CHAPTER 3: No Choice

Erin revisited the reasons prompting her to seek assistance from the Arvesso family.   

Last month, her advertising manager, Mrs. Robles, extended an invitation to meet with Mr. Yu, the manager of a television station.  

"Erin, I'm bringing you along for the meeting with Mr. Yu."  

"Sure, Ma'am!"  

Having spent a year with the advertising team, Erin retained her position as a staff member. She refrained from complaining, recognizing that the Arvesso family currently held authority in the company on her behalf. At the same time, she remained merely Mr. Lawrence's stepdaughter.  

Accompanied by her manager, Erin entered a private club. In a room, they found Mr. Yu with two other staff members.  

"Good evening, Mr. Yu! I am with Erin Villaverde. She's the one we were talking about," her manager said, subtly lifting one corner of her lip. "She will be coordinating our project with you for the ads of the new whitening lotion produced by the company."  

The man ran his thick tongue over his lips. Erin had been a model before, and encounters with individuals like Mr. Yu were not unfamiliar to her.   

Her manager initiated the discussion. Mr. Yu responded, occasionally touching Erin's leg. Later on, Mrs. Robles excused herself to go to the restroom, signaling the two staff members to leave.   

Mr. Yu's hand ventured higher on her leg, causing Erin to squirm.  

"I've noticed you're not finishing your drink. Drink it," he said.  

Erin pushed it away, distancing herself from his wandering hand. As a model, she was keenly aware of potential threats.  

"Mr. Yu, I'm here for business. Please don't taint my purpose for being here."  

"Stop being so uptight! Why don't you sell me this night? I'll give Yurich a significant discount for airtime and pay you for it. Others in your office have done it before, which isn't new."  

She recoiled in disgust at the notion that another employee might have accepted the offer. Mr. Yu embraced her, encircling his arms around her waist.  

"Ahhhh!" She let out a scream. In her hand, she seized a bottle of expensive liquor, using it to strike his head. Trembling with fear, she quickly distanced herself.  

"You shameless woman!" he exclaimed, clutching his bleeding head.  

Mrs. Robles returned at that moment. "Erin!"  

"Ouch! Ouch! That woman hurt me! Call the police!"  

Mrs. Robles filed a complaint against her at the office because Mr. Yu's group refused to broadcast their commercial. Furthermore, the office covered the medical expenses for Mr. Yu and the costly liquor she had broken.  

She raised concerns about the harassment, but Mrs. Robles distorted the events.  

The entire team disapproved of Erin. The office dismissed her due to an incident, and her colleagues claimed she wasn't contributing. Returning home to her penthouse, she found that the electricity was disconnected. Unpaid bills had accumulated, and she had been in debt for several months with the monthly association dues.  

In a corner, she wept uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a year-long struggle. Despite attempting to assert her rights and expressing gratitude to her father for bequeathing her the penthouse, she questioned its value if she couldn't sell it.   

Despite this, she had no intention of selling the place because it held sentimental significance. She and her father resided in this place after the incident in San Martin. Her father had purchased it as a surprise for her mother, who tragically suffered a heart attack before getting the chance to see it.

Erin gazed at herself in the mirror. She had formally retired from her current agency, a decision they did not permit. Transitioning to another agency posed the risk of incurring fines due to the breach of the five-year contract she had entered into with the modeling agency.  

Tears welled up as Erin beheld her reflection. The Erin she saw was no longer the radiant beauty she once knew. After composing herself, she dialed Mr. Niel Arvesso's number on her phone.  

Now, she finds herself face to face with Orion, someone she hasn't seen in years.  

***  

Orion turned as Erin entered the suite, squinting at her changed appearance. Previously, he had considered her too young. The last time he saw her, she was turning eighteen, but she had undergone a striking transformation since then.

He swallowed hard, evaluating her figure. Her black hair cascaded freely, her neck elongated, her posture straight, and her eyes were a deep chocolate color. His gaze descended to her lips, which gasped and parted as if she could read his thoughts, anticipating what he wanted to do with those lips.

He lowered his eyes to her chest and continued to her petite waist. Erin's current mini-skirt outfit prominently displayed her long legs. His palm itched to touch her skin.

'Damn it!'  

He was displeased with the energy she exuded. Detecting the fear in her eyes, perhaps fearing him, prompted him to wash away all his emotions. Orion approached the fridge, opened it, and grabbed a water bottle.  

"Take a seat," Orion commanded with a straightforward order. "Would you like tea, coffee, or juice?"  

"Uhm, I came here to meet Mr. Arvesso."  

He glanced at her while pouring water. "I am Mr. Arvesso."  

"I mean your father."   

Erin claimed the single-seater couch, her stunning legs becoming more pronounced in the dimming light.  

"He went abroad. Unless it was him you wanted to marry," he said, aiming to quash any admiration he might have had for her.  

"No!" Her eyes widened.  

"It was me then."  

"Uhm…" She fumbled with his questions.  

"Miss Villaverde, let's not waste our time. You know I'm the only man left in my family besides Dad. Unfortunately, you killed the other one!" His voice echoed in the room.  

The woman quivered in fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. Damn it!  

Now, he seemed like a devil's son, bringing her to tears. She swallowed his words, the reason for his amusement. If this person didn't have thick skin, she needed his help.

Erin stood up.  

"I need your assistance! Given a choice, I would avoid marrying into the Arvesso family after what transpired—yet I have no alternative but to marry you! The Arvessos hold sway over the shares my dad left, leaving me no options after being ousted from the office unless I marry you! Securing the shares is contingent on our marriage, and with each passing year, my choices are diminishing! I must assert my rightful claim!" she pleaded. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes! Please!"  

"Really?" Orion asked, a corner of his lips lifting.  

"Yes! If you want, we can share the shares my dad left."  

"No, Erin! I have no interest in your inheritance simply because I am an Arvesso! I've never been drawn to my father's wealth, so what distinguishes that from yours?"  

She cried harder and spoke again, "I will do anything..."   

"Then strip!"   

The woman's eyes widened.   

"Strip now. I want to see what I'd get if you ever became my wife."   

"B-but..." She felt a chill run down her spine.   

'This isn't me! Damn this!' Orion thought.  

He struggled to contain his emotions. The woman bore responsibility for Daryl's death, and he yearned to teach her a lesson. Yet, a surge of self-loathing gripped him because, despite the anger, he found himself captivated by the desire to pin her on the sofa and act on his long-suppressed urges.  

He should despise her, not succumb to lust!  

Anticipating a slap from Erin and the woman storming out, he hoped to make her reconsider the potential consequences of becoming his spouse. However, as he watched her lift her blouse, he swallowed hard, wanting to utter, 'Let's stop this now.'  

All his intended words clung to his throat when he caught sight of the woman's lacy bra. His throat constricted as she unfastened her skirt, and that garment gracefully descended her long legs.  

***  

Anger coursed through Erin, yet she couldn't muster the power to confront or counter Orion. The man she had admired seven years ago had undergone a significant transformation, leaving her quivering with frustration.

Firstly, what he said held truth; she bore responsibility for failing to protect his brother, Daryl. Secondly, she found herself in need of Orion's assistance.  

Aside from his father, he was the sole male in the Arvesso family. The idea of marrying Mr. Arvesso drove her to the brink of insanity, even though, deep down, it was Orion she had desired from the very beginning.  

'Damn him for still possessing an appealing physique and being so handsome!'  

Erin caught her breath, sensing the blaze in Orion's deep chocolate eyes. Gracefully surrendering her pride, she unfastened her bra, and his gaze deepened as her breasts came into view.

Her nipples responded to his lingering gaze, hardening in tandem. He parted his lips slightly, suggesting a desire to claim them.

Her lips quivered at the mere notion of his mouth sensually exploring her chest.  

'You've got this, Erin!'  

She delicately descended the lace panties along the contours of her legs, a shiver coursing through her in response to either the chill in the air or the intense scrutiny of his gaze as her body became unveiled before the man.  

"Touch yourself like the way you used to tell Daryl." Orion clenched his fist.  

"What?" Horror showed on her face. "I-I have never done that!"  

"Your message exchange with Daryl contains that information, doesn't it?"

No! Her tears welled up even more. She pieced together the meaning of his words, her hand instinctively finding its way to cover her quivering lips.  

No! It's not Daryl! No!  

'Daryl…' He lied to her!