AMADEUS grinned broadly. As if that was the only thing he wanted to hear from Esmeralda’s lips. “You know what I want.”
She stood up and faced him. “To back out from my wedding with Aiden? Fine. I’ll do what you want,” she said bravely and without a halt.
He stared at her in amusement. "As simple as that? No arguments. No complaints? This is not so you, Esmeralda."
"That's how things will end up anyway, right? You'll do everything to get what you want. Why would I bother fighting you?" As the war between them lasted over time, more people will be dragged and get hurt. She must protect Jeremy and Aiden more than ever. She will save what she could from Amadeus's destruction.
A victorious smile curved his lips, and he went to the bar to get some wine. "Smart girl. I like that about you. This calls for a celebration then."
“But I have conditions.”
He was stunned but only for a moment and poured himself wine. He went back to the empty seater. "I am willing to hear it."
Her face was blank as she enumerated her conditions. “You’ll shoulder my brother’s medical expenses until he recovers. I’m only doing this for Jeremy.”
“I’ve been telling you that I’ll help you with your brother,” he said in a gentle voice. As if he sincerely cared about Jeremy.
"You're going to return to Aiden the amount he spent on me." She swallowed her pride as she submitted to Amadeus, so she made the most out of her conditions. As much as she wanted to make it up to Aiden herself, she had no money. She would just negotiate with Amadeus's conditions later on.
“That’s already a part of my plan,” he said casually.
It would be a trap if Amadeus refused. The truth was she was finding a way to escape him, but she had not succeeded.
She swallowed. “I want you to support Aiden in all his planned business. You won’t get in his way. You’ll lend him money if needed to his planned cut-flower farm…”
Amadeus suddenly slammed the glass of brandy on the glass center table. He wore a dark expression. “For someone being blackmailed, you are asking too much.”
“Or you can go on fighting with your brother as long as you want,” she said and shrugged. “But we’ll push through with the wedding.”
She stood up and prepared to leave when Amadeus hugged her waist and pulled her into his solid body. “Fine.” He brought his lips to her ear. “I’ll support all of Aiden’s business plans. On one condition.”
Esmeralda sucked her breath. “What is it?”
Amadeus made her face him and pulled her close once again. "You are mine now, Esmeralda. You will follow my every whim and wants. Mine."
Her whole being shuddered. Amadeus still wanted her? But what for? Was it not enough that she would back out from her wedding with Aiden? "What else do you need to prove? Do you really have to say to Aiden's face that you won? I'm staying out of your brother's sight… and from you."
"No. I want you. Plain and simple. You are not just a spoil of war if that is what you are worried about."
She boldly met his gaze. “I don’t want you.”
He slightly caressed her cheek like she was a kitten he was trying to tame. She could not dare to flinch because even if her words said Amadeus's touch made her weak. "Your body says otherwise."
Esmeralda got goosebumps all over her body. She closed her eyes as she fought hard not to lean against Amadeus’s body. He knew her body more than her. How far could she sacrifice to get all of her conditions? Will Amadeus really spare nothing?
Esmeralda gritted her teeth. “I don’t think I would want to be with the one I despise.”
Instead of getting dismayed or mad, his smile became more alluring. "Then consider it as part of your blackmail. Anything to soothe your conscience or bruised ego. Because no matter how you deny that you don't want me anymore, we both know the truth."
His finger traced the neckline of her top. The tiny hairs on her body stood up as her eyes followed the movement of his finger on her skin. Shadow covered her eyes as he slowly dipped his head toward her. She saw the intent to kiss her through his eyes.
She closed her eyes and suppressed a moan from her mouth. Her body was a traitor. No matter how she told her mind that she did not care about Amadeus anymore, that she despised him and she did not want someone like him to be a part of her life again, her body screamed that she longed for him. Waiting for every touch, every kiss, and the moment he would claim her once again.
“Do you want to put everything in writing?” he asked.
Esmeralda opened her eyes. “Huh?”
Wasn’t he going to kiss her? What writing was he talking about?
"Maybe you prefer to have a document I can sign. Like a contract. I can have it notarized if you want. You could sue me if I violated the contract. I can ask my lawyer to draft it…"
She blinked. “It’s up to you. I’ll go back to my brother now,” she said to recover from embarrassment. She did not want to stay in that place any longer because she might think of other crazy things he would do to her.
“Do we have a deal?” he asked.
“Fine. Deal.”
“Time to seal the deal then.”
Before she could ask what he meant by that, Amadeus had pulled her by the waist and claimed her lips. Esmeralda weakened. That was the last thing she needed, but her body submitted on its own volition. Because no matter how she denied it, Amadeus already owned her. She was melting with just one kiss. And she did not want him to let her go.
“You have three days to leave my brother. A deal is a deal.”