SCARLET
I’m looking at an Adonis.
Or a supermodel.
Is he an underwear ad model?
Whatever it is, he’s perfect for the role.
Perfect for advertising anything.
Perfect for luring customers.
I’m totally enchanted.
I didn’t get to study him closely last night because I was so wasted and caught up in my own drama.
All I wanted was for him to kidnap me and take me as far away from home as possible.
The man stands at the door for a while, eyeing me and I return the favor.
I must be riding in a train of insanity because I’m certainly enjoying it.
Being under his scrutiny.
He gets closer, not tearing his gaze from me.
He looks like a walking aphrodisiac.
As he approaches, a cold chill runs down my spine from just taking in his features.
Slightly curled brown hair that looks soft to the touch.
Those are the most beautiful brown eyes I’ve ever seen.
The way they scan my body, dangerously seductive.
Like he would devour me, showing no mercy if given the chance.
And those brows?
Those bushy brows add to the charm.
Why do men have the most beautiful brows?
They always take it for granted.
My eyes linger on his chest.
He’s in a black button-up shirt that hugs him tight revealing just how muscular he is.
His broad shoulders make my hand itch for a touch.
I wonder how they would feel.
I bite my lower lip, taking it all in.
This man is dangerously hot.
And it looks like I’m going to get burned.
Just looking at him, all my problems are momentarily forgotten.
He greets me and my mind shifts back to reality.
I clear my throat to rearrange myself.
He is Devan.
But I might as well call him Hot Devan.
Or fire Devan?
Doesn’t matter.
I need to fully get back to reality since it looks like some part of my brain is still in the fantasy world.
I need to get back home.
Home.
The thought makes my stomach drop.
Just a few minutes ago, I had convinced myself that I was ready for this.
But now it looks like I’m back to zero.
When Devan mentions the wedding and my name, I snap at him.
Even though all he’s done so far is be kind to me.
He’s been soft with me since last night.
It’s the reason I find it hard to believe that he’s THE Devan Galloway.
The one with a flowery reputation in the killing sector.
It’s said that his victims never live to tell the tale.
I’m in his house.
His home.
His room.
Sitting on his bed.
In short, I’m the devil’s den.
This is what he meant when he told me he kidnaps people.
It’s because he’s the head of one of the most dangerous syndicates known.
However, the man I’m looking at is soft.
I lashed at him and he didn’t put me in a dungeon.
When I talk about Kelvin, all emotions come flooding.
It’s so overwhelming that I can’t control it.
I break down and he pulls me into his arms like it’s the most natural thing ever.
Then he suggests killing Kelvin.
All I have to do is say the word.
I consider it for a millisecond.
A millisecond.
The way he looks at me tells me he’s serious about it.
It’s an opportunity to send that lying bastard to hell.
Then why am I being reluctant?
Because Devan will show no mercy to Kelvin.
Deep down I know that I still care.
My feelings for Kelvin can’t just vanish in one night.
It’s the reason why everything still hurts.
The thought that it was all for nothing crushes my heart for the millionth time.
I thought I’d heard it all until Devan asks me to marry him instead.
I have to blink a few times to make sure I’m not hearing my own things.
My mind is not making things up.
He asked me to marry him.
Yes he did.
I look at the man.
Oh, how attractive he is.
Any woman with a working brain would surrender to his charm.
A man with such striking features asking you to marry him could be the equivalent of a fantasy come true.
Who would say no to him?
Me.
That’s who.
It’s my wedding day.
I haven’t confronted my soon to be ex fiance.
I need to hear what he has to say about all this.
The conversation I heard?
Doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.
“Are you being serious?” I stall.
“I am.”
How many times have I heard about marriage since I woke up.
Why does he seem like he’s in an urgent need of a wife?
He hinted at it when he walked in a few minutes ago.
Miranda was excited to see me.
She was talking about how she’s waited for this day.
The woman was too excited to let me explain myself.
And now wherever she is, she thinks I’m Devan’s better half.
She said something about the old geezers and Devan having a plan.
Now I have so many questions.
“Why do you urgently need a wife?” I end up asking.
Devan sighs.
“It’s not urgent but it will help align my ducks while I handle some things.”
I needed clarity but now I’m more confused than before.
My blank stare gives me away.
Devan sighs again.
“I shouldn’t be doing this. I really shouldn’t be taking advantage of your situation.”
I huff.
“That’s better than finding out your finance has been cheating on you…on the eve of your wedding.”
The last part seems to pique Devan’s interest and I speak up before he can say anything about it.
“I’m already invested in this. You have the permission to take advantage of me.”
That’s probably the most ridiculous thing I have ever said.
A mischievous grin spreads across Devan’s face, and even though we haven’t known each other for long, something tells me a dirty idea just crossed his mind.
I facepalm in realization.
I poke his shoulder to get him back to a serious mood.
He proceeds to explain.
“What if I told you we could both benefit from this marriage?”
“How so?” I pry.
“We don’t even know each other.”
“It doesn’t matter. I need to solve a temporary problem. My organization is under siege and some old geezers are putting pressure about a wife and an heir.”
Old Geezers.
Miranda mentioned something about them.
Wait.
“You want me to be your wife so I can give you an heir?”
“No. In fact marriage has never been in my plans.”
“So you’re going to let the old geezers make you do it?”
He smiles.
“Nope. I will make them think they’ve won. For now.”
“You are really the master of confusion,” I say, shaking my head.
“I have a very important matter to handle. And the last thing I need is them being on my neck. If I make you my wife it would cool the pressure, while I calmly deal with this other matter. At the same time finding a way to permanently get rid of them, without causing chaos in the organization.”
I nod.
Partially understanding him.
“Is that all?” I ask.
“It’s also among the instructions left by my father but that’s not something to talk about. It’s not important in this case.”
“I’m not sure how I’m benefiting here exactly,” I point out.
“You get your revenge on Kelvin.” He says without seeming to have given it a thought.
Marrying a stranger to get revenge on my cheating ex?
Sounds like a thrilling idea.
For a moment there, my mind considers it.
Until I remember marriage means spending the rest of my life with him.
This is going to be an impulsive decision.
I have to trade carefully.
“I’m not saying you spend the rest of your life with me,” he says, as if he read right through me.
I squint at him.
“Our marriage could last six months while we both get our shit together,” he says.
Now that sounds logically intriguing.
“Imagine what would happen if you beat Kelvin to his own game.” He adds.
That would give me control.
Clearly Kelvin has ill motives.
His so-called love was a calculated deception.
And he was planning it with whoever he was on the call with.
That call replays in my head.
There’s no other explanation to it.
The betrayal hits again.
Deep down I know that any decision I make right now will be out of anger.
Out of pain.
Yet I’m tempted to say yes to him.
But what if I said no.
What would happen to me?
I ask Devan just that.
“I’ll respect your decision. And I’ll take you home.”
Home.
Again the mention of home triggers something.
This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
But how can I even be happy?
“I don’t want to force you into this,” Devan says.
But beating Kelvin in his own game gives a certain satisfaction to the soul.
Imagine showing up to my own wedding….
married.
Married to someone else.
Someone more powerful.
It’s the only positive thought in my mind.
Just when Kelvin thought he had me, and then boom.
“Six months?” I ask Devan.
“Yes. We could put it in a contract.”
“Contract marriage?” I raise a brow.
I’ve made impulsive decisions before, but none of them can come close to this.
Am I really about to do this?
I have to make a choice, between the devil I know, and the devil I don’t know.
At this point, I’m not even sure who is the devil I know and who is the devil I don’t know.
I thought I knew Kelvin, but.
It turns out I was wrong.
Or maybe I thought he was an angel.
On the other hand, I know about Devan’s reputation.
Does that make him the devil I know?
Devan cocks a brow.
“Are we doing this?”