The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Confronting the Demon

SADIE

He’s going to kill me. Cenric is going to be so mad at me.

While he was giving orders to the guys, I sneaked out. I knew he just gave me an order to stay put, but I was not his employee. I wanted to put an end to this madness.

My brother had gone irate, threatening those two hardworking employees for his own satisfaction. Seeing them so terrified because of my brother’s doing and that family had to leave their home for their safety—that was just horribly wrong and unfair.

Cenric could be furious at me. I cared about him, but Jasper had targeted his company. I couldn’t just watch him as he ruined lives and my husband’s properties. I had to do something. Maybe, my way would not cause more chaos to both parties.

I hailed a cab to a coffee shop where I knew it was exposed, and my brother could not hurt me in public. I also had to be careful with a possible viral video of Jasper and me in a heated argument.

I just didn’t get it, though, on why people like to post shits on social media. I didn’t understand their fascinations of something embarrassing, idiocy, and a waste of time.

I called his number in a phone kiosk. It was terrifying to hear his voice again, but I wouldn’t let him control my life. His terror shouldn’t keep my life under his control. He was a bully, a sick asshole, I knew. And I was a better person than him.

It was a short conversation. I hung up as soon as he agreed to meet me. So Jasper was not in another State after all.

I looked around warily and behind me. People were bustling with their lives, cars and taxis passed by, and nothing out of the ordinary while I was here walking into a death trap.

I resisted with all my strength of running back, but my legs tightened as I walked into the cafe where we agreed to meet. I ordered a latte even if my gut was twisting. I just wanted to hold to something warm to keep my fingers from shaking.

The bell dinged a few minutes later, indicating someone had just entered. I knew without a doubt, and I didn’t have to turn around to look who had just walked in. I could feel it in my gut, in my skin, the hair at the back of my neck just erected.

The moment his height shadowed over me, I knew there was no turning back. His smell was sickening. His presence seemed to darken the entire establishment.

“Hello, sis,” he greeted me, seemed enthusiastic. It was just his way of taunting me, and it still did.

“Jasper,” I returned the courtesy. He occupied the seat across mine. I was about to look at him, but I managed to draw a deep breath before I met his gaze. He still hadn’t changed, the same bastard he was. If he wasn’t my brother, or I knew how cruel an asshole he was, he wasn’t so bad.

Jasper was the epitome of a perfect evil in disguise. He was handsome, tall, with magnetic blue eyes. He had dark thick hair he got from my father and a sharp squared jaw. It would be easy for him to land a movie role as a sexy action hero if our father raised him well.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Thankfully my order had arrived. I carefully wrapped my fingers around the cup before I arched a brow at him.

He was smiling at me as if judging me if I was still the girl he hit weeks ago that cowered if he raised his hand.

“So?”

“You’ve changed, sis. A lot.”

“People changed, Jasper. Only you who still stuck in your own nightmare.” I managed to say words without stuttering.

“Well, look at you. Wollf did change you, didn’t he? He really has a way with chicks.”

“Your point?”

“You look good.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, hedidn’t tie me or hide me underground. So yes, I’m doing great. Now, let’s cut to the chase, Jasper. What do you think you’re doing?”

He crossed his arms over his chest. He was obsessed with keeping his body fit. And let us be honest here, it looked good on him. At least he had something to do better than terrorize me.

“Why do you hate Cenric so much?” I grew cautious when he stared at me longer than necessary. “Are we just going to do a staring contest? It won’t take any longer before he finds me, or he might already do.”

“So you’re scared of him?”

“No. I respect my husband.” I glared at him. “I left without telling him. And he’s gonna be angry after the stunt you pulled to his employees. He’s on edge and riled because of you. Why can’t you just leave me alone? Why do you keep harassing my friend and me?”

“So he found out about my plan?” he simply asked, and it pissed me off as if he was not about to destroy a multi-million dollar product.

“What do you get from this, Jasper? What exactly do you want?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Money?”

“I wouldn’t be Dad’s chosen successor,” he started.

“And what does Cenric has to do with all of this?” I asked as if I didn’t already know. Or I was missing something big in here. “Maybe this is good for you to start fresh.”

“Cenric is not interested in taking the position that I, by blood, is my birthright. What does he know of running this line of business? He also has billions—”

“Yes, he does. Then why are you so threatened? He loves his companies, and I can assure you he married me not to take over Dad’s business. He has enough. He’s not interested in anything Greer-related. So leave us alone and let us cheerfully live our lives, Jasper.”

“Then let him talk to our father, let him convince that he’s not interested. I work hard for this position. I am the rightful successor. Our father can’t just change his mind because Cenric had more power and money than me. It doesn’t work that way. For over generations, it never changed. The son of the leader will always be the successor and will take over when he retired or died.”

“Then prove it to our father that you deserve it. Change to be a better person—”

“You, little brat are so fucking naive,” he hissed. In seconds, he suddenly changed to the monster I once knew.

“Who made me this naive? Because I was born with a vagina, I don’t have the right to know? Who’s fault is that?”

“You won’t do any good in this line of business, little sis. You have to have a thick skin, ruthless, don’t bend no matter what the circumstances or else, no one will respect you.”

“You’re a sick prick. Don’t blame our father if he just hands it to someone else on a silver platter. I know nothing about what’s going on, and I can feel it that I better be left in the dark, and I don’t give a damn. I’m out of it for twenty-five million dollars, thank you very much. One thing I can say, you disappointed him very much he dethroned you.”

“Fucking bitch,” he spat, but for the first time, I didn’t flinch. He leaned over. Our faces were merely an inch apart, then he looked around, and he seemed to gather a few audiences. When he glared at them one by one, they went back to whatever they were doing.

“This fucking bitch worth millions that if you ever touch me again, it would cost your life.” I copied him and crossed my arms over my chest. “And my father still owed Cenric a lot. If you touch me or even lay a finger on a strand of my hair, I will gladly tell Cenric to buy whatever line of business you are so deeply invested in or even your life. I wonder how much you cost? A penny?

How many laws did you break, Jasper? How many people did you hurt? How many threats did you throw? I am the living evidence, Jasper. So before you fucking threaten someone or a family, make sure you know who are they working for? You just crossed Cenric, and from the very beginning, he’s not a fan of you. Leave him, or I will do everything in my power to put you behind bars.”

“Are you threatening me now because you have someone you think will protect you?”

“Yes,” I answered quickly. “I am threatening you because, for years, I’m sick of you controlling my life. You’ve punished me for unknown reasons. I won’t let you do that to me again or anyone. You bully, son of a bitch. Either you leave me alone, or you will be forced to leave me alone. Your choice.”

He was about to say something when something caught his eyes. He slumped his back against the chair. He pressed his lips into a thin line, his nose flaring, his eyes narrowing as if at any moment, he could jump into me and tear me to shred.

I thought I might have just figured out who was sitting behind me. The sensation, the awareness returned, and the warmth quickly wrapped around me like the most comfortable blanket in the winter.

Cenric.