Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ZAIN

I lean forward so I can reach my back pocket and take out the envelope I'd offered to her earlier.

"You got off lightly earlier. I had no intention of giving you a second chance to make a decision. So this is it. Sit down or walk out. Every choice you make has a consequence. It's up to you to decide which one you'd rather live with. Just be aware that you're drawing attention to yourself, and for someone who has spent years hiding from who you are, I don't imagine that's something you want."

I count to three in my head, and mask a triumphant smile when she slowly lowers herself back to her seat.

"That's better. You're going to need to learn that it's much easier to do things my way." I place the envelope on the table between us. "Like I said earlier, this is the contract I'm proposing. Read through it."

The server arrives then with our drinks. She pours a glass of wine and hands it to me. I shake my head.

"I don't drink."

"Oh! I'm sorry, sir." She turns and offers Ashley the glass.

"Thank you." Ashley sets it down on the table.

"You're supposed to sample it, and confirm that you like it," I point out, my voice dry. It might have been a while since I've been out to a restaurant, but I'm fairly sure that hasn't changed.

Her cheeks turn bright red, and she snatches the glass back up to take a sip.

"It's fine. Thank you."

The server nods and places the bottle in the center of the table. "Are you ready to order?"

"I am. I'm not sure about Ashley. Do you know what you want?"

She flips open the menu and scans over it. "Are you getting an appetizer?"

"Sure. I'll have the arancini appetizer, followed by ravioli di aragosta. Ashley?"

She clears her throat. "Funghi gorgonzola for my appetizer, please. And I'll have the penne al forno. Thank you."

"Great. I'll be back soon."

As soon as she's gone, I tap the envelope. Her gaze drops down to it.

"I'm going to assume that by not leaving, you're going to sign this. But you should read it so you understand exactly what is going to happen."

"What if I don't agree with something in it?"

I give a careless shrug. "I could tell you that it's open to negotiation, but I'd be lying, and I have no intention of going into this without you knowing exactly what you're signing up for. I don't give a fuck what you agree or don't agree with. You sign or you don't. There won't be any changes made. If you don't sign, the evidence I've collected against your mother will be delivered to the authorities within an hour. Your mom will be arrested before you get home tonight."

"You're blackmailing me."

"We've discussed that already."

"It doesn't stop it from being the truth."

"Does it matter? Surely, fourteen months of captivity is better than fourteen years? And I guarantee that your prison cell will be a lot nicer than mine was … mostly, anyway." I lift my glass and take a sip. "What's it going to be, Ashley? Your freedom or your mother's?" I repeat the same question I asked her earlier in the day.

She takes the envelope with a shaking hand, and rips it open. Her face pales as she reads the pages inside.

"You're not serious. This is a joke, surely?"

"At which point did you see me laughing?"

"But if I sign this, it gives you complete control over my entire life. "

"I'm aware."

"This can't be legal."

"Take it to a lawyer, if you like." Unlike the other times, I am bluffing this time. Any lawyer worth their fee would be able to tell her most of what's listed is not enforceable. But I don't think she'll check. Not when everything else I've told her has been proved to be correct .

"If I sign this, you get to dictate when I sleep, what I eat, what I wear, who I see … everything ."

"That's what happens in prison."

She shakes her head. "No. I can't sign this. I have to go home. I have friends, a job, a boyfriend. "

"And a mother. Don't forget about her. Somehow, I don't think she'd survive very well in prison."

There's a sheen coating her eyes when she looks at me. "Please don't make me do this."

"I'm not making you do anything. You have two options. All I'm asking you to do is to choose one."

"Here we are!" Our server appears to my left with the appetizers. "The Arancini for you, sir. And Funghi Gorgonzola for you, ma'am." She puts the plates in front of us. "Can I get you another drink, sir?"

"I'm fine for now, thank you." I don't take my eyes off Ashley, and as soon as the server is out of hearing, I speak again. "What's it going to be?"

"Does your family know about this?"

"No. So, you'll need to put on a good act when we see my parents. I don't want them catching wind of the truth." I tilt my head. "Although, if you carry on reading, you'll see a section for what happens if you let the truth slip to anyone without my agreement."

"How are you going to explain it to them?"

"The same way we'll explain it to everyone else. We met to clear the air, sparks flew. It was love at first sight."

"No one is going to believe that."

"I don't care. Do you need a pen? Our appetizers are getting cold."

"You don't care that you're about to ruin my life, do you?"

I snort. "You didn't care about ruining mine."

It's clear on her face that she wants to bring up the fact that she walked in on me standing over her brother's dead body. I'm a little impressed by her self-control when she doesn't. Instead, she holds out a hand.

"Give me a pen."

I take the one I brought with me out of my pocket, and place it in her palm. She uncaps it, then looks at me.

"I don't recommend trying to stab me with it. There are too many witnesses."

"I'm not going to sleep with you. If you try, I don't care what the consequences will be, it's not happening." Her voice is fierce.

"Trust me, that's the one thing I don't want from you."

I watch as she presses the pen on the dotted line, and force myself to keep my face free of any reaction. Once she's signed and dated it, I allow myself to smile.

"Well done. Eat your food."

"I'm not hungry. If I eat it, I'll be sick"

"Throw it up later. I don't give a fuck. Eat what's on your plate. The terms of your contract start now."