The Billionaire's Marriage Offer

The Failed Pact

Miya almost choked on her own saliva.

What? What?!

What!

What was this man saying?

She had the most gormless expression on her face as she looked at Jim. And she seemed so utterly confused, and so immensely displeased that Jim forgot his next words.

Damn.

An awkward silence prevailed between them, as she continued to look at him unhappily and he swore he wouldn't repeat himself. When none spoke, he was forced to look down at her haughtily and ask, "Your answer?"

Miya looked like she would throttle him. Jim had no doubt she would do it.

He intensified his glare, hoping she would say something, anything. Miya flinched, and then obliged.

"I don't understand," she finally spoke, and Jim heaved a sigh of relief.

His question had been simple enough, though. He had half a mind to be a jerk and ask her which part of the question she did not understand, but he gave up on the thought. The woman already looked irked. And if he wanted to gorge out a yes, he would have to play nice.

"Obviously," Jim began thoughtfully, "I'm in a fix. I need to get married in order to fulfil a contract. It's sort of a merger, well, you know what a merger is, right? Let's say, my marriage is a precondition to the deal. The transaction won't happen if I'm still a bachelor."

"So you'll run off and just get married?" Miya raised her brows. That says a lot about your character buddy, she thought.

"What are the chances, think for yourself. It's obviously a deal I desperately want."

"I'm sorry. I don't know you. So I don't have to think for myself."

Jim was so infuriated at her sharp replies, he wanted to hold her and shake her hard. "I'm offering you money, woman!" he was screaming internally, "Money enough to live like a king for the rest of your life. What is wrong with you?" He couldn't say it to her face, however.

Change of plans.

"I know it has nothing to do with you. But can you consider it? I'm not asking for a favour from you. I'm asking for –"

"A deal." Miya's eyes had a mischievous glint to them.

The woman would never agree to it. Her sarcastic tone gave him the premonition. She was financially unstable, of course, she cleaned toilets for a living and couldn't afford school for her kid. Then too, she didn't jump at the opportunity.

Now that spoke of dignity. A misplaced sense of it, but still, dignity.

Dignity alone would come to his aid now.

He almost bit his tongue off at his next words.

"A deal, yes," Jim forced out calmly, "As equals."

Miya didn't flinch.

Jim wanted to cry.

Inside though, her heart had wavered a bit.

Equals.

That was a word nobody ever associated with her. Scorn and contempt. She had seen a lot of that. Humiliation. She had had her share of that too.

But being called an equal? Now that was a first.

And that too by the C.E.O. of Hunter Corporation.