The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

After our yogurt dinner together, I couldn’t even look him in the eye anymore.

I was ashamed. Striker was a good man, and my father handpicked him for me for some reason, and he was okay with it-it was too good to be true.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been awfully silent.” He sent me to the guestroom, opening the door for me. “Is the room okay?”

“I should check in at the suite if I want a 5-star treatment, Cade. You’ve been nothing but kind and hospitable to your unwanted guest.”

He smiled at me. “You’re not my guest anymore, Vanderford. You know that.”

I took a deep breath and looked up when my eyes stung again.

“No more crying. We will figure it out together, okay?”

“I came here to discuss my father’s ridiculous arrangement with you. You can’t do this. This marriage life is not the life that you want. Please, do something. Try to reconsider and change your mind.” I held his arms tight as I looked him in the eye, but nothing could persuade him since he had already made a deal with my father.

“I won’t break my word with your father, Vanderford. I said yes, and that’s not gonna change.”

“Why? Why did you say yes to this trap? Why me? I’m a lost cause, a broken beyond repair.”

“Don’t. Don’t ever say that.” His face turned hard and dark. “This is the last time I hear those words again, Vanderford. You’re not what you say you are. You’re a fighter. You’re a strong woman. Keep that in mind. You won’t be where you are right now if you are weak. What happened in the past doesn’t define who you are today. It made you stronger.”

“Why do you wanna marry me, Cade? I wanna know. If you don’t wanna fix me?”

He chuckled, but more of a mock. “Fix you? You’re not broken. There’s nothing to fix in you. And you can do it by yourself if you are. You don’t need a man, someone like me, to be the person you want to be.” He looked down, holding my hands. “To answer you honestly, I’m not sure, Vanderford. I’m still figuring it out. I could have easily said no and chose not to see you again, but-”

“But what?”

“I wanna see you.”

“Is it because you promised me? You broke it once. Why not do it again?”

He lifted his gaze. “Because I don’t want to repeat my mistake.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“Do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend? Girlfriends? I promise not to judge.”

“No girlfriend or boyfriend, Vanderford.” He went to open the door to the bathroom. “There are clean towels and a new toothbrush. Let me know if you need anything. You have my number, or you can knock at my room in the corner.”

“Thank you.” Then I remembered I didn’t have clothes. “Um, Cade?”

“Yeah. Do you really have to call me Cade?”

“Yeah. Mind your own on how I wanna call you.”

His smile was infectious. “Yes, ma’am. You were saying?”

“Can I borrow a shirt?” I shrugged as I looked down at my outfit.

“Of course.” He went out to the next door, his bedroom.

“Can I come? You can say no.”

“You scared of an unfamiliar place?”

“Not really. I can lock the door and windows. I keep the light open, though.” I followed him to his room and stayed at the door.

His room was so clean and smelled like him, not the man cave I expected. It was big, bigger than mine, in light gray and white. The king-size bed was at the center, an abstract painting above the headboard, two bedside tables, a gray rug at the foot of the bed, a small chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a single gray fabric accent chair and the floor-to-ceiling windows with draping white curtains.

When he turned around, he looked at me in a gesture. “Coming in.”

“Are you sure?”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“Haven’t invited anyone in, but yeah.” He went to his probably walk-in closet.

I took a peek. It was also white and gray with an island in the center. “You sure you don’t smuggle drugs? And you look like a man who doesn’t take a charity case from your father, but your house is big as mine, and Dad bought it for me. So how can you afford a thirty-five million dollar house?”

“I might deal drugs, Vanderford. And my bodyguard job is just a front.”

“I’m serious.” I smiled as I looked around. “You’re a neat freak. You are a more well-organized dude than me. I expected to see socks everywhere, clothes on the floor, and chargers on the nightstand. I feel ashamed right now.”

“And you just call me dude. Remember when I told you I’m more of an investment kind of guy? I invest my money. My sweatpants might be too long big for you.” He went to open a drawer and pulled out blue boxers, another drawer for a pair of socks, then went to another door to pick a gray shirt.

I took the clothes he offered. “A big tall dude. Thanks.”

“Give me your clothes after you change. I’ll wash them.”

I narrowed at him. “No thanks. You have enough trouble because of me.”

“Do you know how to operate a washing?”

I shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”

He laughed as he shook his head. “If you say so, Vanderford. Just don’t break my washing.”

I walked out. “I’m going to my room now. Night.”

After I had changed, I double-checked the windows and the door before I went to bed. I typed a short reply to Neke. She didn’t reply anymore and probably sleeping right now.

After an hour, I was still tossing and turning in bed. I couldn’t sleep. I was mentally berating myself and forced to close my eyes. Maybe it was a new place thing.

God, this is so embarrassing.

I picked up my phone and typed a message to Striker.

LONDON: Still up?

I hit send.

Seconds later, I didn’t receive a reply. God, I wished I could unsend it. My face just heated. He was probably sleeping soundly.

I sat on the bed and went to Instagram. I had one thousand three hundred new followers. I searched for Striker. His account was private, Of course. I followed him. He didn’t post regularly, some from months ago in Winterbourn. The last picture he posted was a week ago with the caption, Good to be back home. Jeez, I just became a stalker.

I just received a new message.

CADE: Can’t sleep?

I quickly replied.

LONDON: Yes.

CADE: Open the door.

LONDON: Okay.

I went back to bed after I opened the door. A minute later, he walked in a shirt and sweatpants.

“How can you sleep if you’re on your phone?” He came to my left and placed his phone on the nightstand.

“Sorry, Dad,” I replied dryly. “Did I wake you up?”

“I don’t silence my phone.” He crossed his legs together above the blanket.

“Sorry.”

“It’s alright. Are you scared alone?”

“No.” I remained seated. “I just can’t sleep. A lot is going on in my mind that needs answers. Anyway, I followed you.”

“What?” He turned to me.

“Your Instagram.”

He smiled. “You’re stalking me?”

I smiled back. “Call it whatever you want, soldier.”

“Should I follow you back?” The smile was still there. He looked amused. If we stayed like this, we could end up a great partner.

“You don’t have to.”

“I will do it later. Do you wanna talk about-”

“The elephant in the room?”

“Yeah.”

“If I can’t change your mind, what’s the point? I don’t want you to regret it.”

“I won’t if you won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?” I faced him.

“I won’t force you into anything. I will listen to you, do and give whatever you need. Of course, I will keep you safe and respect your wishes. I promised that to your father. I will be loyal to you. That means you should also be loyal to me if we get married.” He looked at me. “I won’t change anything. You can do whatever you want, do your job and anything that makes you happy, and go and meet your friends.” At least we were setting ground rules. “The only thing that’s gonna change is you’re gonna wear my ring, and no boys allowed,” he said gently.

“So you’re not gonna-” I hesitated.

“No.”

“I haven’t finished my words.”

“Sleep with another woman? No.”

“Are we?” I felt my face flaming.

“If you wish to. It’s all up to you. I told our parents about having kids that it’s all up to you, but definitely not now.”

“Wow.” I folded my arms over my chest. I didn’t know what to say. He had all summed up in less than twenty-four hours.

“You can say whatever you want. It’s our life now, and I told them you will stay here.”

“Do I have to say in that?”

“Yes.”

“Then I wanna stay in my house.”

“But I have to stay where you are.”

“Then stay in my house.”

He sighed profoundly but didn’t say anything.

“You wanna say something?”

He shook his head.

“Okay, maybe we can stay here and there. But I’m not sleeping in your bed.”

“What’s wrong with my bed?” He looked offended.

I pursed my lips because it sounded silly if I said it out loud.

“I slept with women in my apartment. This one is off limits.”

“Do you always have to read my mind?” I stared at him as if he was insane.

“So I was right then? But you slept with Magnus in your bed.”

“Wow. Now you sound like a jealous husband.” I grimaced.

“Well, you started it,” he snickered.

“Then I will throw everything in that room. Happy?”

“You don’t have to do that. He’s your past, and it’s not a big deal.”

“He’s a jerk anyway.”

“How long did you date that guy?”

“Five months. Almost six.”

“You managed to stay with that guy for five months?”

“Judgy?” I shot him an annoying look. “What about your exes? Tell me about them. Your latest in Winterbourn.”

He grinned, amused at how I reacted to this argument. “How did you know I have a girlfriend in Winterbourn?”

“A hunch.”

“I haven’t had a girlfriend in two years, Vanderford.”

“Wew. Dry spell much. For what? Are you saving your chastity for the end of the world?”

His body shook as he laughed. “I said I didn’t have a girlfriend in two years, but I didn’t say I never had hookups. A man has needs, Vanderford.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“Why is that?”

“Nothing.” I slid to lie on my back and put my phone on the table. “You should give me a ring then?” I showed him my hand.

He chuckled as he slid beside me but remained outside the blanket. “You’re more excited about the ring than getting married?”

“Before I left Dad, I told him I don’t wanna see him. Maybe we should elope and get it done.”

“Why don’t you want a proper wedding? You deserve it.”

“What’s the point? I mean, look at us. Is this even proper? He said he would donate his fifty billion and shut down the operation of LH. Since he’s the chairman, he can do it in a heartbeat if I won’t marry you.”

“So my worth is fifty billion dollars to you, huh? You should grovel and beg if you care for LH this much.”

I turned to face him. “I’m not marrying you for money, Cade. And LH is the only thing I did right.”

“Now I have every reason to marry you. It’s not about your money or birthright. I want to show your father that you and I will be a great team.”