4. Sold herself to the Devil

Beatrice felt her time stop. She couldn’t find any words to say to him. It felt like her tongue was cut out and she didn’t know what to say anymore. ‘What was that thing?!’ Beatrice kept on asking herself. She was terrified and shocked at the same time. But this man with his big green eyes was just looking at her as if he was enjoying her expressions. She could see his eyes smiling while he was grinning too. Her heart skipped and her breathing became hard. She wanted to push him but her body was frozen too. Indeed, this man was gorgeous. His nose was pointed as if it was molded. He was like the paintings she had just looked at earlier. His hair was not long, but it was curly and was adding more of his strong features. Too gorgeous for a man to be real. 

“You look tense, Miss Lichter? What are you worried about?” Mateo asked, not minding their situation. He even looked at Beatrice's lips and his eyes immediately twinkled. He immediately had the urge to kiss her, but he tried to stop himself as much as possible. That was why he almost pinched Beatrice’s back. 

Feeling the pain, Beatrice went back to her senses. Her eyes widened when she saw Mateo looking at her lips. He even wet his lips with his tongue. ‘What was he thinking?!’ Beatrice panicked. She pushed Mateo and slapped him hard on the face. 

“Pervert!” Beatrice shouted. She tried not to look down as much as possible. 

Mateo was shocked. No woman had ever tried to hurt him like that. Most of them are crawling to his feet just to be noticed by him. And this woman slapped him? Mateo looked hard at Beatrice. 

“Do you want to die?” 

Beatrice was stunned. Because of her emotions, she forgot who this man was. Her mouth opened and her expression softened. She looked away. “I-I’m sorry. I-I didn’t–” 

“Of course. You didn’t,” Mateo cut Beatrice's words. “Let me remind you, Miss Lichter. Not because I wanted you, you have the right to do that to me. Try slapping me again and not only you will know what kind of a man I am, but your family too,” he said with full authority and vengeance. 

Beatrice's knees trembled as she looked into his eyes.  No. Not only her knees. She was terrified now to the point that her hands were trembling again. Suddenly, he had turned into something terrifying now. His eyes were like knives already cutting her. And his words were true and full of authority. Her breathing again became hard and her heart beat faster. She turned her back and held on tight to the skirt of her dress. She tried calming herself but Mateo touched her arms again and turned her around again. 

“Why are you turning your back on me?!” Mateo roared. 

Beatrice cried. “I-I’m sorry! Please! I didn’t mean to!” she begged. If only she had not been thinking that this man was naked, she would have kneeled on him for forgiveness. “I-I didn’t mean to hurt you! I’m sorry!” 

Mateo frowned. His heart skipped when he saw Beatrice’s tears. He wiped her tears mindlessly using his right thumb. He couldn’t explain the excitement he felt. In his mind, he wanted to pull Beatrice into his room and tie her up while he was painting her in tears. Oh, what a sight it would be! Mateo’s grip tightened more on Beatrice's arms. He saw that she reacted just like he wanted. He grabbed her nape. 

Beatrice felt her world had already fallen as Mateo’s face got near to her. He was about to kiss her! But she dared not to move because the man was like a monster when he shouted. She was used to her stepmother’s constant blabbing at her, but she was not like Mateo. This man was like he was about to kill her by just looking at her! Beatrice closed her eyes and waited. She waits even though she doesn’t want to. But she never felt anything stuck on her lips. Instead, she felt Mateo’s grip loosen on her arms. She opened her eyes and saw Mateo was turning his back on her. She immediately turned her back too, before she could see anything from him. She went near the window. 

“Wait for me here,” Mateo said. 

Beatrice did not answer. She waited until she heard a door open and closed. Then she let out a deep breath and sat down on the floor. She never felt any pain while she was at the hospital. But this time? She felt like a car overran her body. Beatrice cried herself out. She wanted to go home but she couldn’t. ‘This is for my father. This is for him.’

Not long ago, Mateo went back to the room. He was already wearing pants and a t-shirt. He saw Beatrice was already sitting on the floor, that's why he shook his head. He did not mean to terrify Beatrice earlier. He was just overwhelmed seeing her. 

Mateo sat in the lounge area in his studio. “Come here,” he said. Beatrice looked at her with hesitation. He tried to be soft as much as possible. And he thinks it worked because she slowly stood up while drying her cheeks. She sat on the sofa in front of him. A small glass table with a glass of martini on the top was intercepting them. Mateo could see that Beatrice's hands were still shaking. He shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ 

“I-I’m sorry again,” Beatrice said in a broken voice. Her head was looking down and not daring to look at him again. 

Mateo’s eyebrows arched and he sighed. “It’s okay. It was my fault too. It’s already midnight. We should start talking now.” 

Beatrice looked at Mateo. “Yes.” 

“You came here. Does that mean you are accepting my proposal?” 

Beatrice nodded. She tried to calm herself now. She needed to do this for her father. “Y-Yes. I am. But I want you to help me first.” 

Mateo smirked. He knew their family situation and he used her to get Beatrice. Yes. He has been adorning Beatrice for a while. He saw him only once at an event at their company. Beatrice was there and he was instantly smitten by her. It was because she looked entirely like his ex-wife. His dead wife. 

“I heard what happened, Miss Lichter. But are you really sure now? You even ran away just not to accept me.” 

Beatrice's lips curled up. Looked like this man knew everything. Everyone knew that Bruce’s family was filthy rich. But not many knew the master of the family, Mateo Bruce. This was the reason why her stepmother was eager to accept the proposal. Because by just being Beatrice as the wife of Mateo Bruce, their lavish life would never end. 

“M-My father. He is my only family member now. I cannot afford to lose him. B-But we don’t have any money now for his medical bill.” 

Mateo smirked. “Are you selling yourself to me now?” 

Beatrice was stupefied. “H-Huh?” 

“You are accepting my marriage proposal in exchange for money, right?” He grinned. 

Beatrice's grip on her dress tightened as she realized what he meant. She looked down. Yes. She knew she could be compared to anyone who sells pleasure for money. But what can she do? It was true no matter how she wanted to deny it. She was comparable to them. Her eyes started to water again but she stopped them. 

“I-I need this, Mister Bruce. Please,” Beatrice said. Leaving her ego away. 

Mateo rested his back on the chair. “Your wish is my command.” 

Beatrice took a deep breath. That night, she knew it was her end. She sold herself to the devil.