Chapter 13: Employees-Slash-Hostages

Daisy’s finger was still suspended in the air when Theo stood up again. "I don’t have time for this," he said, striding toward her. "We need to go." She blinked. "Go? Where?" "To get you ready. You’re coming with me tonight." Her brows furrowed. "Ready? For what?" Theo reached for his coat, not sparing her a glance. "Dinner." Her eyes narrowed. "Wait—dinner? As in the one your mother mentioned earlier?" Her voice pitched upward. "Oh no. No, no. I’m not going, because—" "You are." Her mouth fell open. "Are you kidding me?" He finally turned, gaze steady and flat. "Do I look like someone who jokes?" "But I haven’t agreed to anything! This has to be against... I don’t know, human rights or something... There’s probably a rule about dragging someone to a dinner they didn’t sign up for!" She waved her hand vaguely, heart pounding. "I’m pretty sure it’s in the Constitution. Or the Geneva thing. One of those." Theo stopped, slowly turning his head toward her, he looked done. "Should I consider changing her with someone else?" he muttered under his breath. "What what? What did you mumble about?" Daisy suddenly felt like he was just mocking her secretly. "Nothing," he said plainly, taking his coat and putting it on . But Daisy wasn’t done, her eyes were slightly changed. "You know," she huffed, stomping lightly after him, "if I end up being emotionally traumatised from all this forced fine dining and weird marriage-contract proposals, I might have a legal case! Stockholm something... Syndrome. I saw it in a documentary. Or was it a drama? Either way, it was serious." Theo didn’t even glance back. "I’m sure the court would be deeply moved... once they finish laughing." She gasped. "Wow. Is this how you talk to all your employees-slash-hostages?" He paused, one brow lifting ever so slightly. "Only the ones who claim the Geneva Convention protects them from social gatherings." Daisy’s jaw dropped. "Okay, that’s it. I need a lawyer." "I don’t think you need a lawyer. You need to finish school." Theo reached out toward her arm. "Now, let’s go." But Daisy quickly yanked it away, eyes wide. "Are you trying to say I’m dumb?" she snapped, taking a full step back. Theo gave her a long, steady look, then let out a slow sigh, like his last reserve of patience had finally dissolved. He chose to give her a silence before turning fully now, walking toward the door again. "Let’s go." "No! I’m not going!" she burst out, throwing her hands up. "Our conversation didn’t even go anywhere!" Her eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape or a better idea. "I came here thinking I was applying for a different job! And then you..." she pointed at him accusingly, "...you just blurted out a marriage contract like it’s a casual career pivot!" Theo arched his brow. "It’s still a job." "Still a job? Marriage is a job?" Her voice cracked in disbelief, frustration pouring out of her. He didn’t flinch. But his jaw tightened. That was the only visible sign that something inside him had reached its limit. Theo took off his coat again, placed it carefully on the armrest, and sat down, slowly, like he had all the time in the world to deal with her nonsense. Then his gaze found her. Icy. Flat. Controlled. "You have ten minutes," he said, his voice low and edged. "Make your tantrum worth it. Because when this conversation ends, you’re agreeing." Daisy gasped, her breath catching as if the room had shrunk around her. Her heart thudded hard in her chest, her eyes flicking from Theo’s impassive face to the floor and back again. He just sat there, looking cold, controlled, terrifyingly composed. Honestly, earlier, she’d acted dumb on purpose. Played up the cluelessness, the dramatic hand gestures, the over-the-top confusion. All because she was convinced guys like him, ice-cold, pressed-in-steel types, would probably hate spoiled, rich, dumb girls. She thought maybe, just maybe, if she leaned into that image, he’d change his mind and toss her out. But it didn’t seem to work. If anything, he seemed more resolved. Like whatever it was, he would proceed with his decision. She chewed her lip, eyes narrowing just slightly. ’Should I keep going with the dumb act? Or has that ship officially sunk?’ She let out a quiet breath, the silence between them stretching thin. The truth was, she didn’t actually think he wanted to marry her. It didn’t feel like he was choosing her, because of ’her’. At this moment, she was the only one available in his eyes. She was simply the one standing in front of him when the bizarre idea of a marriage contract hatched in that cold, businesslike mind of his. It wasn’t romantic. It wasn’t even rational. It was impulsive. Desperate, maybe. "You know... Mr. Theo," Daisy started, her voice light, a forced smile tugging at her lips, "you have a lot of options. You don’t need to choose me for this kind of critical job, right?" She smiled with her eyes, hoping it masked the panic behind them. "I mean, I’m flattered, sure but I’m also very replaceable." Theo didn’t respond right away. He just watched her for a long second. The kind of stare that could quiet a room or freeze it entirely. "I’m aware of my options," he finally said. "And I still choose you." Daisy’s smile faltered. "Right. But... why?" He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. "I never give my reasons to any of the people I deal with," he said flatly. "Why do you think I need to list them for you?" The words hit harder than she expected. A quiet thud to her pride. She blinked, her lips parting as a weak sigh slipped out in surprise. "Right..." she murmured, then nodded and took a step back. "Then, Mr. Theo, I’ll have to refuse this job. I don’t have any reason to accept it." She rushed to the door, yanking it open, only to jerk back when it didn’t budge. Behind her, Theo was already leaning back on the couch, stretching his neck. "You don’t have any reason to accept it?" he repeated, a barely-there smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Daisy turned to face him, panic rising fast. "You locked me in here? This is basically kidnapping!" Theo met her wide-eyed stare without flinching. His voice was calm. Almost amused. "Call it what you want," he said, his gaze turning sharp. "But by the time that door opens... you’ll be my fiancée."