Betrothed to a CEO, inlove with a MAFIA

EPISODE 9

Derrick's POV

"Damn it!" I screamed inwardly as Natalie stood at the entrance of my office, wearing a mysterious smile.

"I tried telling her you were in a meeting, but she forced her way in, sir," my secretary explained, her expression tainted with regret.

"It's alright, Lynn, I'll handle it," I replied calmly as she exited the office.

"You didn't inform me the meeting was going to be this early, Derrick. Hope I'm not too late," Natalie said with a sly smile.

Without uttering a word, Charlotte grabbed her bag, shot me a withering look, and stormed out of my office. I rushed after her, determined to stop her. I only managed to catch up when she was about to step into her car in the parking lot. Desperation in my voice, I pleaded, "Charlotte, please, just hear me out..."

"There's nothing more for me to hear, Derrick. I've seen all I needed to see," she seethed, her face contorted with anger and disgust. "You know, you're one hell of a disgusting piece of s**t. Your fiancée is probably out there fighting for her life, and you're here linking up with the same woman you cheated on her with."

"It's really not what it looks like," I attempted to explain, but she interrupted me.

"To think I almost trusted you," she spat with disdain. "Get your damn hands off my car!" With that, she slammed the car door in my face and drove off.

I returned to my office, seething with anger, only to find Natalie seated casually in my chair, legs crossed.

"What the hell was the meaning of that stunt you just pulled?" I demanded, my anger barely contained.

"What stunt?" she replied with an annoyingly calm demeanor, further stoking my fury. I took several deep breaths to regain my composure before asking the question that had been gnawing at me since she had walked into my office.

"What exactly are you doing here, Natalie?" I inquired, attempting to maintain my composure.

"Well, since it seems you've lost your memory," she replied with a chuckle, "I'm here to see my best friend."

"Oh, spare me that nonsense," I retorted. "We both know our friendship ended the very moment we found ourselves naked in that bed. So what do you want?"

"Alright, fine," she relented. "I've missed you terribly, Derrick," she said, her voice taking on a seductive tone as she approached me, placing her hands on my shoulders while standing in front of me. "I've craved your touch since the last time we made love. Don't you want me? Don't you miss me?" She inched closer, attempting to kiss me.

"Stop it, Natalie!" I exclaimed, pushing her away from me firmly. "Whatever happened between us that day was a mistake I regret making. We were tipsy and got carried away. It shouldn't have happened," I said sternly.

"I... I’m a mistake?" she asked, her eyes welling up with tears.

A woman's tears were one of my weaknesses, and she knew how to exploit it.

"Okay, fine," I relented, moving closer and holding her hands. "You've been my best friend since childhood, and I love, adore, and respect you a lot. But you have to understand that this is beyond my control, Natalie. I love Claire so much, and I'm engaged to her. We would have been married by now if not for the sudden turn of events," I explained as calmly as possible.

"Never!" She shouted, her anger flaring up. "If you think you can just use me and then move on to marry her, then you have something else coming. I'll do everything within my power to ruin your reputation," she screamed at me, picked up her bag, and prepared to leave. She walked toward the door but suddenly halted.

"You better think long and hard before making your decision. As you know, I have nothing to lose," she threatened before storming out.

"F**k! F**k! F**k...!" I yelled, slamming my hand against the wall. I was frustrated to the brink. If I knew Natalie well, she didn't make empty threats. I just hoped she wouldn't encounter Claire's parents, or I'd be ruined.

"Lynn, cancel all my meetings and appointments for the rest of the day," I instructed my secretary over the phone as I collapsed into my chair.

* * *

Claire's POV

I couldn't sleep the previous night; I just kept thinking about my situation and asking myself questions. My brain struggled to process and believe all that was happening. Damian's cruelty toward me was unfathomable. It still felt like a dream whenever I thought about it. If this was reality, then were the four years we spent loving each other all a lie? Did he fake it all—the love, care, and attention he showed me? How could someone change so drastically overnight from a sweet, loving, and caring man to a monster?

I was jolted out of my thoughts by a painful stinging sensation on the part of my face where Damian had smacked me, and the sudden opening of the door. My heart raced with fear, a feeling that had become all too familiar.

The woman I had met the day Damian brought me here walked in with a tray in her hands. Seeing her instead of Damian calmed me a bit.

"Good morning, ma'am. Here is your breakfast and your medication. Sir Damian instructs you to take your medication immediately after eating," she said, placing the food tray and drugs on the stool near my bed.

"Tell him I said to hell with him and his food," I replied, my voice filled with anger and venom.

"When you're done eating, please shower and get dressed properly. Sir Damian wants to see you. I'll come to get you when he instructs me to," she simply said before leaving the room and locking the door behind her.

I collapsed onto my bed, consumed by misery, tears streaming down my cheeks. I felt so caged and trapped. Damian knew all too well that I was not one to be confined in a place; it was like killing me without putting a bullet through my heart. I longed for my company and my team, my family, my best friend, and all the crazy fun stuffs we used to do together.

"I just want to go home," I said aloud in frustration as the tears continued to flow.

I stripped my clothes off and walked into the shower, making sure to tie the towel firmly around my chest to avoid a repeat of what happened last time. After dressing, I lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Ma'am, ma'am, wake up..." I felt a tap on my arm.

I slowly opened my eyes, stretching my body. Standing beside me was the lady.

"I must have fallen asleep," I thought, not realizing I had said it out loud.

"Yes, you did, ma'am. It's late noon already," she replied with a smile.

"What's your name?" I asked, feeling a bit guilty that I didn't know it.

"Lisa, ma'am," she replied calmly.

"You can call me Claire. We're almost the same age, so there's no need for 'ma'am.' Plus, I'm not your boss; I'm nothing less than a prisoner here," I said sadly.

"It's time, Miss Claire," she said, gesturing toward the door.

"Time for what?" I asked, confused.

"Sir Damian said to bring you to his study, ma'am."

As much as I wanted to protest and tell her to go tell him off, a part of me still longed to see him. I knew it might sound foolish, but I believed this situation was temporary, that his anger would fade, and things would return to how they used to be.

"Lead the way," I said as she walked toward the door, and I followed suit.

We entered the study, and in a corner that resembled an office, Damian sat in front of a table, engrossed and typing away furiously on his laptop. Lisa bowed respectfully and then left.

"Sit," he instructed without sparing me a glance. I complied and sat there for what felt like an eternity, watching him type without saying a word. Even in his serious and intensely focused state, he looked breathtakingly handsome. Every aspect of this man was perfect and kept drawing me in. Just when I was about to voice my frustration, he suddenly raised his head, fixing his eyes on me in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

"Sign this," he said flatly, tossing a document toward me.

"Why?" I asked, my confusion evident.

"Because I said so," he replied through clenched teeth.

"Can I at least read through it to find out what I'm signing?" I asked skeptically.

"Suit yourself," he simply replied, returning to his work.

I began to read the document carefully, page by page. I didn't want to get entangled in something without knowing the consequences. The further I read, the more fear gripped me. Suddenly, I felt my head spin, and my vision blurred. The document slipped from my hands, and the last thing I heard was someone screaming my name.

"Claire!" the voice cried out.