have started coming to surface and so, we have to avert people's attention away from it."

She tapped the wooden table with her perfect manicured nail making it look as if she wasn't interested in his talks yet it was the complete opposite. Million thoughts crossed her mind but she chose to only focus on the first one.

"Something is telling me this is not the whole story. More like.. the smallest part of it."

She watched him as he leaned forward, taking a blond lock between his finger tips.

"Smart. But that's all you need to know for now. No need to rush... You have two years to discover the rest. Take your time" he said the last part in an almost amused tone making her roll her eyes. 'He's acting as if he isn't the one who's in need of my help'

"And what makes you think that I'm willing to accept your... proposal? I might as well fly to Canaries as soon as I get out of here and spend there a lovely holiday forgetting about everything including this... meeting."

"As I said... you're smart" A simple word yet it held a strong message beneath it. One that was very obvious to her. She didn't want to admit it but she had to. She was under his control. Blair Knew this would happen the day she offered him that deal. But she didn't realize it would be this serious. She wanted to laugh at herself; this felt like déja vu. Her plan has started backfiring at her giving her a tough option. If she refuses his demand... Awful things will happen. It is the rule; never test this man's wrath. If it was in other circumstances where another wealthy powerful man has proposed to her things would've been different but... Him? She's just not ready to sign a death certificate. Being his woman is a thing and his wife is... another different topic. 'But remember! You swore to do the impossible to reach your goals! What's the difference? Look at the bright side! You are to be Mrs King. Isn't that enough? A position that will bring the world under your feet even if it wasn't permanent' Urged the little voice in her head.

As if he was able to read her mind, he spoke the ever so desired words: "You can count this as a business deal and as you know each deal has benefits for both parties" Finally succeeding in sparking her interest, Elijah smirked.

"And...may I know what are my benefits?" Came out her soft whisper that soon got its reply.

"For that, you have to check the written contract" Just on cue, the forgotten lawyer handed her a huge pile of documents that made her sigh in annoyance but she took them nonetheless and started going through them. To her surprise the rules weren't so severe but he still had the upper hand. She was given many advantages but it only meant that things won't be going smoothly during the coming two years.

Among all the lines she had read, a particular one caught her attention. Blair had to read it four times to make sure she wasn't dreaming. That one line sealed her fate as it was the last push she needs to take her decision. But she wasn't ready to announce it yet as she had some things she needed to make sure of.

"This contract still has a space for modifications, right?"

"It depends on what you want to add."

"Don't worry! Nothing serious that'll make you go bankrupt." He almost snickered at her reply but he composed himself and signaled her to continue.

"So... firstly, during my stay in your Manor I would like to have my current servants with me. They're not many, just four people. As you know I don't trust strangers easily. Secondly, if you want this play to be realistic then you have to give me the powers of Mrs King, your legal wife; for example I don't need to have your permission to do anything In my temporary house from changing the decor to firing employees. Or even outside in front of your business partners and other celebrities. I have to be respected. Thirdly, every contact you have with any of your mistresses should never appear to public eyes. I don't care if you still have them as your spare but I personally find it inappropriate to meet my husband's tra- women or even see them so please keep them away. Last but not least, I'd like to talk about the wedding. If I remember correctly, your first one was quite the big event that left people speechless... Right?" Blair went still for a second observing his reaction and when she didn't get anything from his side she continued: "Well to put it simply, mine wouldn't be anything less! I have a reputation to uphold and, so do you."

This whole time, Elijah didn't utter a single word neither did he reveal his thoughts with a single action. Even his eyes were unmoving, focused on one thing; the woman in front of him. The woman that has started showing some signs of worry and confusion in this deadly silence. However these emotions soon turned into surprise as she heard him laugh. It wasn't a friendly laugh nor a warm one but more like that of an amused person who has finally found an interesting...toy? And it really bothered her.

"This might go better than I had expected." The silence was broken with his soft whisper that was soon followed by another sentence "I don't have any problem with your requests. They seem rather normal to me. I'll give you the new version of the contract after adding them and we'll sign it... Tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?"

"Does the timing bother you?"

"No... Not at all. But... There's actually something else that's bothering me! Why did you precisely choose me? There is lots of fish in your sea. Well, it's not like you can find anyone better than me. I'm just wondering.."

"You're... nice" Hearing his words she wanted to hit her head against the nearest wall 'but it would be a pity to destroy such a beautiful head' she thought and instead she replied:

"You know... I've become speechless in front of this marvellous glossary of words. You have this amazing way of talking that brings tears to a woman's eyes.." As she was about to continue her mockery, another voice was heard.

"Boss... They have found it." It was the chief of security guards. For some reason, his simple words lit an invisible fire in his boss's eyes. Blair felt the atmosphere becoming more and more intense and so she knew that it would be in her favor to retreat but before she could even find the right words to say, her soon-to-be husband said:

"You'll be staying here tonight. Use my penthouse!" And without further ado, he gave her the key card and was heading outside with his bodyguards and lawyer, leaving her all alone in the vast place wondering 'What do you still have in store, dear life? You sure are unexpected. But I'm always ready to receive you.'