Chapter 3
Jason stepped into a room and he locked the door behind. He turned to Claire who was tied to a chair with a sellotape pressed to her mouth
Claire stared at Mr Arrington and she watched him grab a bottle of whiskey, decanting it into a glass cup.
He drank the content in one gulp and exhaled.
" Claire Walker. " Jason muttered, leaning against the table.
" You know I never could understand what my daughter saw in you. But you just might be useful after all. " Jason said.
He walked towards her and he peeled off the sellotape from her mouth.
" Please… I didn't do anything to your daughter. I swear. " Claire cried.
" Oh, I know. My daughter committed suicide, Claire. Of course you have nothing to do with it. " Jason said.
" I have a proposition for you. As you know, my daughter was supposed to get married in two days. "
" Yes." Claire whispered. " I was supposed to be her bridesmaid. " She added, gazing down as tears slipped her cheek.
" What do you think about being the bride instead? " Jason Arrington questioned and Claire raised her gaze to him.
" What?... What do you mean? " Claire asked.
" I know you have no parents and you are obviously poor. What if I gave you a million dollars, huh? "
" Why… Why would you want to give me a million dollars? " Claire questioned.
" Because you will take Josie's place. You will become the bride and your name, Claire Walker will cease to exist. " Jason said.
" You are asking me to pretend to be your daughter? "
" Except you won't really have to pretend. You two share the same looks. It shouldn't be hard. Actually, with the amount I am offering, it's a fair deal. " Jason said and Claire couldn't believe her ears.
" Your daughter just committed suicide and you want me to replace her? " Claire asked, wanting to be sure she heard him clearly.
" I am pretty sure that's what I said. " Jason said and Claire scoffed.
" What kind of a man are you? " She asked before she could stop herself
" I am a business man. And in the business world. No matter what happens, business has to go on. " He said, smiling and Claire shook her head.
" This… this is madness and there is no way I am indulging in it. "
" Josie was nice to me. She took me as a friend and I won't do this to her. No. " Claire said adamantly.
Jason nibbled on his lower lip, gazing down.
" You see, Josie wasn't just nice. She was a good little girl who does what Daddy tells her to do. But I guess that's what makes you two different so I would have to do things the hard way. " He said and Claire felt her heartbeat thud against her chest.
She swallowed nothing, watching him open a drawer and her breath seized for a second when she saw him bring out a gun.
" What… What are you doing? " Claire asked and he pointed the gun at her.
" When I made my proposition. I failed to add one thing. This isn't a request, It's a demand and you will comply whether you like it or not. " Jason said.
" You think I am afraid of you? Or that gun? Go ahead, pull the trigger. Hell, you would be doing me a favor. " Claire blurted and she could feel her heart beating loud against her chest when he cocked the gun and moved close to her.
Claire shut her eyes when he pressed the gun to her head and her entire body shook with fear.
" I wonder if to call you brave or stupid. " She heard him say and Claire slowly opened her eyes to see he had lowered the gun and she exhaled softly.
" But you see, I had my guys do a little background check on you and guess what they found? "
" You are not only an orphan but you have a sibling who is 12. I kinda figured you would be like this so I told them to pay him a little visit " Jason said and Claire felt her heartbeat hammer against her chest.
" You are lying! " She said.
" Oh, but I am not. " Jason uttered and the door burst open as two guys walked in with her younger brother, Cole who had his mouth sellotaped.
" Oh, my god. Cole! " Claire yelled, struggling in her seat and Cole was pushed to his knees as tears streamed down his eyes.
" Let him go. Let him go! Please… please. I beg you. Let him go. " Claire cried, tears brimming her eyes.
" It's your choice to make, sweetheart. You will take Josie's place and your brother gets to live. "
" I will do it. I will do anything. Please just let him go. Please! " Claire pleaded.
" I am sorry I didn't hear you. " Jason said, pointing the gun in his hand to Cole whose eyes widened.
" I said I will do it. Anything, I will do it. Just let him go. I beg you! " Claire said, struggling in her chair and Jason smacked his lips, dropping the gun.
" Now, that wasn't so hard was it? " He asked.
" Please… " Claire sobbed.
" Take him away. " Jason said and the two guys grabbed him.
" Don't hurt him. Please. I am begging you. I will do anything you want. Don't hurt him. " Claire shouts, watching them take her brother away.
" Now. Are you ready to comply? " Jason asked and Claire sniffed, nodding her head.
" Your brother will remain here until the day of the wedding. " Jason said.
" What? No. I already agree to do anything you want. "
" You see, that's not how business works. I make sure to have a leverage against my opponent so they won't turn back on their words. " Jason said.
" So your brother will remain here until you have married into Gold's family. " Jason said.
" The Gold? " Claire asked, her brows knitted.
" Yes. Ryan Gold. That's the name of the man you will be getting married to. " Jason said.
" What's going to happen to Josie's body? " Claire asked.
" I do the questioning and the telling. You just do the listening. "
" No. If I am going to do this. I need to know exactly what I am getting myself into. " Claire said.
" Fine. Josie's body will be cremated. "
" What?! "
" Yes. That is the only way. We can't bury her. It will draw attention and there will be questioning. " Jason explained and Claire was mute as she swallowed.
" Do you have any friends? Relatives? Boyfriend? Ex boyfriends? " Jason asked.
" No. " Claire murmured.
" Good. An orphan with no one at all but a brother. This will be easy. "
" I am going to hold on to your phone. You will be given Josie's phone. Your life as Claire Walker has ceased to exist from this moment forward. " Jason said.
" Why is this so important to you? Why can't you just tell the Gold's what happened and grant Josie a proper burial. Why are you trying to cover things up? " Claire questioned.
" Because their marriage was something discussed by my family and their family for each person's benefit. "
" An arranged marriage? " Claire asked.
" Yes. " Jason affirmed.
" So you killed her then? " Claire asked and Jason narrowed his brows.
" What the hell are you talking about? "
" You killed your own daughter for your own selfish gain. She probably committed suicide because she was done living with a controlling maniac like you. " Claire blurted and it took seconds before he spoke.
" You have got a sharp mouth. " Jason said.
" Did you go to college? " He asked.
" Yes. Studied business administration. "
" Great. Cause you will be taking up Josie's position as the CEO of AJ Enterprise. "
" And finally, your money will be sent to you as soon as the wedding is done. " Jason said.
" I don't need your money! " Claire said.
" Well, your loss. Do we have a deal? "
" No. I am only going to do this on one condition. Once I get married. My brother is leaving this mansion. "
" No. Your brother will remain with us here, even after the wedding. We can't afford any of his friends seeing him. "
" So you are just going to keep him locked up? "
" No. He will be sent to a boarding school. Out of town. I will fund the bills. "
" I don't need your charity. " Claire gritted.
" Oh, but you do. You don't want his life being put to a stop, do you? " Jason asked.
" Fine. But I need your word that you will not hurt even a strand of hair on his head. "
" Well, as long as you comply and do not tell a soul of our little deal. He will be perfectly fine. "
" So… Do we have a deal, Miss Claire. Oh, no it's Josie now, isn't it? " Jason asked and Claire inhaled sharply.
" As soon as you ask your guys to untie me " Claire said and Jason smiled.