Chapter 3 I won't marry you

Chapter 3

Lorraine

I scoffed and tried my best to stand up so that I could smack him in the face but my strength failed me.

"You've gotta be joking, huh? What makes you think that I need your help? The fact that I lost my boyfriend and my child doesn't make me helpless." My eyes turned misty as I burned in rage, wondering why everyone thought I was a piece of trash that they could spit on.

Eden's emotionless words replayed in my head. He called me needy and helpless, then said I had a lot of baggage. Iris said that I was the case of a lost puppy found under the rain. Now, Dexter wanted me to marry him out of the same pity?

"You don't have to be so sentimental about the proposal. I've made some background checks on you, and I discovered that you do need some saving or you'll be in big trouble." He stated passively, his hands plunged into his pocket.

The face I'd admired earlier disgusted me, but nothing annoyed me more than the fact that he was right. I needed help, but I wouldn't ask for his. Never!

"What kind of trouble are you talking about? " I swallowed, my heart thumping faster to the extent of wishing that I could join my late parents in the grave so that I'd be free from all these problems.

He hesitated in replying, pacing to and fro in silence which caused me to become nervous. I had to know what was going on.

"Talk to me, Dexter! Your silence is not what I need now." I urged him on, my voice rising in an angry crescendo.

I wasn't in control of anything anymore, not even my own voice.

"I'm thinking of the right way to put it to you. Your ex, Eden Maxwell, took a loan in your name and I didn't get to find out until today." He spat and I reeled in shock, my lips parting widely. Then I burst into laughter, shaking my head and clutching at my stomach because of the pain I felt.

It was obviously a lie to get me to do what he wanted. Eden could be many things but a debtor. He seriously hated debts!

"That's not true, Dexter. Everything you've said right now shows how much you want me to warm your bed. I'm not that cheap, you know, so get out of here before I call on the doctor to take you out." I yelled at the top of my voice, my chest constricting as I panted heavily.

"One million dollars. That's what he took from me." He blurted casually, flashing a look at me that said he wasn't joking.

I gulped, then swallowed. "No! No! No.. That's too much. What the hell did he use it for? He isn't even a businessman." I cried, leaning on the head board in exhaustion and resignation, wondering why the accident took the baby's life and not my own as well.

"An elaborate wedding, I guess, and enough money to take his new bride for the best honeymoon he can think of. That's not my problem, Hermione, what I need you to know is that you owe me money and with your current state. You can't even pay back, so why don't you marry me so that I can take care of you?" He drawled, his voice calm and unshaken.

I'd always known him to be confident even in high school, it was no wonder he turned out to be this way-cold and cruel.

"Look, I'll find a way to get you your money, but I can't get married to you. Marriage isn't something that we should both rush into, Dexter. Besides, how could you allow someone to take a debt in my name without even making verifications? What if I was dead?" I questioned, angry at my confinement to the bed.

I needed to be free to walk around the room, if not for anything but to be able to punch the metal table or stomp my foot on the tiled floor.

He burst into a heavy bout of laughter which left me stunned, his voice resonating in the room and his eyes shut as he mocked me to scorn. I watched him laugh to his heart content, and though I despised him, I couldn't deny that he laughed beautifully.

"That accident might have done a lot of things to your brain, Hermione. Have you forgotten how poor you are? With your meagre sum of a salary how do you think you can pay off your debt? Besides, I'll still pay you heavily after the contract is over." All traces of laughter had disappeared from his face with seriousness replacing it.

His hardened expression reminded me of how cruel he could be when he wanted. I'd forgotten about Dexter or at least I thought I did until he came standing in front of me-flesh and blood.

He reminded me that I was a pauper and I should have been hurt, and bawling on the floor because his words, but I only felt chill because it was the truth and I was used to hearing such words from people.

"What are my options?" I asked impassively, staring into his eyes which were presently unreadable and then I let my gaze lower to his alluring cherry lips which I had no business looking at.

"Marry me or I'll sue you, and with my influence, you might spend a long time in prison. I bet you can't even afford a lawyer." His lips curved into a smug grin as he cocked his head cockily, then he approached my bed and lowered his body towards mine.

The memories of the past came in as a flash, how he leaned in for a kiss that night and I didn't push him away because my body craved for it-his touch, his lips on mine and it happened.

I shoved the sizzling hot memory aside which made me feel like I'd plunged my body into a pot of hot oil and focused on the present.

"To hell with you, Dexter! I won't let you have me the way you want just like it happened in the past. I'll surely get you your money." My reply got him shocked, but he hid it with his impassive mask and backed away.

He straightened the jacket of his suit and shrugged, his hands still in his pocket. "You've got seven days to save yourself, Lorraine. Don't forget how vile I can be when tempted." He stalked out of the room leaving me drained and exhausted beyond words.

How on earth was I going to produce one million dollars in seven days?