Chapter 9

• I don’t think I had ever been this nervous in my entire life.
• I thought the most nervous I would ever get was when I waited for my admission letter, but standing here in front of the floor-length mirror in my walk-in closet as I examined my outfit for the millionth time, I could barely breathe.
• I told myself I didn’t care and I would not bother to try hard at all, but when Mariam, one of the maids, had told me that Atticus was around and Duke had requested that I make myself present in an hour, my body told a different story altogether.
• I hated that my body wasn’t working with me as I tried to calm my nerves. The sweat on my palms seemed to increase with every moment that passed despite the cold room.
• It was as if the air conditioner was no longer working or my body was rejecting the cold.
• I knew I looked amazing, but I had no intention to try and seduce the man just because I wanted him to treat me fairly.
• Atticus was not a stranger when it came to stunning women. I had seen pictures of him with various women in his arms, and those women were gorgeous, even way more than I am, so I doubted whatever charm I tried to run by him would work.
• At first, I was insistent on not putting on any makeup or wearing something nice, but I could picture Duke’s disapproving stare and disappointment on Dad’s face if I tried to pull that stunt, so I had unknowingly entered my closet and looked for something fitting to wear.
• I tried to throw on an outfit that would make me look good but also put across that I didn’t put too much effort into my outfit.
• I put on blue jeans trousers, a peach, laced corset singlet top and a white wool cardigan that I had to keep shrugging on because it was big, but I liked it that way, it made me feel small.
• For my hair, I just put it in a ponytail and did my makeup so light I could be mistaken for wearing nothing at all.
• My sky blue eyes were my favourite feature because it was almost an electric blue, but not quite. I had gotten it from mom.
• I checked my time and saw it was exactly one hour since Atticus arrived, which meant I had to go down to Dad’s bedroom since he obviously couldn’t use his office for the meeting.
• Instead of walking out the door, I walked out of my closet and dropped onto the bed.
• I was going to delay a little to keep my pride. I shouldn’t seem too eager.
• I had to let him know that I did not willingly agree to marry him. It was important to me that I get that point across, but something tells me that he would likely not care about that.
• I didn’t even know how long I spent laying there deciding on how much longer I should wait before heading out when my door flew open, and Duke stalked in like a soldier on a mission, which he was.
• “Why are you lying down on your bed instead of sitting across Atticus Hayland in your father’s bedroom?” He asked.
• He was looming over me on the bed, and he was angry, but I couldn’t be bothered to care. I made no effort to stand up from my bed either, which seemed to make him more furious.
• “I’m taking my time. I don’t want to appear cheaper than he would have already deemed me as,” I told him and lifted my phone so I could continue scrolling through it, but it was snatched from me, rudely, may I add.
• “I thought we had already gone past this? Why are you making things more difficult than they should be?” I could see his frustration with me, and I was sure he could see mine with him as well.
• “I’m making things worse? We agreed on me not making a fuss about the marriage any longer, which you don’t see me doing. Don’t I also get time to prepare myself before showing up in front of the man whom I am supposed to marry, who without a doubt isn’t ecstatic to meet me too?”
• I was so angry that I could not keep lying down, so I sat up so I could look Duke straight in the eyes. I thought he would understand me better, but it seemed as though I was wrong.
• “We are not going to discuss this anymore. Your dad can barely keep talking to Atticus all to buy time for you to make yourself known. Get up”
• “Why do I even need to be there? My presence is not important. I am sure he already signed the deal, so I don’t need to show my face. It’s just a business deal, after all”
• “You are not a business deal. What are you even saying? Your father would be horrified to hear you say such.” He looked way more pissed than he was before, if that was even possible.
• “I am telling the truth, Duke, and you cannot change my mind about it. It’s a business deal. I am a business deal. Marry me in exchange for shares in Dad’s company. Now, what do you call that?”
• I got him exactly where I wanted. Tongue-tied.
• He struggled to find the right words to prove me otherwise, but I was not the least interested in whatever explanation he was trying to come up with.
• “Save it, Duke. Don’t try to look for the right words to tell me. Let’s go meet my husband-to-be” I drifted past him, not even bothering to check if he was following me.
• I may have been angry, but my brain was well aware of what mission we were embarking on, so it sent the right message to my legs and willed them to slow down as I marched my way from my wing to Dad’s.
• I berated myself for walking too fast because of anger. I had to make sure I took my time to calm myself before I arrived at the bedroom.
• Luck was not on my side because I found myself standing in front of Dad’s bedroom. Duke must still be angry with me because he walked past me and opened the door without even giving me the time to pull myself together.
• My glare could probably cut him into two, and I was sure he could feel it, but he decided to ignore me.
• I walked in after him, cautious not to look at the man seated on the right side of Dad’s bed. I walked around the bed to the left side to kiss Dad on his cheeks.
• He was smiling so widely, and I felt bad for walking out yesterday. Well, I almost felt bad until I remembered the reason I walked out in the first place.
• “I’m sorry for not coming to see you sooner. I was caught up in my thoughts,” I told Dad before taking a seat on the bed so I could hold his hands and talk quietly, even though Duke and Atticus could hear our conversation.
• “It’s fine, princess. I understand why, and if I were in your shoes, I would also do the same. Your actions are justified”
• I gave him another kiss as a thank you for understanding, and he gave me a smile in return before turning to the man on his right.
• “This is my daughter, Hazel Reyes,” He addressed Atticus, and I finally allowed myself to look at him.
• The man was no doubt handsome, and the pictures did no justice to how good he was. His chiselled face, grey eyes and short stubble made him look so appealing that I was almost drooling. Almost being the keyword.
• He turned to me, and I was startled by how hard his gaze was. I should not have been surprised because there was no way he would have come smiling, but the stare still made me shiver.
• “Atticus Hyland, pleased to meet you” That was it. Short and letting me know immediately this was nothing but business. I almost scoffed at the introduction.
• “Hazel Reyes” If he thought he could play the game, I’ll let him know I can do better. He raised his brows as though he could read my thoughts, but I was not going to give him that satisfaction.
• “I trust your daughter has been adequately briefed on what is going on?” he asked Dad, and I almost felt like punching him. Briefed? Was this a business meeting? Okay, it was, but still...
• “Yes. Thank you for doing this. You know how precious she is to me, and you are the only one I can trust with her. I may have put you in an uncomfortable position, and I once again apologise”
• Dad was struggling to talk more, and it was noticeable. He started coughing as soon as he finished talking, and I worriedly tried to pat his chest as lightly as I could.
• Atticus waited till Dad was better before replying. “It’s a good deal that anyone would be foolish to reject, but I assure you that I would take care of her as far as my capabilities will allow and also make sure to protect her from harm”
• “I am glad to hear that. And about the company?” Dad asked
• “Just like we discussed, I may oversee the company, but I would make sure she never loses her position as the Legal owner and highest shareholder of the company even though she may not be directly involved in the company”
• I know I should try to control myself, but I couldn’t help it. I felt like a commodity that was being bargained on. I know Dad didn’t see it this way, so I was strongly making sure to keep my emotions in check.
• I watched as some lawyers entered the room and tuned them out as they went over some documents, no doubt finalising some things.
• As much as I hated it, I found my eyes drifting back to the man I was going to be married to. Fortunately, our eyes never met otherwise, I would have died from embarrassment from getting caught staring at him.
• After twenty minutes or less, the lawyers all filed out of the room, leaving just the four of us, including Duke, who had not uttered a word from the corner he had been standing since we walked into the room together.
• Atticus stood up as well, but I made no move to get up even when I knew I should have.
• “It was nice meeting you, Miss Hazel. I’ll see you here next week to finalise the wedding” he gave Dad a curt nod before exiting the room.
• His gait was powerful, just like the way he carried himself, and I let my eyes linger shamelessly as he walked out of the room.