"I'm sorry, what?" Kourtney asked, staring blankly at him. She'd like to believe her ears misheard what he just said, even though she heard it quite clearly.
"You heard me, Miss. And I hate repeating myself," she heard him reply with an air of superiority.
"Is this some sort of sick joke?"
"Do I look like a clown to you?" Sebastian snapped with an intimidating aura. "Let's go get married right now!!!"
"Right now?? Are you fucking insane?" Kourtney was shocked by his audacity. Marriage was the last thing she expected in condition.
"Jamie??"
"Sir," Sebastian's special assistant, Jamie Sanders, who had been watching their entire conversation, answered his boss quickly like a flash.
"Call the damn cops," He commanded coldly. His words were filled with annoyance at being rejected.
As Jamie reached for his phone to comply with Sebastian's order, Kourtney's mind raced. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, and her tone shifted to that of pleading once more.
"Wait! Please, let's not involve the police just yet. Please, sir, don't call the cops. I'm sorry about my bad manners just now. But there has to be another way to resolve this."
Sebastian's cruel demeanor softened for a moment as he observed how her pretty face contorted with anguish. The more he looked at her, the more he found himself fascinated by her. There was no going back now.
"There's no other way."
"But... but... I'm sure we... We can work something out." Kourtney stammered.
"I can give you everything you want!"
"Really now!" she replied, rolling her eyes in resentment. "Well, I'm not interested in you or your money."
"Miss Allen, I offered you an alternative solution instead of monetary compensation out of pure kindness and also because I'm currently in need of a wife. The best you can do is take it, as you will definitely enjoy the benefits that come with the title of being my wife. This is the only condition I want, and that's final."
Somehow, in her heart, Kourtney was hoping and praying that the man was just trolling and not going to go through with his barbaric plans. But even that hope seemed hopeless as they pulled up to the driveway of the City Hall.
**********
One hour later, two marriage certificates were handed to them. Kourtney sniffed in frustration as she held hers, not bothering to spare a glance at it.
This wasn't the kind of wedding she envisioned for herself. She had always wanted a grand ceremony where she would exchange vows with her prince charming in a magnificent cathedral.
A fairytale-like wedding, where she'd be floating down the aisle like a pageant queen, wearing a graceful white ball-like gown.
As an event planner herself, she had hoped for a wedding that would awe and inspire everyone in attendance, creating an enchanting atmosphere that would linger in their memories for years to come.
But presently, she was getting married at the empty city hall. Not a single member of her family nor friends was even here, only strangers! How would she even explain to them that she got married to some guy they'd never met before?
She glared at the man who stood beside her, the arrogant and egotistic man who now held the title of her 'husband.'
He was grinning from ear to ear.
"This isn't what I wanted," she said softly, her voice quivering with disappointment.
Sebastian turned to face her, his icy gaze locking with hers.
"So?" he scoffed.
Kourtney's heart sank even more as the man's dismissive remark worsened her already wounded emotions. This man was simply ruthless.
"It's not fair."
Sebastian's lips twisted into a smirk as he eyed his adorable new wife. "Life isn't fair, my dear. Count yourself lucky that your debt has been settled. Not everyone gets a second chance from me. Better still, you should feel honored that I chose you as my wife."
"What an arrogant jerk. I should feel honored. Really? Who do you think you are?"
"You can simply Google me to find out, Miss Allen," Sebastian said with a sneer. "It seems like you don't know 'the proper way' to talk to your HUSBAND!"
A cruel smirk crept back onto his lips as he stepped closer to her, invading her personal space. He leaned in, his hot breath fanning against her ear and cheek, his voice seething with dominance and superiority. The woman indeed had no idea who he was.
"You're my wife now, Kourtney Allen! And I suggest you learn your place before you start regretting the consequences of your defiance."
"Ha! If you think I'll ever consider you as my husband, dream on!!! This doesn't even feel like a real marriage. No exchange of vows or even wedding rings, just some 'BOOORRINNG...' paperwork. So, for starters, I will never accept you as my real husband," Kourtney mocked.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flickering across his attractive face. His piercing blue eyes studied her intently for a moment, considering her words.
"Hmmmm. Very well, then," he replied with a hint of intrigue. "Since you said it's boring. Why don't we make this more interesting?"
Within 20 minutes, his assistant arrived and presented them with the most exquisite wedding rings Kourtney had ever seen. They were adorned with sparkling diamonds and a blue gem, carefully crafted to symbolize eternity. The sight of them took her breath away. She was captivated by their beauty.
Simultaneously, the sound of a car pulling up outside the city hall announced the arrival of a priest. The staff had wasted no time in finding someone to officiate their impromptu wedding ceremony as well.
Kourtney's shoulders slumped in defeat.
Just as she thought this nightmare couldn't get any more surreal, it became even worse. The idea of standing before a priest with this overbearing man, exchanging vows, was the last thing she wanted.
The priest started with a short speech, guarding them through the process of exchanging their vows and the significance of it all.
Sebastian's charming facade shifted ever so slightly, replaced by an air of seriousness. He stood tall and straight, ready to take on the responsibilities of a husband, which irritated Kourtney even more.
With a gentle clearing of his throat, the priest finally began the real deal, addressing Kourtney directly. "Do you, Kourtney Allen, take Sebastian Woods to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to honor, love, serve, and respect him in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
And then, as if a bolt of lightning struck her, Kourtney's jaw almost dropped to the floor in shock.
She thought, 'Wait!!! Sebastian Woods? That's his name?'
"Sebastian Woods!!!" the priest's voice echoed in her head again, emphasizing each syllable.
She couldn't have heard it wrong. The pieces fell into place, and the realization hit her with full force.
A gasp escaped her lips, her eyes widened in disbelief, and her palms grew sweaty. 'It couldn't be.' The wealthiest and most powerful young master in the entire city? The Billionaire CEO of "Woods Corporation,"? The man whose name carried weight and influence?
She had seen his face countless times in the news, plastered on billboards and magazine covers. How had she not recognized him earlier? How could she have been so oblivious?
This man held the power to make her and her entire family disappear from this city without a trace. He could either destroy her life or make it unimaginably better.
Her thoughts raced, but her voice remained trapped in her throat, unable to form the words she needed to speak.
As they awaited her reply, Sebastian's gaze locked with Kourtney's widened eyes, and a hint of satisfaction danced in his face. A sly smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, relishing in her moment of stunned silence. He had been aware of her ignorance all along, reveling in the shock that now registered on her face.
Kourtney felt the ground should open up and swallow her for being so ignorant.
The priest, sensing her discomfort and inability to respond, spoke once more, his voice gentle and encouraging. "Kourtney Allen, I ask again, do you take Sebastian Woods to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Her striking emerald green eyes darted between the priest and Sebastian, who now had a cold expression showing his impatience.
"I... I...do," she stammered.
What's the point?
They were already married on paper, after all, and just doing this vow exchange as a bonus. There was nothing she could do to escape this now.
The priest asked the usual, to which Sebastian immediately replied, "I do."
It seems like he was eager to get it over with quickly and for Kourtney to be declared his wife.
The priest nodded as he blessed them. "May your love be boundless, your respect unwavering, and your bond unbreakable. May your journey together be one of growth and discovery. May you find the love and understanding you both seek. And with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Sebastian's smirk grew into a genuine smile, his eyes holding a glimmer of appreciation. He slipped the wedding ring onto Kourtney's finger while her shaky hands did the same.
He knew that his manipulative tactics and calculated plan had worked, and he had achieved his ultimate goal. Now, this woman was his possession. Permanently His!
His cold gaze softened as he looked at her, seeing the doubt and confusion in her eyes.
Kourtney, still grappling with the shock of it all, took a deep breath, her mind filled with uncertainty. Right when she thought it was all over, she heard the priest speak again.
"Mr. and Mrs. Woods, you may now seal your vows with a kiss."
The priest's words hung in the air, and the tension in the room became heightened as the few guests consisting of only the city hall staff as well as Sebastian's driver, assistants, and bodyguards, awaited the final moment of the ceremony.
The kiss!
Kourtney wanted to cry. It didn't matter if this man was now her legal husband or whatever. She would never let him claim her lips.
Summoning all the strength she had left, she tiptoed as high as possible to give him a peck on his right cheek. It was a swift gesture meant to divert him from kissing her directly on the lips.
She didn't want to give him that satisfaction, not after everything he'd put her through. She knew that a peck on the cheek was a traditional gesture and could be substituted for a kiss at the altar. Fortunately, the priest seemed satisfied with that as he smiled happily and continued to shower blessings and prayers for them.
She noticed Sebastian's expression darkened like he was denied a prize he wanted. He stared at her, his eyes filled with a hunger that made her skin crawl. It was as if he already felt entitled to every part of her.
As the vow exchange ceremony concluded, the priest and the other "guests" started to disperse. Sebastian took Kourtney's hand in his and held it tightly as if she might run away.
He was still a little mad about her silly peck on the cheek, but he reminded himself that he had time, all the time in the world. She was his wife now, after all. His possession! They were now legally bound to each other, and he believed that sooner or later, he would have her body, whether she liked it or not!
He led her towards a white Limousine sent by his assistant.
They sat side by side in the back seat of his car, their eyes locking for a brief moment before Kourtney looked away shyly.
She still couldn't believe that the person she just married was 'The Sebastian Woods.'
She had never really cared much about the glamorous world of high society and the famous big shots despite being from one of the elite families herself. And that was one of the reasons why she didn't recognize him.
Soon enough, Kourtney began to recall all the stuff she'd heard about Sebastian from various magazines, tabloids, and gossip news. They said he became a billionaire at twenty-two, after taking over and reviving his family business, and he was currently 29 years old.
Recently on 'Forbes' he made the list of "Richest Worldwide Billionaires Under The Age Of 30."
He was nicknamed the Stone-Hearted CEO because of his cold and ruthless demeanor.
But despite his nasty attitude, he remained the most loved and desired bachelor in the city. However, he remained single and uninterested in women through the years. They said he sometimes sent women to jail for stalking or barely standing too close to him.
'Wait! They also said something like, 'he can't touch women, and he was impotent,' Kourtney recalled, and her eyes widened in shock. She instantly remembered that rumors were saying he preferred men over women as well.
"Mr. Woods, tell me the real reason why we got married. Why were you so eager to marry me even when we just met?"
"Because I wanted to! I told you I always do what I want."
Kourtney was not convinced. She sneered with contempt.
"Really now! And you expect me to believe that crap? You thought I wouldn't find out your real reason?"
"And what could be my real reason?" Her husband's icy gaze shifted towards her, his expression betraying a hint of annoyance.
"Just tell me the truth, Mr Woods. Do you prefer men? Or are you impotent?"
"......"