I stared at Mark in disbelief, my eyes widening incredulously as his demand echoed in the room, harshly bouncing off the walls. His determined eyes were fixated on me, his lips were set in a straight line and his arms that were folded across his chest hinted at his seriousness."You're saying I have to give you a million dollars as a breakup fee?!" The words burst from my lips and my voice resounded in the room. "What the actual hell! A million dollars?" The absurdity of his request was incredulous."Yes, you have to give me a million dollars before I sign those papers," he answered calmly as if he was asking me to pay him a measly sum of three hundred dollars. The nonchalant demeanor with which he responded only did more to heighten my disbelief than make me come to terms with his demand."You can't possibly be serious," I exclaimed, the words tumbling out of my mouth in a mixture of disbelief and frustration as I got on my knees on the bed, all strung up. "You're a billionaire, and
My words had barely left my mouth when Bella's trembling voice reverberated in the space. "Mark!' Her voice quivered with raw emotion and her eyes glinted with unshed tears as she gazed at him, "Stay," she whispered. "My friends are all waiting for you. If you leave, they'll mock me endlessly."I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her dramatics.It was her fault if her friends mocked her. Ever since she returned from her elopement, she had made me look like the villain before her friends and anyone who cared to listen. She would always tell them that she and Mark were the real deal and I, who had always envied her, had taken the opportunity to force myself on Mark when she went abroad for her medical treatment. The bitterness of her accusations still lingered till this day. I had felt betrayed when I had heard it. When I had thought I was saving her name, painting me bad was all I got in return.I rolled my eyes some more when I saw Mark's expression softened. Even in my grasp, I felt
Mark, after wishing dad a happy birthday and giving him a wrapped gift he had gotten for him, had said a succinct goodbye to him and mom and we left. Dad's smile kept faltering as he looked between Mark and I.The ride home was fun. Mark had taken us home with the car that brought him and Bella.Bored, I had decided to taunt him. I placed my palm on my chest, "Poor Bella," I sighed, letting my shoulders droop as I turned to him, "how will she get home now that you've left with the car?"He hadn't said anything. He jaw just remained clenched as he fixed his gazd outside the window.I sighed again. "I hope her heart doesn't hurt so much when she's trying to go home or when her friends laugh at her that her lover left her."I caught his pinky finger on the palm he pressed on his lap twitch.I needed more than that. I sighed, suddenly changing the topic. "Now, I can't see the Italian bar guy again," my chest rose higher as I sighed loudly. "I guess I'd have to meet up with him some other
In a couple of hours, we were down to a more feasible solution. Since the cash flow was too low, Grace and I were the only ones who volunteered to lend our savings to the company in our personal names. The overbearing shareholders claimed they couldn't take such decisions without properly informing the shareholders.After, we summed everything up, we were quite confident that it would keep the business afloat for the mean time while all plans are effectively acted on."How did such a dumb employee even get hired in the first place?!" I turned to the HR team. "What have your team been doing?"Grace's response beat their hesitating one, "This isn't the first time. I have had to relieve several employees of their job myself because they were just outright incompetent. In the three years you were absent, without your firm hand on the board members, they have been stuffing the company with their unwanted incompetents. If you don't fully come back, the company will be ruined by them.""Oh G
BELLA'S POVIf dad hadn't chosen such a dumb excuse, I wouldn't be struggling to keep him by my side now.Since dad had told everyone that lame lie, I had no choice but to go with it after I returned. I had carefully capitalized on it and told it to Mark at every chance I got. He pitied me and he had been loving and kind, always coming at my every beck and call to hold me in his arms and assure me that everything would be fine and he would always be there for me. But now…I reflected on the past few days and hissed again. Now the lie was barely effective now that Sydney was more involved.Or maybe my acts weren't believable enough? Perhaps I should meet up with a doctor and make him lie, then I would get Mark to go with me and...I hissed and threw the ideas out the window. It was enough that Sydney knew about it. I didn't want more ears to hear. What if the doctor later decided to betray me?I hissed again. If dad hadn't chosen this excuse for my absence then I would have been able to
SYDNEY'S POVI angrily patted Mark on his cheek. "Wake up! I'm Sydney not Bella."I grunted loudly as I pushed at his shoulders trying, again, to get him off me. My shoulders fell as I let out a resigned sigh.How in the hell did he get himself this drunk?!After he had scared the life out of me and drunkenly said, 'wifey' with a dazed smile, he had slumped and fell on my chest and I must say, he is heavy.It was hard to breath with his head on my chest like that. And the snores that emitted from his throat was even more agitating."Mark! Godammit!" I screamed exasperatedly. I was too tired for all of this. I just wanted to come home, lock myself in my room and get enough rest to recharge me and strengthen me for the next day. But here I was, stressing my brain as I kept thinking of how to get him off me and as I also keep pushing at his taut shoulders.My eyes scanned the dim room, hoping one of those eerie shadows would turn out to be one of the household staff but no, the shadow re
I closed my eyes and muttered, "Damn it!" Why did he have to wake up now?Bella and I stared at him. Bella's gaze held concern while mine,I was sure, was drilling holes into him."Don't give her," he reiterated, his gaze on me. He looked less drunk now. His words didn't slur so much anymore and his gaze was steady to an extent.That soup must be a very effective one, even though it looked like vomit. I contemplated asking her what the recipe is.Bella shifted closer to him, her brows creased, "Mark," she placed her palm on her cheeks and made him turn his face to her, "You should get more rest.""No," he shook his head and removed her palm from his cheeks. "I need to stay awake to make sure you don't give her." He blinked rapidly for a few seconds before he shook his head and his gaze became steady again.Something akin to hurt and confusion crossed Bella's features, "Give her what? Do you even know what we're talking about? You were asleep just now.""I was but pieces of your convers
I grinned as I put the last touch on the bracelet. I let out a groan as I sat up, stretching my arms and yawning.I sighed as I checked the time. It was past working hours again. But I was comforted by the knowledge that I accomplished a lot today.I looked down at the necklace and bracelet. They were gorgeous. Infact, gorgeous is an understatement. It looked like something out of this world. It was how Atelier studios had become a household name. I always enjoy putting my best in every Jewelry, even if the orders were made by assholes. And it was what I had inculcated in our employees in the production department too.I got to work early today. After last night's drama, I surprisingly had a peaceful sleep afterward. I felt so energized this morning. I suspected it was due to the determination to get out of the marriage.I encased the bracelet and necklace by myself then I rang for my assistant.As usual, she was knocking on my door in a few seconds. "Come in."I handed her the boxes,