“I only need you to stay until our child is born.” He places his palm flat against my stomach and smiles as if thischildalready exists.
“There is no way I’m having a child with you.” I burst his bubble. “Come on, there's bound to be a 24-hour chemist open somewhere near, we can get the morning after pill and just forget this happened.”
“Ten million.” His eyes shoot up from where they were resting on my stomach and stare into mine.
“What?” I laugh again, because all this has to be a joke.
“Ten million pounds, and brand new identities for you and all the girls you are protecting,” he explains with a serious-as-shit look on his face.
“You're actually being serious, aren’t you?” I look at him, wondering if he’s gone crazy.
“Deadly,” he assures me. “Gracie, I need this. I don’t want to have to spend the rest of my life tied to a woman I don’t love just because I need an heir.”
“I get that, but there are other ways; find a surrogate, ask someone else. I’m sure there are plenty of women who would happily let you impregnate them for free. I’m not the right person for this.”
“You're perfect for this.” He takes hold of my waist. “I even think you could convince the world that you love me while you do it.” He winks playfully.
“This isn’t a joke, Jack. This is a lot to ask of a person. I can’t imagine that being pregnant is easy. It’s never something I've thought about other than preventing it.”
“No, but I would ensure you get the best care and medical treatment. I know I’m asking a lot, which is why I'm offeringsuch a large sum of money. Money that, whether or not you want to admit it…you need. If we get to work, this could only take us nine months. Ten million and a new life for nine months' work. Where else are you going to get an offer like that?”
“You can’t marry me; in a world where reputation is everything, I’d only tarnish your name.”
“I already have one of my connections working on something. I messaged him while you were talking to Lady Handley. He’s the same person who is going to make you disappear when all this is over. Trust me, he can easily turn you into a worthy duchess. We just have to change your surname, and think up a nice, clean past; he’ll make sure there's a paper trail to back it all up.” It sounds to me like Jack has his very own Selena.
“I’d need to think about it,” I tell him, fully aware of how crazy this is, but at the same time tempted by the reward. Ten million would set us up for life. I lied when I said we had a buyer for the necklace, and realistically, the most we could fetch on the black market would be six million.
“Come, let me show you to your room.” Taking my hand in his again, he starts leading us towards the door, and despite all the events of the evening, I feel a comfort in its warmth. I promised myself I would never seek comfort in a man again. It only leads to trouble, and although this man is a duke, I don’t doubt him to be any less treacherous.
“Will your stepmother not find it strange that we are engaged and sleeping in separate rooms?” I whisper as we start taking the stairs.
“Cecelia sleeps on the opposite side of the house; she wouldn’t venture into my quarters." I wonder if now would be the time to tell him that I caught herventuringinto his office when I first arrived, but my head is already spinning with allthat's happened tonight, and I’d still like to form an escape plan in case I need it.
“I’ll have to return to the girls tomorrow; a phone call won't be enough, they’ll worry about me,” I explain as we come to a stop outside the door opposite the room he caught me in earlier. I have the blueprints etched into my head. I’m sure I can find a way out of here. Selena disarmed the security system when we arrived. I doubt she’s reactivated it, especially now she knows I’m being held.
“Understandable. I’m guessing it’s not every day their fearless leader finds herself caught.” He smiles, and I drop my guard again when I smile back at him.
“Goodnight, Jack.” I turn to open my door, and when I flick on the light and see that the windows are all boarded up, I turn back around and find him staring at me.
“I had my caretaker make some adjustments to your room while we were socialising.”
“So I’m your prisoner?” I let him see the disappointment on my face, hoping he mistakes it for weakness.
“You're not a prisoner, Gracie. But youaremine. That was the deal we made. How we spend that year you owe me is entirely up to you. I won’t force you to carry my child. You don’t have to pretend to be my wife. I will never touch you again if you forbid it, but you will serve your sentence here with me. Believe it or not, it’s for your own good. I back myself into the room and flop onto the bed, realising that I really am in a mess.
“Goodnight, Grace.” He smiles sadly as he closes the door, and when I hear the key turn on the other side, I drop my head into my hands and start to sob.
JACK
“How was your evening?” I ask her politely as I unlock her door. I hope she’s spent her hours away from me considering my offer, because I've spent the duration of my night imagining this stubborn little temptress swelling with my child. I may not know this woman; I’m certainly not in love with her, and yet the idea of owning her body brings me an unexpected satisfaction.
“Terrific,” she bites back sarcastically as she steps past me onto the landing, still wearing that dress I fucked her in last night.
“Shall we head to the dining room for breakfast?” I suggest.
“I want to go home,” she tells me, looking sleep-deprived and short-tempered.
“I assumed you’d want to say goodbye to your friends. I’ll have a driver take us there now.” I smile at her, knowing that this isn’t going to be easy for her.
