NALEDI’S POV
“I knew you were my good luck charm, Attai.” He beckoned for me to sit beside him.
I did that begrudgingly. “Capital Oil, huh?” I said with a forced smile.
He nodded, blinded to my obvious discomfort. “I have been trying to spread my wings into the American business world, natural resources picked my interest.”
I fought the urge to say just like his father – because the truth was his father had always had eyes for the business of oil. Draken took the words right out of my mouth.
“Papa had always wanted to start the oil business in the States. Fucker wasn’t able to achieve it until he breathed his last. I wonder how he would feel knowing I got to do what he couldn’t even after putting me down for so long.”
He shot me a cynical look. “I always knew I was better than him. I knew I’d be a better ruler and I’m sure he is rolling in his grave now that I proved it.”
A smile, “I always knew you were better than him.” I kissed ass for a living.
“Is that why you killed him?” Draken asked and the room temperature dropped. He batted his eyelid, expecting an answer. The Psychopath.
“He tried to rape me.” I gritted, suddenly overly aware of my surroundings.
Was he going to kill me? Was he ever going to let me live this down – or even let me live? The more he brought up his father, the less secure I felt around him.
We were playing a dangerous game.
A maniacal laughter, “If I tried to rape you, would you kill me too?” His voice was so calm, like we were talking about the weather, and not about a case of such magnitude.
It took a moment before I answered, and going by the frown on his face, it was clear he didn’t appreciate it.
“I am to be your bride, Draken. It couldn’t possibly be rape if I’m bound to you right?” My hands instinctively reach to my neck, where my mark was supposed to be, where Caellum’s mark had disappeared following our rejection of each other.
My reply must have been satisfactory because his face turned lighter as he gauged me, “You are right, It can’t because you belong to me.”
A little bit too territorial if you asked me but I swallowed it all, sucking up to him for the greater good. “That’s right.”
He nodded, “Exactly why you need to be mated to me as soon as possible.”
My heart fell down the pit of my stomach. “What?” My tone was sharp and his face darkened, I immediately corrected myself. “I mean,” I pushed my hair behind my ears, “So soon?”
“Of course, we have spent enough time getting you fixed in Moscow.” He pulled my hair out of my ears, causing it to fall, shielding my face a bit from him.
He searched my eyes as he spoke, “But most especially, they now think I am married and I would like to complete the mating circle before I have to travel and begin the contract process by the end of this month.”
“We don’t have much time before then.”
My body froze at the implication of his words. I couldn’t get mated to him. That was a no-go area. I wrecked my brain, looking for a way out of the mess I created.
If I had just stayed put in my prison, I wouldn’t be dragged into this shit. A light bulb went off in my head and I argued.
“We can’t get mated.”
That didn’t go down well with him.
“Why?” He asked after a while. “Do you have a problem with that?”
I shook my head no, knowing very well that it was the last thing I needed. “I already got mated recently.” If there was another adjective to describe the darkness on Draken’s face, I’d use it.
“Due to the rejection, my wolf is yet to surface.” I blurted, and he quirked his brow.
“That is because you are wearing a band that hinders its ability,” He pointed out like I was a dummy.
The things I do to get what I want.
I sucked in a deep breath and laid out more bullshit, hoping he bought them, and got me some extra time to figure things out.
“You didn’t know but after Caellum rejected me,” I blinked back tears, hoping my act was foolproof. “I lost contact with my wolf. She just ghosted me and when I got here, it got worse. Now I can’t even feel her.”
Which was half the truth, seeing my wolf was still upset with me and by the fact she had lost her mate due to my refusal and stubbornness. That was a story for another day. Right now, I needed to get him to reason with me.
“What do you suggest?” He finally asked, putting me in the spot.
I hadn’t thought of what to say if he asked me what I wanted because I just didn’t think he would ask me that. He didn’t like to be kept in silence so I said the first thing that came to mind.
“I need a job. I need to get back out there and do some actual work. She always shows up when there is a job on hand.”
His eyes narrowed on me suspiciously.
“Also, it will help me prove myself to you.” I blurted when he didn’t speak, “I know that you have your reservations about me, as well as the people, this could be my chance to prove myself to you.”
I hoped, prayed and wished that he bought into this. Just when I was about to lose hope on everything altogether, he said the magic words.
“For how long do you intend to work?”
My heart leaped. “I was thinking along the lines of a month?” I threw it as a suggestion, insinuating that he had the final verdict, which if I was being real to myself, he did.
It was fun to pretend like I did though.
“Three weeks. That’s all I can give. And I get to choose where you work.” He said, watching me keenly.
It was a bummer. But beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“That would be great,” I said excitedly. “I won’t let you down.”
“Just so we are clear, after three weeks, I will have you,” His tone was resolute, “There will be no excuses then.”
I gulped, “Fine.”
That’s one week too long if things went according to plans, I added at the back of my mind. He nodded and a smile made its way to his face.
“Since you are now a part of my team, then I don’t need to send you away for this.” He motioned his fingers to one of his guards who nodded and walked out of the room.
That was weird. What were they going about?
Suddenly, the door opened and I saw a familiar-looking girl dragged by two hefty men into the space. My eyes widened. There was no fucking way. What the flying fuck.
They dragged her within a reasonable distance and forced her to her knees, head bowed. I didn’t need to see her face to know she was the one.
Korah.