Married To The Bully Basketball Player

Five

Amelia’s POV

I gasped. “Was that a joke?” I asked mentally as I stared at him.

I must have misheard him, because he couldn't have just asked me to marry him. Me, the woman he hated with passion, the one he had bullied as if I had killed his precious dog.

This must be some kind of sick joke. I looked at him now, with my eyes huge. “Is that supposed to make me laugh?” I asked him.

He shook his head, no. "It's not a joke, Amelia.”

That was the first time he had ever said my name, and it sounded so foreign to me. I was so used to hearing him call me butterfly that I had assumed it was my real name with him.

“Are you crazy?” I asked him, dropping my mouth open. "I mean, it's me Amelia Russell sitting here in front of you, the girl you hate.” She shook her head. "Did you hit your head and suffer from amnesia? Is that it?” she asked.

Luke shook his head too. "None of that, Butterfly. I’m serious about you marrying me, and you can get a good deal out of this.” He said.

I scoffed. It appeared that this man was crazy, because it was the only reasonable I could come up with. How and why would he ask me to marry him? I thought that marriage was for people that were in love, people that liked and cared about each other?

I was surprised to come here and find out that the person that needed me to design their home was this man. Luke f*****g Whitlock.

All six feet of him, and some change, clad in a black jeans and a white button down shirt that fitted him just enough to show his muscles. No doubt he was handsome back then in school, but right now, damn, right now he was hot.

But he was still annoying, and what surprised me more was his ridiculous offer. Except maybe this was just his way of pulling my legs, and I adjusted in my seat, thinking about it.

“I don’t think you’re serious about us doing business together, Mr. Whitlock. I can see that this is just some joke to you.” I said, and stood up from the chair I sat in. Damn, I thought working for him would give me the chance that I needed but I realized it wasn’t going to be that easy.

My heart was racing though, because as I started to pretend to walk toward the door, I was half praying that he would stop me. This might be the only chance I got to get close to him. Because I was so engrossed in my thought about him stopping me, I didn’t notice that my foot had been caught in the small carpet that was at the door and I started to fall backward.

Okay, so this wasn’t a movie, so I didn’t expect Luke to catch me or anything, but before my back could connect with the floor, a pair of strong arms grabbed me.

“You’re such a klutz.” He said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Damn! I thought as my cheek burned.

“I know you're trying to run away from me, just like you did those years ago.” He said and I gritted my teeth.

What was he doing talking about years ago like he never did anything wrong? Maybe he didn’t even think what he did was wrong.

“I meant to do that,” I said before I could stop myself, and I bit my tongue. Damn, why did I say that?

I meant to fall? Or run? Which?

“Hmm, you don’t say.” He said, his voice sounding like he was mocking me.

“Yes, I do.” I insisted and pushed myself up and out of his hands.

“You need a husband to watch over you, Butterfly.” He said and I gritted my teeth again.

“Will you just stop calling me that already?” I asked, pushing my brows up.

He bit his bottom lip, licked it and smiled. “Be grateful that’s all I’m calling you, Butterfly. I could call you worse.” He said.

Rolling my eyes again, I wondered what was worse than calling me an insect name.

He grabbed my wrist, and started to walk back to his desk, but no way was I going to let him think he could control me. “Leave me alone, this instant.” I said, struggling to pull my wrist off.

He wasn’t holding me tightly enough to bruise me, but enough so I didn’t get away. “Stop being a child, Amelia. I asked you to marry me, and I’m serious. You should consider it, considering I can help you get back your firm on track and in order, before it collapse.” He said.

“If you gave me the job I came here for, then you won’t have to worry about that.” I said when he pushed me gently back into my seat.

He shook his head. “You think that’s enough to help? We both know that’s not true. You need at least, five of a contract like mine to put you out of danger zone.” He said.

“And I’ll get them.” I said.

“Keep kidding yourself then. We both know you need that as soon as this week, and you haven’t gotten a decent one in months, but you suddenly think you’ll get five in what, two days?” he asked.

I shrugged. “A lot can happen in two days.” I said.

“Yes. I could have given you enough money to help stay afloat, hire you some professionals to help with marketing your firm, and introduce you to a couple of people that need their home and maybe office designed.” He said.

I thought about what he was saying, and I knew they were all true, but why was he offering me that? A way out from my misery. What would he get in return?

“What’s in it for you.” I asked.