Chapter 3

❝ The contract. ❞

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"You're not actually in love with me, right?" I blurted out my thoughts, fiddling nervously with my fingers.

My eyes diverted to the shirtless man in the pool, who turned to gaze at me as well. The light that shone underneath the water transformed the pool into a glowing turquoise jewel, and swimming in it was the man of every girl's dreams, Mr Park Jimin.

If Leonardo Da Vinci were to paint a figure made of perfection, it would be him.

My train of thought was distracted as soon as Jimin approached me, who was sitting at the edge. He looked at me as if I asked a strange question, and he looked at me as if he wanted to devour me for dinner. I wasn't complaining, though, not everyday a hot man will stare at you like that.

"You shouldn't doubt my feelings, Yona."

He suddenly pulls me in, which I responded by grabbing on to him tightly in fear of sinking. A wry smirk made his way on his handsome face, his hands venturing from my back to my waist. I couldn't help but notice that he was an adult man, much different from my memories.

"I told you didn't I? I fell for you when we were classmates, and I still do."

Although I'm pretty well versed in dealing with jerks, I wasn't sure if I could call him one. His hands were all over me tonight, but it didn't seem uncomfortable at all. Yikes, I must've caught some of Anna's habits.

He brings me back to the edge of the pool again, and the both of us walked back to where the towels were. He wraps a big fluffy towel around me, not caring about the cold breeze blowing against his damp skin.

"About your question earlier...." he trails off, his eyes leaving the towel and right into mine. I shuddered a little, not from the cold, but from his darkened expression.

"I can prove to you here, just how much I'm in love with you."

Jimin closes in, inching towards to my trembling lips. At that moment, our faces were close enough that I could feel his warm breath against my skin. Warning signals instantly surged through my brain, and I pushed him away.

"N-no thanks. I had enough of love." I subconsciously stepped back, reminiscing the times with my ex who broke my heart badly. And it hasn't completely healed.

A knowing look flares up in his eyes, and warmth returned to his expression. I could tell from his movements that he felt apologetic for me. Even though he was the Park Jimin, the last thing I needed was pity.

"Where are you going?" Jimin grabbed my wrists, slightly shaken.

"Back. To my house."

Hearing my answer, he wraps his arms around me, alarmed about my decision. I pushed against his bare chest, but his grip was firm around me, refusing to let go.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't pitying you - I just..." He explains flusteredly. Jimin's eyebrows were tightly knotted together, and I could feel the desperation in his voice. Amusement piqued in my heart, wondering what Anna would think if I told her Mr Park was afraid to death about me leaving.

"Look - I promise not to attempt anything again. So just stay for the night, please. It isn't safe for you to leave now either."

During this situation, what would I do? I'll be still be adamant on leaving.

"There's also late night catering."

"Deal." I shunned it off instantly, after hearing about the food. I probably won't get another chance in my life to taste a millionare's menu, so why refuse?

An amused smirk was plastered on Jimin's face as he heard my answer. He releases his arms around me, running a hand across his hair as he looked into the distance. Another full meal for my eyes right here.

Once our agreement was set, Jimin leaves me alone with one of the maids, slinging a towel around his neck. He entertwined his fingers with mine casually, oblivious to the curious gazes of the attendants around us.

"I'll see you again, Yona."

The maids and I watched intently as he walks off, his back glistening with the water from the pool. Damn, sexy till the end, Mr Park...

•••••

I awoke next morning with an extravagant breakfast awaiting for me, but no sign of Jimin. The attendants explained to me that he was busy somewhere else, apparently so busy that he couldn't even drop in to say goodbye. In love, my flabby ass.

I soon found myself back into my boring, commoner life, in the supermarket where I'm hunting for discounted groceries. The television displayed an interview with Jimin, and everything became unreal to me.

"Comeon, spill it!" Anna continued to bother me over the phone, trying to find out what man I've had scandalously hung out with yesterday night. I rolled my eyes to heaven.

"I told you, it was Park Jimin himself who invited me."

"Like - Mr Park? As in the famous, hot as a mamamia, as spicy as tiny chilli pepper, Mr-Park-Jimin?"

"...Yes." I groaned.

"So how big was his dick?"

"Anna!"

"Sorry, but if it really was him, I'll probably need a double ovary transplant if I were you."

"Stop the nonsense. He probably just wanted to laugh at how I haven't changed since five years ago."

"But still? Mr Park, your ex-classmate and admirer? Ooh lala."

At this point, I was done with her teasing, so I changed the subject to her disadvantage instead.

"And so, what happened to you and Min Yoongi?"

Silence took over our phone call, and a nervous laughter resonated into my ears. Anna makes up a petty excuse and hangs up the call, much to my relief.

However, my peace was short lived as my phone buzzed again, a text that halted my breath as soon as I read it. Extreme anxiety took over my system, and I abandoned everything else, running as fast as I could back home where trouble presented itself.

"Mom!" I created a barrier against her and the burly man standing near our gates, obviously intending to hurt somebody. My mother, who was sprawled out on the floor, cried into my chest.

"This is about Dad's debt, isn't it..." I faced the other suited man, the one who lent copious amount of money to my father who was gone and away. I became the only person who could protect my mother, a vulnerable woman who worked hard to pay off for my father's mistakes.

"Fuck off...don't hurt her!" I hugged the woman in my arms tightly, trying my best to shield her. The debtor's face morphed into a disgusted look, and he approaches me slowly. I instinctively closed my eyes as he raised his hand, attempting to land a hit on my face.

But I felt nothing. When my vision refocuses, he was held back by another male, wearing a black mask. I recognised the cross that dangled on his right ear, and the sharp jaw that could cut through a lady's heart. What is he doing here?

"Money." Jimin threw a suitcase onto the man's feet, an icy cold glare that shot through him who tried to hurt me. The contents of the case fell out, which were stacks and stacks of money, more than enough to pay off what we owed.

An audible gasp escaped from my lips as he pulls me toward him, and I stumbled onto his broad chest. The smell of his cologne somehow relaxed my anxious heart, putting me at ease from the situation at hand.

Without uttering a single word, he carries me roughly, dumping my body onto the car seat of the black sedan that was parked nearby. He rips off his mask, a smirk slowly forming on his lips as he trapped me in an embrace.

"Wait, my mom—

"My men will take care of her, don't worry."

I felt the car move, driving away from the scene. However, my focus was fully on Jimin who hovered over my body, silver strands slightly covering his eyes which were cold and alluring. The way he looked at me was like a connoisseur to his wine, unwavering, needy and dangerously tempting.

I shuddered a little as his cold fingers slide against my cheek, wanting to feel every inch of it. He is a predator, Yona. He's dangerous. The voices in my head whispered, but I couldn't move my limbs.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"To sign a contract."

Contract? He's paid off my debts, kidnapped me, and now he's taking me to god knows where to sign a contract?

"You owe me, Miss Yona....and there's a hefty price to pay."

"I....I don't have any money" I answered with a shaky voice, tears pricking my eyes as it threatened to fall. An expression materialized on Jimin's face, one which I haven't seen before.

"I don't want money, Yona. I want you."

And that's when it hit me. Park Jimin, the man of immense wealth and fame, is dangerously obsessive.

And that man is madly in love with me.