Marriage Contract With The Ruthless Mafia King

CELINE HERRERA POV

"You have got to be out of your god-damned mind," I said then gasped in shock because I hadn't meant for the words to slip out of my mouth. I glanced at my grandfather whose wry expression spoke volumes of just how much my words had offended him.

Forcing myself to appear remorseful despite the rage that burned in my chest, I got to my feet. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to say that. This whole conversation is just so jarring that I can't seem to process it. I did not mean to insult you, grandfather"

Grandfather sat straighter, his gaze piercing into mine. "And what is so jarring about this conversation? Didn't you say you were ready to do whatever it took to make sure you get the company as an inheritance, or am I mistaken"

"No you're not, but I don't understand how you can come up with such a requirement. I have been running the company for five years now, I already have a sizable amount of share to my name and the people at the company are like a family to me and now you're just going to take all that away from me if I fail to fulfill your conditions"

Grandfather crossed his arms. "If you do not want to follow my instruction then you can as well resign this very moment and give Delia the company since she is ready to do that which needs to be done"

Delia nodded and I wanted nothing more than to wring her neck. After college, she had thrown in the towel and fought hard that she didn't want anything to do with the company and now here she was acting like the dutiful daughter all because she wanted to make my life miserable.

"But getting married and having a child is just plain ridiculous!"

"Celine!" He thundered and Delia stepped toward him and gently touched his arm.

"Don't be upset, grandfather; you know how selfish Celine can be," Delia said, giving me a pointed look. "You're trying to be fair by giving us these terms and yet she is still being mad about it. You've always wanted to hoard everything for yourself, haven't you?" she asked, a sneer on her lips.

"So you are ok with being forced to get married and have a child in two years because no matter how I see it, that's the most absurd condition if I've ever heard one"

Delia shrugged, then grinned, her lips stretching so wide they gave me the creeps. "I could do it in one, Celine... You see, I don't plan on losing to you in this life or the next... You should just quit the company now while you can"

I scoffed in disbelief, my gaze moving from Delia to Grandfather's. This was the plan all along, wasn't it? Grandfather had always loved Delia. I was the daughter of the mistress who caused his Son and his wife's death, so why would he allow me to run the company when he could come up with something so bogus and almost impossible to achieve, something he knew Delia could get done since she lived recklessly anyway? I was sure they knew that I wouldn't be able to go through with it... They wanted me to quit. Delia had always coveted anything I had, especially when she knew I worked hard for it.

I'd confronted her once in high school after she stole my boyfriend, and she just laughed and said she did it because it was fun and how it being easy gave her all sorts of thrills. I'd been bawling my eyes out and she'd just been grinning.

It was a vicious circle that kept repeating itself and now as I stared at the triumphant look on Delia's face, it became clear that the only reason I'd been allowed to run as CEO of the company for so long was that Delia wanted me to suffer for it, she wanted me to grow attached to it so that she could rip it out of my hand viciously, that way I'd be doubly hurt, and there was nothing more that fed her crazy than my pain.

Why couldn't she just let me be? She'd already taken so much, the company was the only thing that was really mine, and I had poured my blood sweat, and tears into it, so why was this happening? No. Not this time. I was going to fight her this time and I was going to win.

"Fine then," I said and watched as a look of surprise passed over their faces. "I'll do what you want, and if I am the first to achieve the condition, the company will be mine, with no arguments"

Grandfather's expression soured but he nodded and called for his lawyer to bring in the document.

We signed the papers, got our own copies as evidence, had pictures taken and when everything was done, I left stewing in anger.

*******

I was here on a mission- a bit of an exaggeration, but considering that I was at El Salvador club, which only the elites frequented, instead of lying on my couch, working on my laptop and munching on chocolates, I guess it was a mission, and I was loathing every minute of it.

"This should be easy," I told myself as I combed my fingers through my short-cropped hair to give it more volume. "I mean, who wouldn't want to be with Celine Herrera?" I told myself as I took in the faces of the good-looking men that filled the place, and that was when I saw him. The man I had looked into that would be the most suitable and perfect candidate. George Jorhé. I'd reached out and we'd set a date to meet at this club.

He was gorgeous. He had the most amazing golden hair I'd ever seen, a perfect jawline, a statuesque nose, and full gorgeous pink lips, and his eyes were a light brown color that made my heart skip a beat.

This was it. I took a deep breath, turned to the bartender, and ordered two glasses of their most expensive wine. The bartender looked shocked to see me since it was news that I hardly ever ventured away from my office or my house.

I picked up the wine glasses and walked toward the man, only to stop in my steps when a very familiar woman walked toward him, hugged him from behind, and pressed a kiss to his neck, then she glanced up, her gaze connecting with mine, a salacious smile on her lips that screamed triumph.

I stared at the man laugh at her, his eyes shining with what I could only describe as love.

Delia whispered in his ears and he nodded, then she met my gaze again and started in my direction.

I stood rooted to a spot. Delia stopped in front of me with a smirk.

"What are you doing here... Don't tell me you're going to do what grandfather wants. You must really love the company" she said grinning. "look at that, you are even about to buy a guy a drink"

I gritted my teeth, then stared at the glasses in my hand. "I ordered this for myself, I was just going to find a cool spot to drink..."

Delia laughed. "You're still such a terrible liar Celine, and you're also very far behind. Do you think you are going to win over me with how slow you have been? Then again, with that face of yours, I understand why you are skeptical of putting yourself out there," she said, and my heart nosedived.

"I have given my all to the company Delia, I won't allow you to steal it from me just because you think it's fun to destroy me"

Delia stepped closer. "Oh, this time, it's not for fun. I want my father's company. I am the legitimate child anyway. I don't know what I was thinking, allowing you to run it for so long," she hissed, then stepped back. "Don't even try Celine. You and I know you do not stand a chance against me. You're too ugly to find someone to fall for you, even in five years, except, of course, you offer them loads of money, and that would be breaching the contract. You're going to lose, so just give up before you make a fool of yourself," she said viciously, laughed, and walked back to go meet George.

I was boiling and as I turned with the force of my anger, I crashed into a wall, my drinks splashing between us as I stumbled back and fell on my ass. What the heck was that? I groaned, my ass smarting from the fall. There was an expensive shoe in the line of my vision and red wine was splashed all over it... So it was not a wall, it was a person?

Oh fuck no! I glanced up at the man I'd bumped into and gasped when my eyes met his icy dark green pissed-off ones, my heart kicking up a bit faster.

Belshar Nessar Abed; the rumored heartless killer billionaire with Mafia ties and every company in Hartford rivalry.

His gaze slowly took in the damage my red wine had done to his white shirt before they came to land murderously on me.

I gulped because it was so intense, that it stole the breathe right out of my lungs.

Was he going to kill me?

CELINE HERRERA POV

Belshar gaze lifted, and I expected to be berated since he'd taken his sweet time to stare me down, but instead, he just walked past me, his rich, deep baritone sending a shiver up my spine as he spoke to someone behind me.

It was as if I didn't exist. Picking myself up from the floor and wiping at my ruined shirt, I took a deep breath, my rage all but forgotten, and stepped out of the club.

The night air was harsh against my skin, and as I sat on a city bench, waiting for my best friend, I couldn't help but feel down and miserable.

Was I really that plain that I couldn't even hold Belshar's attention for even a minute, even when I'd spilled drinks on him?

That wasn't the rumor I'd heard about him, of course, he was a very mysterious person and no one knew Jack about his personal life, but the one thing he was notorious for was his ruthlessness, so was I just not worth his effort.

"What the hell are you doing out here... And where the hell is your phone? I've been trying to reach you to find out which spot you were," Julie huffed as she dropped into the space next to me, her eyes narrowing when I met them. I laughed nervously and slowly reached to pat her arm.

"Sorry, Julie, my phone was in my purse. I am also a bit out of it as you can see"

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously, because you wouldn't be caught on a city bench if your life depended on it," she said and I smiled.

"True, but things change when you least expect them to, don't they?"

Julie nodded. "But El Salvador club... What the hell are you even doing here"

I sighed, rubbing at my face. "I'm so fucking pissed Julie... " I took a deep breath because I was starting to feel choked up, and then I dragged my hand through my hair. "I thought I could find someone"

Julie paused and stared at me. "Is this about your grandfather's ridiculous request?" she asked and I nodded. "I thought you weren't going to push through with it... I told you it would be a disaster"

The lump grew thicker in my chest. "How could I not... I am going to lose everything to Delia, everything I have worked my whole life for if I do not get married and have a child before her... I hate them so much, so much" I got out, then wiped fiercely at the single tear that fell from my eyes. "But I might as well give up since apparently I am so ugly, no one would even bother to look twice in my direction"

Julie grabbed my hand and forced me to face her. "Hey, don't say that about yourself... You are a very beautiful woman and I am sure there are a lot of men out there dying to be with you"

I shook her hold off. "I know you are trying to make me feel better Julie, but you and I know that beautiful is not a word you'd use to describe me."

Julie sighed. "You are right, but you do have something that makes you quite unique... You have the juiciest pinkest lips ever, men kill themselves over that"

"Julie" I groaned. "That is not helping me right now"

Julie sighed. "I am just saying that even though we are not the most beautiful women out there, we have what makes us unique. Besides, looks aren't everything," she said, holding my gaze. "Money is," she finished, and I scoffed.

"You really had me at the first part"

"That was the plan" she chuckled. "Look, I am sure you can beat Delia and get what rightfully belongs to you, you just have to use your head"

"That's all I have anyway," I muttered, and she glared at me. "Fine fine... But there's really nothing I can do... Every time I put myself out there, I always end up disappointed or scammed, or Delia comes sweeping in to steal anyone that shows interest in me, like George that I was supposed to meet today"

"That bitch" Julie cursed. "What is her problem anyways... I thought she was going through a phase in college, but I guess it wasn't... She's really out to destroy your life"

"Don't I know it" I sighed, then laid back on the seat rest.

"What if you just had a contract marriage? All you have to do is find a filthy rich billionaire who is under pressure like you are, get him to agree to your terms, and get married."

"Yeah I don't think it's that easy and which super-rich billionaire in this day and age is under pressure from their family to get married"

"Belshar Nessar Abed is," she said and I jerked to an upright position.

Julie cursed and sat upright too. "What! What!" She asked, her eyes darting around in alarm before they came back to me. "What the hell is wrong"

"You just said Belshar," I choked out, and she slowly nodded.

"I know everyone thinks he's an evil Mafia killer, he probably is but he is also the only billionaire I know who is being pressed to get married... I guess it has to do with his mafia ties, have to continue the lineage"

I gaped at her, wondering how she knew he was being pressed to get married or anything about him whatsoever. "So you're saying I should approach Belshar and get him to sign a marriage contract with me despite all the rumors surrounding him and the fact that he is also my business rival? And how do you know he's being pressed to find a wife"

Julie stared back at me. "Is that important right now? The way I see it, you don't get to be picky if you want to keep your company for yourself, and your grandfather never gave conditions on who the man could be, he just said it had to be a billionaire.. now let's say you get Belshar, and you lose the bet, you can get him to take over the company, that way Delia would also lose everything, but you, you won't lose anything all... You get to make your grandfather and Delia pay for everything they have done to you, and it won't be hard, too; Belshar is gay apparently," she finished, looking awfully pleased with herself.

"What" I managed after two minutes of just staring at her with my mouth agape.

"It's either that or losing everything to Delia. And you need to step up your game fast or Delia is going to find out about everything I just told you and go after Belshar, then it would truly be over for you. Don't you want to get revenge after everything Delia had done to you"

Julie made it look as if it was something easy she was suggesting when, in fact, it was the hardest thing to achieve.

"And the fact that I have to have a child within two years, how am I going to get a child if he's gay"

Julie rolled her eyes. "Girl, you just need his sperm and I am sure he's going to give it to you to save face"

"You speak as if he's going to agree to any of this madness... He probably won't... Not after what happened today" I muttered the last bit to myself.

"You are right. He might not agree, but you won't know that if you do not try right. All I know is if you want to be ahead of Delia, Belshar is your best bet. You are a good businesswoman woman aren't you, and you're also good at convincing people to do things your way... So what's stopping you now... Treat this as a business deal and cash in on it"

I shook my head and then flinched when Julie grabbed me by the shoulder.

"Whatever you decide to do, you better make sure Delia does not find out about it, because if you fail, I can guarantee you Delia won't," she said, and that just made me mad.

I stared at the city, my heart throbbing beneath my chest.

Could I really do it? I remembered the icy cold stare of Belshar that had stolen all the air out of my lungs and clenched my fist. He hadn't spared me a backward glance after that... So could I really get him to agree to a contract marriage?

I stared down at my hands that I'd placed on my thighs, and listened to Julie chattering away.

She was right; if I was going to compete with Delia, I had to use someone more powerful, someone not easily Influenced, someone whom, even if I lost, I still stood to gain a lot.

It was going to be a two-year marriage contract and he didn't even have to know that I needed a child to seal the deal... I didn't want a custody battle... Belshar was Mafia, there was no way he would allow me to leave if we had a child together... No, he would allow me to leave but not the child.

Fuck, what was I even thinking? Was I seriously considering this?

I glanced up at the sky and flinched when a raindrop onto my cheek.

"I am seriously considering this"

Julie turned to me."Did you say something?"

I shook my head, staring straight ahead.

All my life, I have been pushed and pulled in every direction. It was time I took the reins and steered my life in the way I wanted.

Finding love might be too late for me since I was going to marry someone who probably would never spare me a glance, but winning against Delia and getting the company wasn't.

"This time I will win, Delia. I. Will. Win"

DELIA HERRERA POV

I didn't like George... I didn't like the way he smelled either. The reason I was here was all because of Belshar Nessar Abed, and as he walked past me to go meet up with his wife's cousin Bella, I couldn't help but watch him.

But it was annoying. His wife was already dead so why was he still meeting up with her relatives?

On the surface, people didn't know Belshar had been married... I'd had to dig and pay a lot of money to obtain the information... Belshar was a very private person, the only thing not so private about him was that he was a psychotic killer who destroyed lives with no emotion. Still, he was my one desire.

He was also the sort of person who cut people off just for the fun of it, so should I worry that he was still so close to his wife's cousin?

Bella was not someone I could easily go against... Not everyone was as spineless as Celine, but God damn it, I wish I could. She was the reason Belshar hadn't noticed me tonight.

He'd bumped into Celine, of course, which was very annoying now that I remembered it, but he hadn't even bothered with her; he'd just stepped past her and didn't spare a backward glance.

It was good; I'd hoped for such a reaction, but now, as I remembered the scene, it made a hollow feeling linger in my chest, and I didn't like it at all.

Fuck! It would have been better if he had yelled at her or gripped her by the arm so tight that it would leave bruises... Belshar was said to be vicious so why had he just walked past her even after she ruined his shirt... Did that mean anything or was I obsessing over this more than I should?

"So, where should we go after this?" George's voice broke through my thoughts, and I glanced at him.

He smiled with all his white teeth on display, his eyes crinkling at the edges. He was fine, but not to my taste, still, I had to hold onto him until I was sure Celine no longer had a chance.

I had told Grandfather to just cut her off but turns out the board of directors had been totally brainwashed by Celine so Grandfather couldn't just call for her dismissal, I'd had to come up with a sure way to get her to quit on her own which was why I'd told Grandfather to come up with this condition.

I'd underestimated just how far she was willing to go for the company because the bitch was actually taking the whole thing seriously.

I had no plan to get married or have a child, but now I had to, all because of Celine. She fucking ruined everything... Ever since we found out about her existence, I've had to share everything with her, and then my Dad and Mom died because of her slut of a mother.

She didn't deserve to be called a Herrera and I was going to do everything I could to make sure I destroyed and take everything from her.

"I think I'll drink a bit more," I said when I noticed that George was still waiting for an answer. "It's been a while since I've been out"

"You're right. It must be hard for you to go out since you're so gorgeous... You must have men hitting on you all the time"

I chuckled and raised the glass of wine to my lips. "I have lost count actually, they were all millionaires too... I wonder what I have to do to be noticed by a billionaire," I said, then glanced at George, who swallowed nervously.

"Well, I am going to seal a big deal soon, and once I bag that, you'll have a billionaire who has hit on you," he said, and I laughed.

"Is that so?" I said and he grinned, his full teeth on display and cringing me more than I'd already been. Deciding to switch the topic, I took a sip of wine and then focused on him fully. "But weren't you supposed to meet with Celine today"

He blanked, then laughed nervously, his eyes darting over my face as he scratched the back of his neck. "Well, you suddenly said you wanted to see me... It would have been sacrilegious of me to keep you waiting. You are Delia Herrera, if you made time for me, I should feel honored"

I smirked. This was my favorite part of the evening. I wanted to hear just how much better I was than Celine, how prettier I was, and how I'd always end up getting everything no matter how much she worked for it. Besides it was common knowledge that she was the daughter of a mistress, so no matter how much she achieved, that stain would forever follow her... There was also the fact that grandfather had never acknowledged her as a Herrera, so everyone knew she could be thrown out at any time.

"You made a good choice," I said then leaned closer to whisper into his ear. "I've been told I am a good luck charm that makes people's wishes come through," I said then pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before pulling back.

He blushed then grabbed his drink and drank it as if he'd been starved for it. His hands even trembled a little. Such a fucking wuss.

My phone rang and I excused myself to pick it up. George nodded, his flustered expression ruining my mood.

Belshar and Bella were in a deep conversation, and there was no smile on Belshar's face as usual, but that just made my heart race faster as I walked past him.

I answered the call once I got to the restroom.

"Well, is she going to do it?" I asked, and Julie chuckled.

"Of course, she is going to do it. I am pretty convincing when I am on a mission, Delia, plus you paid me a lot of money to do this; if I failed, that would have been tragic since I already spent half of it," Julie said, and I smirked.

"Good. I want her to make a complete fool of herself... Once she's rejected, she is going to be so devasted that she'll hand over everything to me" I said with a grin as I imagined just how miserable she'd look.

"I just sent some of her pictures to you from tonight. She looked awful and was crying about how ugly she looked..."

I smirked, then scrolled through the images she had sent. She was right, Celine looked miserable. "I hope you told her to fucking get surgery"

"I was going to but she already looked so down, I didn't want her committing suicide"

"You are too nice. If she dies, everything would be so much easier, wouldn't it?" I said, then frowned when Julie paused. "Spit it out, what's wrong"

"I am just worried if this whole thing is safe... As you know, Belshar is known for being sadistic and ruthless... What if he has her killed for disrespecting him by offering a marriage contract... He does have ties with the Mafia, and you told me how his wife died"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Hey, Julie, just do what I paid you to okay? I didn't pay you to worry about her. Whatever she gets, that's what she deserves.. if he has her killed, then all the better... Her mother killed my Dad and Mom anyway... As for the death of Belshar's wife, it has already been proven that be had nothing to do with it. He's not a bad person," I said, then ended the call. "I am."

I stepped towards the mirror and stared at my face and my long brown hair that fell over my shoulders in waves.

"It would have been truly tragic if you weren't so beautiful, Delia," I said, bringing out a gloss from my purse and applying it to my lips, but then I flung it to the wall when I remembered that Celine's lips were a lot more pink and plump than mine was.

"Do I fucking have to burn your face again" I groaned, grabbing at my hair. She'd gotten surgery to get rid of the burnt scar and was back to looking like herself, but back then, when she still had the scar, she'd been truly hideous.

Celine was not beautiful, but she wasn't ugly either, and if she put in the effort, she could become a competition. I couldn't let her do that to me, not after she'd crashed into my life and ruined everything.

"Yes, Belshar is going to teach you a lesson, and you'll be so embarrassed, you'll never show your face again, and then I am going to get him and rub it in your face," I said, then grinned, my good mood returning.

"You are going to win Delia," I told my reflection and nodded. There was no way Celine spirit would not be broken after being rejected and ridiculed, but if by chance that didn't break her, then she'd leave me with no choice but to resort to getting rid of her.

"Do not push me to that wall Celine... You should just let it go now while I am being nice"