Betrothed to a Billionaire

Chapter 7: meeting with the mysterious husband

The restaurant presented itself as a world that showed extreme power through luxurious displays within absolute silence. The interior space displayed walls of black mahogany wood which mingled with wine scents and secretive business talks. Every visitor experienced a powerful yet wordless recognition inside this space because the walls seemed to validate their accomplished status before they opened their mouths.

Ariana entered the restaurant and her heels made gentle noises against the marble tiles while she examined the spacious decoration. The wealth displayed there had attained such power that it needed no external confirmation. it was not extravegant luxury as the nouveau rich. Names in this place were never displayed for show but instead shared in private whispers.

From his stance Jesse Ren ruled effortlessly in this world.

The instant she walked inside she sensed people's attitudes toward her changing. It was subtle, but unmistakable. The hostess standing at attention in her fashionable black uniform shifted her body while giving Ariana something close to a recognition glance.

"Good evening, Mrs. Ren. Mr. Ren is expecting you."

Despite the title making her heart to tighten Ariana managed to show no emotions. Ariana provided only a slight nod to the hostess while displaying composure when they entered the dim corridors.

Her body remained motionless with her fingers bent toward each other thus controlling any signs of anxiety. She wasn't nervous.

She walked into the meeting with an equal status making no room for someone to dictate orders to her.

The entrance doors to the private suite swung open before her.

And there he was.

---

Jesse Ren occupied the head seat of the table with an amber-colored drink resting between his fingers. His face stood in shadow under the dim lighting while his strong jaw became more pronounced and his intense stare shone clearly through the darkness.

His presence was absolute.

He didn't need to speak. He didn't need to move. His silent authority commanded every aspect of the room as its unique structure wrapped itself around him while candlelight and breaths fell under his control.

Dark eyes locked onto hers when she stepped inside the space.

His eyes revealed nothing more than of both warmth and hostility. His eyes inspected her with a gaze that penetrated everything while striping away those layers she tried to create.

He was assessing her.

A single pulse of her heart struck her yet she maintained her stance. She confronted his stare directly as she continued into the room with careful poise.

If Jesse Ren was the kind of man who dominated a space without a word, then she would be the kind of woman who refused to yield to it.

Ariana refused to bow before his silent dominance because she was the type of woman who did not surrender her space to others.

His mouth showed a small hint of amusement which stopped short of full smiling. "You took your time, Mrs. Ren."

His relaxed and confident tone irritated her deeply.

But Ariana didn't react. She only lifted a brow. "I had no reason to come looking for you until today, Mr. Ren."

Her speech maintained a calm tone while her body remained upright.

Jesse maintained a deliberate tapping motion with his fingers while he sat at the table. "And now that you have?"

The space between them grew tense because of a silent fight of wills.

Ariana methodically walked deeper into the room before the doors tenderly shut behind her.

"Now, I want answers."

---

Jesse didn't move.

His eyes silently observed her as he rested his body in complete relaxation. The atmosphere seemed to press down upon the room while a hidden blade concealed itself beneath his relaxed posture.

Ariana didn't sit. Not yet.

The fight for dominance continued between them so she planned to stay seated before her opponent broke first.

The manner in which Jesse observed her showed no evidence of urgency. From his slightly leaned back position he made a subtle movement of his head in an apparent assessment of her resistance.

Jesse moved slowly to indicate the seat in front of him.

"Sit."

Not a request. A command.

A small burst of rebelliousness flashed within Ariana as she noticed her fingers moving briefly. She hated being ordered.

The purpose that brought her there denied her permission to make foolish remarks. Her purpose was to uncover the reason why this figure had vanished from her previous existence.

She silently got into the waiting chair.

Without turning his eyes from her face Jesse scanned her with a methodical and deliberate look. Assessing again. Calculating.

"You came all this way for answers," he said, swirling the liquid in his glass. "So ask."

Ariana didn't hesitate. "Why did our grandfathers arrange this marriage?"

At that moment Jesse displayed his very first emotional reaction. His expression quickly vanished to show his typical calm and uninformative demeanor.

"Does it matter?" he asked smoothly. "The contract is binding. The contract made you my wife regardless of your acceptance of this fact.

The marriage agreement created a heavy tension between Jesse and Ariana.

She clenched both hands behind the table while her nails sank into her flesh. She refused to allow this situation to affect her.

"A marriage in name only means nothing," she said evenly. "I want to know what you intend to do about it."

Something shifted in Jesse's gaze. A slow, almost imperceptible darkening.

.He moved closer with composure while observing her with his hands knitted in front of him.

"That depends, Ariana'

The slight volume reduction in his voice created an intimate feeling that made her body tense.

"What do you intend to do with me?"

The deep intake of breath escaping Ariana's lungs remained invisible to everyone.

Her expectation turned out to be completely wrong.

It wasn't even a challenge. It was something more dangerous.

A test.

Such a warning sign revealed his unwillingness to allow himself to be trapped.

Ariana held his stare when they gazed at each other.

"If this marriage is truly binding," she said carefully, "then I deserve to know what role you expect me to play in it."

Jesse gazed at her for an extended period before remaining silent and showing no hint of what he was thinking.

An endless period passed before he released a soft laughter. "Clever."

Ariana avoided the compulsion to move her fingers by controlling the muscle movements.

He carefully drank from his glass before placing it on the table with the same methodic approach.

"We'll see mrs Ren" he murmured. "We'll see."

A heavy tension filled the air of the room as if it shared an electric connection between them.

She released a deep breath through her nose while maintaining a blank face.

She had come for answers.

Her entrance led her face-to-face with a threat beyond her expectations.

And Jesse Ren her husband have made it clear.

This was only the beginning.