I read through the content of the contract and I was bewildered. Is she crazy? The chosen candidate would be her personal guard for a year before they get married in the second year? What? Seriously? The candidate must live in her mansion over the chosen years, which happens to be three years. No physical touch unless necessary, foot massage every night? No payment until after three years, sleeping together in the same room but the man will take the floor! What! She's crazy! Does she need a slave or a fake husband? This woman is insane."
"Do you find the contract interesting, young man?" The strange woman's voice jerked me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see her staring down at me on the floor. I stood up with the papers I had picked up and handed them over to her.
"Isabella is crazy!" I said, and she burst into laughter. Suddenly, she stopped laughing and furrowed her face in a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"You know Isabella?" she asked in a surprised tone, and I nodded positively.
"Ohh! I see, I'm Florence, her best friend. What do you think about this contract proposal? Are you interested?" she asked, playfully twirling her hair with her fingers. She appeared to have a goofy personality like Isabella but was more cheerful.
"I'm Liam Blackwood. Nice meeting you, Florence. And about the contract, I'm..." Before I could continue my sentence, Florence suddenly cut me off with her high-pitched scream.
"What! You're Liam? The guy she mentioned earlier today? OMG! Have got to call her!" she exclaimed excitedly and quickly scrolled through her cellphone.
"Hello, bestie! You can't believe who I saw...." Florence dashed into a corner as she continue to chitchat with someone who definitely seemed to be Isabella .
"Were you planning on turning down the proposal?" Rocky asked.
"Yes, Rocky, can't you see her requirements are crazy? I can't do it!" I snapped.
"You will do it! This is a golden opportunity to win her heart. You bumping into her friend today is a sign that she's truly your fated mate. It's a good sign," Rocky advised.
"No, Rocky! I'll rather find a solution to the blood curse than be a rich woman's slave, and don't you ever bring this idea up ever again," I scolded Rocky.
"Sorry, I'm back. I'll give you Isa's card so you can call her and talk to her." She smiled and handed over Isa's card to me.
"Alright, thanks, Florence. I'll talk to her," I lied, knowing fully well that I won't call her. I tucked the card into my wallet.
"Hope to see you some other days, Liam!" she waved and walked towards an ash-colored car. She seemed to also be a rich woman, just that I prefer her personality over Isa's. If only Isabella could be this cheerful and nice, I would definitely do anything to win her over.
"You should reconsider your decision. What if she's not what she seems to be? What if she's got her reasons?"
I quickly cut off Rocky's speech before he could finish. I'm starting to get pissed at his lectures. "What reason warrants treating people so poorly? I don't believe it. I think she's enjoying it. Now, shut up and let's go home!" I scolded.
I got home an hour later, and I could spot my mom sitting quietly outside the house. She's getting old, and I'm the only child remaining out of three children. She lost the rest due to the blood curse, and ever since then, she's been a sad, lonely woman.
"Liam! Tomorrow is my birthday!" Abigail, my mom's maid, whom she saved as a wounded wolf in the forest some years ago, rushed towards me as she spotted me from a distance. Abigail has been living with the Blackwood pack since she was ten, and now tomorrow is her eighteenth birthday, the day she will find her mate. I could see the extreme excitement in her eyes.
Abigail jumped into my chest, and I grabbed her tightly around her waist. "Abi, you're no longer a child. You are turning eighteen tomorrow; you shouldn't throw yourself at me like that, okay?" I cautioned, smiling softly at her.
"No, Liam, I have a feeling you would be my mate, so why care?" she giggled playfully.
Absolutely no way. I already met my mate. I hope Abi won't end up heartbroken when she wakes up tomorrow and finds out I'm not her mate. I smiled at her and gently dropped her on the floor. She's getting heavier and bigger than before. Surely, she's no longer that ten-year-old I carried around in previous years.
Abi feels indebted to my mum for saving her and treating her like her own child. I guess that's why she's always wanted us to be mates.
Having her as my mate sounds great, as she's a very beautiful girl with red hair, average height, and blue eyes. But I can't bear to make her my mate. I see her as my little sister.
I moved closer to my mom and kissed her on her cheek. She rarely talks ever since she lost my brothers. I hope one day she will be happy again.
"I'm back, Mom!" I announced and dashed into the house, finding my way towards my room. I yanked open the door of my room, and immediately, my head spun painfully. I'm used to my head spinning like that, but this time around, the spinning hurts so much, and I couldn't help but grab my head in extreme pain.
I rolled on the floor as the painful spinning continued, and it lasted for about ten minutes. I lay on the floor, breathing heavily and sweating profusely as the pain finally subsided. Rage! Rage has taken control over me! I felt different; Rage's dominance over me had made me feel like a different person entirely.
I stood up from the floor and sat on the bed. I reached for my wallet and brought out Isa's card, staring at it for some seconds.
"Isabella Sinclair, you're mine!" I whispered boldly, and a wicked smirk escaped my lips.