6. The proposal

“That’s not gonna work” I tell the man in front of me authoritatively.

“It’s the best we can offer you Miss Smith” he replies immediately. Almost arrogantly.

I’ve been in this meeting room for about two hours. We weren’t getting anywhere. I was beginning to get impatient.

I stare at William, the vice-president of Majestic ltd. It was a textile company that Claire wanted us to partner with.

‘He’s trying to rip us off’ Blue mumbles, irritated.

It was something I had already figured out. There was just something about the way he looked at me.

As if he saw me as someone beneath him.

Someone unworthy of leading a successful company. Like I was dumb somehow and he saw no problem with over pricing us.

My guess is that he was the type of man raised to believe women should worship the ground they walked on.

That women couldn’t lead. Women couldn’t become successful on their own. That a woman’s sole purpose is to do men’s bidding and raise kids. That they were to be seen and not heard.

I hated that type of stereotype. I hated men who looked down on women. I have no idea why the hell Claire chose him, but I was done with his bullshit.

I stand up from my seat. “Then we’re done here”

I wasn’t going to waste my time anymore. I could find some other better company. Plus I saw no problem with the textile company we were currently dealing with.

“Wait, Miss Smith. I’m sure we can negotiate a better deal” he says with a slimy smile.

He truly thought I was stupid. I could see through his fucking smile. What was hidden behind it. I didn’t like it one bit.

“You’ve already wasted enough of my time”

I don’t spare him another look when I leave. I hear him calling my name but I ignore him.

I get into the elevator. Within minutes I’m getting out. I leave the building and head towards my car.

I reach it and was about to unlock it. I don’t get the chance though. A handkerchief covers my nose and within minutes I’m out.

I wake up to the sound of a car engine. I’m a bit disoriented but I get what just happened. I have been fucking kidnapped.

“You’re awake” a deep voice says.

I freeze because I know that voice. My suspicion is confirmed when I look up to find green eyes staring at me.

There isn’t a hint of emotion in them. Just a blank emotionless stare. A stare I hate because I can’t tell what he’s thinking.

“I don’t like being made a fool of Red. When I tell you to meet at Rosevelt I expect you to be there”

There is a hint of something dangerous in his tone. Something I should be afraid of. For some reason though, I was not.

“That’s exactly it, you told me instead of asking” I reply defiantly. “I’m not good at being told what to do”

As you’ve probably guessed. I didn’t go to meet Sebastian. That was about two days ago. I had decided that it would have been more trouble than it was worth. Getting involved with a powerhouse such as Sebastian doesn’t spell out good things for me.

I was skeptical and rightfully so. I had gotten myself involved with one alpha. Look how disastrous that ended for me. I had no idea what his proposal would be, but I was sure I didn’t want to know about it.

“And I’m not good at letting such defiance go, you should know that about me. You push me and I’ll push right back and trust me when I say, you won’t like it when I retaliate.” His says his eyes are cold and voice silky smooth.

He is calm but I know it a fucking façade. He’s a beast underneath all that suit. Blue perks up for some odd reason. I ignore her though. She is enchanted by him, but I know he’s a dangerous man.

“Where are you taking me? You do realize this is considered kidnapping right?” I ask, changing the subject.

I was treading on unfamiliar dangerous waters. One wrong move and I would probably end up in a situation I couldn’t get myself out of.

“I’m Sebastian Ashford, I own this whole damn city and I can do whatever the fuck I want Red.”

Shit! He was right. Darren is powerful but Sebastian was king of the city. No wonder Miranda had gone after him. She was a gold digging slut. Darren hadn’t been enough for her. She had wanted someone more powerful. More prominent. With more money.

Unfortunately for me, I hadn’t been enough for Darren. The moment that bitch came back, he had decided that I just didn’t cut it anymore.

A bitter feeling starts rising up in my chest. I push it down, not allowing it to take over. Not when I was in Sebastian's presence. The last thing I wanted was him seeing the darkness I was hiding inside.

I look outside the window. Choosing not to answer him. There was no need in trying to fight him anyway. There was no way I was getting away.

Soon we are crossing the gates of a plush estate. The driver parks the car in front of a big three story mansion. It was beautiful and impressive.

We get out of the car. Sebastian gently grabs my forearm and leads me inside the house. We walk so briskly, I have no time to admire the interior. We enter an office and he sits me on a comfortable chair before he goes behind the desk and takes his seat.

“What am I doing here Mr. Ashford?” I sass.

“Drop the fucking attitude Red” He all but growls “In case you didn’t get the memo, my name is Lauren not Red”

Why am I goading him?

Something passes in his eyes. It is gone before I can read it. I honestly don’t know why the hell I was pushing his buttons. The only explanation I can think of was that I was getting some kind of thrill from it.

“I’ll call you whatever the hell I want. Now shut the fuck up before I lose my patience” he replies, his face hard.

What the hell was up is ass? He was a complete asshole and absolutely rude. I hated disrespect and in my view. That was exactly what he was doing.

I stand up. “I’m leaving, you’re a complete jerk and I don’t have to sit here and let you basically disrespect and bully me.”

That was the fucking problem with men like Sebastian. They thought that the world revolved around them. That everyone should bow before them. Worship them as if they were freaking gods. Like I said I was done with assholes like him.

I’m about to leave when his words stop me dead in my tracks.

“I know you’re going feral” he softly says, shocking the crap out of me.

I slowly turn and look at him. Really look at him. He stares at me with what might be compassion. I can’t be sure though. I doubt Sebastian is capable of such emotions.

“How do you know that?”

“Sit your ass down and I’ll explain everything” he commands.

It doesn’t take much to convince me. Wordlessly I sit down. He seems like he has answers and I desperately want them. Even if it means swallowing my pride and listening to him bossing me around.

“Well?” I ask him after a minute of silence.

Like I said, I was fucking desperate.

“I know the signs. I’ve suffered from them before, so I can easily recognize them” He begins. “This is where my proposal comes in. It will prevent you from going feral and give us a chance to get even with those two fuckers.” He finishes, anger sipping into his voice.

I’m honestly shocked. That a powerful and feared man such as him had once been in my position. I want to ask the story behind it but that will have to wait. What he was proposing took more precedence in my mind.

I’m afraid of finding out what his proposal is, but I ask anyway. “What do you propose?”

At this point, I would try anything. Just so I can stop me and Blue from going feral. Maybe with this proposal I can start building back my relationship with Krystal.

His eyes bore deep into mine as he answers;

“A contract mating”

Shit, I wasn’t expecting that.