He studies me for a beat as he lowers himself opposite me, his gaze unblinking. “Whether they’re hurt depends entirely on you.”
A chill slides through me. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
He smooths a hand down his shirt like he’s already bored of the conversation. “We had a nice talk before you arrived, and now it’s all up to you. Their entire future is in your hands, Ms. Clark.”
My pulse drums hard against my ribs. “Then stop circling and get to the point.”
His grin spreads. “I offered them a deal. One that saves the vineyard, secures their future, and wipes away their debts.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Marinov Holdings takes control. We invest, expand, make it profitable, while keeping fifty-one percent of the shares. But…” He pauses, letting it hang between us, and then leans forward, elbows braced on the table, his eyes catching mine. “There’s one more condition.”
I force my face neutral even as dread crawls up my spine. “And what’s that?”
His gaze skirts up my body. “You marry me.”
My jaw drops and a strangled laugh escapes. “You’re joking.”
But his expression doesn’t shift. His features harden instead.
“Oh my God… You’re actually serious.”
“I don’t joke about business, Ms. Clark.” His voice is calm, too calm. “You want to save your parents? Become my wife. Bind yourself to a man who will never love you.”
Every word is filled with contempt, and I feel it in every inch of my body. Has this been his plan all along?
My spine stiffens. This is a death sentence.
“Why? Why would you even want that? This is your life too. Why the hell would you want to be tied to someone you despise?”
“Because…” His hand glides over my throat, light and deceptively gentle at first, until his fingers curl around my neck and squeeze. Hard enough to try to make me feel powerless. “When you swore to destroy me, I made a promise too.” His grip tightens. “That one day, I’d take everything from you.”
A cold rush floods my veins.
“And now…” His thumb traces the line of my jaw. “I’ve found the perfect way to do it.”
He crowds into my space, his stare burning like a fuse.
“You wanted to see me rot behind bars. But instead, you’ll have the distinct honor of wearing my ring. Bearing my name. And every day you share my bed, share your body…” His fingers constrict, forcing a breathless gasp from my throat. “I’ll remindyou that you failed. That your entire life exploded in your pretty little face andIlit the match.”
“You’re sick.” My teeth clench so tight my jaw trembles.
“Perhaps. But you’re mine now, moya okhotnitsa, for better or worse.”
I try to jerk back from his grasp, but he won’t let me go.
“I won’t do it.”
“Fine.” He releases me with a shrug, stepping back like none of this matters to him. “I’ll let your parents know the deal is off. That their daughter chose pride over their survival. But know this: if you don’t accept, I will takeeverythingfrom them. Every penny will burn to the ground until they have nothing but the clothes on their backs, and even those, I will take from them.”
Fear tears through my chest like a scream that won’t come out. I stare at him, at the cold certainty in his eyes, and I know…
He’s not bluffing.
He turns, strutting away without a backward glance like he didn’t just detonate my entire world. My breath comes fast, my heart hammering like it’s trying to claw out of my chest.
I can’t do this. I can’t marry him. He’s going to make my life a living hell.
