2. Forced Proposal

"Get to the office on time or else you won't like the outcome." He whispered in a deadly low voice which sent shivers to my spine but at the same time sparked more anger in me.

"Who are you and what do you think you are doing?"

"None of the question is your concern and my name you can read on every front page of the magazine. I don't think I need to answer that." he said arrogantly and cockily.

"I will never marry you."

"I don't need your permission to marry you." After that he fished out his phone from his pocket and threw it to the person beside him, whom I guess was his secretary.

His secretary or what so ever dialed someone and put the phone on speaker.

"Parker, go to the King mansion and make them leave that house within next two hours."

I panicked as his voice reached my ears. Who is he? What is he trying to do? My parents are the most respected here. They have also gained the title of King and Queen here because of their power and also that ours is a royal family.

He is nothing but a piece of trash. He really does not know who is he talking to.

"STOP." I shouted since my mind could not function anything right now besides my parent's house.

My father built it with his sweat and blood and he, a ruthless man is talking like he owns that house.

He stared at me with a hardened expression in his eyes. It was as if he could see through my soul. I was getting little unsure of my confidence due to his intimidating presence.

God knows, why he has such a effect. Believe me when I say it's not only on me that he has the effect, but on everyone present here.

All guards here surrounding us with revolvers in their hands, I doubt anyone of them have the courage to even speak without stuttering in front of him. I can very well read that on their faces. Experiences have taught me so well. A bitter smile fought to escape onto my face at the thought.

"Alone." is the only word that left his mouth. It was so strong that it made everyone leave before I blink.

Well, now I was confirmed that they were really his slaves.

He turned around and opened his car and brought one folder in his hands. It was a brown coloured folder in which 'panther' was written in silver at the corner.

He came to me and threw the folder near my legs. I was shaking with anger then was to say the least. I looked into his eyes which were blank. His grey orbs daring me to do otherwise. I felt like I've seen same eyes before but of a lighter shade. His eye colour was different, a rare one to see.

I blinked twice and hard and carefully I picked up the folder from the floor and opened it to see what was there. I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong here.

I read and they were land papers and when I saw the area of land, I nearly slipped the folder from my hands. It was my parent's bungalow papers. It was written in that

'They were no longer the owner of the house but Theodre Bradford.'

This is fake. How? It can't happen.

And I've heard this name before.

Ah!

Why am I not able to recall it?

A word rang in my head.

Panther.

That was the moment when, I knew, I got the answer. He is THE BLACK PANTHER of market. Everyone knows him.

"This cannot be real." These words slipped out of my mouth before I could conclude what I said.

He smirked and spoke with aura and confidence oozing out of him, "Indeed, it is. Prove it. Your father signed it."

"No, he would never do that." I yelled at his face.

"Don't raise your voice in front of me ever or else I know to how set you straight. And for your doubt, he did." He muttered in a dangerously low voice. I had to strain my ears to listen to him.

I neglected his first sentence and focused on the second one for the time being.

"You tricked him." I accused him to get the truth out of him.

But all he did was, he spoke with no guilt, shame or fear "Yes, I did."

He kept on standing there motionless with a blank face and all I wanted to do was rip him apart. I closed my eyes to take control of my increasing anger and tried to breathe calmly.

"I can't marry you. I'm already engaged." I tried to make him understand.

"Doesn't matter. Your marriage will happen but with me." he spoke calmly like it was the obvious thing.

"I love my fiance. I can't leave him. He would hate me. What would I answer to his parents? My parents? Why do you not understand?"

Still, I tried to make him understand. Because now I know who he is, it will be of no matter to shout and yell at him. He gets what he wants and that is all I know about him.

"Come near me." he ordered me like I was his slave.

Even though I was angry, my heart was then also beating loudly. But still I followed. I hesistantly went near him and stood at a distance of one metre away from him.

I cannot fear him. It will end up on my defeat that way. But somewhere in my heart I knew I will be defeated this time.

He suddenly inched closer to me and yanked me towards him by my hairs.

My eyes widened with fear and a low scream left my mouth at his harsh behaviour. My eyes started to water with the force he put on my hairs. I clenched my jaw and tried to remove his hand from my scalp.

"You will do as I say, am I clear?" He whispered lowly into my ear. His breathe fanning my neck in the process, making me shudder.

When I didn't respond, he tugged at my hair again. I gasped at that unintentionally and nodded, left with no option. My mind started flooding with the memories of my past. I shut my eyes to stop them.

"Good. Now listen. You will tell everyone that you are going to marry me. That is your concern how to tell. Marriage will be after three days. You will come to my office for arrangements and for your dress fittings. And last thing, mind it, you are going to be my wife so don't try to meet your ex-fiance at any cost. Mind my words, Caitlyn." He hissed into my ear and abruptly left me with a push. I stumbled backwards and saw him looking at me victorously.

I did not know what do do. I'm ruined. He just blackmailed me and there is no instant solution for that. A lone tear landed on my cheek. I doubt where did it come from. From my eye? I mentally scoffed at that.

But now, I'll not let my pride and love down. I'll marry him and make him divorce me for good. He does not know maybe that he is talking to Caitlyn King. I did not become famous business women like shit. It took every piece of hour, hardwork and mind. If he thought he could play with me so easily, so no. He can not. I do not allow that.

"I will ruin your life, mind my words." I mocked him and left him there.

I laughed bitterly at my luck which seems to hate me so much.

... 〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️...

"Mom, Dad, I don't love him. I love Theodre. Try to understand." I almost yelled at them. They are not ready to believe me. I turned my back to them to hide my tears from them.

"Let her do that, darling. She loves him then let it be." My mom coaxed my angry father at the time.

I love my dad the most but at this time I loved her for being so cooperative. I couldn't let them risk their life at any stake. They are old. I doubt my dad can handle the reason I'm marrying that shit of a man. He is already a patient of high cholesterol.

I sighed grimly and let my eyes soak the tears. I turned to him and kneeled beside him giving my mom an assuring smile and after that she left the room.

"You are my princess. I won't let anything happen to you. I would never force you. Do what you want.I trust you." I mimicked my father's voice. At the time of my graduation when I denied to join his company and asked him that I want to open my own work with my hardwork, he supported me. These were the exact words he spoke at that time.

This cracked a smile on his angry face and he looked up at me with more softened eyes.

"Don't you trust me anymore, dad?" I asked him, looking into his eyes with a pleading look.

He sighed heavily and and put his hand on my right cheek. "I do princess." he paused and again sighed, most probably searching for the words, "But it's too sudden. One month ago you came with Drake and now.." He trailed off after that.

"Dad, I'll talk to Drake, he cares for me and we do not even love each other that way. It's just friendship between us. It can't work that way. I love another person not him, dad." I spoke with care so that he does not catch on my bundle of lies. He knows me very well.

He looked at my face for a minute then nodded. I instantly grinned.

"Ok. Who is the man? Repeat the name, I am not able to recall." He asked me, furrowing his eyebrows.

And I knew there will be a problem now. Once he gets to know who I'm going to sacrifice my life, he will fight again.

"Theodre Bradford." as I spoke these words, his body stiffened.

He turned to me and gave me an angry glare. I did not dare to look into his eyes this time.

"Black Panther." he nodded to himself like he was absorbing the information.

And I very well knew this was the calmness that resides before the storm comes.

"Do you even know, Caitlyn, whom you are talking about?" I flinched as he shouted and cringed at my name. He calls my name only when he is very angry.

I nodded to his words. He walked to the window frame and calmed his mind by his rubbing his fingers on his forehead while I stood there gazing at floor playing with my fingers nervously. I felt like a small child that time caught stealing candies and chocolates from fridge.

"He is cruel." he spoke but this time in a very calm voice. I did not speak anything.

"Does he love you too?" he asked again.

"Yes." once again I succeeded in speaking a lie in front of my father. Thanks to him that he was looking outside the window, not in my eyes. Jesus!

My father turned and looked at me and then came near me and hugged me.

"Ok, Princess. You have my blessings." he spoke while stroking my hairs in a calmly manner.

I felt safe in his embrace.

"Thank you dad. I love you."

"I love you too sweetheart."

It's time to confront Drake which I fear the most.

Don't hate me, Drake. Please. For what I'm going to do to you.

"But if he even hurts a single hair on you body, I'll guillotine him with my bare hands." he spoke as we chuckled softly.

I love this moment a lot.