Page 2 of Enemies to Wife

Davis pulled away from the curb and as the streets passed by, I picked up the envelope again and opened it. Inside was an embossed card, much like the one that had come with the dress. I recognised the writing as the same as well.

"I thought that you should have this. Please put it on before you arrive tonight. And know that once you do put it on, you will officially be mine. Your Husband."

My stomach fluttered as I read the note, especially the last two words. There was something about the possessive tone in the note that caused an excitement in me I wasn't sure I was prepared for. I picked up the velvet box, already guessing what was in there, and opened it. Of course I was right with my guess, but that didn't stop the gasp that flew out of my mouth as I stared at the two rings sitting on the velvet cushion inside. One of the rings was stunningly designed with a stupidly enormous diamond in the centre and wrapped in what looked like a delicate gold pattern. The other ring was a simpler version but with a part cut out so that the two rings fit together. I stared at the two rings, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never seen anything like them before. The diamond ring was breathtaking, and I couldn't imagine what it would be like to wear something so extravagant. But the other ring, the one that fit into the first, made my stomach churn. It was a symbol of ownership, a physical representation of the power dynamic that was expected between us. I felt a wave of hesitation wash over me. Wearing those rings would mean submitting to the contract in full, to the demands of a man I didn't even know, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for that. But the rings meant so much more as well. In their symbol of submission, they were also the path to my freedom. And that was something I craved more than anything in the world.

"We have almost arrived Miss- I mean Lily," Davis called back over his shoulder as he kept his eyes on the road. I saw we had long left the city behind and was on a dark country road. There was a light further up the road, and the closer we got I saw it was the entrance of what looked to be a large estate. I quickly slipped the rings onto my finger before I could overthink the situation anymore. The two pieces of jewellery interlocked together perfectly, much like how they fit my finger perfectly too.

I saw a sign in stone on a wall as we pulled up. The sign had an emblem that tugged at the edges of my memory. It was a skull with a triangle surrounding it. Underneath the symbol was the name "Ivory Crest Manor and Estate" and then below that, three words. Trust. Resilience. Integrity. I knew those words. I had spent a solid year having those words shoved down my throat on a daily basis. Or at least I had until the University had kicked me out. Those words were the motto of the University and were taken very seriously. A solid uneasy feeling settled in my stomach as Davis pulled passed the gates and up a long driveway. Was the client connected to the University? I watched out the window as Davis pulled the car up to a lit up and extravagant entrance. I searched the mingling people for recognition of someone I might have known but saw no one.

Davis got out of the car and came to stand in front of the door I was sitting by. He opened the door and held out a hand for me to get out. I hesitated, twisting the new jewellery that wrapped around my finger. I reached up to take his hand and got out of the car. I was smoothing my dress down when I heard a voice that I recognised at once.

"Good evening, Lily." I stiffened at the voice which was right behind me. I looked at Davis, the weight in my stomach now rising to my throat. Davis looked alert and watched my movements, like he was ready if I ran. And I wanted to run. I wanted nothing more than to get back in that car and drive away and not turn and face the man behind me. But I knew I couldn't.

I took a deep breath and turned around slowly to face the man behind me. He looked exactly the same as he had four years ago when I last saw him. Or almost the same. His dark brown hair was styled in a messy effect that you knew took longer to achieve than it looked, and his warm brown eyes focused on me with an intensity that caused my chest to tighten. The only difference was there was a glint in his eyes that screamed that I should consider running away again. Whatever was there chilled me to the bone, this wasn't the warm, seductive look that I had seen so many times in university. This was the look that I saw that day in the Principal's office, the smug hatred look he gave me when the decision had been made to expel me. Only this was so much more intense, and dangerous. Sebastian Lynch took his time to look me up and down before speaking.

"How is my lovely wife tonight?"

Chapter 2

Lily

"Nope, no fucking way!" I glared at Sebastian, clenching my fist tightly as the urge to smash it into his smug face consumed me. The corners of his mouth curved upward slightly, and he looked past me with an infuriating nonchalance.

"Thank you, Davis," he said, acting as if I wasn't even there. "If you can take Miss Appleby's..." He trailed off, his gaze returning to me with a widening, condescending smirk. "Or should I say, Mrs. Lynch's bags to the apartment before coming back to wait for us." I shook my head vehemently, turning to face Davis. The man's expression remained blank, devoid of any emotion as he stood rigidly by the car door.

"No need," I spat out, my voice laced with contempt. "You can take me back to my place." As I moved to open the door, a firm hand clamped down on my arm, halting me in my tracks. The unwelcome touch sent a shiver of revulsion down my spine, and I whipped my head around, ready to unleash the full force of my fury upon the insufferable man daring to treat me like his possession. I felt my heart rate rise in my chest as Sebastian leaned in closer, his hot breath washing over my face. The smug smirk plastered on his lips made my blood boil with rage.

"I don't think so, darling," he hissed, putting an emphasis on that last word that made me want to slap him. “You are staying right here.” I whirled back around, ripping my arm from his grasp with a forceful tug.

"Like hell I am," I snarled, glaring daggers at him. The thought of spending the next six months shackled to this insufferable man was suffocating. "If you think that I am going to spend the next six months with you, you can think again."

Sebastian's eyes glinted with amusement at my defiance, which only stoked the burning fury within me. He leaned in even closer, his hot breath fanning over my face as he spoke in a low, menacing voice that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"Lily, love, you signed a contract. And as much as I'd love to see you fail, I'm afraid that's not an option for you." That infuriating smirk stretched wider across his face as he clearly relished the look of indignation on my features.

"Screw the contract," I snarled. I went to turn towards the car again, but I saw the look on Sebastian's face as I turned. Before I knew it, I felt Sebastian's weight on my back as he crushed me against the car.

"Oh, the only thing you will be screwing for the next six months will be me, darling," he whispered in my ear, his voice dripping with arrogance. A shudder ran through me as his hands roamed down my sides, fingers digging into my hips as he pulled me flush against him. I felt his hardness grind into my backside, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the unwanted sensations. "That is unless I decide to share you." His words sent a chill racing down my spine and I renewed my struggles against his weight pinning me to the car, but it was no use. He was too strong.

"Go to hell," I snapped at him, putting as much venom into my tone as I could muster. That insufferable laugh rumbled against my back as he leaned in close, his hot breath fanning over the sensitive skin of my neck. I tensed, hating how my body betrayed me with an involuntary shiver at his proximity.

"You see, I have done my research on you my dear wife," Sebastian's silky voice continued as if I hadn't even spoken. His words sent a chill down my spine as he laid out the grim reality of my situation. "I know you are at rock bottom, you’re broke, in debt and as of an hour ago, you’re homeless. You are on your last chance with the Agency. And if you don't fulfil your contractual obligations to me, they'll come after you."

I flinched as one of his hands crept up and palmed one of my breasts over the dress, his touch feeling like a violation. The sinking feeling of knowing that he was right about every word made me want to vomit. I clenched my fists, trying desperately to think of something, anything, that would get me out of this nightmare. But if I broke this contract, then the Agency would give up on me for good. This time, I wouldn't be able to argue that I wasn't at fault, unlike the many other times when clients had backed out of the contracts. This time, it would be me making that decision. I was utterly stuck with the bastard who had ruined my life, and I didn't know what to do about it. Tears of frustration and hopelessness stung my eyes as the weight of my predicament crashed down on me.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation. A low, rumbling chuckle escaped Sebastian's lips, the sound reverberating against my ear as he leaned in closer. I felt the weight of his body ease momentarily before he gripped my arm with firm resolve, spinning me around with a forceful twist. The next thing I knew, my back was slammed against the sleek exterior of the car, the cool metal biting into my skin through the thin fabric of my dress.

With Sebastian's imposing frame pressed against me, the world seemed to shrink until all I could perceive was him, the piercing intensity of his gaze, the intoxicating spice of his cologne invading my senses, and the undeniable heat radiating from his body. I was utterly enveloped, trapped in a suffocating reality where his demands reigned supreme. A shudder rippled through me as he trailed a calloused finger down my cheek, collecting the salty tear that had betrayed my vulnerability. His eyes locked onto the glistening droplet clinging to his fingertip before he brought it to my lips, pushing it past the trembling barrier without a shred of hesitation.

"Save your tears darling, there will be a lot more before I am done with you." He pulled his finger away and smashed his lips brutally against mine. He kissed me like he wanted to devour me, forcing my mouth open with his tongue. When I didn't respond I felt his hand grip my hip and squeeze, causing me to cry out into his mouth. My body betrayed me, leaning against him, and I could tell that he felt it as I felt the smirk grow on his lips. That was the last straw, and I bit down on his lip hard. He yanked his face back from me in shock and I used the extra space to push him away from me before slapping him hard across the face.

"I am not fucking property," I snarled at him. His face contorted into anger as blood seeped down his chin, and he rushed forward slamming me back against the car, pain shooting up my back. He gripped my hair and yanked my head to the side.

"Now listen here you little bitch," he snarled in my ear. "You have no fucking idea who you are messing with. If you think that you can escape me, I won't just sue the Agency, and you. I will destroy you. I will make sure that you disappear without a hint of a trace. You will cease to exist, and no fucker will care or even notice. Do you understand me?" The tone of his voice was dangerous, and I didn't know how, but I knew he meant it, and it terrified me. This wasn't just some rich kid spouting off, this was the tone of someone who backed up his dangerous words with glee in his eyes.

"Why?" I asked as I shook my head. "Why me? You obviously hate me; you are making that very clear. Why would you want me tied to you, when there were plenty of other women at the Agency? Ones you don't hate so much." I felt more tears falling down my cheeks. Sebastian smirked, although it was brimming with danger.

"Because you are the reason that I need a wife in the first place," he snarled. "You think pulling the stunt you did four years ago didn't have repercussions for me?" I opened my mouth to asked what the fuck was he talking about. All I had done was tell him I didn't want to date him. He was the one who stalked me and tried to pressure me and eventually got me booted. He had all the money in the world from his family, and a full future. I was left with nothing. But the fear choked up my voice and I couldn't get the words out. Sebastian's smirk grew, and he wiped away more tears from my cheek.