Diablo's desire

Chapter four

Anjola

My words hurt him bad but what could I do? It was the only way to snap him about his delusion. There was no going back, No short cuts and definitely no escape. Unlike what I've been forced to believe, There was no light at the end of this tunnel. All I could see was the pungent darkness. I didn't blame him for this. I couldn't. There was once a time he was well. My father was quite stable until he lost it all. The dark side was the man I never got to know crashed along with it. He fought hard to bring back the high and thrill of winning. He resorted to gambling and borrowing to get that high again, Whatever means possible.

"I'm a disappointment to you too, Aren't I?" he said, surprising me as he dropped everything he was holding onto the chair and sat down beside the pile, holding his head in his hands.

"No..."

"Don't do it. Don't give me hope. I know it's true. Your mom, She left the moment she noticed I couldn't be saved. The only mistake she made was leaving you with me but fate has decided it is time... To snatch you away. I..."

"Please don't..." I cut in, moving to sit next to him on the pile.

"No, He's right. You're better off without me." He continued with a thick voice that suggested this was traumatic for him.

"No, I'm not. I needed a father most times but even when you didn't play that role right. You were always a friend. Moreover, Diablo can't keep me forever. His infatuation will bore him eventually. I'm sure of it and you don't have to worry, You of all people should know I can handle myself."

"Yeah, I've forced you to learn that over the years."

I really wanted that heaviness in his tone gone. He was guilty and he took it all on his shoulders. I was afraid of what he would do if he couldn't cope. Knowing my father well, He could be rash when ugly occasions danced his way. I had to find a way to cheer him up and make him see a light at the end of this tunnel even if I couldn't sense one personally.

"Okay, " I watched him get up suddenly. "I can't be here sulking if you will be leaving tomorrow. Let's make the most of it. What do you think we should eat?"

I held back the lump in my throat. I was so close to crying. It was hard to see a light in the tunnel but there was my dad making the best out of the situation.

"Anything." I solemnly replied.

I watched him head to the kitchen, grab the leftover pizza in the fridge and the last orange juice. He got work. Microwaving the pizza while humming shake it off by Taylor swift. While he did this, I walked into my bedroom to gather the necessaries like Diablo instructed. I wasn't even his purchased bride yet and I was already dancing to his tunes. It hurt to be alive. I picked up my box and stuffed what I considered practical: a few blouses, pairs of slacks, jeans, a couple of t-shirts, a sweatshirt, pajamas, socks, undies, and bras. Then I socked away all my bathroom essentials, grabbed a picture of my dad and I at my first ballet practice and a copy of So you want to kill your boss, the only thing that would keep me alive since I was going to be living with the enemy who would pretty much puppeteer my life from now on before calling it a day.

Then I returned to have my last night of freedom with my Dad. We talked, We ate and he said his goodbyes. The glow in his eyes truly hoping he would see me again but I knew better and I was sure he knew better.

Later that night on bed, I called the hospital management and laid it on thick on a family emergency. The classic "my dad is really sick and might not make it" It wasn't a lie. He was sick, just not in the way I was implied. Then I used the time left to think of what my life with Diablo would look like. It would be empty and filled with hate but it shouldn't last long before he'd be bored of me. That I was definitely sure of but would he still want his money if I wasn't all he had hoped for all these years.

That day had to come first. Then I'd know what step to take.

I always figured it out.

***

The mansion looked even bigger in daylight. I actually took time to take the building in as the limo sent to pick me as early as dawn pulled up and parked at the far side of the lot. I looked into the visor, Wondering why I was concerned about making a good impression on Diablo. It was probably the hysteria of the cruel fate that awaited me once I walked through those cold doors.

"You can do this," I said to myself, getting down and trying not to die of the anxiety that had been budding all night. I remembered waking up to my father's sobbing after learning Diablo had sent his men to retrieve me. I couldn't even have a good ole caffeine drink to help with the horrible morning I was having.

I headed to the trunk while the driver who did not seem interested in helping me open the trunk. I sucked in air pulling out my rolling bag and box, then making my way toward the door while the driver stood there, watching me struggle and not bothering to offer any kind of help. Men like this abuse women.

But that was fine.

It was okay.

I had spent my entire working life having to everything myself even if it was difficult or excruciating.

I could do it with a smile.

A guard by the door,  sweet darling, by the way, swung the door open and helped me with my belongings. My heart thudded as I whipped my head around to see Diablo standing in the doorway in black slacks and a tailored white button-up, another expensive watch on his wrist. The devil actually looked good. If we didn't have so much between us, I could actually give him a chance but the smirk he had on his face when he sighted me killed whatever mini fantasy in my head.

"Anjy, You made it." He said, handing a balloon that had the words welcome home at me.

I ignored the insulting thing and bluntly asked, "What happens now?"

"Excuse us." He ordered the bodyguard who scurried back outside.

My heartbeat quickened knowing we were all alone now and the moment he approached me, a squeak escaped my lips.

He leaned to carry my bags like a gentleman before disappearing inside like a gentleman. I stood there wondering what just happened before It occurred to me was meant to follow him. So I scrambled up and moved inside.

He led me all the way to the stairs to a hallway I hadn't been to last night. We stopped at the left side of the hall.

"This is your room," he informed, moving toward the door directly across from it.  As he reached for the big copper handle, I wondered how it would look like. Would I share it with him, My stomach tightened just imagining such a scenario. As I moved to follow him inside, I was surprised to see this part of the room wasn't blackness like the lord liked it.

It was a really, really nice bedroom. The walls were yellow distinct to the rest of the house. There was a brass framed queen-sized bed directly across from the door covered in a burnt yellow plush bedspread that was flanked by two nightstands with brass lamps and burnt orange shades that matched the bedspread. A dresser was to the far left with a giant brass-framed mirror above nestled beside two French doors that, I imagined, led out onto one of the many balconies I had seen from the outside. To the right of the room was what I figured was a closet and an open door that seemed to lead into my bath.

Was Diablo trying to impress me or something?

I mean, Yellow was my favorite color and he did an entire part of his home to please me. What! I immediately snorted to that thought. No way would I let him break my defenses. Not in a million years.

"So, Do you like it?" He asked, smiling.

"No."