Chapter 6 His Contracted Husband's Dirty Secret

"What did you say?" she asked, her voice low and confused.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Mika," Ethan replied dryly.

She blinked several times, trying to observe the emotions behind his marble gray-colored pair of eyes, but all she could see was dominance, arrogance, and a sheer amount of amusement as he stared down at her.

"Please, don't call me by that name," she uttered. "And I want to understand those things you just said a while ago."

Ethan's brow arched up as he crossed his arms against his chest.

"I said your father and I came up with a deal." He stared at her darkly. "I will pay his debt, and as part of the deal, you will have to marry me."

"Are you insane?!" Michelle was so shocked, and angry.

Ethan smirked before he clicked his tongue. The fact that the man still had the time to look so arrogant and gorgeous made her blood boil to a high level.

"I swear you wouldn't like to see me get insane." He chuckled and continued, "You need help, and I need a wife. It should be a win-win deal."

"What the fuck are you saying? Do you think my situation is a joke?" She scoffed and shook her head afterward. "I'm not going to marry you!"

Ethan stepped closer, his eyes darkening as he stared at her. Michelle gulped. Sure, his presence affected her in some ways, given that they shared a night together, and God knows she wanted to avoid him. She couldn't figure out what the fuck was wrong with her boss.

Nevertheless, she would never let her guard down. She shot him a glare, but Ethan's amusement was so evident behind his eyes that it only added to her annoyance.

"Think about it first," Ethan offered. "I'm going to help you. Name it and I will give. You just have to become my wife for me to get my inheritance. That's all."

"That's all? How could you say that's all?" She asked in disbelief.

"Your pride won't make your life easier, Ms. Finley. Take it or leave it."

Michelle pressed her lips together and mentally cursed. She knew that the offer was good, especially at this crucial time. Her mind was clouded with questions, but thinking about her father's debt made her want the ground to just crack open and take her, as she was certain she wouldn't be able to escape it, even if she tried so.

Michelle gazed up at her domineering boss, but she couldn't decide immediately.

"What can you say?" A ghost of a smile was painted on his lips.

She breathed hard as she fisted her hand. "Give me two days to think about it."

Ethan smirked before he nodded. "Of course, Ms. Finley."

***

Michelle still worked the next day. She felt awkward around the CEO and wanted to disappear, but she knew her job as a secretary was important.

"Good morning, Ms. Finley."

Ethan walked straight to her desk, wearing an entrancing smile on his lips. She already had an idea what they were going to talk about. Sighing, she looked away and fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Have you made a decision to accept my offer?"

"Two days isn't up yet," she simply answered, trying to avoid his intense gaze.

"Hmm, I'm just checking to see if you've made a decision already."

She shot him a glare, and he only smirked at her. "You'll know once I come up with a decision."

"Very well." Ethan then proceeded to his office as he whistled.

Michelle could only clench her jaw. "What a bastard..."

After lunch, he called her in for more teasing. Michelle was so upset, realizing that he wouldn't stop bringing up about his offer.

"You called for me, Mr. Steinfield?" She shot him an annoyed glance.

"Can you please review this report and create a summary for me to check?"

Ethan handed her a thick black folder. Michelle took it in his hand. However, he purposely slid his hand onto her knuckles and slowly traced circles on it which made her stiffen.

"O-Okay, I will do it right away, Sir," Michelle answered, ignoring what had occurred.

"Don't forget about your father's debt. Time is running out like a ticking bomb, Ms. Finley." Ethan leaned both of his elbows against the desk. Amusement could be seen in his marble gray-colored eyes. "I'm fine waiting, but I'm worried about your father. Every hour costs your father's life."

Michelle exhaled loudly. Her boss knew how to hurt her by using her father. But she could not deny that he was, indeed, right.

She swallowed hard and said, "If I agree to your offer, can we keep our relationship a secret?"

"Are you trying to negotiate?" He stared at her further.

"Y-Yes," she replied as she stepped forward to his desk. "Even though I don't like the reason why you came up with such a deal, I'm considering it. But I don't want it to ruin my reputation at work."

Ethan laughed. "Reputation?

Michelle almost flinched at the bitterness in his voice.

"Yes, my reputation shouldn't get any worse. That's why I'm asking to keep this deal a secret."

Ethan glared at Michelle. He couldn't believe the woman was negotiating with him, let alone wanting to keep their marriage secret. His breathing got heavy at the idea.

"If you could promise to keep it a secret, then we're not going to have a problem," Michelle stated firmly, shooting him a desperate glance.

"Interesting..." he uttered, shaking his head in disbelief. No woman had ever attempted to negotiate with him except for Michelle, and he was quite impressed in her bravery. "Sure. We'll keep it a secret."

Silence stretched uncomfortably inside the office. They were just right there, gazing at each other. Michelle could feel the loud beating of her heart as she came up with a decision that would truly change her life.

"I accept the deal, Mr. Steinfield."

***

"You may now kiss the bride."

Life was indeed a mystery; full of surprises and disbelief. Michelle and Ethan's marriage was held secretly the next day after she accepted his offer. It was a simple civil wedding and the only witnesses were Megan and his best friend.

Ethan's gaze was focused on her. Her heart felt like being hammered when he leaned forward, and kissed her lips. It was a tender kiss she didn't expect, yet brought the fragments of memories that happened between them the first night they met.

"Mine," he whispered after that short kiss.

After signing the marriage certificate, they parted ways as Ethan needed to attend a meeting. A car took her to his home. In less than an hour, she found herself standing in front of a modern house located in one of the richest neighbourhoods in Manhattan.

"This is exactly it," she said to herself, and put her phone inside the pocket of her trench coat.

The house was a three-story, looking totally modern with its design-painted with rustic colors and black, and every floor consisted of slightly tinted glass windows. She thought that compared to the houses she passed by, Ethan's house was a little isolated from other residences, which she thought spoke a lot about his personality.

She entered the house with her two huge luggage bags using Ethan's door code. Her heart was pounding aggressively as her eyes feasted on the insides of the house.

"What the..."

Michelle's mouth dropped open in awe. She'd been into beautiful houses before, but Ethan's house really stood out.

"Is anyone here?" she called, but no one answered.

She left her luggage bags in the living room and explored her new home. There was no doubt that the house's interiors and furniture were all expensive. Pool, garden, gym, spacious kitchen, and more... Upstairs, she found a second living room, six guest rooms, and a hallway.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the hallway. She walked into it, and found a library, and a red door at the end of it, which piqued her interest. She walked towards it, looked at her back, and when she realized that no one was around, she held the doorknob and twisted it.

It wasn't locked...

When she entered the room, her eyes widened. Half terrified, she gasped into thin air as her eyes wandered the room, and then covered her mouth.

Everything for hard sex was in the room: handcuffs, sex toys, whipping tools and many more that she couldn't name. Michelle could smell the musk and rubber. She walked around, heart pounding from what she saw.

"He's totally insane..."

She couldn't believe that the man she married was a sex addict, and looked like a sadist who treated women as objects who filled his needs.

Michelle couldn't take it anymore and immediately left the room while clutching her chest. She rushed into the first floor, skin so cold as if cold water was just splashed over her head and a few footsteps startled her.

"Who are you and why are you here?!"