The Billionaire's Bargain Bride

CENRIC

I hate promises. I always would.

When I made a promise to protect someone, I failed her. That changed my perspective-maybe it meant to be broken. Right now, it contradicted everything that I believed. I had to fulfill that promise. Even for someone like me, I couldn't escape from it.

It happened even before I became who I was, and I should have forgotten about it, but looking back at the dying woman in my arms I failed to protect, I just couldn't let it go. I had to make it possible, even if it meant signing off my life away from freedom.

I rifled through the folder on my desk. I wanted to get my mind off the wedding-my wedding in two days. And here I was, working my ass off even if I should be relaxing before the fucking end of my bachelor life.

But there was something about her that I couldn't shake off.

I had not met her. I had decided not to. The marriage was a fucking business deal, and her family was even enthusiastic about that-the fact that I literally bought her, and she knew that-it sickened me.

My brother, Cas, met her on my behalf. I always found excuses every time there were gatherings, even our engagement. I wouldn't call it a party because we were not in love.

It was a business deal- mutual understanding between her father and me.

The blue folder caught my eye again, even if I tried to ignore it for the whole month.

Fuck.

I grabbed and flipped it open. I squeezed my eyes shut before I stared at the first page. Her picture caught me off guard. She looked young in this photograph, but I knew she was already twenty-one. In fact, she finished college this year.

"Like her already?" I almost fell off my chair. My cheeks burned as if someone had just caught my hand in a cookie jar.

I closed the folder and turned to face my brother. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to fit your stupid tux or something?"

He walked in towards my desk and grabbed the folder of the background check report I asked for from my PI. I was curious about my future wife, and at the same, I wanted to know a bit about her life. To be honest, I wanted to know her past relationships before our wedding.

Her family, on the other hand, I hated her father, and so as her brother. Who was sane father did that to his own blood?

Hanslo was a son of bitch who chose to save his business over his daughter.

Her brother, Jasper, was another fucking son of the bitch. I hated him even more-he had my future wife on his leash. It had to end, or I would finish it myself.

"Cenric?" He snapped his fingers on my face. "Your teeth would crack if you wouldn't calm down. And you're about to create holes into that wall."

"Sorry. Why are you here again?" I straightened up on my chair.

"I haven't told you, but I came here to check up on you and make sure you're not getting cold feet and planning to be a runaway groom."

I rolled my eyes. I looked down at the stacks of folders, and I wanted to throw them in the trash. I tried to focus on some things, particularly not reading the file of my bride. Shit. It sounded awful.

I saw her once, but that was years ago. I still wanted her to be ugly, fat, with braces and pimples, but if the picture in that folder is up to date, then she was undeniably gorgeous.

She had a small round face. Her big crystal blue eyes staring back at me held a multitude of secrets. Her nose was straight and perfect. Those lips should be a sin. Her dark blonde hair just made her more beautiful.

She was my downfall. I could feel it.

"I know everyone is gonna be nervous when getting married. It's normal. You wouldn't be human if you wouldn't feel like there's a knot in your stomach."

He was right, I had never been this nervous in forever, but knowing that my life would change drastically in a matter of two days, I couldn't shake this feeling off, so strange I wanted to throw up.

"Spare the advice, bro. You're not the one whose life is gonna be tied to a woman you don't know."

"She's gonna be a good wife. Trust me. If you just took my advice to meet and know her, you wouldn't feel this way."

I glared at him. "I want to take care of her, not fall in love."

"So you admit that she's attractive?"

"Fuck you. I can't go through do that. Knowing her father and Jasper are power-hungry, I feel like I'm gonna fail her again. I won't let it happen."

"Then you made the right decision."

"I hope so. I hope she's not a pain in the ass."

"Can't be just you, brother. It should be one way or another."

"Fuck you. Get out before I run away and never show up on my wedding fucking day."

"It's fine by me. I will be marrying your fiancee."

An utmost overpowering outrage gripped me. The words marrying and fiancee in one sentence made me see red. An unfamiliar possessiveness shocked me that even my own brother I wanted to wring his neck.

He shook his head before his lips spread into a wide grin. His eyes glimmered with laughter. His lips twitched in amusement before he lifted his hands in a surrendering gesture.

"Get the fuck out. I have a lot of things I need to settle before I go on my merry wedding way."

"See you, brother." He saluted before he burst out of my office door.

Once Cas was gone, I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. I started to realize that there was no going back. Everything was set and ready for the big day, only me that I couldn't think of even getting a girlfriend, let alone getting married to the woman I knew nothing about aside from her being Greer.

I stared at her picture again, hoping it would magically turn her into an ugly duckling. But the more I stared at it, the more she turned into a fucking swan. This is not happening. Something about her that made me want to own her, mark her, take her right here, right now. Jesus.

I was accustomed to letting my lust lead me when it came to sex. I got what I wanted, and I gave what I could. But by just looking at her image, I wished I was wrong. These unfamiliar feelings of raw lust, rage, and possessiveness started to be out of my control. And the worse part was, I had not even met her yet.

I almost jumped in my seat when my phone vibrated on my desk. An unknown number blinked on the screen.

"Wollf."

"Help me!" It was a voice of a terrified woman. My heart stopped dead in my chest.

I froze for a moment. Why do I feel like I know her?

"Who's this?"

"Cenric-" The line went dead.

I stared at the screen in shock. "What the fuck?" She knew me and called my name, yet her voice was unfamiliar.

I dialed the number. I was the kind of man who never answered or called back, but I got the feeling it sounded like her life was hanging in the balance, and my instinct told me to protect her. Whoever she was.

Then it answered quickly from the other line.

"Who's this?"

"Cenric?" It was Jasper fucking Greer, my future brother-ass-in-law.

I shot him a bloody murderous glare even if he was not in front of me. "Where is she?"

"She's fine."

"Then why did she call? She sounded terrified, and the line went off after."

The other line went silent for a few seconds as if he was trading his words carefully. "She tried to escape."

"Is she held against her will?"

"She wants to run away. You know that she didn't want to get married from the start of the arrangement." Of course, who would willingly want to marry someone like me? I may be filthy rich, but not all women could be bought by fucking shiny and glittery diamonds.

"Don't ever hurt her or lay a hand on her. If I ever see a small cut or bruise on her skin on my wedding day, call everything quits, even our fucking contract. Do you understand me?"

"Of course."

"And make sure in two days, I have a bride to marry, unscathed."

SADIE

He calls back.

Terror had filled me. My brother shot me a murderous glare as he talked to him over the phone. I just wished this call would be calling off the wedding then we could both live our merry lives. But as I stared back at my brother, his expression even cowered down. So, the wedding was still on the go. Kill me now.

It was my third attempt to escape, but my father's lackeys had done a pretty bang-up job keeping me in this horrible mansion since our engagement was official with a freaking twenty-five million dollars.

My fiance was a private person despite being a self-made billionaire. He was known to be a whale on Wall Street. I was curious to look for him online, but I might not going to like what I would find out. If Jasper was right, his brother, Cas did all the public appearances since he was the expert in cryptography-he was the face of the decentralized digital currency called Centhaddeus or known as CENTH by the Crypto marketers.

My heart had been beating a million a mile since Jasper caught me sneaking out through the window. My friend, Zhuri was waiting outside the gate. Jasper just threatened her if she helped me escape again.

Two days ago, it was my second attempt. My father caught me and hit me hard. My mouth bled out, and my face was bruised. Even a thick foundation couldn't conceal. Then Jasper, not a few minutes ago, slapped me, causing my already bruised cheek to throb.

This wasn't the first time, even when I was a kid. If I made a mistake, either of them would hit me to teach me lessons, which I learned something-to be tough. If I didn't, I might have gone crazy or ended up like my late mother. Dead.

Sure, this arrangement or business deal was a massive boost to my father's business, but as a girl or the only woman in my family, I was a waste of their breaths. My family was known to be patriarchal. When my mother chose to follow her passion, my father kicked her to the curb. Even if they were not divorced, he started having mistresses, even as young as my age.

This marriage would be my freedom, at first, because there was no way I could go out from this hell hole, away from the tyranny of my father, if not arranged to someone else, even of their choice. My father never believed in women's independence. He believed women had only two roles-give them pleasures and bear children.

He was a class A douchebag sexist.

When Cenric asked for my hand, or should I say, bought me with twenty-five million dollars, my father did not think twice but to seal the deal. Yeah, I was just a thing, a property to them-easily sold and expendable.

I was supposed to be happy that I finally got away from my own family, but sad to say, my fiance didn't have an interest in me, even as his sex slave, or leash me like his pet dog. He never showed up during our supposed to be an engagement party. His brother gave me a massive yellow diamond ring, which, if I may guess, was just a coincidence that yellow was one of my favorite colors-it reminded me of a sunrise, that each time the sun rose, there was always hope.

"Looks like he's interested in you, after all." My brother's upper lip twitched, making my rage soar high.

"And you don't wanna scratch his property, or you'll pay back his money, which I know it's gone to the thin air by now," I taunted him. Now that he could not touch me physically, the deal was off.

"Shut the fuck up, bitch. In two days, you'd be gone, and my life would be grand without you in it. While you, on the other hand, are tied up in his basement for the rest of your life. Or you'll be off the grid as if you never exist."

I swallowed hard. Cenric Wollf's reputation preceded him. He was known to be cold-blooded and cruel, and to him, everything was a business deal. He was known to be a man of a few words, but his words meant authority to his employees.

"Do you think he cares about you? You're now his property. He can do whatever he wants. Do you think being here is the worse because you think you're held against your will? Well, wait until your wedding day. You'll see what kind of demon he is or what demons he possessed. And if what I heard is right, my father is nothing compared to his barbaric nature, and he also suffered from post-traumatic. Shit, isn't it?"

"You're lying!" That was all I could say because, honestly, I was already terrified beyond compare the moment I found out I was to be betrothed to a man I knew nothing about. His name alone sent a shiver into my bones.

My asshole of a father still believed in the old-fashion way, especially when it involved power and wealth. And if he thought he could manipulate Cenric or me, damn hell, he was wrong. It was either I would be faithful to Cenric or myself. But never would I take their side ever again.

I was not their property anymore, remember? I was Wollf's.

I watched my brother order Devin, one of his men, to double lock the windows before he went out.

"Don't worry, Devin. I will make this easy for you. I will just sleep for two days until my wedding. Then your job gets a lot easier."

I went to bed and laid down, hoping no one would come to disturb me. I had no appetite to eat, and sure as hell, I would die of starvation after the wedding.

I drew a deep breath when my eyes started to sting. Maybe a homeless was much better than a daughter of a tyrant like my father. At least they were free to do whatever they wanted.

I felt Devin had not left the room. When I turned in bed, he was staring outside the window.

"What are you still doing in my room? I don't think my future husband would appreciate you being here, invading my privacy."

He sighed deeply. "I don't appreciate your father and your brother laying their hands on you."

I watched him, seemingly in deep thoughts. "Do tell." I wanted to roll my eyes.

"Just have patience, Sadie."

My brow arched. "Until my death."

"Mr. Wollf is a good person."

"You're the only one who said that. Didn't you hear my brother? Everything is just a business deal, and that's all to them anyway. I bet no one would buy me for more than twenty-five million, so it's his loss. My family can't provide that amount anymore, and I'm sure they would not even spend a dollar for me, if in any case."

"You should not believe in anything you heard from your father or brother, Sadie. They want money from Mr. Wollf, yes, and that's all, but why would Mr.Wollf spend a penny for someone he didn't even know, let alone millions?"

"I kept asking myself that."

"There you go. You have your answer." He turned towards the door and paused. "Do you need anything?"

"Why changed of heart?"

"I did not change. You just did not notice it."

I shrugged. "I don't want you to get into trouble."

"As you said, you only have two days left here."

"Fine. Can I borrow your phone? But promise me you won't tell my brother." I was still skeptical. Honestly, I had never spent a minute talking to Devin, let alone connive with him with my plan. I didn't know if my brother was testing us, or for once, today was my lucky day.

He pulled out his phone from his suit jacket and offered it to me.

I eyed him suspiciously.

"Hurry up before he gets back."

I grabbed his phone and quickly scanned the screen for the message icon. I started typing. I memorized his number, just in case my phone got confiscated by my oppressors, and I was right to do it.

Sorry about earlier. I promise I will be there. Just don't lock me up in your basement. I promise to be a good property. SADIE

I hit the send button. Once it was sent successfully, I deleted my text and gave it back to Devin.

I smiled warily. "Thanks."

Before he could put back his phone into his pocket, that thing vibrated in his grasp.

"Mr. Cenric?"

I watched him freeze, swallow, and nod with yes, sir. What the hell is going on?

Devin then faced me, offering his phone. "He wants to talk to you."

I shook my head violently. "No." I swallowed hard. "I don't wanna be in trouble."

"You'd be in trouble if you keep him waiting."

I stared at the phone as if it had turned into a slimy alien. I shivered.

"Sadie, he's a busy man."

"Okay." My hand was shaking as I took the phone from him.

I pressed it to my ear before I cleared my throat. "Hello?"

"Are you okay?" His voice was deep, raspy, and calm, which was a good thing, right?

"Yeah. Why did you ask? I mean, call?"

"I just wanna make sure you're alright?"

"Why do you care? You're gonna lock me up in your dungeon in two days."

"I don't have a dungeon. Where's the phone you used earlier?"

"It was a burner my friend bought for me, but it's gone now. My brother broke it in half." I blew a breath. Finally, I talked freely, and it was a relief that the scary beast Cenric was not yelling at me or throwing words at me to behave as property should be.

"If you wanna talk to your friend or someone or me, use Reece's phone. Just make sure you won't risk his job."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to try escaping again."

"I mean, why are you talking to me now? After almost three years?" Asshole. Because of you, I've suffered a lot.

"I don't want to get married."

CENRIC

Something is off.

I knew it.

I could feel it in my bones. But why was I even surprised anymore? She was forced. Why did they also have to treat her terribly? I couldn't blame her if she wanted to run away. If I were in her shoe, I had already done it a thousand times. Poor thing.

Nowadays, this awful tradition should be banned, but a lot of old-fashioned-those powerful families kept this tradition alive for their transaction purposes-to keep the family business running.

I shut my eyes close for a moment. Gritting my teeth was as painful as the twist in my stomach. They would pay for this.

Money could be earned and replaced, but the pain and trauma they had inflicted on her couldn't be undone-it stuck in her brain like goddamn cancer. I knew how it felt-I'd been there. Even until now, I was still haunted by it-the trauma-the mental trauma was difficult to be cured. I just hoped she hadn't gone that far. One broken person was enough in a relationship, but two? That would be too much.

I called my brother. As if he was expecting me, he sang my name, irritating me further.

"Who's your inside man?"

"Who?" I knew he was messing with me. I could feel him grinning from the other line.

"Trust me, if you don't take this seriously, I'm going to beat the hell out of Jasper-" I checked the time on my watch. "In less than thirty minutes, and I will drag her with me, whether it would cause havoc between Hanslo and me, I don't give a fuck! They're the ones who are in deep debt, not me." My eyes gleamed against the reflection on the glass wall.

"Wow! Since when do you care?"

I growled. "Casimir?"

"Fine. Jeez, you're grouchier. How did you even know I have someone inside. Don't answer that. I'll send the contact to you now."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Just glad you care."

"Bye."

I didn't want her to get in trouble with her brother again than she already had. As much as I hated this arrangement, I made sure to keep up at the end of the bargain.

I called the contact as soon as I received it.

The second I heard her voice again, instead of making me feel angrier and unapologetic, she made me feel relieved.

Her tone seemed to relax as she talked about her failed plan.

And then the asshole that I was. "I don't want to get married." That was honest to the fault answer. At least, I wasn't yet ready, and I hadn't found my choice of bride. But maybe we could work this out. So long as she would not be a constant pain in my ass.

"So did I." Her admission definitely didn't surprise me. And so was her honesty. At least there was something I liked about her. "So, maybe we can talk about this before we both regret it."

"No. And you promise to be there."

"Aye yay, captain." I could even see her saluting at me. "A promise is a promise. Unless my father or my brother would poison me before our wedding."

I blew out a breath. I knew she was joking, but it just validated my suspicions. They did not treat her right because she was a woman who didn't have a place in their business. For Hanslo, the only good of women was for fucking and baring their heir. That was why he abandoned his wife to choose what she loved to do than being his goody-two-shoes spouse.

"They won't dare touch or lay a hand on you again. Did you hear me?"

"Then you don't know my family, Cenric."

"Then they're about to know me, Sadie." I grabbed my coat before I walked to my assistant. He'd been working for me since I started to make my way in cryptocurrency. Theo was reliable.

"I'm surprised you know my name, Wollf."

"I know your name, your birthday, your favorite color." That was a lie, but I was about to find out.

"Let me guess. Did you a background check on me? Guess how many boyfriends I have? How old I was when I lost my virginity?"

"Don't go there, Sadie," I growled. My voice raised. My outrage blurred into fury, and I saw a dark tunnel ahead. It was painfully obvious that this was the least topic I wanted to talk about. As much as I liked her untouched, I wasn't a saint either. Knowing someone was touching her, giving her pleasure, it already terrified the living shit out of me. If this is how I started our relationship, then I fucking sucked at it.

I hoped I didn't terrify her. "This is why I didn't want to talk until we got married. Since we both didn't have a choice at this moment, I'd rather not talk to you for the time being." I entered my private elevator that headed up to my loft.

"You can't make me bow to you or bend for you with your empty threats, Mr. Wollf."

"We'll see if that was an empty threat," I snarled. "Keep in mind that you're worth my twenty-five million dollars. You can work as my slut a hundred lifetimes. You won't be able to pay your family's debt," I groaned, pissed beyond reason that I just used a fucking debt against her. She provoked me, and I didn't have time for this shit.

I shouldn't have called her.

"You're right. Maybe I just pay it in hell."

"It was out of line." My patience started wearing thin. I swiped my card and punched codes to my penthouse.

"Is that your way of apology? I could get used to it, but it needs a little practice, though."

I sighed in irritation. This woman didn't back down. I didn't know if I was to be thrilled or pissed off for her being strong. Her picture didn't do justice-she looked innocent, classy, and poised, and I was like talking to her evil twin right now.

"I don't apologize. Not to anyone, even to my future wife. So, suck up my attitudes. I won't change a fuck. I just called to make sure you're okay."

"I get it. You said a thousand times, and I said a million times, that I won't ditch you at the altar. Since I am now your property, you can just put a leash around my neck, or you might also put a mind control technology on me so that I will just do what you want without my objection."

"You clearly like to talk, my asset," I snickered. I couldn't remember someone had retorted to me like this to annoy me. In our case, it amused me as much as I didn't like to admit.

"What else do you want, my master, before I kill you in my dream?"

"Naked?" I froze a little. Too late to take it back. I didn't know why I said that, but I was sure I wasn't flirting with her. No fucking way. Maybe I just felt comfortable talking without a filter, just like her to me.

"Asshole." I know, I am.

"Watch your tone." I slumped to my ass on the couch and took my shoes off. I massaged my temple. This morning, when I woke up, I never had a plan or even thought of talking to her. Now, a few hours later, I was bickering with her and her filthy mouth-the kind that I dislike.

"You kept shoving into my face the obvious which, I'm freaking fed up, hearing it from my family every freaking day."

"If you need anything, call Devin, indiscreet. If either of your father or brother lay a hand on you, call Devin."

"Yes, boss."

"Stop being a brat."

"Goodnight, sweetheart," she sang. Jesus Christ.

I snorted. "Bye."

Before I could toss my phone aside, it vibrated again. Fuck me. Did she call me again?

"What is it, Sadie?"

"Wow! You two seem to get closer quickly than I ever anticipated." Fuck. Me. It was Cas.

"I was just messing with you. She doesn't have a phone, asshole."

"I bet you wish she's the one in the other line."

"What do you want? If it's not important, then I need to rest. I'm exhausted."

"Sweet dream, brother."

"I hate you right now."

"I love you too."

My phone dinged, and it appeared I received a message.

You're not what I thought you were. SADIE

Careful what you wish for. I replied

SADIE: Oh, I'm so terrified.

CENRIC: Are you gonna annoy me for the rest of the day?

SADIE: I was thinking maybe we should just elope.

I chuckled.

CENRIC: Not gonna happen. You only get married once. At least let me make it special for you, even if you loath your groom.

SADIE: This is just a business deal. Why do you have to make it special since I am just a sacrificial lamb?

CENRIC: I don't want you and Devin will get in trouble, Sadie. Get some beauty rest.

SADIE: See you then.