Deceiver

Daren's uncle?

I pondered for a moment. How could that even be? Daren was twenty-three years old, and Jordan looked like he was in his late twenties or early thirties. He looked too young to be Daren's uncle, there was no way he was Daren's uncle. Plus, he looked nothing like Daren. No resemblance, not even in the slightest. Daren was a complete lamb, while the man standing before me, Jordan, was a complete monster, bothering on the edges of a wolf and a bright eyed tiger. In contrast to Jordan's dark features and haunting charm, Daren had wavy blonde hair, his eyes were blue too, but they looked nothing like Jordan's, and their vibes were completely different. While Daren was refreshing with the bubbly personality of a teenager, and very relaxing to be around, Jordan was a total menace to my sanity. I hadn't even been around him for up to an hour, but I was already stressed out. There was just no way the two of them could be related. They were too different.

Besides, while Daren and I were still dating, he never mentioned any uncle to me. He didn't talk about his family very much, but he did mention that the only surviving family he had in the country was his mother. He told me he didn't have any other relatives. So, where did this so-called uncle suddenly show up from?

"Daren has no uncle. He never mentioned you to me." I said suspiciously.

"Well, it does not surprise me if he didn't." Jordan smirked. "I have not exactly been the best uncle in the world, no! I have not been very present in Daren's life, and that's because I do not like to be associated to the Rockshire family. You see, they are no good for me and I am no good for them, so we just exist apart. But it doesn't change the fact that we are still family, and I always show up for my family. Especially when I hear there's a threat to my little nephew." He said, glaring at me accusingly.

"Dylan Rockshire was the only son of his parents. He had no relatives. Everybody in the city knows that." I said, still very suspicious. "So, how are you related to the Rockshires?"

Jordan laughed again, that beautiful masculine laughter. But like before, I couldn't appreciate it.

"You know uncles are not limited to only the father's side of the family right? I see you know all about Dylan Rockshire. But, do you know all about his wife Helena Rockshire? Do you know how many surviving siblings she has, or how many she lost?" He asked me, crossing his hands in front of him and smiling victoriously.

Yeah, he was right. I had totally forgotten that I knew nothing about Daren's mother, Mrs Rockshire. And now that he mentioned it, I could see the resemblance. The cold exterior, the dangerous beauty and the dark charm. Yes, he was very much like Mrs Rockshire. But then, if he was Daren's uncle, what did that have to do with me? Why was he here and why was he insisting to be my fiance? It would make more sense if he told me that his sister had sent him to threaten me again, but it made no sense that he was posing as my fiance.

"So, if you are Daren's uncle, what does it have to do with me?" I asked.

"Well, like I said, you are getting married to me." He said. "I heard that you are in desperate need of a billionaire husband. You can lean on me. My family name may not be as loud as the Rockshire family name that you seem so desperate to be associated to, but trust me, you'll be a billionaire wife all the same. I have a decent business of my own. It's not a family business, but it makes me a honest amount of money. And then, I have a number of mansions in my name too. But most importantly, I am a more mature and saner man than Daren. I know that may not be thrilling news to you, as it appears you want a man you can manipulate. I will not be easy to manipulate, but you can still be what you dreamed of." He said, with a wicked smile.

"Wait! Wait, wait. I do not understand a single word of what you are saying." I said in confusion. "Are you trying to tell me that I have to marry you because you want me to stay away from your nephew?" I asked.

"Ah, you are a very bright one. I'm impressed." Jordan grinned. "Yes, my love. Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I have to marry you to keep you away from my little naive nephew."

"Why? Why would I do that?" I asked. "Why should I get married to you?"

"Because, you have to leave for Daren to move on." He said. "You marry me, and become the wealthy wife you wish to be, you can dig up all the gold you want at my backyard, under my supervision. And then, my nephew can move on with his life. It's a win-win. Everybody gets what they want or deserve." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"That's crazy!" I cried. "You all are crazy! Like, did you even think this through before you decided to propose this to me? You thought about this in your head and it sounded right? What am I to you? A puppet? Look at my hands and feet, look at my back! Do I look like I am attached to strings to you? Do you think that you can just pull my strings and make me do whatever you want? What do you take me for? A fool? Did your sister put you up to this?" I lamented. "Tell your sister to stay away from me! All of you stay away from me already! I have cut all ties with Daren! I have nothing to do with him again! Why can't you all just let me be? I want no part in your useless plan!"

I flinched when Jordan's hands suddenly came up to my neck, holding my face up as his eyes bored into me. I began to back away again, and he followed me while still holding on to my neck and face. I stopped when my back made contact with the wall of the tent, and I realized that I couldn't go any further. Jordan kept moving into me, until our faces were only breaths apart and our our bodies were pressed together. I could feel his solid thighs brushing against my legs, and my soft breast were crushed against his rock hard chest, my nipples brushing painfully against his suit as my chest rose and fell rapidly.

Jordan pinned me to the wall, with one of his hand braced against the wall, while the other remained on my neck. His grip was cold, but my skin burned where his hand touched me. His fingers moved from the side of my neck to behind, tilting my head forward, while his thumb traced a line down the front of my throat to the base of my neck, where pulse was pounding crazily. He leaned in closer and rested his forehead against mine, brushing his nose against mine. His full male scent made me tipsy.

When Jordan lifted his head from mine, his eyes were dark with a threat.

"You still don't understand. Or do you, my love?" He said with a dark smile that didn't touch his eyes. "You don't have an option here. I am not seeking your counsel or opinion right now, I am telling you what you must do. For your own good. This is not a proposal, this is an instruction." He said. I began to sob as I trembled all over. I felt so frustrated and helpless. I couldn't understand what was going on or why this was happening to me. It felt like a dream, a very bad dream.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I cried helplessly. "Why are you doing this to me? Why won't you just let me be? I already did all you asked me to do, why can't you just let me be?" I asked, tears running down my face.

"You should have just left when Helena asked you to leave. None of us would be in this difficult position now if you had just listened. Daren would have moved on by now, and there would have been no reason for him to hurt himself." Jordan bit out grudgingly.

"Hurt himself?" I cried, my eyes widened and the tears suddenly seized. "What do you mean by hurt himself? What is wrong with Daren? What happened to Daren?" I asked. Jordan's smile broadened and touched his eyes slightly. He looked a little surprised too.

"What's this that I hear in your voice? Is that care? Do you still care about Daren? I thought you said you cut him off? What's this now?" He asked.

"Just tell me already, damn it! What is wrong with Daren? Is he okay?" I howled. Jordan looked even more surprised as he stepped away from me, and looked me up curiously.

"Do you love him?" He asked, taunting me with a smirk. I was frustrated. I moved closer to him and took his hand in mine, closing my palms over it as I begged.

"Please, Mr Jordan. Is Daren okay? What happened to Daren?"

"My love, you should not be acting up like this about another man in front of your fiance. You'll give me a very wrong idea, and I am a very jealous man." Jordan retorted, still taunting me.

"Mr Jordan!" I screamed, loosing my cool. "Tell me now!"

Jordan observed me quietly for a moment, then he answered.

"Daren attempted to take his life. He was found early, so he's not dead, but he is in a critical condition."