Chapter 2:

Malakai:

There's a look of confusion in her eyes which I delight in, I wonder what's going through her mind. Seeing me there in her place of work must be very surprising for her.

“What are you doing here?” After her shocked expression, she regains back that sassy nature. There's something about this woman–Scarlett–that feels like a mystery. It's not the first time that people have came to my office, begging for their relative's debt, but she is the first person who looked confident even while begging, and she wouldn't even kneel.

I don't believe that everyone is that strong. At some point, we all have to break.

“Get in the car, blue.” I say, hands tightening around the steering wheel. The scarf blows her jet dark hair, and her blue eyes glint under the sun.

“Where are you taking me?” She asks, there's not a single hint of fear in her eyes which amuses me the more. I am used to people brawling, pleading, trembling with fear in my presence but there's something about her that seems like she's untouchable.

“If you want to know, then get in the car.” I say, looking at her with a lazy stare. She stands there for a few seconds, probably checking out her options. With a single huff, she opens the car door and gets into the passenger seat. For someone whose father’s debt is hanging around her neck, she sure does have a lot of courage.

When she gets in, I start driving. We don't speak as I drive.

“Where are you taking me?” She repeats, looking outside the window. “If you're planning on kidnapping me, I swear to you, I am going to scream on top of my freaking lungs.” She tries to threaten me, but it only earns a silent chuckle right out of me.

She's daring, I will say, but even daring people have their breaking point. She doesn't talk for the rest of the journey to my home. The automatic gates flag open as I drive in. My home is deliberately tucked away from the normal houses. It's how I like my solitude. I park the car and step out of the car, Scarlett immediately following after me.

The house is flagged with my house staff. I have only one rule: that they leave before seven in the night. It's at night that the mansion gets really quiet. They all bow at my arrival and I nod my head stiffly at them before entering the grand dining room. I look to see Scarlett still admiring the decor, her eyes is fixated on the huge lion's figurines hanging on both entrance side of the door way.

I watch as she studies it quietly, taking it all in.

“Whenever you're ready, we can start.” I say stiffly, and she hurriedly turns to me, as if caught red-handed.

“I wasn't doing anything,” she fires back, crossing her hand. For someone who is in a whole lot of debt, she sure does have some confidence. I don't bother giving her a reply as I take a seat and she takes the other seat beside me. “You…wanted to talk to me?” She asks, keeping her eyes on me. Her sharp blue eyes glints against the light.

“Yes, you could say that. I have a preposition for you.” I say calmly, and there's a tint between her forehead as she processes it all in. “You will be my girlfriend for ninety days, that's approximately three months, and we can forget all about the debt that your father owes me, better?”

“Hell no,” she immediately spits. “I am not agreeing to be your damn girlfriend.” She pushes the chair and stand. “Is that what I am? An ordinary pawn that has no choice than to bow to you because my father owes you a huge amount of money? That isn't working.”

“You didn't even let me finish, blue.” I look at her chest that's heaving heavily and continue. “Of course, I will compensate you. You get the first half the moment you agree and the second half when we are done. We will have to lay some ground rules and even sign a contract.”

She is still looking at me with a scowl. “I don't need your damn money. You can't buy me.”

“Who said anything about buying you?” I ask with a brow raised and that only seems to intensify her anger. “Trust me, you really need the money. Isn't that why your father is gambling away everything? If you accept my offer, your father will never have to gamble anymore, and you won't work in that crappy restaurant and–”

“Don't you dare bring my family into this conversation!” She yells, her voice seeping into borderline pain. “You don't know anything about my life, so instead of trying to assume, why don't you keep your mouth shut?”

Amusement smacks me in the chest for a brief moment as I stare at her. No one has ever dared to speak to me in that manner, not even those whose father owes me millions of dollars. So, why her?

“If you want someone as your fake girlfriend, why don't you get someone else to do it? I am sure they will be crawling at your feet just to be your girlfriend.” She turns around and heads to the door.

“If you decide to change your mind, there will a blue dress delivered to your house this evening and a car will come pick you up.” She stops, before looking back on more time.

“You're such an entitled asshole,” she shakes her head before leaving. I look at her receding figure, nothing but amusement flashing in my eyes.

I pick up my phone on the table and dial Nico's number, we both co-own The Haven, we built this whole empire together when we were nothing but nineteen. He was living in the streets, I was confined in the West family mansion, he was full of resentment and I was, too. God, the amount of pain it took to be where we are right now is unbearable.

We've known each other since we were sixteen, when I moved to the West mansion, Nico's mother was the family chef.

“You called for me?” Nico enters the dining room, wearing a lazy expression. He lives next door, so he feels like he can come and go as he pleases. “What's going on?” He asks, taking a seat. “Are any organizations looking for a fight?”

“It's neither of that.” I tell him, and he looks even more focused than usual. Nico and I mainly talk about work, so he must be startled to see that I have summoned him for something other than that. “I got myself a girlfriend.”

One second, two seconds, three seconds pass by without Lucas saying a word and then without warning, he bursts into uncontrollable laughter. “What?” He says, the laugh got me frowning. “You want me to believe that Malakai Lorenzo got himself a freaking girlfriend…in my fifteen years of knowing you, you have never for once spared a lady a glance for too long.”

“It's temporary,” I say, scowling. “I need it for my plan.”

The grin in Nico's face fades, and just like that, it's back for business, this is how we know how to operate. When life has messed with you, peeled you open and trample on your vulnerability, you learn to be always guarded, watchful, and execute plans well.

“Is everything coming along?” He asks, and I nod, looking outside the window.

“It is,” that's the only word I say, before Nico drops it. He knows I don't like to talk much about my past and I guess we are on the same page, he doesn't talk much about his past either. “The West are having a party tonight and I am expected to be there.”

“They still want you to show yourself after everything they have put your through?” Noco scoffs. “It's time we end them all, once and for all.”

The amount of resentment that Nico has for my mother's side of the family is not mine to say.

“It takes time, Nico.” My breath hitches. All I need is patience, everything is going to work out, I just need to calm down. I face Nico, he is the one that's handsy with technology, he could hack into any database in the world in a matter of seconds.

“Can you help me with something? I need you to look into someone for me and send me the files immediately.” I tell him.

“Is this your ‘temporary’ girlfriend?” his playful grin return. I usually don't like the side of him fool me. He has got the face of an angel and the mind of a killer.

I frown at him. “Her name is Scarlett Carter, and I need the files immediately and while you're at it, instruct some men to look over her. I wouldn't want her blabbing away.” I ask.

“Are you sure that's the main reason you want our men looking after her?” Lucas teases. Sometimes, I wonder how we even make a good team. “Alright, alright. Fine. I will get to work.” He stands up and stretches, “have fun at the party tonight.”