Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Mom stepped into the room the moment Maddox left, a heavy scowl on her face.

“I don’t want that boy in this house again,” Mom said the second the door shut behind him.

“Mom, please,” I begged calmly. “If you keep acting like this he will suspect something is going on.”

“I am acting the way I am supposed to,” she replied, pulling her sweater tighter around herself.

“If you keep looking at him like you hate him, he’s going to start asking questions. I can’t have him finding out about Zara. I don’t want her taken away from me.” I shook my head. I understood how she felt, but she needed to understand my fears too. I could not let all my efforts go to waste.

“Hmm.” Mom sighed, still looking unconvinced. “What did he want?”

I rubbed my forehead tiredly. “His father wants me at some family dinner this weekend.”

Mom’s head snapped up instantly. “Family dinner? Why?”

“I don’t know.” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “Apparently I’m part of the performance now.”

I walked upstairs before she could ask anything else.

The second I got to my room, I threw myself face-first onto the bed with a muffled groan.

“Oh my God,” I muttered into my pillow. “Why is this happening to me?”

I grabbed the pillow and smacked it against the mattress twice out of frustration.

I hated this.

The fake relationship. The constant pressure. Maddox’s controlling behavior. His insane family.

All of it.

I hated this entire world. Rich men making decisions with money while people like me cleaned up the damage afterward.

I did not even want to start thinking about Bella. I knew her motive. She wanted Maddox back and planned to humiliate me as much as possible. I put my phone on Do Not Disturb to stop the constant notifications. I already felt exhausted and the day had barely started.

“Well, there goes my peaceful day off,” I huffed.

The rest of the week passed in a blur. Before I knew it, the dreaded dinner day arrived. I drove to Tan France’s atelier in downtown Vancouver to get ready.

Maddox had barely spoken to me all week except for one text this morning: “Dinner’s by 7. Don’t be late.” He attached GPS coordinates. No offer to pick me up. Nothing.

No “I’ll pick you up.”

No “Are you nervous?”

Just coordinates.

Classic Maddox.

Chapter 13

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I pulled into the parking lot, turned off the engine, and stepped out. The intense sunlight made me squint as I walked into the luxurious building. I felt underdressed in my black slacks, white tank top, red ballet flats, and cardigan.

The receptionist greeted me cheerfully and led me straight to Tan’s office.

“Hello, darling!” Tan pulled me into a warm hug. “Come, sit. Lily, bring champagne.”

His office was beautiful-white walls, mahogany desk, art pieces, and a wonderful scent in the air. I took a sip of champagne and felt a small rush. Being the fake girlfriend of hockey’s favorite bad boy definitely came with perks.

“So we are meeting the parents, huh? Tan smiled.

“Yeah.” I forced a smile.

“I am so happy for you, girl.” He pressed a buzzer and beautiful dresses rolled in on a rack.

An emerald green maxi slip dress immediately caught my eye.

“Immaculate choice,” Tan clapped. “You can never go wrong with a classic slip dress. Let us get you dolled up. Your beast awaits.”

It was 6:30 pm when I arrived at the massive gold gate with “Kane” crested on it. My 2014 Honda Civic felt tiny as I drove through the exclusive Point Grey neighborhood toward Belmont Avenue. The houses here started at thirty million dollars. I did not belong here.

The gate opened automatically. Motion-sensor lights lit my path. The mansion looked less like a home and more like something built to intimidate people. Black marble. Gold detailing. Massive windows glowing against the dark Vancouver sky.

Beautiful in the same way expensive weapons were beautiful.. I almost texted Maddox to come get me but stopped myself.

“Thank you.” I told the valet as I handed over my keys. I smoothed my dress, gripped my gold clutch tightly, and walked inside.

“Welcome, Miss Page.” The butler took my coat.

The interior screamed old money-grand staircase, marble everywhere, sculptures, and a massive chandelier.

For the first time in a long time, I felt painfully out of place.

“Nia.”

I turned at the sound of Maddox’s voice and nearly forgot how to breathe for a second.

He walked toward me in a perfectly tailored black suit, the top buttons of his crisp white shirt undone, no tie in sight as usual. Dark hair pushed back neatly. Expensive watch glinting beneath the warm lights. Every inch of him looked polished, powerful, and unfairly attractive.

It annoyed me that he looked this good.

Worse?

He knew it.

His sharp gray eyes dragged slowly over me before he stepped close enough for the scent of his cologne to wrap around me

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Chapter 13

-dark, expensive, dangerously familiar.

“You’re early,” he said quietly.

“You sound disappointed.”

One corner of his mouth twitched like he almost smiled.

Almost.

Then his expression hardened again, the cold mask sliding effortlessly back into place.

“Come on,” he murmured.

Before I could react, his hand settled lightly against my lower back, warm and firm through the silk of my dress. My stomach tightened instantly.

He guided me through the massive mansion with calm confidence, like he owned every inch of the world around him.

Which, honestly… he probably did.

“My father’s in the sitting room,” he said low enough that only I could hear. “And Nia?”

I looked up at him.

His jaw tightened slightly. “Do not let him intimidate you.”

“Hello, Miss Page,” Victor Kane said the moment we entered the living room.

“Good evening, Sir.”

My voice shook slightly. He was an older, sharper version of Maddox-same cold gray eyes, perfectly tailored three-piece suit. He looked like the kind of man who destroyed people quietly.

No yelling. No threats.

Just power, money, and one phone call.

“No need to be so formal,” he said, gesturing for us to sit on the velvet armchairs. The butler served tea. “You’ve been very useful for Maddox’s public image.” His tight-lipped smile did not reach his eyes.

I noticed the vein ticking on Maddox’s forehead.

Victor took a slow sip of tea before setting the cup down carefully.

“Marcus Hale and Coach Riggs explained the arrangement to me,” he said smoothly.

My stomach tightened.

Arrangement. Not a relationship.

Not a girlfriend. Arrangement.

Beside me, Maddox went completely still.

Victor’s sharp gray eyes settled on me.

“Six months, wasn’t it?”

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Chapter 13

The room suddenly felt colder.

I forced myself to nod politely. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good” His voice stayed calm. “Then we understand each other.”

Beck frowned inmediately. “Father-”

Victor ignored him effortlessly.

“Image matters in this family, Miss Page. Marcus believed the public would respond well to someone… softer beside Maddox.”

Softer.

Like I was some carefully selected accessory.

Victor leaned back slightly in his chair.

“And judging by the media response, he was correct.”

My fingers tightened around the teacup.

“That being said,” Victor continued smoothly, “temporary arrangements have a tendency to become inconvenient when emotions get involved.”

His eyes shifted briefly toward Maddox.

A warning.

It was cold. Precise. Intentional.

“I trust neither of you will make that mistake.”

The chef announced dinner. We moved to the dining hall. I trailed behind, head low.

The door opened again. A gorgeous blonde in a sparkly red mini dress walked in with her well-dressed parents.

“Welcome,” Victor said warmly. “It is always a pleasure, Mrs. Laurent. Isabella, come sit. You are just in time for the first course.”

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