Reluctant Bride for the Ruthless Billionaire

I thought my aunt had died or perhaps something bad had happened when I approached our house. From a distance, I could see a fleet of luxury cars with heavily armed men standing at different points; they looked terrifying. I felt my stomach grow cold as I drew closer.

It was very recently that I noticed her pacing around the house, looking out of the window; sometimes she was very absent-minded. She had nearly dipped her hand in a frying pan with heated oil while she was deep in thought; if not for my timely intervention, when I asked her what the problem was, she looked me in the eyes and asked that we run away, that we moved to another city.

"Tessa, we need to run; we need to leave this city," she had said to me, her grip firm as ever.

I could see fear in her eyes.

"Aunty Norah," I said softly, sitting next to her. "We moved here barely a year ago; I just got this new job that pays well, and I finally get to have friends; why do we need to go somewhere else?"

"You won't understand," she said, looking away.

'Then make me understand," I nudged closer. "Why do we keep running?"

"We are not running; I'm just trying to keep you safe."

"Safe from what? From whom, Is someone bothering you? We need to call the police," I had said, reaching for my phone.

"The police can't do anything. Absolutely nothing," she said.

"What is going on, Aunty? Ever since you told me my Mum died in a fire incident and dad disappeared, never to be heard from again, we have been on the run ever since. I have not made sense of anything all these while because I felt losing your twin sister to a fire outbreak must have traumatised you. I did not want to bother you with questions or anything, but now I'm old enough to know what's going on," I had said.

She slipped her hands out of mine and sighed.

"It's a long story," she said, her eyes tearing

"Start from somewhere," I said calmly.

"It all started when your dad got into a dirty business relationship with a man, and it resulted in your dad owing this man a lot of money, unknown to your dad that this monster was obsessed with your mother. He had made several advances at her, and she refused; her only crime was saying No to a billionaire and settling for a humble lettuce farmer. That man made life miserable for your parents. Every time he visited, he always took something precious. No matter how your dad pleaded, he would not listen. One cold night, while your dad was unusually away on the farm, that monster came visiting to demand his debt, Your mother was home and I was in the nursery babysitting you, He insisted that it was either your dad paid off his debt or he would kill him and have his men take turns on your mother, I had heard them arguing in the sitting room when I sneaked out with you from the back door to find your father. It's a mistake I should never have made, I should never have left my sister behind" She paused, tears pouring from her eyes.

I was too cold to comfort her; I could feel my heart racing and the warmth of my tongue vanish. "So what happened?"

"I did not see your father on the farm. I managed to hide you somewhere safe and came back to the house to find your mother, only to see the building. she paused, choked with emotion.

"In flames," she screamed.

I could hear her scream for help, but before we could get help, it was too late-she had died," she said, her voice trailing off.

"And my dad," I asked softly.

"I never saw or heard from him again till this day," she said, her voice trembling.

"So who is this man, and why is he after you and me? I mean, he succeeded in killing my parents; what does he want from us?" I asked. I tried to control my emotions at this point because I hated how this was affecting my aunt so badly.

I have learnt that the ways of the world were cold and that I had to live life like I was on a battlefield; these were tenets that I groomed myself to live by, to face every challenge head-on, but this very chilling revelation from my aunt had me wondering if I was ready for what she would say next. I watched my aunt lower her head and tried to wipe her tears with the helm of her skirt when she began to cough.

Our conversations did not continue that night; she coughed until she was gasping for air. I had helped her sit close to the widow with the curtains spread wide open for fresh air to come in; we did not talk about anything else.

I approached the entrance carefully, observing the cold, expressionless faces of these men as I walked past them. I was terrified but maintained a defiant appearance. Once I got past them, I ran into the house to meet my Aunt on her knees, in front of a man who seemed to be in his late forties. She was begging him, but the minute she saw me, she got up and asked me to run away.

"Please, my baby, just leave; I will explain everything later!" she said.

"No, Aunt, I'm not leaving you here! Why are there armed men, and who is this man?" I asked.

"Oh, there she is, finally! I thought you said she travelled, so you lied to me?" The man said with a cold smile.

My aunt turned to face him.

"Just let her be Don Pedro; she is just a child," her voice begged.

"A child? Last I remember, she just turned twenty-one; don't you dare call my wife a child."

I was beginning to get annoyed. His wife? This has got to be some sort of confusion, I said in my mind.

"Can somebody tell me what's going on? And who are you, Mr. Whatever your name is?" I sparked.

"I am your husband, and I am here to wish you a happy birthday, darling!" He said with a weird smile, handing me a black box. "I got you a gift," he added.

"I beg your finest pardon." I asked. Looking into his cold eyes.

"Is this how you accept a gift from your husband? No, thank you." He said again.

"You must be kidding! I mean, you are outrightly out of your goddamn mind!" I yelled at him.

I was losing my cool. I did not know who this man was, but I knew he was powerful from the way he talked, but he sure did not know what I was capable of. I looked around for whatever I could weaponise and found the left pair of one of my aunts rickety old cover shoes.

"Oh! She's feisty! I'm sure you didn't walk through that door with your eyes closed; one wrong move, and you will not like what happens next." He said with a kind of arrogance that drove me Mad.

"Well, you're going to see crazy if you don't get the fuck out of my house," I held the door.

"Tessa, please calm down; let me handle it." My aunt said from a corner, completely shaking.

"You should listen to your aunt, wifey." He said again. Stretching out the small black box. "Take it"

"I don't want anything from you, and today is not my birthday," I spat out with my hands crossed, staring at him cold in the eye.

I did not like him. I did not like his presence, and I did not like how frightened my aunt looked.

"Did I hear her call you Tessa?" He asked, turning to my aunt, "You changed her name to escape me, tell her what her real name is, and be quick; don't piss me off."

"Me...Melissa Lorenzo," My aunt whispered.

"I am Don Pedro Lorenzo." He said, "I am your husband."

I was caught up with words. I didn't know what to say next. This man's audacity was too much for me to take it as I stared at him in disbelief.

"In that box are the keys to your new house with an address, a car to drive you around, and your wedding ring. It's a blood diamond with a tracker; make sure you have it on at all times, I need to know your every whereabout, I was going to take you home with me today but I figured forcing you won't be deal." He said, stepping a bit closer-so close I could feel his breath on my face as he towered over me, his eyes deeply peering at me. "So be an obedient pretty little thing and do as I say; you have seventy-two hours to be in your new home, otherwise." He stopped and pulled my aunt by her arm.

I tried to protest, but my aunt told me to be quiet.

"She knows what I am capable of," he says, gesturing for me to leave the door. "I will see you in three days, wifey; take good care.".

I watched him leave, his entourage and swamp of bodyguards driving off into the street and out of sight. The idea of being married did not sit right with me, but first, I had to make sure my aunt was okay.

The Devil is a liar! I had exclaimed in my mind.

I managed to help my aunt to her bedside and fetched her a glass of water and her medicines. She had many questions to answer because a stranger couldn't come and declare me his wife like I was a piece of furniture.

No way. And Melissa? I hated the name as a word itself.

I was boiling with so much anger I did not know when I kicked the bed bunk and yelled in pain.

Breath in, Tessa! I said to myself.

"Are you okay?" My aunt had asked. "You know we can plan our escape; we don't have to do anything he says."

Escape? Do anything he says? Why would I be compelled to listen to a man I do not know? I was triggered by that question.

"Nobody is escaping to anywhere. I want to see how this plays out. If there is anything I need to know about the drama that played out, now is the best time to tell me," I said before pulling a seat to the window side and sitting down.

"How do I explain the situation now?" Aunt Norah started, "If only you had listened when I told you to let us run away."

"I am not going to run away, especially not from that pole-like-looking bastard; who the hell does he think he is to just walk in here and issue orders around?" I yelled.

"Tessa," my aunt called out softly.

"It just doesn't make any sense to me; I am not giving up the life I have here, all because of a man, and if you won't tell me why, then we are not leaving here," I said. My eyes darted at the small black box, and I kicked it angrily. "I am not going to any damn house either!"

"Why are you stubborn, my child? You never listen or do what I tell you to. This battle is far bigger than you; you are not ready for the truth," Aunt Norah said, trying to stabilise her breathing.

"Who the hell is that man?" I asked again, my eyes meeting hers.

"Your husband," she said.

"My husband?" I yelled.

It was as though a screw had fallen off my head, but I tried to play calm. "Last I remember, I am still dating Sergio, and he has not proposed to or married me yet; we intend to do that when he returns in a few months; at least that is the only union I recognise, so what is this marriage you are talking about?" I rambled. My words were calmly placed after each other, so I didn't scare her.

"This has been the secret I tried to protect you from, the reason I didn't let you have friends or socialise much, just so you could easily run without having any emotional attachments, till I saved enough money to send you abroad, where you can start life afresh on your own terms," my aunt said I was confused even more.

"You are his wife," she said coldly.

"How am I his wife?"

"Your dad gave you to him; you were a price used to cover a substantial part of the loan. I only got to find out when Don Lorenzo had come to fetch you when you turned eighteen. He showed me the contracts and agreements. There was no way I could let my baby girl become a bride without a choice." My aunt paused to wipe the trickles of tears welling up in her eyes.

"So my dad not only disappeared, he sold me off to cover for a mess he created?"

"I managed to escape with you that time. It was the reason I changed your name to Tessa-to buy us time to plan your escape-but this monster is back in our lives again, and I feel weak-too weak to fight for us," Aunt Norah said.

"I will fight for us," I said coldly.

"No, you can't; he is too powerful."

"Maybe you don't know this; I love to handle men like him," I started. "So in a nutshell, that bastard is responsible for my mother's death?"

Watching my aunt nod quietly broke my heart.

A wave of fury washed over me. I do not know if it was the anger at her helplessness or the hatred I had for my dad for being a coward, or if it was my mother's death caused by the very proud bastard who visited earlier or the thought of being married to a stranger, a painfully insufferable one at that.

"I will fight for both of us," I said. My eyes were bloodshot red as I looked out of the window.

'It's getting late; I think you should come sleep by my bedside tonight, my child," I heard my aunt say, noticing she was already lying down.

"He won't kidnap me from your sight, aunt; try to get some sleep; I will be fine; I just need to process what you have just shared with me," I said softly, soothing myself with several deep breaths.

***

It was dawn; I was up early. I had barely slept. My eyes were still heavy, but I didn't mind. I needed to get to the office early enough; the events from yesterday had repeatedly played in my head, and I wished I could shake it off, but it lingered. Whatever happened yesterday was a joke, a bad dream, I said to myself. There was no way I would be marrying that man. No way at all.

My aunt was still sleeping when I left her a note before leaving for the office. I did not want to wake her up because I knew she would try to stop me.

I stood at the entrance of the office and noticed something strange: the security men were not at their duty posts. I entered the premises and noticed everybody was gathered in the conference hall. I tore through my colleagues to the front to know what was happening.

"I would like you all to cooperate with Don Lorenzo, your new boss," Mr Jenkins said. "Extend to him the respect you have so generously given to me."

I was shocked. What is he doing here? He is the new boss.

"Aha! Ms. Tessa!" I heard Mr Jenkins call out upon sighting me, "Please come out."

I did. Avoid Don Lorenzo's gazes.

"Don Lorenzo has specially requested that you resume as his personal assistant. I know you are yet to find your feet around here as you started working here several months ago, but I trust you will do a good job; it's definitely something you can handle," he said.

I was tempted to scream, I resign, at the top of my voice, but I acted calm.

"Don Lorenzo, would you like to address the team?" Mr. Jenkins asked, all smiles, cooing like a little girl in a candle store. I hated the show of extra reverence. Don Lorenzo must think he is God; just showing up at my work and becoming my boss won't make him less of a stranger.

"That will be all for now." Don Lorenzo said his attention on me made me uncomfortable. "I would like everybody to return to their duty post."

As everybody dispersed, I heard him say, 'Except you, Melissa."

'I'm sorry?" I replied.

"Tessa, right? Except you, Tessa, I would like Tessa to show me around," he said.

"Okay, great! Tessa, show our new boss around the building. I will join you both later, Mr. Jenkins said. Excusing us of his presence.

"First show me the way to my office," he said wryly.

I led the way, quietly. And he followed.

I had a lot to say, but not in front of my work colleagues; I had to maintain absolute decorum.

Once we got into his office, "Shut the door, wifey," he ordered.

I felt like grabbing the volleyball stick and whipping this bastard across the face, but instead, I watched him quietly take a seat.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"Doing what?"

"Showing up at my house claiming to be my husband, the stupid birthday gift, and now showing up as the new boss around here, what's all that about?" I asked dryly.

How can anybody be so repulsive? There was nothing to like about this man. He was driving me crazy, and every single thing about him gave me an irk-his stupid hairstyle, the stupid way he looked at me.

"Oh, slow down, you are feisty!" He said, getting up from his chair.

"I would like to know why you think you can just show up out of nowhere to constitute a nuisance." I spoke again, stepping backwards as he drew close to me.

"It is because I can; I was curious to see where my beautiful wife works,' he said before I interrupted.

"I am not your wife."

"No woman of mine should have to work for peanuts," he continued like I had not just corrected him.

When he drew close enough, a thousand thoughts flipped through my mind-kick him where it would hurt-a voice whispered in my head.

"Don't even try to do what I think you want to do." He said, his voice descending into a raspy, lowered tone. "You are my wife, and there is nothing you can do about it."

He leaned as though he wanted to kiss me, his right hand snaking around my waist while his left softly caressed my neck. I felt a sudden weakness overshadow my defiance. I tried to free myself from his grip.

"This is inappropriate, Mr. Lorenzo," I said, trying to wriggle out of his grip.

"Not between a husband and a wife." He said, licking my earlobe, his grip firm enough to hold me in place. "You smell so good, soft, and innocent."

"I am not your wife!" I said, stepping on one of his feet and breaking free.

I watched him wince in pain and wished I had kicked him in the crotch.

He went from squealing in pain to laughing. He laughed so hard. I wondered what was funny.

"I love stubborn women." He finally said, "Keep at it, but it still won't change the fact that I am your husband and your boss.

"Then I quit!" I said defiantly. My heart is racing at this point. How dare this bastard try to touch me?

"The contract you signed states that you can't quit without sending in a one-month notice in advance or be met with legal actions for breach of contract." He said with a smirk on his face, his muscular body heaving in his suit.

"You can't run away from me even if you wanted to."

"I am not even trying to run away; I am just wondering if you will be so kind as to put an end to all these games or you will meet a side of me you won't like," I said.

I expected him to say something, but he was quiet. I took that as a cue to end the discussion. I arranged myself and straightened my skirt before heading out. All through the day I felt his gaze on me; it made me resent him so much more.

I could still perceive his strong masculine perfume and wondered perhaps I had inhaled too much of him at the office earlier. I could still hear his voice in my head. His raspy deep voice rambling in my head, calling me his wife! I am not your wife, damn it! I unknowingly yelled out my thoughts as I walked into the sitting soon, kicking my shoes to a corner and switching on the light! There he was! My tormentor!

"Tada!" He said, but there was nothing pleasant about that!

I was still in shock and at a loss for words; I first looked around for my aunt.

"Where is my aunt?" I asked, my fist clenched!

He noticed.

"Easy with the first honey; your aunt is in safe hands."

"What do you mean?" I asked before scampering around, calling out to my aunt. But no response or vision of her in sight.

I panicked. I began to wish I had listened to her when she asked us to run away. I prayed this monster had not done anything to her because I wouldn't know what I would do.

"What did you do to her?" I asked, my voice sharp and direct.

"Simple. I moved her to your new house and told her you will join her there!"

"You did what?"

"Exactly what you heard"

I fell weak to my before crawling to the couch. Nothing made sense.

"Who the hell do you think you are to barge in here and evacuate my aunt without her consent?"

"She was on my property, and moving to the new apartment was the only option on the menu or would you have preferred I let her out on the streets?"

I was taken aback. "Your property?"

"You heard right." He said, tucking his hands into his suit pocket. "I tried to be cordial but I realised a stubborn woman like you understands only one thing-force."

He pulled out what looked like an official document and threw it at me.

I caught it and quickly opened it.

I could not believe my eyes.

"So, Miss... sorry Mrs Lorenzo, you are standing on my property." He dryly said. I could see the smirk on his face even though my eyes were focused on the paper.

He had actually purchased the house; the world around me seemed to spin as I struggled to find balance.

"I am a practical man, and I hate to be tested. You only have a few hours to either join your aunt at my house or be forced into the streets."

"You can't do this!"

"Sorry? I just did."

"I don't know who you are, but you really just don't get it! You don't just walk into our lives out of the blue and own it!"

"I currently own you; I own your life. I have only been decent enough to let you enjoy the natural gift of free will, but you are my wife, and the sooner you accept accordingly, the better for you and your dearly beloved aunt," he said, adjusting his suit.

Different emotions washed over me in the seconds that followed. Confusion and disillusionment stretched through the lengths and breadths of my being. I tried to mask the anger brewing inside of me when I spoke up.

"Don't you have a life? Or is your life so clouded with darkness that you enjoy sniffling the light out of people?" I asked, my eyes looking straight into his cold, unassuming eyes.

"I love to take what's mine," he said, stepping close to me.

I stepped back.

"I have not been inside a woman for some time, and even though I can afford to have any woman in my bed, I have intentionally decided to stop seeing other women as I now have a wife." He approached closer, his hands reaching for me but I slapped them off.

"I will give you 24 hours to make up your mind. It's either you join your aunt and resume your duty as my wife or stay locked out in the streets, but even that choice is still mine to make as your husband," he said, his jaw clenching as he forcefully scooped me into his arms, squeezing my bum with the precision of a sex-starved bull.

Slap!

I slapped him and regretted doing so a few minutes later because it triggered him further.

He held my hands above my head, against the door, and then kissed me with relish. I tried to fight him, but I was too weak and no match for him.

"Stay still," I heard him whisper softly.

"If you keep running away from me and refusing to get in line, I will be forced to take you by virtue of force, and best believe, it will never be pleasant. As much as I love the innocence you exude, I will appreciate a little bit of submissiveness from that sharp tongue of yours.

All I could do was stare as I searched my mind for words.

Just in a space of how many days this man had appeared from nowhere, bought the company I work at, and now he bought the one thing that reminded me of my humble beginnings.".

His eyes burnt with so much desire. That's how I knew he wanted my body too. And it made me angrier.

"I would rather sleep on the streets."

"And have these street rogues take turns fucking you and enriching you with their seed?"

The graphic images flashed through my mind. I gagged.

"I would rather be fed to the dogs on the streets and be ravished by rogues than become your wife."

"It's very easy to say until they touch you" He saif softly, his fingers scratching my arm, "But best believe their touch will not be as soft or as gentle, neither will their strokes be coordinated or dignified, so you are willing to give all of these to the dogs on the streets?"

His finger traced the curves on my face. I did not reply to him.

"I have never met a woman so strong-willed, but best believe your stubbornness will be met with even more stubbornness."

"I beg you to please let my aunt go, let the poor lady be, she would be worried sick about me."

"And that will be all your fault."

"How? You are basically trying to marry me against my will."

"Point of correction, we are already married; you just need to get a few things and come live with me as my wife officially!"

"First you bought the company."

"Yes, I did, so you dont have to work under another man."

"Now the house?"

"So you don't have to live like a peasant."

"I am comfortable here; I dont live like a peasant here."

"Not to my taste. You have lived a life of suffering for most of your life. Allow me to give you a taste of the good life."

"And I have clearly stated that I do not want anything from you, mister! Stay away from me!"

'Sadly I can't, and you will have to deal with me for as long as I please," he said, pulling at me and cupping my face in his palm.

"You have to do as I say; right now you are on my property, trespassing. I will excuse it because you're my woman but like I said earlier, you have less than 24 hours to join your aunt at your quarters or be compelled to do so anyhow I deem fit."

'I will appreciate if you speak to me from a distance" I said, slipping away from his grasp.

"Your body is so soft; you must be very fertile," He said.

"Gross!" I yelled. 'In your dreams! Get out!!'

I held the door open for him. I have never felt so disgusted in a while. who does he think he is to speak to me that way?

"The clock is ticking!!"Go back to the hell you crawled from and pray not even a strand of hair on her head should be hurt."

"I get to call the shots around here; you obey."

"Now you listen to me!"

"No you listen to me!" He interrupted, "Notice how I am not one for small talk? I just go ahead and do what's on my mind. Exactly, if you dont make up your mind to be my lawfully wedded wife, your aunt will pay the price for your insolence"

I slammed the door behind him as soon as he stepped out.

I needed some time to process all that had happened, but at the same time, I needed to speak to my aunt. I have thought of the countless ways we can escape this man, but he seems to be so highly connected that we can't escape him.

My eyes settled on the black box on the locker with a note.

It was an order.

"Put the ring on"