Her Contract Marriage To The Billionaire Alpha

Callous

Theodore POV

I have Alyssa exactly where I want her. She's so resigned to her fate that she barely even offers up the merest resistance to me anymore. I grip my champagne glass tightly and glance around the room, continuing to fake a smile on my face. I've already spoken to everybody that I needed to tonight, and suddenly I feel a delicate hand drape itself over my shoulder, its perfectly manicured nails catching my eyes.

"Well, if it isn't the handsome groom-to-be" she drawled, and I could hear her slurring her words as she let out a bitter laugh.

There is no doubt in my mind that she's had a fair few to drink. Every time I glanced at her, she had a glass of something in her hand. Not surprising. I knew she would find tonight difficult, but I didn't expect her to get this drink and out of control. I glanced around the room, but Karen was busy chatting to some of her friends in the corner and wasn't paying her daughter a single whit of attention. I gently dislodged Dahlia's hand from my shoulder and turned around, maintaining my calm facade, aware that there were still important people in my midst and that some were openly staring. I didn't want Dahlia to make a spectacle if I could avoid it.

"Dahlia," I said quietly, "what are you doing?"

She gave me a tremulous smile and raised the glass she held in her other hand, pretending to toast me. "What does it look like I'm doing, Theodore? I'm celebrating the nuptials between you and your precious Alyssa" she snarled.

I sighed. "Dahlia, you're drunk. Let's go and discuss this out in the hallway?" I smiled pleasantly and grabbed her wrist, squeezing it painfully and dragging her none too gently out of the function room and into the deserted hallway, before letting go and dropping the facade of being calm.

I was beyond irritated with the woman. Did she think behaving this way would get my attention? She was delusional or stupid.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you have any idea who is still in that room?" I demanded icily "You're a mess Dahlia, go sober up and get some sleep or something."

In other words, get the hell away from me.

She hiccuped. "f**k you, Theodore," she said miserably as I stared at her. "Can't you see how upset I am?" her voice turned shrill as I winced "I'm devastated because the man I love is marrying my stepsister tomorrow instead of me" she wailed, crocodile tears forming as she began to sob.

"Dahlia, we had an agreement. I told you..." I began peevishly, ignoring her declaration.

"I can't help how I feel about you" she gave a great big sob "I tried, Theodore, I really did, but it hurts so bad" she began to blubber.

Shit. This was the last thing I f*****g needed tonight. I looked around discreetly and sighed in relief as I realized that the media was nowhere to be seen. Not that it mattered. Alyssa knew I was sleeping with her stepsister, but I wanted to keep my reputation as intact as possible so that the company didn't suffer. When you're wealthy, reputation is everything.

"Alyssa."

"No just listen" she beseeched me, waving the glass around, splashing its contents, some of it ending up on the floor, her eyes wide and shiny. "I know I'm not Alyssa," she told me, raising her head, her blonde hair bouncing slightly on her shoulders "but I can be a good wife to you. I can dress well, I can act kind like she can. I can help you in the company" she continued, her voice rising "Whatever you want me to do, Theodore, I'll do. I'll even dress in lingerie every night" she pleaded, biting her lip "I'll please you sexually, I'll..." her voice trailed off as she gave another sob.

I had never seen Dahlia look this distressed or this pathetic in the entire time I had been with her. Any other man might have been swayed by her desperate words or the tears she was shedding as they began to trickle down her face, smearing her makeup. I was not that man.

I grew angry. I couldn't believe she was trying to ruin this night. She hiccupped, moving closer. I cringed. I could smell the alcohol on her clothes. She was in quite a state. I cursed Karen for not keeping a closer eye on her daughter and her father, John, for not doing the same. Both of them should have known that Dahlia would respond like this. Or were they oblivious to Dahlia's feelings on the matter? Idiots.

"Dahlia, I told you the truth when we first got together". I tried to remain detached and distant.

For her sake, I was trying not to be cruel. It wasn't easy. She sniffed "Yes, but feelings change Theodore. Are you honestly telling me that, in six months, you haven't felt the slightest bit of love for me? Not even just a little?" she begged, swaying on her feet.

I gritted my teeth. "Dahlia, you're being ridiculous. You wanted money, trinkets, and jewelry in exchange and I provided that for you", I snapped "I have been nothing but generous where you have been concerned."

"I want you" her words were blunt as she blurted them out, "I just want you, Theodore. Don't marry Alyssa," she begged, putting her glass down on a nearby table and turning back to me.

She astonished me by sinking down onto her knees and clutching at my jacket "Please. I can't bear to see you do it. Marry me instead" she whispered through trembling lips.

This was embarrassing for the both of us. I stiffened as she tightened her grip.

"Dahlia get up" my voice was cold.

She shakes her head. "Marry me, Theodore. We can walk down that aisle tomorrow together" she insisted, her voice turning hoarse. "It's not too late to change your mind. I know you love me."

It's the wrong thing to say. As soon as she blurts those words out, an icy mask settles over my face and I deliberately pry her hands off my jacket as she blinks up at me, a bewildered expression on her face.

"Love?" I spat, "Dahlia, I don't love you," I told her callously as she blinked at me. "I never have. You were a good f**k and a good distraction for me, but I never loved you."

She trembles. "You don't mean that" she cries, biting her lip.

I shook my head at her. "Yes, I do. I have never loved you. You are not the type of girl who men fall in love with Dahlia. You're an easy lay. I'm marrying Alyssa because she's the one I want, and she's the one I am going to have children with". My tone is dismissive "If you've been stupid enough to catch feelings for me, then that's on you, not me. For god's sake, have some pride and get up" I snarled.

She whimpers, slowly climbing to her feet. "You don't love me?" her face crumples.

"I have never loved you" I repeated the words for emphasis, watching the blood drain from her face, "and I never will. Compared to Alyssa, you are nothing to me," I told her cruelly.

She puts a hand to her mouth. "I thought, I thought that maybe...." her voice trails off.

"You thought wrong" I snapped, watching as she stared at me blankly. "I've wasted enough time with you. I'm going back to my room. Give my regards to your mother and father and, for the love of god, don't go near me again, unless it's to congratulate me on my marriage with Alyssa."

"You're a bastard" she whispers, unable to look me in the eyes anymore.

"That's better. I would rather you call me that than claim to love me". My tone is even. I turned on my heel and made my way to the elevator, aware of her eyes boring holes into the back of me.

I press the button and the doors shut with a clang, bringing me to my floor. Alyssa should already be in the room, possibly asleep, I mused, glancing at my watch and taking note of the time. I had been magnanimous when I had allowed her to leave the rehearsal dinner so early, but she had looked so exhausted that I had thought it was necessary. I didn't want a bride who looked pale and gaunt walking down the aisle tomorrow. Not when the press is there. The photographs alone would tell a story that would slay me. People could be so judgmental when they wanted to be.

I headed down the corridor and grabbed the keycard from my pocket. If Alyssa was asleep then I wouldn't want to disturb her. I thought this was unusually kind of me. I swiped it and then opened the door, frowning as I took in the silence of the room, the darkness of it. Alyssa hadn't turned any lights on, which was slightly unusual. I also couldn't smell her scent. I closed the door quietly and then began to head into the bedroom, glancing around. There was no sign that Alyssa had made it back here. The bed was empty. I let out a low growl of anger. She had played me. She had told me that she was going back to the room and, like a fool, I had assumed it was to rest. Had she done a runner? Surely not, when her family's company was at stake. I fought to keep my anger at bay and dialed Karen's number on my cellphone, feeling furious.

"Hello?"

"She's missing" I snapped and heard Karen draw in a shocked breath "weren't you supposed to keep an eye on Alyssa tonight?"

"I didn't think she would do anything considering the company..." Karen's voice trails off as she offers up a lame excuse.

"Well, you were wrong. She's not in the room. Find out where she is" I instructed, my voice frosty "and find out soon, because you know exactly what's at stake if you don't."

"I'll find her. She's probably just having some last-minute nerves," Karen said hastily "I promise."

"See that you do. Make sure Dahlia is in her room," I added as an afterthought. "She's in no condition to help anyone. Let alone be useful", I curled my lip in disgust.

Karen hung up the phone.

I redialled.

"Yes Sir?"

"My bride has gone missing. Locate her position for me and call me back. I want to know where she's gone and who she's with."

"I'll get right on it."

I hung up, patiently waiting. My man would come through. He always did. I didn't trust Karen not to lie to me and I knew she would try to prevent me from going after Alyssa myself. Karen's only concern was about the company, but I had an instinctual feeling that Alyssa hadn't just wandered off on her own. I couldn't quite say why, but I knew that there was more to it than that. I was about to discover what she had been keeping from me for the last few days. I grabbed the decanter of bourbon and poured myself a drink, sipping it slowly.