The Stolen Heiress: Claimed by her Father's Ruthless Enemy. novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The diamond necklace.

I sank onto the bed, feeling numb, and utterly confused. Marriage contract? Was he serious? It didn’t matter if he was some CEO or a king. I wasn’t going to marry him.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my bag, jolting me out of my reverie. I took it out and when I saw who it was, relief washed over me.

"Katie," I whispered.

"Anna, where are you? Are you okay?" her voice was frantic, and I could hear the worry in every word.

"I’m fine," I lied, not wanting to bother her more.

"Are you sure? Because Claudia just announced she’s donating your diamond necklace to a charity auction."

My heart stopped for a moment.

"What? A charity auction?"

"You know, the Starlit Haven? Your grandmother’s necklace. She’s calling it hers and saying it’s for a good cause or whatever. You can’t let her do that, Ann."

My grip on the phone tightened. How dare she? The Starlit Haven was mine. It was a keepsake. The one thing I had left of my grandmother. How could she claim it as hers?

"I’ll get it back," I said, trying to sound confident.

"You better, lady," Katie muttered before hanging up.

I sat there, staring at the blank screen, tears welled up my eyes and fell freely as I buried my face in the pillow. Was this my life now? I wasn’t even dead yet and Claudia was already giving out my things? She knew how that necklace was precious to me, how could she sell it like it meant nothing?

I heard the door opened amidst my sob’s and shortly Alexander entered.

"Look up," he said.

I didn’t want to, but I did anyway. And when he saw the tears on my face, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you crying over a few sheets of papers?"

I swallowed the lump on my throat. "Does... your offer still stand?" I asked, instead.

"What offer?"

"To sign the contract. I will do it, but on one condition."

He didn’t respond, and slightly tilted his head, his eyes boring into my soul as he waited for me to say it.

"You will help me get my necklace back. It’s worth millions," I quickly said and looked down, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, as I waited for his reaction.

For a moment, he was silent, then a dry chuckle escaped his lips.

"Tell me," he said, calmly, "why should I help your kind?"

I blinked twice. "My kind?"

"Yes," he uttered. "You don’t make demands, Miss Steele. You don’t set conditions. You’re in no position to negotiate."

He stepped even more closer, and stared down at me. I felt so overwhelmed by his presence. "Sign the papers," he said, dropping them onto the bed in front of me, "while I am still being generous."

His arrogance lit a fire inside of me and I pushed the papers away.

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