Warnings: Possessiveness, obsessiveness, threat, manipulation, bribery, and blackmail. If you're not quite comfortable with the aforementioned warnings, then we kindly suggest for you to read the other chapters that you're fine with, if it's still not suitable for you, then you could also leave this book, but we thank you for giving time and checking this book out. To those who decided to venture further in reading, we hope you enjoy it!

You decided to distract yourself by the wood carvings engraved along the handrail of the staircase that would lead you to your impending doom. Sensing the foreboding presence that awaits you once you would reach the top, your grip tightens as you let yourself be supported by the said structure. You found an unusual sense of comfort by the accompanied outline of each ascent, frowning after you managed to glance at the floor below where people bustled about to play their roles. The organisation seems to be innocent, presenting information for the people to follow and find interest in before you found yourself a soon to be a victim behind its other goal.

You are very much aware of his other reputation that is more eerie and disturbing behind the head of the organisation itself, causing you to be all the more nervous of what it would entail. It was supposed to be another normal day for you, doing one of your hobbies, yet you found yourself suddenly invited to accompany his presence. But then your parents informed you about the young gentleman wanting your presence to accompany him within his personal office. Judging by their solemn expressions, they seemed to be clearly disturbed by this request and yet all of you knew that you can do nothing about it. Nobility is nothing against him, after all.

You are wary of the tight situation with a serious problem waiting to present itself for as long as you can remember, it was never a good thing to be personally invited by Charles Augustus Milverton himself. The supposed rumours were not merely such that, they were true based on the haunting state that he left his victims, based on a bit of prying on your side when you deemed him a threat to you and your family. It seems that he was not unaware of your snooping, even finding himself amused before deciding to make his presence known all the more to your family. With a little digging of his own that only required a minimal effort, he found something.

He directs his gaze towards the door one he hears footsteps, placing the folder back on his desk for his presentation later. You mutter your gratitude when one of the personnel opens the door for you, though you also just realised that he had been the one that personally accompanied you through the tense journey. It seemed that you were focusing too much with your concerns behind Milverton's motive that you ignored his presence until now. You felt subtly embarrassed, but you were not able to completely dwell on it longer when you felt an unnerving presence once you stepped inside the personal office that is owned by the head of the establishment.

You shuddered upon having your gaze meets with his snake like ones, gleaming golden hues meeting yours that presents his deception and mischief before he greets. "Ah, the eldest of the L/N family... Quite the reputation, I must say. If you please, take a seat and my assistant would like to offer you some tea to prepare yourself for our discussion."

"It's unnecessary, Milverton... I just want this meeting to end quickly. What do you want from me?" You smoothly replied as you comforted yourself by doing so, even though your nerves are actually on haywire right now as you stand before such an intimidating man that left you in such a rigid position.

With a charming smile behind his calculative and observing gaze, he raises a brow in amusement after seeing your state before lightly laughing as he gestures to the only chair in front of his desk. "Oh, really? But I'm afraid that I do insist. Please, enjoy yourself. I don't bite... much."

An unpleasant shiver ran down your spine as you fought back the tremble across your figure because of it after his unnecessary remark, frowning before you sighed while taking the seat. You see his brow twitch in annoyance when you changed the distance between the chair you occupied and his own even through his desk, scoffing lightly before he composes himself with a light cough. He sighs before placing a gloved palm on the folder in front of you both that also gathered your attention. Seeing this, he casually taps his index finger on top of it as if to taunt you further. He sees you getting impatient when you straighten up before glaring at him.

"Before we proceed with what I need... Let's start from the beginning. You see, I encountered something that I am certain you would find interesting. I'm sure you are awfully familiar with these?" His disturbing smile returned before he pushes the folder to you across the wooden surface of his desk.

Unclenching your fist after sensing his arrogance, you easily swiped the item away from his grasp before inspecting the contents that left you baffled as you narrowed your gaze at him. "How did you... Never mind. What do you intend to happen? How much would be enough to keep your mouth shut?"

The secret your family had been keeping for a long time is going to be made public by the king of blackmailers himself. It contains the illegal businesses your father operates with that support a major value of the family's finances, such as selling drugs and transporting weaponries to different clients. Your mother also owned numerous brothels across the country that utilise those that are desperate and eager to earn money. Both your parents bribed him to remain silent about it, even reaching to the point of begging for him to not let the public know about it and their desperation only left him amused. This is also an efficient way to achieve his goal.

"Just like your parents, I see... I don't need money. But I do appreciate something that you alone can satisfy." He was mildly annoyed after knowing that you thought money would be the only thing that could end his unknown proposition, intensely gazing at you by the end of his statement.

Augustus ignored the way you throw a tantrum by harshly placing the folder back to its former position that caused a soft thud to resonate the already tense office as he shrugs casually. "Bribery from them was in vain, clearly. That is because I alone am the one doing the bargaining here."

Reflecting your impatience with an addition of eagerness, he was starting to be serious with the situation and would ensure that everything would go according to what he had envisioned. He knew that he needed to keep himself under control to not scare you to suddenly flee, though it was already clear that he had imprinted fear and anxiety to you based on the warning he implied earlier. He should take his time before he claims his reward after the efforts he put himself along with ensuring that this plan would work in the end. Patience is just what he needs before he can fully savour your presence and for you to be his completely, but you are making it difficult.

"You never play fair... Just spit it out, then. You are wasting both of our times here, prolonging this. Just to what? Build up my anticipation? Worry?" You huffed before presenting a scowl to express your displeasure for the nonsense that he keeps spouting to just build the tension further.

He exhales to calm himself before leaning against his seat, intertwining his fingers before his chin with his elbows supported by the arms of his chair. "The bargaining is simple, really. The dirty secrets that your family has will remain hidden from the public on one condition only. There's no more changing of this, so you better prepare yourself, dear."

The pet name should have been unpleasant, especially coming from him, but the unusual tenderness with the way he called you by it softened such an effect. You are undoubtedly surprised by the change of his demeanour that had been imposing from before that is now gentle and hoping to be understanding towards you. The approach is actually unnecessary since he would remain to achieve his goal in the end without it, and yet he finds himself responsible to make you feel at ease. Navigating his own emotions that are unfamiliar when you were added to the picture is not easy, even for a man of his calibre that he wants you, whether you like it or not.

"What is it? As long as it's materialistic or of monetary value, we can easily prepare for that." You tried to divert his attention to the list of items you present to him from your statement, and yet your concern remains to gnaw in your senses when you start to understand the situation you were forced to face by him.

You tried to cover up your realisation by remaining to be nonchalant and casual of the situation, but he was quick to observe your emotions. He then reveals that there's a remaining deal he would like to make in order for your family to have their secret sealed still and that's where your connectivity lies. You just wished that he had been empathetic enough to soften the blow or even be merciful to just finish the deal with him choosing any of the options you presented. He again showed himself to have none of those traits when he reveals something that completely submerged you in dread, disturbed at the thought of him wanting you in the first place.

"I'm asking for your hand in marriage. Though it would seem that you do not have any choice in the matter, really. I need you to be mine. Other than acquiring the influence and power your family has, you are my sole objective." He finally uttered that should not come off as much as a surprise for you.

And yet despite already starting to reach the conclusion from how he behaves and his intent gazing at you, you remain to wish that all of this was just a nightmare that you would soon find yourself escaping through waking up in the real world. You froze upon hearing his demand, knowing full well that he is not playing around and that he is completely serious with the arrangement. But you were also confused as to why he had taken such an immense interest with you even though you remembered to have no proper interaction with him other than polite exchanges. Just as he informed, you found yourself unable to reject his unfortunate deal.