HURT FOR ME

Chapter Three - Offer

"Make an offer they can't refuse."

‒ John Caples

Olivia Bennett

Aaron Adair, the wealthiest man in Seattle and the CEO of the most thriving Washington business, stands a few inches away from me. My breathing has practically stopped and my palms are dripping with sweat.

I've always told myself I'd never let a man make me feel this way but he's the best-known man in this city. I wonder how he made it to my room without a crowd of girls chasing him. It's no secret he's the most attractive man, too.

I've never understood women's obsession with guys like this, they're ordinary just with money. Under my circumstances, a man like him is exactly the man I need but I still don't get the hype about these big-shot CEOs who pretend as if they're the only people in this world who matter.

But the big-shot CEO standing before me has an offer for me and I couldn't be more impatient to hear it.

"An offer?" I blurt. I almost can't believe it.

He walks the length to the blue sofa in the corner of my room and takes a seat while still eyeing me. As someone who called me out for staring, you'd think he would have stopped by now but he hasn't and I don't think he ever will. His stare is cold as ice, with no emotion, no expression, not human.

"Yes, an offer," he gestures to the spot next to him, "have a seat." He speaks as though this is just a casual business meeting for him in his ginormous office that's probably made out of 17-carat gold. I laughed to myself at the obnoxious assumption I'd just made.

His eyebrows pulled together and a look of annoyance crossed his face. I cleared my throat and sat on the further end of the sofa, trying to keep my distance. His eyes drop to the hospital gown I'm wearing and back to my eyes before he begins fidgeting with a case laying on the couch.

"This," he places a piece of paper between us, "is a contract."

I hesitate to touch the paper but eventually, I pick it up and begin reading. My body freezes as I reread the bold text at the very top.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

What is this?

"This is not a contract," I begin but he cuts me off.

"Between you and I, it is merely a contract." He shakes his head, dismissing my statement.

I continue reading and find both of our names in the fine print above a small line.

Olivia G. Bennett

Aaron M. Adair

I return my eyes to him, "What do you want me to do with this?"

"Sign it." What?

"I can't sign this," I chuckle at his crazy offer.

He rubs a hand against his neck before meeting my eyes, "Yes you can." He sits a pen between us as if that was my only problem with this.

"No, I mean I can't marry you," I'm laughing through my words now, "that's insane."

"Why not?"

My eyes widen at his audacity, "I don't even know you. You don't know me." I state.

"Hi," the hand that was previously rubbing his neck is between us now, "I'm Aaron Adair, CEO of Adair Industries."

I narrow my eyes at him recognizing the sarcasm in his voice. I can't believe the offer he's just put on the table, and he's expecting me to just go along. I can't even imagine what my parents would think. No Olivia, you cannot seriously be contemplating this.

"Hi," I give him a scornful smile, "I'm Olivia Bennett, the girl who wouldn't marry you in a million years." I take his hand, shaking it.

His shake is firm and tight, but I only return the same amount of pressure. The irritation is clear on his face as he realizes I wasn't as easy as he originally thought.

"How are those bills?" His hand gestures toward the table full of papers. My eyes flicker from the hospital bills to him and I'm instantly filled with anger.

"That's none of your business." I shoot off of the couch, swiping all of the papers into the drawer connected to the table. I am not going to let a man make me feel ashamed of my problems, especially a man like him.

A patient expression falls over his face as he watches me stuff all of the papers into the small compartment. It was too late, I already felt mortified that he even knew about this issue of mine.

"It would be my business if you'd let it be." His tone was much softer now, all of the seriousness that was once there is gone.

"Let me get this straight," I walk around the bed, standing in front of his spot on the couch, "you want me to marry you so that you can handle my medical bills?" The idea seemed insane in my head and saying it out loud made it sound psychotic.

A simple nod of his head was all he responded with.

I shook my head and glanced around my room, "My answer is no."

His eyes find mine once more but I can see them clearly now. They're the perfect mix of brown and gold, enough brown to keep them dark and mysterious but enough gold to give them some life.

"Alright," our eye contact is lost as he neatly places the piece of paper back into its case before standing from the sofa. Although we weren't looking at each other anymore, I could feel his gaze on me.

"Alright." I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for him to leave the room. He takes a short step forward and his arm grazes mine ever so slightly. His body heat was radiating off of him like a bonfire in the cool night, I couldn't help but be pulled in by it. The masculine cologne that was pouring off of him didn't help my case either.

When I looked up at him, I became aware of just how much he was towering over me. He was six-foot minimum. Aside from his huge ego, his attractiveness was unavoidable. Maybe this was just a result of me being in a coma for two years and not seeing a man this appealing in so long, but the way his tongue rolled across his teeth and his jaw clenched as he stared down at me was undeniably hot.

I blinked and his large figure was no longer in front of me. My shoulders dropped and I took a deep breath in, enjoying the air that wasn't clouded by his scent anymore.

I turned to find him standing in the doorway with his back to me. It looked like he was going to say something but he hesitated. I couldn't help but reconsider his offer. This could really help my situation, although I wasn't sure what he would be getting out of marrying a girl like me.

"Wait," The word came out of my mouth before I finished reconsidering but it was too late to go back now.

He stopped for a moment and then turned back to face me. One of his hands was in his pocket and the other grasping the case with the contract inside of it.

"Can you give me a day to think about your...offer?"