The Business Proposition

"Excuse me!" Blaze was stunned and speechless, his softened expression turning cold and lethal. "Did you just ask me to marry you?" A hint of disgust laced his tone.

"Yes."

Amelia could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as the room suddenly fell silent. Her heart was beating so fast as she fiddled with loose hair, worried that Blaze would outrightly reject her.

"Have you by any chance lost your mind?" Blaze asked, hoping the annoying brat was joking.

"No." Amelia's reply was barely above a whisper.

"What happened to the classy and proud Amelia Shawls? How could you stoop so low asking a man to marry you? Where is your sense of dignity and respect?"

Blaze's words fell on Amelia's cheeks like a hot dirty slap. Her cheeks burned red and her nose flared with suppressed rage. She felt like giving him a piece of her mind before walking him out of her room. But then how would she get her revenge on her family?

Amelia slowly tilted her head to meet Blaze's deep and cold glares, determined to convince him.

"Mr Anderson, this has nothing to do with my dignity or honour. It's simply a means to an end. I know how awkward this request is coming from a lady and you don't have to rub it in. But please, do not get me wrong. I'm not asking you to marry me for love or companionship or anything married couples do for one another. Having watched a man I once loved for more than ten years get married to my stepsister without any care if I am dead or alive, I no longer feel anything for the opposite sex."

"Is that so?" Blaze raised his brow quizzically, his darkened expression softening a bit.

"Yes." Amelia's confident reply sparks up a curiosity in Blaze.

"Permit me to rephrase my earlier statement. I have a business proposition for you. Be my husband on paper for a year and make billions of dollars out of this contractual arrangement. Deal?" Amelia said professionally, stretching her right hand towards him for a handshake.

Blaze remained defiantly calm as his chilly gaze darted between her outstretched hand and her weird smile. He was intrigued by her bold request. But at the same time, he was irked by her pride and arrogance. No lady had ever dared to approach him for a relationship, let alone make such an audacious request.

First, she calls him an asshole. Now, she wants him to be her husband for a year, just like that, promising him money that she doesn't even have control over. What did the little brat take him for? One of her man toys, that she can toss around?

Blaze suddenly felt the urge to teach this little wild kitten some manners while testing her resolve on men.

Slowly rising to his feet, he moved closer to Amelia, his intimidating stare forcing her to withdraw her hand.

Amelia felt her body stiffen as Blaze covered the little space between them, his thighs touching her folded knee.

"Mr Anderson, what are you doing?" Amelia slowly began to panic as he towered over her, his dangerous aura overpowering her.

"Giving you a reply to your business proposal, Miss Shawls" Blaze roughly grabbed her by the chin and lifted her face, his spine-chilling gaze locked with hers as time seemed to stand still.

"So you want to be the wife to an asshole, huh?" He asked in a low but deadly voice.

"What...No...I mean, yes. I mean y-you are not..." Amelia's breath caught as Blaze lowered his face, leaning closer to her until their faces were inches apart.

"I'm not what?" Blaze's hot and minty breath fanned against her reddened face, making her hands itch to touch him.

Amelia opened her mouth to say something but words failed her. She involuntarily moistened her lips as heat curled up her spine, her body trembling with fear and anticipation.

'But wait a second, what was she anticipating? Shouldn't she be pushing off this handsome devil who was breaching her personal space?' Amelia's confused brain pondered. But the distraction was simply too much for her to handle.

Staring at him this close, she marveled at the perfect work of creation in full display. His mesmerizing silver-grey orbs though dangerous, bore a promising and reassuring spark in its reflectiveness. His perfectly chiseled jawline was a work of art, enough to make a lady lose her mind. His full sexy lips were so inviting that Amelia imagined what kissing him would taste like.

'Damn! This girl is pretty.' Blaze confessed inwardly. He found her innocent yet flirtatious response to his touch alluring. He was tempted to plant a soft kiss on her lips as he held those sad but enchanting pair of eyes.

Snapping out of his own suffocating desires, Blaze said in a soft but deep husky voice.

"What makes you think I want a spoilt, proud and arrogant brat like you for a wife?" He released her chin, smirking wickedly as he stepped backwards while holding her flushed gaze.

Amelia instantly snapped out of her delusions, ire replacing her earlier admiration. Blaze harsh words felt like a dagger in her already fragile heart and she felt really stupid lusting after him.

"I am not a spoilt brat, Mr Anderson." She said between clenched jaw.

"Neither am I an asshole." Blaze retorted, feeling even with her.

"You..." Amelia bit down on her tongue, to stop herself from spewing another vulgar word at him. She needed him more than he needed her and fighting with him would only ruin her chances of convincing him to be her husband.

"Fine, you've made your point. I believe we are both mature and we can move past this level. I'm not ashamed to say I need your help and I really don't care what you think of me right now. I have a mission at hand and I need to be viewed as a married woman to succeed. What do you say to my business proposal? Will you be my husband for a year? I promise not to interfere with anything concerning your affairs."