Chapter 6 A Barbaric Proposal

• “I'm sorry, what?” Kourtney asked, staring blankly at him. She'd like to believe her ears misheard what he just said, even though she heard it quite clearly.
• “You heard me, Miss. And I hate repeating myself,” she heard him reply with an air of superiority.
• Kourtney's eyes widened while her jaw dropped in disbelief. She had expected him to ask for something unsavory and inappropriate, like going off to sleep with him somewhere in exchange for the payment. But this?
• This one caught her completely off guard. Honestly, she didn't know which was worse.
• “Is this some sort of sick joke?”
• “Do I look like a clown to you?” Sebastian snapped with an intimidating aura, his impatience evident in his voice.
• “Well, I guess you must be out of your mind to make such a ridiculous condition. Who do you think you are?”
• “You can simply Google me to find out, Miss Allen,” Sebastian said with a sneer. His arrogance was palpable.
• Kourtney was already seething with anger. “Look Mr. Whatever! I understand that your car is valuable to you and all. But I honestly don't care who the fuck you are, and I don't want to find out either. Asking me to marry you in exchange for damaging your car, are you sick in the head? I'm not in for this madness, okay?”
• “Hmph!”
• Leaning closer, Sebastian spoke through gritted teeth. His voice was laced with a mix of anger and fascination. "You have no idea who you're messing with, Woman. I can make your life a living hell if I choose to. So don't test my limits. It would be much better if you just follow my orders. Let's go get married right now!!!”
• ”Right now?? Are you fucking insane?” Kourtney was shocked by his audacity.
• “You know what? Go ahead and do your worse. I’m not afraid of you, so don't you dare make me part of your sick twisted games. I'm not easily intimidated, and your threats mean NOTHING to me. Okay?”
• Kourtney was bubbling with anger now. It was bad enough that her car got wrecked and her runaway plans shattered, but now she had to endure this arrogant man's insults. ‘Who does he even think he is?’
• Sebastian's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her strong will and determination. It seems like the woman did not know who he was. He had expected her to cower in fear, to beg for mercy. Her unexpected resistance ignited a spark within him, a challenge that he couldn't resist.
• He had always been able to get what he wanted without this much stress for as long as he could remember. Getting people to do his will was as easy as ABC, so her defiance infuriated and intrigued him. This insanely-gorgeous woman was really testing his tiny bit of patience.
• “Jamie??”
• “Sir,” Sebastian’s special assistant, Jamie Sanders who had been watching their entire conversation, answered his boss quickly like a flash.
• “Call the damn cops,” He commanded coldly, his words laced with annoyance at being rejected.
• Kourtney stood still with her mouth agape while her forehead broke into a cold sweat. She had been through hell and back today already. It was as if the whole universe had suddenly turned against her. She didn't want the situation to escalate and certainly didn't want to be arrested, especially not today of all days.
• But this man... What he was asking for was simply unthinkable.
• As Jamie reached for his phone to comply with Sebastian's order, Kourtney's mind raced, desperately seeking a way to diffuse the escalating situation. She couldn't let it come to this. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, and her tone shifted to that of pleading, once more.
• "Wait! Please, let's not involve the police just yet. Please, sir, don't call the cops. I'm sorry about my bad manners just now. But there has to be another way to resolve this."
• Sebastian's cruel demeanor softened for a moment as he observed how her pretty face contorted with anguish. The more he looked at her, the more he found himself fascinated by her. It was a kind of feeling he hadn't encountered in a long time, and it stirred something within him.
• His curiosity awakened once again, and a part of him couldn't help but feel a slight pang of remorse for the distress he was causing her. He couldn't deny the empathy he was feeling, reminding him of the human connection he had long neglected. But there was no going back now.
• He glanced at Jamie, who paused with his hand still on the phone, awaiting further instructions. With a subtle nod, Sebastian signaled for him to hold off on calling the authorities.
• He turned all his attention back to the woman. His sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. And a wicked grin curved his lips as he regained his usual stoic composure before he eventually spoke with grim finality.
• “There’s no other way.”
• “But... I’m sure we... We can work something out.” Kourtney stammered.
• “Why do you refuse my proposal? I can give you everything you want!”
• ”Really now!” Kourtney replied, rolling her eyes in resentment.
• “Yes. I'm filthy rich with lots of properties around the globe. You can travel as much as you like on my private plane. Buy anything you like, and spend as you please for the rest of your life.”
• Kourtney sneered. “Well, I'm not interested in you or your money.”
• Sebastian took a step closer and tried hard to make his voice sincere and earnest this time. H spoke in a low, intimate tone.
• "Miss Allen, I offered you an alternative solution instead of monetary compensation out of pure kindness and also because I'm currently in need of a wife. The best you can do is take it. Besides, you can enjoy the benefits that come with the title of being my wife. This is the only condition I want, and that's final."
• “But... But you're rich and handsome. You can get any girl you want. Why bother with me, who you just met?”
• Sebastian's eyes flickered with surprise and amusement at her question. He hadn't expected her to question his motives, and there was a part of him that admired her audacity.
• He chuckled softly, his amusement evident in his gaze. Taking another step closer, he closed the distance between them.
• ”Because I can do anything I want,” he said with a dismissive smirk.
• Kourtney stared blankly at the man. His ruthless nature was on full display, and it left her speechless. As she struggled to find the words to respond, she couldn't help but find herself momentarily captivated by his striking looks. They were standing only a few inches apart, and she couldn’t deny the undeniable charm that radiated from the man.
• She silently began to weigh the pros and cons of his barbaric proposal, starting with the fact that he was much better looking than that scumbag, Brandon, and probably even richer. Perhaps, marrying him wouldn't be too bad after all.
• The more Kourtney gazed up at him, the more she found that he looked somewhat familiar with his chiseled features and arrogant demeanor. She suspected that he might be a public figure but couldn't quite remember his name.
• “When you’re done ogling at me, you can come join me in the car,” she heard him say with a condescending smirk before strolling away.
• Kourtney gritted her teeth angrily and stomped her foot before following closely behind him.
• ‘What a cocky prick,’ she thought.
• She watched him whisper something to his driver before getting on calmly. Immediately she settled down beside him in the backseat, her lips pouted in disdain.
• It was a custom-made Lamborghini car. Kourtney didn't know much about cars, but she could guess this one was equally expensive as the one she'd just collided with.
• He was undoubtedly a mega-rich young master with plenty of cars and never lacked anything. Why couldn't he show her mercy and let her go after ruining just one car?
• Meanwhile, Mr. Martins, Jamie, and the bodyguards exchanged knowing glances. This poor, innocent woman was deceived by their boss into thinking she was at fault for the accident. Meanwhile, they had a brake failure, making Martins drive straight into her.
• They felt a twinge of guilt for their part in this charade, but loyalty to their big boss compelled them to maintain the facade. After all, they had been with him for years, witnessing his ruthless ways of dealing with those who failed to do his will.
• As the car smoothly glided through the city streets, Kourtney couldn't help but feel a mix of anger and helplessness. Her mind was in turmoil while the man beside her, whose name she still didn't know, seemed unperturbed by the whole situation. He reclined comfortably in his seat, giving off an air of superiority that infuriated her even more.
• She kept stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye, observing his composed demeanor. The man's sharp features and piercing gaze hinted at a cold and calculated personality. He had a grave expression on his face as he stared at his notepad, making her wonder what he reading so intensely.
• His long, straight legs were casually crossed, and his seating posture was elegant, exuding a cold and noble aura.
• All through the journey, they sat in sheer silence, and the atmosphere felt draining. Somehow in her heart, Kourtney was hoping and praying that the man was just trolling and not going to go through with his barbaric plans. But even that hope seemed hopeless as they pulled up to the driveway of the City Hall in less than ten minutes.
• “Get down!!!”
• She heard him command abruptly, his tone sending shivers down her spine.