Two

CELINE HERRERA POV

Belshar gaze lifted and I expected to be berated since he'd taken his sweet time to stare me down but instead, he just walked past me, his rich deep baritone sending a shiver up my spine as he spoke to someone behind me.

It was as if I didn't exist. Picking myself up from the floor and wiping at my ruined shirt, I took a deep breath, my rage all but forgotten, and stepped out of the club.

The night air was harsh against my skin and as I sat at a city bench, waiting for my best friend I couldn't help but feel down and miserable.

Was I really that plain that I couldn't even hold Belshar's attention for even a minute, even when I'd spilled drinks on him?

That wasn't the rumor I'd heard about him, of course, he was a very mysterious person and no one knew Jack about his personal life, but the one thing he was notorious for was his ruthlessness, so was I just not worth his effort.

"What the hell are you doing out here... And where the hell is your phone, I've been trying to reach you to find out which spot you were" Julie huffed as she dropped into the space next to me, her eyes narrowing when I met them and I laughed nervously and slowly reached to pat her arm.

"Sorry, Julie, my phone was in my purse. I am also a bit out of it as you can see" 

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously, because you wouldn't be caught on a city bench if your life depended on it," she said and I smiled.

"True, but things change when you least expect them to, don't they?"

Julie nodded. "But El Salvador club... What the hell are you even doing here"

I sighed, rubbing at my face. "I'm so fucking pissed Julie... " I took a deep breath because I was starting to feel choked up, and then I dragged my hand through my hair. "I thought I could find someone"

Julie paused, she stared at me. "Is this about your grandfather's ridiculous request?" she asked and I nodded. "I thought you weren't going to push through with it... I told you it would be a disaster"

The lump grew thicker in my chest. "How could I not... I am going to lose everything to Delia, everything I have worked my whole life for if I do not get married and have a child before her... I hate them so much, so much" I got out, then wiped fiercely at the single tear that fell from my eyes. "But I might as well give up since apparently I am so ugly, no one would even bother to look twice in my direction"

Julie grabbed my hand and forced me to face her. "Hey, don't say that about yourself... You are a very beautiful woman and I am sure there are a lot of men out there dying to be with you"

I shook her hold off. "I know you are trying to make me feel better Julie, but you and I know that beautiful is not a word you'd use to describe me."

Julie sighed. "You are right, but you do have something that makes you quite unique... You have the juiciest pinkest lips ever, men kill themselves over that" 

"Julie" I groaned. "That is not helping me right now"

Julie sighed. "I am just saying that even though we are not the most beautiful women out there, we have what makes us unique besides looks aren't everything," she said holding my gaze. "Money is" she finished and I scoffed.

"You really had me at the first part"

"That was the plan" she chuckled. "Look, I am sure you can beat Delia and get what rightfully belongs to you, you just have to use your head"

"That's all I have anyway" I muttered and she glared at me. "Fine fine... But there's really nothing I can do... Every time I put myself out there, I always end up disappointed or scammed, or Delia comes sweeping in to steal anyone that shows interest in me, like George that I was supposed to meet today"

"That bitch" Julie cursed. "What is her problem anyways... I thought she was going through a phase in college, but I guess it wasn't... She's really out to destroy your life"

"Don't I know it" I sighed, then laid back on the seat rest.

"What if you just had a contract marriage? All you have to do is find a filthy rich billionaire who is under pressure like you are, get him to agree to your terms, and get married."

"Yeah I don't think it's that easy and which super-rich billionaire in this day and age is under pressure from their family to get married"

"Belshar Nessar Abed is," she said and I jerked to an upright position.

Julie cursed and sat upright too. "What! What!" She asked, her eyes darting around in alarm before they came back to me. "What the hell is wrong"

"You just said Belshar" I choked out and she slowly nodded.

"I know everyone thinks he's an evil Mafia killer, he probably is but he is also the only billionaire I know who is being pressed to get married... I guess it has to do with his mafia ties, have to continue the lineage"

I gaped at her wondering how she knew he was being pressed to get married, or anything about him whatsoever. "So you're saying I should approach Belshar and get him to sign a marriage contract with me despite all the rumors surrounding him and the fact that he is also my business rival? And how do you know he's being pressed to find a wife"

Julie stared back at me. "Is that important right now? The way I see it, you don't get to be picky if you want to keep your company for yourself, and your grandfather never gave conditions on who the man could be, he just said it had to be a billionaire.. now let's say you get Belshar, and you lose the bet, you can get him to take over the company, that way Delia would also lose everything, but you, you won't lose anything all... You get to make your grandfather and Delia pay for everything they have done to you, and it won't be hard too, Belshar is gay apparently" she finished, looking awfully pleased with herself. 

"What" I managed after two minutes of just staring at her with my mouth agape.

"It's either that or losing everything to Delia. And you need to step up your game fast or Delia is going to find out about everything I just told you and go after Belshar, then it would truly be over for you. Don't you want to get revenge after everything Delia had done to you" 

Julie made it look as if it was something easy she was suggesting when in fact it was the hardest thing to achieve.

"And the fact that I have to have a child within two years, how am I going to get a child if he's gay"

Julie rolled her eyes. "Girl, you just need his sperm and I am sure he's going to give it to you to save face"

"You speak as if he's going to agree to any of this madness... He probably won't... Not after what happened today" I muttered the last bit to myself.

"You are right he might not agree but you won't know that if you do not try right. All I know is if you want to be ahead of Delia, Belshar is your best bet. You are a good businesswoman woman aren't you, and you're also good at convincing people to do things your way... So what's stopping you now... Treat this as a business deal and cash in on it"

I shook my head and then flinched when Julie grabbed me by the shoulder.

"Whatever you decide to do, you better make sure Delia does not find out about it, because if you fail I can guarantee you Delia won't," she said and that just made me mad.

I stared at the city, my heart throbbing beneath my chest.

Could I really do it? I remembered the icy cold stare of Belshar that had stolen all the air out of my lungs and clenched my fist. He hadn't spared me a backward glance after that... So could I really get him to agree to a contract marriage?

I stared down at my hands that I'd placed on my thighs, and listened to Julie chattering away.

She was right, if I was going to compete with Delia, I had to use someone more powerful, someone not easily Influenced, someone whom even if I lost I still stood to gain a lot.

It was going to be a two-year marriage contract and he didn't even have to know that I needed a child to seal the deal... I didn't want a custody battle... Belshar was Mafia, there was no way he would allow me to leave if we had a child together... No, he would allow me to leave but not the child.

Fuck, what was I even thinking? Was I seriously considering this?

I glanced up at the sky and flinched when a raindrop onto my cheek.

"I am seriously considering this"

Julie turned to me."Did you say something?"

I shook my head, staring straight ahead.

All my life, I have been pushed and pulled in every direction. It was time I took the reins and steered my life in the way I wanted. 

Finding love might be too late for me since I was going to marry someone who probably would never spare me a glance, but winning against Delia and getting the company wasn't.

"This time I will win, Delia. I. Will. Win"