I rolled my eyes. I should marry him. Is he serious? Someone gasped, jolting me out of my thought. I hissed slowly. Lucian opened the box he was holding. In it was a diamond ring. I groaned. "Marry me, Nora Ariana Scott. I batted my lashes. Can he just stop saying that? "Marry me, Nora. I want to spend the rest of my life with you"
I groaned. I just have to say yes. He had told me to play along with whatever he said and say yes. I sighed, trying to be calm as possible and also giving my best smile. I said yes. As he slipped the ring into my hand and hugged me, claps erupted. "You have so much of an explanation to do" I whispered to him.
**
Drive back to the penthouse was kinda awkward, as each of us focused our attention on our phones. The news of Lucian proposing to me was already all over the place. Every social media you could think of had the news as its trending post. I know I have a great deal of explanation to do to my mom when I get back. Addy wouldn't stop calling me and Jasper too. I picked up Addy's call and told her I will call her back. There was no way I could pick Jasper's call, not with Lucian closed by. I also do not have anything to tell him now. I needed to give him a good reason, why marrying Lucian will give us the answer we want. When the car came to a stop, I stepped down and went straight to my room. I needed to call Jasper before he thinks I'm going against the plan. Though I don't have anything to say yet.  I can as well pick up his calls. I entered my room and locked the door. I sat on the bed and placed a call to Jasper. He picked at the second ring.
"Hey, where have you been? Celebrating your newly found love? Huh?" He asked
I rolled my eyes. I wasn't celebrating any newly found love. What is he talking about? "I wasn't celebrating..."
"Tell me then, what were you doing that's much
more important than my calls?"
I rolled my eyes. He's just been unreasonable right now. "I was with Lucian and can't pick up your calls. I had to play along"
"Play along? Huh?. Accepting his proposal is playing along too?"
I groaned. He should calm his nerves and let me talk. "Look, I know you might be wondering why I accepted when he proposed to me. You should know I've got plans"
He sighed. "You should have told me you were going to accept his proposal. And you never told me you guys were dating"
I rolled my eyes. "We ain't dating. He just proposed. I guess he wants to get the media off his neck"
He laughed. "Lucian is smarter than you thought and is dangerous too. Asking you to marry him isn't to get the media off his neck. It is to get back at me for sending you"
I chuckled. "He might be smarter but not as smart as I am"
He sighed. "You can't marry him. You have to tell him no"
I rolled my eyes. "I already said yes to him. There is hope, of getting more information about him if I marry him. I can be your inside man. He has no proof that I work with you. He only knows I am a model in your company"
"You can't marry him. It's for your good, Nora. If you marry Lucian, you will be prone to his attack."
I laughed. "He can't hurt me. You have nothing to worry about"
"Nora..."
"Just trust me"
He sighed. "Be careful"
"I will"
The call ended and I sighed. What if he's right? What if Lucian wants to get back at him for using me? I still don't understand why both of them thought using me as prey for each other was the right thing to do. Jasper made me go for the competition because he felt I was the perfect prey for Lucian. He went as far as threatening me with my friends' work. Now, Lucian wants to marry me because he feels I am the perfect prey for Jasper. Though he hasn't threatened me yet. I hissed. They are both trying to play my head. But I won't let them. l will prove to them that they are the perfect prey for each other!!.
**
The knocking on my door woke me from my sleep. I groaned. "That has to be Lucian," I thought as I stood up to open the door. Judging from the atmosphere, I knew it was evening already. I must have slept off while reading. I got to the door and opened it. As I predicted, it was Lucian.
"Can we talk?" He asked
I rolled my eyes. "About what, exactly?"
He sighed. "The marriage stuff"
I groaned and opened the door widely for him to come in. "You had better have a better reason for doing that"
He chuckled and I scoffed. He sat on the couch while I sat on the bed. "Have you eaten?"
I groaned. Is this the reason he came here? "Can you just say why you're here. I need to sleep". I faked a yawn and he laughed.
"You just woke up from sleep, how come you're going back to sleep, again?"
I rolled my eyes. "Start talking"
He relaxed on the couch and stared straight into my eyes. "It's because I love you"
I batted my lashes as my eyes dilated in shock. Is he serious right now? "He can't be," I thought.
As if reading my thought, he repeated those words. "I love you"