Four

CELINE HERRERA POV

"This is so nerve-wracking," I said clutching to the contract that I'd drawn up". I had already emailed Belshar and hadn't gotten a reply... Was that a rejection... Should I even go ahead with this? 

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do though?" Karen asked. She was someone I always confided in before I went through with things because, despite her age, she was quite practical. 

"What else can I do, Karen? Going on dates isn't going to cut it... Plus building a relationship that leads to marriage takes time... The only way I can be married and have a child in two years is this way"

"I understand that, but why does it have to be Belshar? His name literally sends fear slithering down people's spines whenever it is mentioned and now you want to shackle two years of your life to him. That man is a monster"

"What other choice do I have!" I yelled losing my temper that had been on a thin line after my encounter with Delia the night before. "I am about to lose my company... I am about to lose everything I have ever worked for"

"It's not the only company you are managing tho... You have your firm, why don't you just build that and let Delia have this one"

"Every client I get is in a way connected to grandfather's company... If Delia takes over, do you think she wouldn't make sure to run my firm to the ground... I need someone powerful to back me up which is why I already fixed an appointment with Belshar. I don't have a choice" I got out and then exhaled. "I have to do this if I don't want to be reduced to nothing in the future."

Karen sighed, her gaze darting around the office before they finally stopped on me. "You are right, but I still think you can find someone else... "

"I can't, besides, Julie looked into him, he's the best candidate... "

"This was Julie's idea," Karen asked, her brows shooting up.

"It was a suggestion and she didn't force me to go with Belshar, I decided to do that all on my own"

"Why do you even listen to Julie... Has there been any of her suggestions that ever ended up in your favor"

"What happened in the past few years wasn't her fault... She made some suggestions that didn't end well for me, but she has good intentions"

Karen shook her head. "Julie always does things that harm you in the end Celine and right now I don't think she has any good intentions toward you, I don't think she's a true friend," she said and I made a face.

"We've been friends since high school and she's always been by my side even when everyone left me... Julie is not a bad person... She was the only one who stood by me after Crystal"

Karen shrugged. "If you say so, but I just hope you know that people change.. just because they have been by your side for a long time, it doesn't mean they have your best interest at heart, but do what you must, you probably know Julie more than I do"

I nodded, even though her words kept ringing in my head. 

"I still do not agree with you trying to tie yourself to a monster like Belshar though" she continued, her gaze holding mine. "You are too pure for all that darkness, and I don't want you to end up dead in a ditch somewhere," she said, stood up, and walked out of my office.

I sighed and dropped the contract onto my desk. 

Belshar was darkness? Was he really that scary and should I worry in the same way Karen was, then again I was so used to experiencing only dark days, so what was one more darkness to my already gloomy life, it's not like I was just going to walk in there without putting some sort of measures that would ensure my safety in place. 

I had to do this because If Delia won, it would be over for me. She'd already burned my face and pushed me off a bridge, but I'd survived... Something told me if I lost to her this time she was really going to get rid of me for good.

*******

"Right this way, Miss Celine Herrera," the pretty lady who was probably Belshar's assistant said to me and I nodded, my hands becoming moist as I got to my feet and followed her.

Everyone's attention had been on me from the moment I stepped into the company and even now as I walked into Belshar's office, I could feel their gaze digging into the back of my head and that just made my anxiety level go higher, because what could be the reason they were all so invested in my visit.

The door closed behind me and I jumped. I'd been so lost in thought I didn't know when we got in, I glanced back at the door... Did the girl leave, I could have sworn she'd been ahead of me and not behind... How long did I zone out for? 

"Are you going to stand around all day long Miss Herrera..." His deep voice rumbled through the space startling and almost making me jump a foot in the air.

He paused, his brows furrowing as he took in my reaction and I cursed at myself. I haven't even been one minute in his presence and I was already making a fool of myself...

Trying to salvage whatever I had left of my bravery, I stood straighter, thrust my chin a bit, and then walked toward the intimidating desk that stood between me and the ice-cold killer.

"I presume you got my mail"

He smirked, his hand rubbing at his chin. "It was quite a mail. I thought you wrongly sent it to me but seeing as you're asking about it, I stand corrected"

My palm became more clammy and I rubbed it against my dress. "I know it is an absurd request, but if you agree to do this, then your parents will stop pressuring you for two years"

His gaze darkened and it was almost as if the temperature in the room dropped. The air was chilly and whatever warmth I'd felt when I came in became nonexistent.

"So this is why?" He murmured and then pinned me with a dark stare that stole all the air out of my lungs once more. "You have a lot of guts to show up in front of me Celine Herrera," he said then winced as if saying my name pained him. "I decided to look the other way because of a lack of motive and evidence, but now that you are here, a pattern is beginning to form. You are playing with fire Miss Herrera and you are going to get burned" he growled and I almost took a step back as my flight Instinct kicked in.

What the hell was he going on about? "I don't understand what you are trying to say but I only came here because I was desperate. Look, I know what I am asking for is ridiculous but my life depends on this... I am going to lose everything that matters to me if I do not get married... And you also need this, don't you... If we are married, I won't stand between you and your lover... Look I know you are gay, I didn't mean to find out about it but... "

He slammed his hand on the desk and this time I jumped in shock, then I stumbled back when he stepped away from his desk all of a sudden and walked toward me.

"My wife died just four months ago and you dare to come into my office and spew all this nonsense... You dare make a mockery of me after what you did, after the role you played "

"What... Wife" I stuttered, my back smacking against the door and making me realize that I was trapped, trapped between a killer and a fucking door. Julie never mentioned that he was married and I'd relied on the information she'd sent without fact-checking. "I swear I didn't know that"

He grinned but it was so scary I would have preferred it if he'd just glared like that night at the bar. "You didn't know? How about I make you regret walking in here and thinking you can make a fool out of me"

I raised my hand and shoved at him, my breath coming out in short sharp gasp. "Look, there has clearly been a misunderstanding and if you'd just calm down, we can talk about this... I am Celine Herrera, if there's anyone you can trust with your life, that would be me... You can look me up online, I wouldn't do something like this just to mess with you... I am sorry about your wife's death... Ugh," I winced as he suddenly grabbed me by the arm.

"Do not speak about my wife" he roared, "And we are done here. Get out" he said and shoved me. I stumbled into the door, groaning a little when my arm smacked against the handle. 

I stared at him incredulously. "What do you mean we are done... Aren't you even going to..."

He scoffed and then crowded into my space making it difficult for me to draw air. Was he going to kill me... 

"Who do you think you are huh? You are a nobody, you have achieved nothing except destroy other people's lives, and that face of yours" he said his hand reaching up to grab at my chin, but his hand never grazed my skin, they just lingered pretty close. "That's probably why you are in a rush to get married, huh, because you know no one would ever want you when you look like that" he snarled, venom dripping from his words and striking right at my heart.

I'd already heard how ugly I was on countless occasions so why did his hurt so much? My lips trembled and water gathered in my eyes.

"Get out before you force me to do something I will not regret"

"No" I shouted, not even knowing why.

Belshar cursed and then reached for me and instinctively I tried to evade his grip, which was a big mistake because his hand caught on my dress instead, right over my left breast, and as he pulled back his hand, the sound of ripping fabric filled the air, making the both of us freeze.