A Forced Contract Marriage with the Devil novel Chapter 45

NIKOLAI’S POY

1 stoimed out of Alessandra’s offer, wiping my mouth aggresively with the hack of my hand, my stomach twisted with shama and fury burning, not with desire, but with humiliation.

meld he do that to me? How could I let him?

I clenched my fists, barely able to think straight, my mind replaying every moment inside that office. The trig sety benched at me. The way be like I was nothing. My jaw ached, but it was nothing compared to the fire raging inside me.

I needed to get out of here.

‘Nikolai

I barely took two steps dosen the hallway before a deep, familiar voice made me stop. I turned to see Vladimir walking toward me, his usual sharp tut looking perfect, like he had just stepped out of a goddamn magazine.

He looked me up and down, frowning slightly. “Where’s Alessandro?”

I exhaled sharply, glaring at him. “How the hell should I know?

Vladimir’s eyes narrowed, clearly not liking my lone. “You were just in his office, weren’t you?“. He was cold just like Alessandro.

I clenched my jaw, feeling my skin crawl. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want anyone knowing what had just happened in there.

“Go find him yourself,” I snapped and tumed away, my whole body tense as I started walking again.

“Watch your mouth, brat, Vladimir warned, his tone colder now.

I ignored him. I didn’t care.

As I walked down the hall, I felt eyes on me. It was the maid, Maria, wiping down a nearby table. Her gaze lingered on me, sharp and knowing

“Bad day?” she asked casually. I let out a bitter laugh. “You could say that.”

She gave me a once

gave me a rice over, then nodded toward

far end of the hope. “There’s a gym downstairs.”

I blinked

She shrugged. “You look

ook like you need to hit something. “You need an outlet,” she said simply, wiping down the table like this conversation was nothing. “You’re pissed. You’re tense. Go work it off Gym’s that way.“”

I hesitated.

I wanted to argue, but she wasn’t wrong. My whole body was on fire with frustration, rage at Alessandro, at myself for not stopping him, for letting him see me that vulnerable.

Without another world, I turned and left, following the direction she had said.

Inside the gym

The atmosphere inside was just as crazy as I thought it would be, left and right and in front of me were men and women working out like their life depended on it, whether it be running super–fast on the treadmill or lifting weights that would crush me, I couldn’t help but feel out of place here.

Maybe I picked the wrong gym?

Everybody here was seriously in shape, and everyone looked beautiful and perfect in every way, the women were way out of my league and the men made mê

7/3

Chapter 45

‘frel Insecure just by looking at then, t and muscular.

I felt like nit idiot, wearing a warcraft t–shirt and the blue shorts, that were bright and very noticeable in a room full of people acros

If I left now nobody would even know I stepped inside, like me coming here today never happeried.

Turning around, my hand on the doorhandle, I fell someone grab my shoulder making me freeze and pale once I turned around te ver who it yea

Freaking huge.

“Hey kid, you the new guy? A man asked, spating a huge white beard, with arms the size of my head.

Did I seriously looked like one

I didn’t know what to do so I nodded my head sheepishly, making the bigger older man grin and put his arm around my shoulder, dragging me away from the exit and more into the gym.

“Perfect, you came at the right time kid. He said as he guided me deeper into the gym, his grip firm but not painful.

I had no idea what the right time” meant, but considering how out of place I already fell, I doubted it was anything good for me

“Uh, I was actually just leaving,” I tried, but he ignored me completely.

“Name’s Greg,” he said instead, grinning, “I run the morning lifting sessions here. You’re scrawny, but don’t worry, everyone starts somewhere.”

Scrawny?! Okay, maybe I wasn’t built like a Greek god, but did he have to say it like that?

Greg led me to an area filled with weights, benches, and a group of people who looked like they could bench–press me without breaking a sweat. I wanted to disappear.

“Since its your fast time here, you aint going to

do any training. There is a fight going on, I would want you to watch“,

A Fight?

Greg must have noticed my besitation because he clapped me on the back, hard enough to nearly knock the wind out of me. “Relax, kid. You might actually learn something.“

I doubted that

But instead of arguing, I let him lead me deeper into the gym.

At the far end of the room, a large makeshift ring had formed, surrounded by a crowd of pumped up, sweaty guys who looked way too excited about what was happening inside. I could hear the dull thuds of fists hitting flesh, the grunts of effort, and the occasional sharp sound of a punch landing hard.

Greg pushed me toward the front.

“Watch closely,” he said, nodding toward the fight..

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