Chapter 11: Mafia Devil

Coupled with the classical music resounding through the halls, Rose majestic walk towards them with a wine bottle and glass in her hands was iconic.

But when they turned around she was more shocked than anyone!

Standing beside Jake was a familiar face, so familiar that her feet took a step back in disbelief.

How didn’t she recognize the voice that tormented her for years? She wondered.

“Don’t tell me you hid in the toilet while we f*cked? I didn’t know you were such a pervert Rose, ha!”

Adriana’s voice suddenly rang a bell in Rose’s ears. It sounded the same as always, those sharp-edged words that seemed to stab her most sensitive spots.

Rose had her eyes glued on Adriana, it was like Jake was invisible the whole time and her grip on the wine bottle tightened.

“It could’ve been anyone…” she said above a whisper, her voice directed to Jake but her eyes fixed on Adriana.

“Speak louder doll” Adriana scorned.

“It could’ve been any f*cking one! But it had to be Adriana, didn’t it?!”

Her veins were popping through her head and her eyes were red from holding back painful tears.

To her, this discovery was worse than what she heard seconds ago. It was like adding salt to injury!

Jake knew of the history between her and Adriana. Of course, he did!

No one knows better than him, what she went through in her last year of school when her father died. He knew best of the abuse and bullying she had to endure that year, heck! He acted like her protector and that’s how they got to date in the first place!

That year was undoubtedly the worst year in Rose's life. In that year she lost her only family since her mom was never in the picture.

A group of girls in school who always envied her took her vulnerable state as an avenue to make that year a living hell for her. They made sure she had no friends and the ring leader of that group was none other than, Adriana!

Rose high school bully!

Of all the people he could’ve committed this atrocity with, he just had to do it with Adriana!

Jake just stood there watching Rose fume with rage, he had on an expression of contempt. A look he never showed in front of her, but it seems things have changed now.

“So what if I’ve been cheating with Adriana? Well if it’s any consolation, I never cheated on you. Get it? Adriana was always the one, she got cheated on. You should be apologizing!”

A scoff escaped Rose’s lips, “So this is the real you Jake! You’re a piece of shit! A lowlife and a leech!-”

“Pah!!!”

Rose cheek stung from the impact of Adriana’s palm.

“Shut the hell up, will ya?! Maybe if you were a little dumber, you’d realize that you’ve lost”

She took few steps closer to her ear

“You have nothing! Not then, not now. You can’t be daddy’s princess and you can’t be Jake’s fiancée. Do you see it now? You’ve lost from the beginning!”

With a satisfied smirk, she retracted her lips but before she took another step Rose grabbed a fist of her hair, pulling hard from the root.

She only had one free hand since the other was busy holding on to the bottle and glass but one hand was enough to pluck off a chump of hair and caused Adriana to scream in pain.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long before the knight in shining armor swooped in and freed her! Before angrily landing a slap that threw Rose to the ground.

Her jaw throbbed in pain as she looked up at Jake. She wasn’t even surprised just disappointed. Watching him protectively clasping Adriana’s waist while casting her a disgusting look was infuriating but she didn’t bother to stand up. She lacked the will to even move in that instant.

“I heard you signed the contract with Donovan”

That’s all he had to say for all this! Rose didn’t reply, her lips were busy being pressed under her gritting teeth.

“We all know Donovan hates women and kills on a spree, if I were you I’d be a good girl. Who knows? He might end up keeping you alive till you birth his child. I also heard the benefits of surrogacy are mouth-watering…Now don’t look at me with such hateful eyes, at least you’re gaining from it. Don’t say I didn’t do anything for you!”

He squatted to meet her gaze and added.

“To be honest, I was marveled when you agreed to become Donovan’s surrogate. It was either of two things. One, you love me enough to birth the child of your father’s murderer. Or two, you’ve secretly fallen for that Mafia devil. Which is it? I’m genuinely curious. Some say deep hatred turns to love. Is that the case for you Rose?”

Rose’s expression was far beyond description. Her body trembled from immense pain.

“I hate you!”

“Haha! Let’s hope it doesn’t turn to love then” he got back on his feet and looked down at her. This time she wasn’t looking up. Her head was lowered and her tears were streaming.

“You were a good pawn, I won’t forget your kindness mi amor. Let’s go Adriana my love”

Fading steps reached her ears but she stayed frozen on the spot where she sat. The words and actions of Jake replayed in her head like a never-ending tape and slowly her tears grew into a full-blown wail.

She bawled her eyes out and her body shook from convulsive sobs.

The love she knew was bitter and cruel, it mocked every sniff she took between sobs.

All she could do was open up the wine and pour herself a glass. She chugged the entire content and went for another, then another until the tipsiness started to kick in and that’s when she finally let go of the bottle and stood with only the glass in her hands.

*****

Donn’s phone lit up on his study desk. A call from Franklin halted his thinking phase.

Immediately the call connected, he spoke first.

“How did it go?”

His impatience was clear and Franklin wasted no time in spilling the needed information.

“She found out everything but it seems Jake already has his hands on the company. The merger process has been completed”

“Good.”

Over the call Franklin was shocked by his response. How was any of this good? He wondered.

Usually Donn would’ve swung into action and helped Rose from behind the scenes but now all he says is, good?

The call dropped because Franklin wasn’t bold enough to question Donn on his decision.

Minutes later Donn banged his study door and matched to his room which was built more like a suite.

After the call, nothing he tried to focus on was working! His mind was tied on Rose, over and over again he kept thinking about her! How she must be feeling to discover the harsh reality! But he couldn’t do anything about it, this time, he didn’t want to do anything!

He wanted her to come to him, even though he knew she didn’t have much of a choice. She is already bound by a contract and coupled with everything that happened tonight he predicted her next move!

She only has one card left and that’s him! And he f*cking knows that!

Still, the wait was killing him so he went for a quick shower. One that would calm his soul but it fairly worked because the moment he heard a knock on the door, his desires ignited!