Nora is shattered a month before her wedding when she uncovers her fiancé's deceitful affair. As she manages this betrayal, she discovers a deep ploy to hinder her from claiming her rightful inheritance. Devastated but determined, Nora takes a daring step to regain control of her life. Enter Demetri 'The Demon' to those who know him, a formidable man barely known to her, who offers her protection and support in return for a contract marriage to satisfy him. In a twist of fate, Nora marries Demetri to claim her inheritance and fight those who plotted against her. But as she battles her own family and Demetri's many rivals, will she be able to keep from falling for the man known to crush people beneath his booted heel. Excerpt: She had forgotten that the man was intimidating and directly challenged him. Rather than speaking, Demetri rose from his seat and approached her deliberately. Although it was a mere few steps, time seemed to stretch for Nora. When he was almost within touching distance, his hand gently landed on her knee, moving it sideways. His touch moved with a hint of a caress, and he stepped between her open legs. Nora sat there in frozen silence, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. Catching her chin between his fingers, he tilted her face upwards and spoke unhurriedly," You are my wife." She nodded her head slowly in affirmation while his thumb slowly traced her lip. "I have given you time to gather your emotions." Another nod. Nora's nervousness made her lick her lips, acutely aware of his intense gaze fixed upon them. "Your reason for the marriage was to secure your inheritance and get away from under your mother's thumb." "Yes..." Nora whispered in confusion. Her confusion was not about his statement but about the bewildering sensations coursing through her. What was happening with her? "It's time for you to fulfil your end of the contract, yes?" He continued. "Yes," Nora whispered breathlessly. Why was she breathless? Had the oxygen level in the house dropped? Was the air suddenly thinning? Abruptly, his hand left her face, and she watched as he drew closer. It was then that Nora comprehended what was unfolding. All those tantalizing, heart-pounding kisses she had read about in novels were about to possibly become her reality. But the anticipated kiss didn't happen. Instead, he paused near her and commanded, "Kiss me."
Even though she was saddened and hurt by everything that took place, Nora finally felt relief. She had vented her feelings and also had the answer to the one question that had been eating at her. Why did everyone in her life seem to prefer Sara over her? Her mother had been biased against her all her life. And of course, any friends she made would drift away from her and become Sara's friends over the course of time. Only Isabella had stuck to her and not gravitated towards Sara, for some reason.
She'd tried asking Isabella why she did not like Sara, but she had refused to answer. Anyway, right now, she was just thankful that the reason Antonio had left her was not entirely Sara. There was also his own stupidity showing.
As she walked towards the house, she continued to talk to herself about how it was a good thing that she was free before she could end up, even more, worse off. It also reminded her of what the caterer had said. Well, if someone needed to be thanked, it was that woman. It was her words that had made her worry and then plan the surprise which eventually led her here.
Another person she needed to thank was Demetri Frost. Well, she'd already thanked the man multiple times but maybe this time she could show it with some gesture. But what?
Pulling out her phone, she asked Google," Best gift to give a husband."
The first few that came to the top, had her blushing and almost shoving the phone into her back pocket. What kind of suggestions was wrapping yourself and presenting to him?
Shaking her head, she quickly deleted the typed words and then retyped," Gifts to show gratitude."
Either way, before the search engine would have provided her the answer, she came across a small shop front that looked pretty...
A little while later, Nora came out of the gift shop with a small box and a happy smile on her face. Excited to give her present but also shy about handing it to him personally, she had also come up with the perfect plan.
Soon, she placed the call to Mr. Husband
***
Once again, the Chairman's phone rang in the middle of the conference room. Lucien Frost almost jumped out of his chair to see the name of the caller, earning a look from Demetri. However, Lucien was not in luck as Demetri's phone had been kept face down.
"Hmm."
Demetri did not bother to excuse himself and simply answered the phone. After all, any rumours that would later help support his claim of marriage to Nora were good. There was also the fact that she had been visibly upset in the morning so she might be in trouble.
"I wished to send you something. If it is not too troublesome, can I send it to your office?"
"What?"
"A small token... to thank you. So, may I?"
"Yes."
With that one affirmative word, Demetri disconnected the call before ordering his assistant," There will be a delivery in my name later. Bring it to me." The assistant scurried away to carry out the order while the rest of the meeting continued without a hitch.
However, the grapevine was already functioning at full speed as the gossip soon spread through the company soon reaching the other three brothers.
Once again the group chat exploded as the brothers started to message each other.
Seb: What is this about a Delivery? Come on guys, update us.
Ian: Yes, we want to know. Did he really answer the call in the middle of the meeting again?
Seb: Is the meeting not over yet?
Seb: I need to know what sort of thing it is? Did he say how long will it take for the delivery to arrive? Dam* it! I am out of the office today. I am trying to hurry back!
Ian: Don't worry, I am on my way to Demon's office. I am going to park myself in his office until I know who sent what to Demon. And he even asked the assistant to warn the others to bring it to him. But help me think of an excuse to get there! I don't want to be thrown out like a fly out of the tea if I do succeed in getting there.
Seb: grab a file and then go to him for discussion. Once there, just slip over the chair and fracture your hand or something. That way maybe he wont have you thorwn out.
Ian: "..."
Seb: Better yet, break your leg! Then he won't be able to force you to go out on your own!
Ian: Shut up Seb! Okay I am there now. And the secretary told me he is still in the meeting.
Gab: The meeting is over now! And yes, he did answer! Poor Lucy almost fell off the chair in order to discover the identity of the caller!
Lucien: Yes! But it did not work! I could not get a look at the screen!
Gab: He spoke exactly two words on the phone," What and yes!" The first one was to probably ask what the delivery was and the second one was to affirm the delivery.
Lucien: Guys, we could be overreacting. Maybe, Demon has ordered a new piece of furniture or some painting for his office... and we are exaggerating it.
Ian: "Shut up Lucy!"
Gab: "Shut up Lucy!"
Seb: "Shut up Lucy!"
Ian: Guys guys guys! It is here! The delivery is here. And the only way it can be furniture is if it is for a doll. And it is most certainly not a painting.
Gab: What are you waiting for? Go and check out if there is a note of something before Demon reaches the office! This is your golden chance! He is still talking to the director here.
Ian: Give me a call when he enters the elevator! If I die, I will make sure to take you all out with me.
With the threat in place, Ian quickly shoved the phone into his pocket and intercepted the secretary who was not carrying the box towards Demon's personal inner sanctum.
"Miss Nina, what is this?"
"I do not know, sir." The secretary answered with a smile. She was well aware of the gossip and intrigue going around right now. And she was not foolish enough to fall for this man's charm and not use discretion.
"You cannot just deliver anything to Demetri without getting it through security, Miss Nina. What if there was something harmful in the box? You would be blamed for it... Why don't I help you and take this to the security office? I'll have it checked thoroughly and bring it back."
Ian quickly extended his hands to take the load off the secretary's hand, but the lady quickly stepped away, "No need, Sir. It's already been cleared by Assistant Ma. So, if there was any problem with it, Assistant Ma will take the fall."
While conversing, however, Ian had already spotted a note on the other side. Before he could make a grab for it, however, his phone started to ring.
'Dam* it! The Demon was already on the move.'
With a thin smile, Ian stepped away from the secretary," Then if you are sure Miss Nina, I will not cause you trouble..."