Dirty Billionaire: Own Me

Chapter 5: Black

|Grace|

I woke up to the faint light of dawn seeping through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow across the expansive bedroom. Silvester's penthouse was silent, save for the distant hum of the city waking up below. I lay still for a moment, my mind racing with the events of the previous night, the feel of Silvester's touch lingering on my skin.

It had all started as an act of defiance, a desperate attempt to reclaim some sense of control in my spiraling life. Keith's betrayal had cut deep. So, I had made that reckless proposal to Silvester. And here I was, lying in his bed, feeling more confused than ever.

I turned my head to look at him, still asleep beside me. His strong, chiseled features were softened in slumber, a contrast to the intensity he exuded when awake. My breath caught in my throat as I watched him, a tangle of emotions swirling within me. There was no denying the chemistry between us, but it was also a reminder of the complexities of my situation.

Slowly, carefully, I slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him. I needed to leave before he woke up, before I had to face him and the tangled web of emotions that had brought us here. I found my clothes scattered on the floor and quietly dressed, each movement deliberate and controlled, unlike the reckless abandon of the night before.

As I pulled on my shoes, I glanced around the room, taking in the opulence that surrounded me. Everything about Silvester's penthouse screamed power and control, opposite to the chaos my life had become. I had to get out, had to put distance between us before I lost myself entirely.

I paused at the door, looking back at Silvester one last time. There was a part of me that wanted to crawl back into bed, to feel his arms around me, to lose myself in the illusion of safety he provided. But I couldn't afford to be weak. I had to be strong, for myself and for the future I wanted to reclaim.

Without a sound, I slipped out of the bedroom and made my way through the penthouse. The halls were lined with artwork and photographs, glimpses into Silvester's life that felt strangely intimate. I reached the front door and hesitated, my hand hovering over the handle. Was I making the right decision? Was leaving now the best way to protect myself and move forward?

The doubt gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside. I had made up my mind. I needed to finalize my divorce from Keith and put an end to this chapter of my life. I needed to take control of my destiny, to reclaim the power that had been stolen from me.

Stepping out into the hallway, I quietly closed the door behind me, leaving Silvester and the chaos of the previous night behind. The elevator ride down to the lobby felt interminable, the silence pressing in on me from all sides. When the doors finally opened, I stepped out into the cool morning air, the city a stark contrast to the suffocating opulence of the penthouse.

I hailed a cab and gave the driver my address, my thoughts racing as we sped through the early morning traffic. My new penthouse was only a few miles away, but it felt like a different world entirely. As we neared my building, I couldn't help but think about what lay ahead. Finalizing my divorce from Keith would be a battle, one that would require every ounce of strength and determination I possessed.

When the cab pulled up outside my building, I paid the driver and stepped out, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The familiarity of my surroundings was both comforting and daunting. This was my home, my sanctuary, but it was also a reminder of everything that had gone wrong in my life.

I made my way up to my penthouse, the weight of my decisions pressing down on me with every step. Once inside, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, closing my eyes and letting the silence wash over me. I had made it this far, but the real challenge was just beginning.

I moved through my abode, the familiar surroundings offering a semblance of normalcy. I made a pot of coffee, needing the caffeine to clear my head and fortify my resolve. As I sipped the hot, bitter liquid, I mentally prepared myself for the day ahead. There were calls to make, papers to file, and a meeting with my lawyer friend, Nina, to finalize the details of the divorce.

Sitting at the kitchen table, I pulled out my laptop and began typing an email to Nina out of formality, outlining my intentions and requesting an urgent meeting. As I typed, the reality of what I was doing began to sink in. I’m finally ending this fvck-up relationship with him. Keith had destroyed me, but I wasn’t going to let him win. I had friends, resources, and a newfound strength that I hadn’t realized was there.

I took a long shower as I waited for my friend’s reply. When I was done, I checked my phone from time to time for any email notification. I waited for about an hour when my phone rang and saw Nina’s name on the screen.

“I’m sorry, I just received your email. Did you wait long?” I heard her huffing on the other line.

“No, it’s fine Nina. And why are you catching your breath?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Well, it’s work related…” Then she nagged me about her boss giving her many cases. That's why she was somehow putting my divorce case in one corner.

“If you’re that busy Nina, I understand. I can find some—”

“No. I want to be involved in this case, dearest. I want to be present face to face when you and that bastard are finally divorced.”

I sighed heavily. “Alright. Is there any chance that the divorce proceedings will end before this week ends?”

“Yes. But we’ll talk about the other details later. How about dinner?” she suggested. “I’m sorry I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Sure. I can wait, Nina. Just send me the address of the restaurant,” I said warmly.

Nina mentioned a familiar restaurant then bid her short goodbye because of her boss. And she did not forget to remind me about the necessary documents to bring.

I spent the entire day preparing the papers and called my financial adviser to send some soft copies of everything I needed. Somehow, piling up the papers was a reminder of the life I was leaving behind, the betrayal and heartbreak that had brought me to this point. But with each page I sorted and filed, I felt a little bit stronger, a little more in control.

It was past five when I started preparing myself for my dinner meeting with Nina. I dressed to kill, hoping it would lend me the confidence I needed to face as I face some people.

And as I prepared to leave, my mind wandered back to Silvester. It was the first time I remembered him after last night. I was just too busy handling my problems.

But… I wonder what would he think when he woke up and found me gone? Would he understand my need to do this on my own, or would he feel abandoned? The thought of him waking up alone filled me with a pang of guilt, but I pushed it aside.

I grabbed my bag and documents and headed out the door, determined to see this through. The ride to the restaurant where I will meet Nina was a blur of nerves and anticipation, each passing street bringing me closer to a new beginning. By the time I arrived, I felt a strange mixture of anxiety and determination.

Nina immediately greeted me with a reassuring smile as soon as I arrived. She reserved a private room for us, which I appreciated, so we can talk without worries about the possible eyes of the paparazzi.

“Are you hungry? Our dinner will be served in an hour, will that be alright?” Nina asked.

“Of course.”

“That’s good to hear because I wanted to hear the details of what happened last night. Your desperate scandal is once again, trending all over the internet.”

I exhaled a deep breath upon hearing those. I intentionally deleted my social media apps on my phone to avoid seeing whatever new shame casted upon my name.

“I don’t really care about it anymore, Nina. What all matters to me right now is finalize the divorce and legally sue Keith.” I said while clenching my fist.

Nina looked at me with sympathy.

“Don’t worry, I'm the best in my field and we won’t stop until we give that bastard what he deserves.” Nina said then held my hand for assurance. I smiled at her and whispered my gratitude.

“So, can you tell me the details of what Keith did to your money and assets?”

I sighed and straightened my back. This is it.

“Well, the bastard has been taking money from our joint accounts without my knowledge. And worse, he's been using my personal accounts to pay off his debts!”

“Fvck. That’s serious. Did you have any idea this was happening while you were still together?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. I only discovered it yesterday. I saw huge amounts missing from my accounts and transactions I never made.”

“Do you have any documentation or proof of these transactions?” Nina asked.

“Yes, I have bank statements and transaction records showing the withdrawals and payments. I also have some emails from the creditors, addressed to me, thanking me for the payments.”

Nina exhaled a loud deep breath and leaned on her seat. “That's good evidence. Did Keith admit to any of this when you confronted him?” Then she blinked in realization. “Oh wait, why did I even ask that.” Then she rolled her eyes. I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at her reaction.

“Next question: Did he mention anything about his gambling debts during the divorce proceedings?”

I cleared my throat and shook my head once again. “No, he kept that hidden. I found out about the gambling debts through one of his friends after we separated.”

“This is definitely grounds for a lawsuit. You can sue Keith for fraud and unauthorized use of your funds. Given that he used your accounts without permission, it’s also identity theft.”

“What steps do I need to take to get started?” I asked, a bit hopeful.

“First, we need to gather all the documentation you have—bank statements, emails, any communication with Keith or his creditors. Then, we’ll file a police report for identity theft and fraud. After that, we can initiate civil action against Keith to recover the money he took.”

“Thank you, Nina. I feel a bit more hopeful now.”

“No worries, Grace. We’ll get through this and hold Keith accountable for what he’s done.”

Her words bolstered my confidence, and we spent the next hour going over the details of the divorce, discussing strategy and next steps. As we talked, I felt a weight lifting off my shoulders. I was taking control, making decisions for myself, and it felt empowering.

It took us a couple of hours before we were done on the first part of our meeting. We had our dinner, and we sometimes talked about my case against Keith but mostly, we were backstabbing and cursing my ex-husband.

It was past ten o’clock when Nina and I decided to separate ways. She has some work-matters to do.

I headed straight home since I badly wanted to rest. I stepped out of the car as soon as I parked it in my new parking space. I walked straight to the elevator but realized that my phone was not inside my bag. So I had to get back in my car to get it.

But… who would have thought that it would be the last time I will have my freedom? Because after I managed to get my phone inside my car, a strong arm immediately wrapped around me. Before I could even shout, someone covered my nose.

And everything went black.